11 Amazing Things to Do In Huacachina!

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Are you looking for things to do in Huacachina so you can enjoy your time in the oasis to the max?

Quick Facts About Huacachina

Huacachina is a natural oasis in the desert about three and a half hours south of Lima. It’s said to be the only natural oasis in South America. They’re being a bit generous with the word natural.

To be clear, it used to be fully natural, but as our world changes, the oasis has begun to dry up, so the lagoon, does get some supplemental help.

The oasis is a ten or fifteen-minute drive from the nearby city of Ica, where you can find some good Pisco-tasting tours.

Surrounding Ica and the Huacachina oasis are miles and miles of desert dunes. It’s not at all like the deserts we Americans are used to in the southwest.

The dunes are tall and the sand is soft like fresh snow. These dunes are great places for activities like sandboarding or ATVs.

11 Best Things to Do in Huacachina

Despite being a relatively small town, there is a lot to do in Huacachina, making it worth visiting. Its uniqueness lends itself to offering some great activities. Here, we’ll go over 11 recommendations for what to do in Huacachina.

1. Sandboarding: Surf’s Up, Dude!

If you ask me, sandboarding is the king activity here. It should be at the top of everyone’s list of things to do in Huacachina. Maybe it’s because I live in the desert of the southwestern United States, where the sand is as hard as concrete.

The sand in the Huacachina desert is nothing like that. It’s incredibly soft and perfect for sandboarding. The sand dunes are higher than you’d think too. It’s a bit deceiving. Once you’re standing on top of the dunes, it looks like a long way down!

When you wax up the sandboard and go head first, you can get going really fast! It’s a real rush! Check out our full review of the sandboarding activity.

2. Dune Buggy

Most people will get their dose of dune buggies from the sandboarding activity, as the dune buggy is the mode of transport out to the dunes for the activity.

For those that aren’t up for sandboarding though, you’ll be able to talk one of the local tour companies into just buggies. They’re always happy to modify things to try and give you what you’re looking for.

Whether you go just on the buggy or for the sandboard experience also, the dune buggy ride will have your heart racing! When you get to the top of a dune and start to tilt down the other side, it’ll feel like a roller coaster ride.

3. ATVs

If the dune buggies and the 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.

4. Cruise the Oasis on a Paddle Boat

If you have time in the morning after breakfast, before your activities for the day, or maybe later in the evening before the parties start, walk down to the shores of the oasis and rent a paddle boat to cruise around the lagoon.

Don’t agree to the first price they give you. Offer them something a bit lower, you’ll save some money. Paddle boating on South America’s only (partly) natural is an experience you won’t get anywhere else.

Traveling is all about unique experiences after all, right?

5. Ecocamp Huacachina

Speaking of unique experiences, how about glamping in the desert?

Usually, I recommend staying in hostels, but in Huacachina it’s acceptable and encouraged to spend one of your nights glamping at Ecocamp Huacachina.

Their tents are roomy, they have a nice pool area. It makes for a great way to spend a night, especially if you’re traveling with a significant other. The setting can be quite romantic.

As a solo traveler myself, I still find this setup to be a nice break from the hostel life that I’m usually in when I travel.

There’s a bar where you can order food and drink near the pool, so in true glamping fashion, you’re not really roughing it. It’s a very hospitable and comfortable place to switch up your lodging routine.

6. Pisco Tour

The town of Ica is a short ten-minute drive from Huacachina. It’s a much bigger town than the oasis, but I’d still recommend staying in the oasis town because of its uniqueness.

In and around Ica are several pisco wineries where you can take tours of the facilities, learn about the distillation process and how the pisco is made, and of course taste lots of different types of pisco.

The wineries have restaurants on the property also, where you can enjoy a nice meal and a cocktail (not included in the tour price).

7. Visit Paracas

An hour and a half away from Huacachina sits the coastal fishing village of Paracas. It’s a sleepy little town with a few good restaurants and social nightlife.

There are two big things to do in Paracas, the National Preserve and the Ballestas Islands.

The National Preserve is a plot of land along the coast that has been designated as protected due to its uniqueness and natural beauty. There is a red sand beach backed by yellow rock faces and some fabulous views of the ocean from cliffs.

The Ballestas Islands are right off the coast of Paracas and are home to a uniquely biodiverse ecosystem. Along with great rocky island views, you’ll have the chance to spot lots of wildlife, including, believe it or not, penguins!

8. Paraglide Over the Desert

The view of the oasis from the surrounding dunes is a cool one, no doubt! But, if you want a picture that nobody else will have, get one of the local guides to take you paragliding!

The view of the oasis from the air is an experience that will set your Huacachina trip apart from many of the other visitors and tourists.

If thrill-seeking is your game, then it’s worth asking around and finding the right guide that offers this experience. They’re not as easy to find as the other activities, so you might need luck on your side, but that’s what makes it fun, right?

9. Take a Walk Around the Oasis

My idea of a perfect morning in Huacachina is enjoying breakfast at the hostel and then heading out for a stroll around the lagoon.

Huacachina is a bit of a party spot (we’ll get into that later), so a lot of people will be sleeping in. The oasis is peaceful in the mornings. It’s a great time to go for a walk, enjoy some different views of the lagoon and the dunes.

I use walks like these to reflect and appreciate the trip I’m on and the experiences I’m having, you know, really soak it all up.

I also like to find a local cafe to have another cup of coffee and chat with some locals. These morning walks and chats are sometimes how I discover what I want to do that day. Nobody knows the area and what’s going on around there like the people who live there!

10. Climb the Dunes

If you haven’t yet, take the time to walk up the dunes to take the trademark picture looking down on the oasis.

If you’ve got a friend (or a tripod), get the picture of you from behind, sitting on the dunes looking down at the oasis. That’s the one all the locals take.

Be warned, walking up those dunes is no easy feat. They’re taller than they look, and that sand is so soft that you’ll be sinking or going backward almost as much as climbing. It’s like swimming against the current.

I was shocked and exhausted when I got to the top. I needed a few minutes to recoup before being ready for photos. It was kind of embarrassing actually, but seeing a few other heavy breathers in my group made me feel a bit better.

11. Enjoy the Nightlife

As the sun sets on your day in Huacachina, whether it’s your first night or your last, you won’t regret getting out and getting involved in the nightlife. Huacachina might be small, but it packs a party punch.

The hottest party spot in town is at the Wild Rover Hostel, on the northeast side of the oasis. The music is loud, the drinks are cheap, and the atmosphere is wild. Everyone in town knows this is the big party, and they’re there to act like it.

When the party dies down there (it is a hostel, after all), it disperses to a few different nearby bars for continued drinks and dancing.

If it’s your last night in Huacachina and you’ve got a long bus ride the next day, dance all night! You can sleep on the bus.

How to Get to Huacachina

You’re in luck! We have a whole post on how to get to Huacachina whether you’re in Lima, Cusco, or Arequipa. Check that out to see all your options and get the best recommendation for your situation.

Where to Stay in Huacachina

As is my wont, I’m going to recommend a hostel. You might think I’d recommend Wild Rover since I just talked about what a hot party spot it is. BUT! Because it’s such a party spot, that makes it a tough place to get some rest.

My recommendation is Banana’s Adventure Hostel. It’s right down the road from Wild Rover and a great place to kick back and get a decent night’s sleep (after partying all night).

Especially if the party scene isn’t what you’re looking for. 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 for hanging out and relaxing.

Also, it’s super easy to meet people and make friends at Banana’s.

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?

The simple answer is yes. Huacachina is a safe place to travel to, stay, and enjoy. You should still be cautious and smart, and read our post about traveling around Peru safely.

As always, it is recommended that you check travel advisories before going on your trip.

What Else is There to Do in Huacachina?

The sandboarding tour is definitely the highlight and main attraction. But as you’ve learned in this post, there are many things to do in Huacachina.

If you’re just looking to chill and relax, the courtyard at Banana’s is the perfect place to do it. Between the restaurant, bar, pool, and games, there is plenty to do.

If you want to grab a few drinks in a cool spot, a few doors down from Banana’s, on the lagoon side, is a bar called Huacafuckingchina. This is a fun place to hang out, and a photo op at the very least.

The nearby town of Ica is a great place to do a pisco tour and tasting. You can tour the distilleries and the cellars and learn all about how pisco is made. Of course, you’ll also try more different types than you even imagined could exist!

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.

How Many Days in Huacachina?

My Huacachina itinerary went like this:

• 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 because there’s another desert activity that I wanted to do. I wanted to do the ATV activity and take the ATVs out into the desert and kick up some sand.

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.

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.

Summing Up Things to do in Huacachina

I hope this post has helped you decide to visit the small town of Huacachina and enjoy all of the things to do there. For being so small, it really does offer a lot and was one of my favorite parts of my trip to Peru.

There are lots of bigger cities in Peru. There are more famous attractions, such as Machu Picchu that are probably why you want to go to Peru in the first place.

Still, make sure to add Huacachina to your list of stops. You won’t regret it.

Have fun out there!