Huacachina Oasis Peru: 2023 Updated Information

How to get to huacachina

Huacachina is located close to the city of Ica, just 4 hours south of Lima. The small oasis can only be reached by land with the following 2 options for those traveling:

Peru Hop bus directly to Huacachina

Peru Hop is the only direct bus to Huacachina, with buses going from Lima to Huacachina and Cusco to Huacachina, as well as from Paracas, Nazca, Arequipa, etc., saving you the hassle of taking a taxi with all your bags from and to Ica.

Public bus

If taking a public bus, you would need to take a bus from Lima to Ica or Cusco to Ica. Once in Ica, you would need to find a local taxi to then take you to the oasis of Huacachina. To leave Huacachina, you would need to do the same. The Lonely Planet currently states that this is the only way to get to Huacachina, but actually Peru Hop buses have direct entry to the oasis, like previously mentioned, due to having the necessary license.

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Must do in huacachina

Sandboarding and dune buggying the sand dunes

This tiny village is home to less than 1,000 local people, but every day fresh influxes of travelers arrive to do one of THE must-do activities in Peru… sandboarding down the famous Huacachina dunes! The local guides take travelers on a tour of these dunes on incredibly powerful (and safe!) dune buggies, flying over large humps in what seems to be a never-ending desert of sand. This in itself is awesome, but it gets even better as they have the option to sandboard down some of these huge dunes! This can be exciting as well as nerve-racking and often you will end up with a face full of sand but it’s nothing a quick shower won’t fix! Snowboarding is world-famous, but sandboarding is thrilling, faster, and much much cheaper… an absolute must-do for anybody who visits Huacachina.

Apart from Huacachina, Ica is also famous for its Pisco and wine vineyards. Pisco is the national drink of Peru, and Ica is often called the home of Pisco. We take you on a Pisco Vineyard tour where you will discover the history of this drink, see how it is made, as well as get to try a few samples of this deliciously refreshing drink. Peru is very proud of its Pisco and you simply cannot come to Ica without having a few glasses of Peru’s national drink!

And probably one of the simplest things to do, is one of our favorites: watch the amazing sunset from the sand dunes. The incredible views mixed with desert scenery is a must-see!

Peru is open!

Peru Hop is the only company offering flexible
date change until 2024 at NO extra cost.

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huacachina Safety Tips

Huacachina is very small, try to bring cash with you as there are NO ATM outlets.
Bring sunscreen, it is nearly always sunny and hot.
Beware of pickpockets and never carry your passport/credit card unless 100% necessary.

If you take a public bus and get off in Ica, be VERY careful about what taxi you take to Huacachina. Many taxis in Ica have been known to take people to hotels that they have deals with, or try to scam tourists in other ways, so take extra care if you do have to take a taxi from Ica to Huacachina.

Where to stay in huacachina

Wild Rover Hostel
Up to 10% OFF

Excellent for:

Backpackers
Solo travelers

Why guests love it:

Lively bar
Day/night parties
Pool

ROOM TYPE	NORMAL PRICE	PERU HOP PRICE
LARGE DORM P/B	14 USD PP	10 USD PP
MEDIUM DORM P/B	16 USD PP	12 USD PP
SMALL DORM P/B	18 USD PP	14 USD PP
DOUBLE/TWIN P/B	56 USD PR	45 USD PR
PP: per person \| PR: per room \| P/B: private bathroom

Description:
Hostel with a lively bar until 1am. Excellent food, parties and atmosphere from the famous Irish hostel chain. Pod style dorm beds and privates available.

Facilities:
Great food in the bar & restaurant, big swimming pool and chill area, Wi-Fi, travel desk. Breakfast not included.

Peru Hop Deal:
Up to 10% OFF IN DORMS for Peru Hop passengers

Wild Olive Guest House
Up to 20% OFF

Excellent for:

Couples
Solo travelers
Older travelers

Why guests love it:

Great food
Pool
Common kitchen

ROOM TYPE	NORMAL PRICE	PERU HOP PRICE
8 BED DORM	12 USD PP	10 USD PP
DOUBLE S/B	32 USD PR	29 USD PR
DOUBLE P/B	40 USD PR	36 USD PR
FAMILY ROOM (6 PEOPLE) P/B	66 USD PR	59 USD PR
PP: per person \| PR: per room P/B: private bathroom \| S/B: shared bathroom