Huacachina Oasis: Sandboarding in the Peru Desert

A complete guide to Huacachina Oasis, Peru.

Huacachina is a natural oasis hidden in the rugged desert in Peru.  This incredible phenomenon has to be seen to be believed.  The sight of the palm trees and waters of the Huacachina lagoon contrasted against the backdrop of rolling sand dunes is a unique spectacle that truly showcases the power of nature, even in the most unexpected places.        

The Huacachina oasis offers a unique experience for visitors who travel to its inhospitable landscape.  Not only is there the lunar-like landscape to absorb but Peru’s Huacachina is also a haven for thrill-seekers and adventurers.

From dune buggy rides that will have you gripping onto your seat, to sandboarding down golden slopes, the Huacachina oasis is an unparalleled blend of natural wonder and exhilaration that will leave your heart racing in the most spectacular of ways.

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Looking for the Best Huacachina Oasis Sandboarding and Dune Buggy Tour?

Where is Huacachina Located in Peru?

Huacachina is the only desert oasis in Peru and the only natural oasis across the whole of South America. Located along the southwest coast of Peru, the Huacachina oasis is a striking contrast to its arid surroundings.

Distance from Lima to Huacachina

The Huacachina oasis is located 4.5 hours south of Lima, the vibrant capital of Peru and a key international air travel hub.      

Huacachina Peru Altitude

Huacachina oasis is approximately 400m above sea level.

Is Huacachina a Natural Oasis?

A natural underground water source originally created Huacachina oasis and provided the means for the towering palm trees dotted around the Huacachina lake to grow.  However, there has been some controversy in recent years as drilling in the desert has reduced the natural water levels at Huacachina.  As a result of this, it’s reported that the oasis is now topped up with water from external sources.                  

What to Do in Huacachina Peru

The undulating landscape of the Huacachina desert oasis is not just a unique environment to be passively observed and wondered at.  Oh no, far from it.  This desert oasis is here to be actively enjoyed (or in some cases, terrified of – more on that later). 

A thriving industry has developed around offering adrenalin-pumping activities amongst the sand dunes in Peru.  You can soar along the desert on a sandboard and whizz up and over the dunes in a heart-stopping buggy ride. 

Sandboarding Huacachina  

Huacachina sandboarding is an activity not for the faint-hearted.  The sandboarding tours are one of the main reasons visitors flock to the oasis in Peru.  With dunes of all sizes, from tiny hillocks to jaw-dropping gargantuan gradients, there is a dune here for anyone wild enough to try.  I can now count myself amongst those who felt their fear and did it anyway. 

Sandboarding Huacachina is a fantastic experience.  On the sandboarding tour I was on we got to the top of the first sand dune, were handed a wooden board, waxed by our driver, and were encouraged to hurl ourselves down into the sandy abyss below.

I have to confess I took quite some time to convince myself to chuck myself down that initial dune.  However, with some gentle encouragement from the driver I finally convinced myself to do it and slid down the sand like a penguin on performance-enhancing drugs. 

That first sand dune was so exhilarating that I went down the next one with far less fear and by the time I got to the fourth one I was feeling pretty confident in my new-found sandboarding skills.  As they say, pride comes before a fall and boy did I fall.  Or, more accurately, crash land into the Peru desert, with the board striking me as I rolled over at the bottom of the dune.  It was a gritty, sandy mess of an ending but it had been a thrilling ride, and I had the bruises to prove it.

Tips for Huacachina Sandboarding

If you haven’t done sandboarding before, the tour guides recommend you lie head first, face down on the board.

My guide recommended that you don’t attempt to stand up on the wooden boards provided as they’re not designed for this. 

Consider wearing a face mask or covering.  Despite the overwhelming desire to scream in excitement, unless you like the taste of sand in your teeth for the next week I recommend keeping your mouth shut.                          

A top tip from my guide was to use your feet as a break if you want to have some control over your speed.  I found this worked very well until the last, largest dune and my inelegant abrupt landing.

Check how long a tour lasts – longer ones usually mean you get to do more sandboarding, which is ridiculously terrifying and fun.

If you don’t want to do the sandboarding and are on a combined sandboarding and buggy tour your driver will take you down the dune in the buggy once everyone has had a go. 

Dune Buggy Tour in Huacachina Peru 

When it comes to heart-pounding thrills amidst the breathtaking landscape of Huacachina oasis, sandboarding is not the only activity in town.  The other major extreme attraction in Huacachina is the dune buggy tours. 

Heading out on a dune buggy tour in Huacachina is an adventure that will leave you both exhilarated and quite possibly terrified.  

The buggies park up at the far end of Huacachina, high above the lake, amongst the sand dunes and the hike up to meet the buggy takes effort enough.  Walking uphill on sand is blooming knackering.     

Once you’ve located your vehicle, strap in and prepare to set off in what feels like an out-of-control giant shopping trolley.  This is one heck of a roller coaster ride in the desert but without the comfort of tracks to keep your buggy in place.

Taking a dune buggy tour in Huacachina forces you to place your faith fully in the hands of your buggy driver as they navigate the sandy terrain with maniacal enthusiasm.

I certainly felt the terror at being bumped and bashed around all over the place as we sped across the desert making handbrake turns all over the place.  If you could have heard me above the delighted screams of my fellow passengers most of it would not have been repeatable and the general theme would be ‘let me get the **** off’. 

That being said, one of the most striking aspects of the dune buggy tour amongst the Peru sand dunes was the diverse age range of participants, this is not just for the young but for all who are still young at heart. 

The tour I took was combined with sandboarding and sunset views and I naively thought the return journey might be a bit more ‘chill’.  Of course, our incredible driver had other ideas, gleefully informing me that the way back would be ‘mas adrenalina’.  You don’t have to speak Spanish to work out that that was not the answer I was hoping for. 

The return journey duly turned into yet another adrenalin-filled, heart-in-mouth escapade.  In other words a completely ridiculous and thrilling ride. 

I can’t stress enough how terrified I was during the dune buggy tour of Huacachina and also how totally off-the-scale amazing the experience was.  Despite the terror it induced, I am so glad I did the dune buggy ride.  Would I do it again?  You bet.           

Other Things to Do in Huacachina Oasis, Peru 

Desert Hiking

If you like to keep your adrenaline to normal levels, you can skip the sandboarding and dune buggies and just head out for a walk up the sand dunes from the lagoon.  Don’t forget to take water with you. It’s thirsty work trudging through pure sand.  It’s worth it though for the epic views over an other-worldly landscape.

See the Huacachina Sunset

The sunset in Huacachina is a mesmerising experience.  The shadows forming as the sun slides down behind the dunes provide a different depth and quality to the landscape from what you can see during the day. 

Pro Tip: Book a late afternoon dune buggy tour that includes the sunset views as part of the package.

Head Out on Laguna Huacachina Lake

Take a walk to the lagoon at the heart of the oasis of Huacachina and hire one of the pedal boats.  Make sure to get plenty of photos as you drift across the water.

Day Trips from Oasis Huacachina  

Huacachina is conveniently located on the southwest coast of Peru making it a great base from which to take a day trip to some of the other awesome places in Peru.  Top day tours near Huacachina are:               

Nazca lines flight

Wonder at how on earth these giant anthropomorphic geoglyphs were made by the pre-Inca society and how they have managed to survive to the present day.  You’ll get the best views from a Nazca Lines flight.                                            

Paracas National Reserve

Take a trip further into the Peruvian desert of the Paracas National Reserve and discover solitary beaches, amazing views and the animals of the ‘poor man’s Galapagos’ of Ballestas Islands.

Pisco Vineyard Tour, Ica

Find out how the national drink of Peru, Pisco is made and visit the oldest vineyard in Peru on a Pisco Vineyard Tour.

Hike the Canyon of the Lost

See history through time by viewing fossils etched in the canyon rock in the Peruvian desert with a day tour to the Canyon of the Lost.                                                                            

How to Get to Huacachina Oasis

The wonderful oasis of Huacachina can easily be visited from Lima, or added to an itinerary that includes Paracas and Ica.  Here’s how.

How to Get from Lima to Huacachina            

Public Bus from Lima to Huacachina

There are frequent public buses from Lima to Ica, a town ten minutes by taxi from Huacachina.  Once you arrive in Ica you can either spend some time exploring or jump straight in a taxi to Huacachina.  Taxis in Peru are very cheap, particularly when compared to taxi prices in the UK and USA and the taxi fare should only cost you the equivalent of a few pounds or dollars.

Cruz del Sur and Peru Bus are the main companies operating large modern coach-style buses from Lima to Ica.  These are a comfortable and affordable way to make the trip.  Buses have a toilet, room for luggage storage and reclining seats.

Tickets for the bus cost £8 to £16 one way, depending on which bus you choose.  The fastest journey time is 4 hours from Lima to Ica. 

Check where in Lima your bus is due to depart from, some depart from a main terminal whereas others will be from a private terminal, ‘Terminal Privado’.  As there can be multiple bus terminals and stops on the same road, check carefully the correct departure location for your ticket.  For example, Cruz del Sur buses depart from Av. Javier Prado Este # 1109 Urb. El Palomar, Lima 13.

Peru Hop Bus from Lima to Huacachina

Peru Hop is an alternative option for getting from Lima to Huacachina and is in fact currently the only bus that will take you directly from Lima to Huacachina itself, without the need to get a taxi from Ica.  The Peru Hop tickets also include pick up and return to your accommodation in Lima, making this the most convenient way to travel from Lima to Huacachina.

Peru Hop operates as a hop-on-hop-off bus service and has multi-day packages offering the option to visit Paracas and Nazca as well as Huacachina on a day trip or over a few days, with scheduled buses and suggested timetables on their website. 

However, all this convenience does come at a price and it’s one which is more expensive than the option of a public bus plus a few taxi fares.

So it really depends on your budget and how much time you have available as to which option is best.  I travelled from Lima to Huacachina on a multi-day itinerary with Peru Hop and, despite an issue with the initial coach from Lima being substituted for a less comfortable mini-bus, I did find the convenience of the rest of the timetable was useful.  I also enjoyed chatting with my fellow travellers and guide, which you may not get so much opportunity for if you go solo by public bus.

Day trip from Lima to Huacachina     

A day trip from Lima to Huacachina would not be my recommended option, as two 4-hour or longer bus journeys in one day are not very comfortable.  It also means you’ll be watching the clock when you could be enjoying all the sandboarding and dune buggies in Huacachina.

However, if you’re really short on time, it is possible to visit Huacachina from Lima in one day, if you get a very early morning public bus, for example, 6 am, and an evening return bus from Ica, for example, 7 pm. 

Alternatively, you can book the Peru Hop Huacachina full day tour and it will pick you up and drop you off at your hotel in Lima.            

How to Get from Ica to Huacachina Peru

Ica is the regional capital and is only a ten-minute drive away from Huacachina.  Taxis will take you from Ica to Huacachina for the equivalent of a few pounds or dollars.

Alternatively, book in advance this highly rated sandboarding and dune buggy tour from Ica, which includes transport from Ica, and save yourself the hassle of arranging taxis and tours separately.

How to Get from Paracas to Huacachina

Paracas is another popular destination near Lima.  Paracas is around an hour from Huacachina oasis, so it’s very easy to visit both Paracas and Huacachina. 

The Peru Hop Huacachina one day tour includes a stop at Paracas and a tour of the Ballestas Islands.

Regular public buses make the journey from Paracas to Ica.  Tickets cost £4 to £9 and onward transport by taxi or day tour is required.

Taxis are also available in Paracas so you could book one to take you all the way to the Huacachina oasis.

How to Get from Huacachina to Cusco

If you want to head over to see the wonders of Machu Picchu and its mountains from Huacachina, it is possible but it’s a very long trip.  Cruz del Sur public buses make the trip, which takes 18 hours and requires two changes of bus.

Peru Hop offers a range of tickets which include both Huacachina and Cusco.  If you choose this option you can also elect to visit Nazca, Arequipa and Lake Titicaca on the way, to maximise your experience of Peru.

Instead of taking a bus all the way, I returned to Lima airport and flew straight over to Cusco, as I was keen to have time to visit some of the other incredible sights near Cusco like Pisac and Palcoyo Rainbow Mountain. I found a great cheap internal flight via Skyscanner, which cost less than £60.

Once you’re in Cusco you’re going to want to get from Cusco to Machu Picchu. This will take a few hours and there is a range of transport options to make the trip, including trains, buses and trekking.

Where to Stay – Hotels in Huacachina Oasis

Huacachina has some party hostels which are great if that’s what you’re looking for.  If not, you’ll want to stay somewhere that’s on the opposite side of the oasis in order to get a good night’s sleep.  You won’t find any luxury hotels in Huacachina, for that you’ll have to book accommodation in nearby Ica.

Budget Huacachina Hostel: Wild Rover

Wild Rover is used by Peru Hop and has a reputation for holding late-night parties.  Book here if you want fun nightlife right on your doorstep.                                     

Mid-range: Hotel Curasi

The Hotel Curasi is on the other side from the Wild Rover and other party hostels so is a good choice if you want to sleep.  I was impressed by the lovely pool, cleanliness and availability of an early breakfast when I stayed here.

Something Different: Ecocamp Huacachina  

For a unique accommodation experience in Huacachina, sleep in this desert tent hotel.  There’s a pool and breakfast on offer but the shared bathrooms might be a deal-breaker for some.  If that’s the case, book the Hotel Curasi instead.

What to Wear in Huacachina

The weather is warm during the day at the Huacachina oasis but it can get chilly in Huacachina at night.  Items you’ll want to pack for Huacachina include:

• A long-sleeved t-shirt to protect your arms if you’re sandboarding in Peru
• Trainers or hiking boots, not slip-ons or flip flops as they will fly off as you fly down the sand dunes           
• Sunglasses to keep all that sand out of your eyes
• A face covering or scarf to keep the sand out of your mouth                    

Is Huacachina Worth Going to?     

Sure, Huacachina is a popular tourist destination and I’ll be honest that I was apprehensive about visiting due to its reputation as a party town on the backpacker circuit.  However, what I found was that although it is touristy and there’s a lively nightlife scene if you want it, the Huacachina desert is also incredibly beautiful. 

The inhospitable landscape of the towering Huacachina sand dunes is unique and this, combined with the extreme activities on offer, makes Huacachina absolutely worth visiting. 

Sandboarding in the Huacachina desert was also a real eye-opener for me.  Not only is the scenery spectacular but it showed me that I’m capable of getting over my fear.  My whole mind and body screamed at me that hurling myself down a bloody steep sand dune was a terrible idea and should be avoided at all costs.

Despite this, some unknown part of me kicked in and had me chucking myself over the top of the dune before I had time to talk myself out of it.  Turns out if you ever needed to practice getting over negative self-talk that’s holding you back, the precipice of a sand dune in Peru is a great place to start. 

The mix of terror and exhilaration is what makes a desert adventure in Huacachina so unforgettable.  It’s one of the most memorable places I’ve ever travelled to.                            

FAQs: Huacachina Oasis: Sandboarding in the Peru Desert                                  

Is There an ATM in Huacachina Oasis?

Yes, there is an ATM in Peru’s Huacachina oasis and I was able to use it on a recent visit.  However, there is only one ATM in Huacachina so if it’s out of action you have to travel to the nearby town of Ica to get cash.

Where is the Desert in Peru? 

The Huacachina desert in Peru is located around 4 hours south of the capital, Lima, towards the west coast.                                                                                

Where Can I Climb Sand Dunes in Peru?       

You can climb to the top of the sand dunes in Peru in the desert oasis of Huacachina, in the west of Peru.                                                

How to Get to Huacachina Peru from Lima?

There are several options to get to Huacachina from Lima.  These include public buses, an organised day trip, private transfers and self-drive.  

Summary: Huacachina Peru Oasis, Sandboarding in the Peru Desert

The Huacachina oasis in Peru is a unique place in the South American continent.  As the sun sets over the enchanting desert landscape, the memories of adrenaline-fueled dune buggy rides and the joy of sandboarding down moon-like slopes will stay with you.

The experiences here are not just exhilarating; they’re awe-inspiring and that’s something that only a place as unique as Huacachina can evoke. So, if you’re seeking adventure and unforgettable stories to tell your friends, rest assured that the happiness you’ll feel from your desert adventure in Huacachina will resonate within you long after you leave this extraordinary oasis behind.