Blogs from Huacachina, Ica, Peru, South America

Ica and Huacachina (07/06/2018-11/06/2018) Brandy, Buggies, and Boarding My one night stop turned into a four night stop. I was well and truly enchanted by this surreal Peruvian desert city oasis. Looking like something out of a Hollywood movie, Huacachina is a tiny village just west of the city of Ica in southwestern Peru. The gorgeous green waters of the Huacachina lagoon (which are thought to have therapeutic properties) are surrounded by palm trees and beautiful endless golden sand dunes. Originally I stayed in Ica the first night but quickly realised Huacachina is the place to be, although it is muy caro (very expensive) at 35 soles a night (£8.17). It is said that the lagoon was created from a princess whose voice was so beautiful that it made people cry. They called her the “Huacca ... read more

C est Sur on se souviendra de ce 25 décembre au Pérou!c est dans l oasis de Huacachina qu on a décidé de passer le réveillon de Noël. Un hôtel nous a été recommandé par un couple de français rencontre à Huaraz, avec piscine et vue sur les dunes de sable! Nous faisons beaucoup de rencontres en quelques jours, et nous retrouvons aussi des personnes rencontrées sur les étapes précédentes! Dans les dunes de sable,on fait du sandboard, rien à voir avec notre première expérience!on passe de petites collines à de ÉNORMES montagnes de sable! Faire des virages debout est trop complique, il faut se mettre à plat ventre sur la planche et aller tout droit! Pour remonter c est le buggy qui vient nous chercher et nous fait faire quelques drifts, les sensations sont géniales! ... read more

After departing Cusco via a 14 hour overnight bus, I had arrived into the tiny village of Huacachina, Peru in the southwestern region of the country. I had read that Huacachina was like a desert oasis and when I hopped out of my cab to find a hostel what I read was proven true by the sight before me. The little village surrounds a lake and surrounding the village are massive sand dunes hundreds of feet high. I truly felt like I was in some sort of Lawrence of Arabia scene and if not for the Spanish speakers I could have been in the Sahara. After easily finding accommodation I set out walking bleary eyed and tired from my journey here. Within five minutes I met a band of traveling gypsies who invited me into their ... read more

I have never seen an oasis before. Can you imagine; a lagoon sustaining loads of life in the middle of a desert? With nothing but sand all around it? This was something I had to see, another first to tick off the list. We were on another overnight bus from Arequipa to Ica, courtesy of Cruz del Sur again. In previous overnight bus rides I have ended up almost freezing to death, so I made sure I wore trousers and a jacket this time. I even felt smug looking at the other gringos on the bus wearing nothing but flip-flops, shorts and singlets. The smile was wiped off my face about one movie (The Fantastic Four - distinctly average) into the journey. I was boiling. I perhaps should have dressed a bit lighter. Oases normally sustain ... read more

How many of you have seen a desert oasis? We’re talking lagoon with palm trees in the middle of giant sand dunes. Well Huacahina was just that (and reportedly the only one in Latin America). Though it is disappointingly close to the city of Ica (less than 10min in a cab), if you look out to the other 200-degree view then it’s just sand as far as the eye can see. Surreal! We’d had been given recommendations from a few friends to visit Huacachina for the sand dune buggy rides and sand boarding so after settling in that’s exactly what we did. We also filled in our extra time with a hike up the massive dunes to watch sunset and visited some pisco vineyards to learn about the national drink. It was nice to have a ... read more