Is Huacachina Worth Visiting? Discover the Secret In the Desert!
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Trying to decide if Huacachina, Peru is worth visiting? Let us help you decide!
Quick Rundown On Huacachina
What is so special about Huacachina? It’s an oasis in the desert of southern Peru, near the town of Ica. It’s billed as the only natural oasis in South America.
While this is true, it’s not entirely true. The oasis has started to dry up and has been receiving supplemental help for years now. So, while it is natural, it’s not entirely natural anymore.
Still, though, South America’s only formerly natural oasis is pretty unique! I’ve certainly never seen any place quite like it.
Why Huacachina is Absolutely Worth Visiting
While Huacachina is a tiny village with only 100 residents, it has a lot to offer!
100 inhabitants is a small number. But every one of those 100 people is there to make sure travelers have a great time while they’re there. Every one of those 100 people works at a hostel, bar, restaurant, or tour activity.
ℹ Fun Fact: The residents of Huacachina are called “Guardians of the Lake”.
Huacachina Activities
For being such a small place, there is quite a lot to do in Huacachina. For me, it was maybe the most fun stop I had during my Peru travels.
Sandboarding & Dune Buggy
During the day, the desert comes to life with activities like sandboarding and ATVs.
The sandboarding and dune buggy experience is the king of activities and by itself makes Huacachina worth visiting. It’s what everyone talks about when Huacachina comes up. In fact, we have a full review of this experience.
If you’re limited to one activity while you’re there, make it this one! It’s a blast and a surprising rush of adrenaline for you thrill seekers out there.
Even if you’re not a thrill seeker, which I do not consider myself to be, I recommend going for this. It’s a ton of fun!
Drive ATVs On the Dunes
If you have the time for more than one activity, or maybe the dune buggies and sandboarding still left you craving more desert dune action, you’re in luck! There’s a great ATV experience that takes you out onto the dunes and lets you cruise around on your own ATV.
Driving your own ATV over the dunes is a blast of a way to spend an afternoon! The first dune you go over you’ll likely be a little hesitant, but by the end of the activity, you’ll be laying on the throttle and getting “Be careful,” calls from your guide.
Other Things to Do In Huacachina
In my humble opinion, those two activities are the best and offer bang for your buck! They’re by no means the only things you can do in Huacachina though.
You can have a glamping experience at Ecocamp Huacachina, go on a pisco-tasting tour in the nearby town of Ica, or rent a paddle boat from one of the locals on the shores of the lagoon and cruise around the oasis.
Don’t forget to get the obligatory photo looking down on the oasis from one of the surrounding dunes. Check out our post for an extended list of things to do in Huacachina.
Huacachina Nightlife
One of the most fun parts about staying in Huacachina is the nightlife. The town has a great party scene. When the sun goes down, the desert goes to sleep, but the village comes alive!
Wherever you decide to stay (we’ll talk about that in a moment), make sure you head over to the Wild Rover at night for the hottest party in town. The drinks are cheap, the music is loud, and everyone is there to have a great time.
If you like to cut loose and dance all night, you’ll have a great time here. When the party comes to a close at Wild Rover, there are a couple of bars close by where people will migrate to for those who aren’t ready for the night to end.
Where to Stay in Huacachina
Because Wild Rover is the party spot, I do not recommend staying here. It’s a nice place, but if you’re looking to get a decent night’s rest, you likely won’t find it here due to the all-night party.
What I recommend doing, is staying at Banana’s Adventure Hostel. It’s right down the street from Wild Rover and a great place to chill and get a good night’s sleep.
Whether you’re up for the party scene or not, you’ll want to sleep at some point. Banana’s is the place to do that.
It’s a great place to hang out too. It’s got the perfect courtyard for chilling by the pool, playing foosball, grabbing a drink or a bite at the bar/restaurant, or simply hanging out and relaxing.
Also, it’s super easy to meet people and make friends at Banana’s
How Many Days in Huacachina?
My Huacachina itinerary went like this, (and if you’re using Peru Hop and their default itinerary, yours will look like this too):
- Arrived in the afternoon
- Did the sandboarding tour almost immediately
- Dinner and drinks after the sunset
- Hostel breakfast and walk around the lagoon
- Departed at 10:00 a.m.
- Pisco tour and tasting on the way out
Now, I wish I had one more night to spend in Huacachina. It’s a cool little place with a lot to offer, and I wanted to experience more of it!
The hostel didn’t have room for me for an extended night though, so I didn’t get a chance.
Technically one night at Banana’s was enough, but I would have liked another night, so I’m recommending spending two nights to make sure you have enough time to do more of the activities and still enjoy the town and the oasis.
If you want to do ALL of the activities here though, you’ll need several days.
I should note that the sandboarding tours are available as a day trip from Lima, but I recommend leaving Lima behind and staying in Huacachina.
How to Get to Huacachina
We have a detailed post on how to get to Huacachina whether you’re coming from Lima, Cusco, or Arequipa. Read through that to find your best options.
Whether you prefer the local bus, Peru Hop, or renting a car, we’ll help you find the right recommendation for you. It’s the perfect stop whether you’re heading toward the Nazca Lines or Paracas.
Huacachina Photo Ops
The desert oasis presents an opportunity to grab some unique photos. That’s why some people travel in the first place, for cool pictures. If that’s your thing, you’ll certainly find Huacachina worth visiting.
So, I thought I’d go over some of the photo ops that you’ll find in and around Huacachina.
Looking Down On the Lagoon
I mentioned this photo op earlier. But if you want to grab the photo that all the Peruvians take when they visit Huacachina, then have someone behind you take the picture of you sitting in the sand looking down on the lagoon.
Be prepared for a climb though! The soft sand of the dunes is no easy feat. I was out of breath and dead meat by the time I got to the top. But I’m out of shape, you’ll do better than me I’m sure!
The Sunset
The view of the sunset from atop the dunes is a great view you’ll want to capture if you get the chance.
If you time it right, you can get this picture after your postcard picture of you admiring the oasis. When the sun is sinking behind the dunes, it lights up the desert like a scene from star wars.
Huacafuckingchina
Nearby Banana’s Adventure Hostel, facing the lagoon is a cool bar called Huacafuckingchina. This bar is more than just a funny photo op.
It’s a cool place to hang out and grab a drink before heading over to Wild Rover to start your nightlife adventure. “Huacafuckingchina!” even became something of a war cry for some of the people in our sandboarding group.
Huacachina FAQs
Huacachina is pretty small. It’s one of those places you might not have heard about until you land in Peru and start hearing about all the fun that happens there.
There are a few things to know before you to help you plan for your Peru trip.
Is Huacachina Safe?
Huacachina, like the rest of Peru, is generally safe. It’s a small town that relies heavily on tourists and travelers for their local economy.
That said, you should still be smart and excercise caution while there. Check out our post on staying safe while traveling around Peru.
It’s always recommended to check travel advisories before your trip as well.
Getting Around Huacachina
I mentioned before that Huacachina is pretty small. The nice thing about this is that everything is pretty close together. There’s no need to rent a car or anything.
Everything you will want or need to do in the oasis is walkable. If you want to get out of the oasis and over to the town of Ica, you can get a taxi. Just remember not to accept the first price they give you.
Can I Swim in the Huacachina Lagoon?
The answer to this question is yes, but DON’T! You won’t get in trouble for swimming, as it’s technically allowed. But the locals will look at you funny and you might get a few concerned citizens telling you to get out.
Due to its state of drying up, it’s mostly stagnant water, which is a breeding ground for bacteria and all kinds of things you want nothing to do with.
Instead, rent a paddle boat and get on the water that way. It’s much safer.
How Was Huacachina Formed?
Well, the true answer to this question is science. Water from underground aquifers permeates up through the sand to form the lagoon and provides the trees and plant life with the nutrients they need to grow in such an environment.
If you want a more fun answer though, the legend of Huacachina is much more entertaining.
According to legend, Princess Huacachina (which loosely translates to “weeping woman” in the native language of Quechua) was mourning the loss of her lover and her tears formed the lagoon.
It is said that a wandering warrior came upon her and startled her into hiding in the lagoon, where she transformed into a mermaid who reappears during the night even to this day to tempt those who swim in the lagoon.
Maybe that’s why the locals don’t want you swimming in the water!
Summing Up Is Huacachina Worth Visiting?
To be clear here, Huacachina is definitely worth visiting. If you’re in Peru, I recommend visiting for at least one night. Of course, there is plenty to do there to last you a few days, but if you’re on a tight schedule, one day will give you enough of a taste.
I wouldn’t skip it, that’s for sure!
Whether you find your way there on the local bus, Peru Hop, or another way, it’s worth visiting. You’ll have a great time and it may even be your favorite stop in Peru (other than Machu Picchu of course).