Huacachina Travel Guide

2023 Update

huacachina Brief Summary:

  • Huacachina is a stunning Desert Oasis located 1 hour from Paracas, 4 hours South of Lima.
  • Huacachina has the largest sand dunes in South America and is Peru’s fastest growing destination.
  • How to get to Huacachina: By Bus, no Airport. Peru Hop is the ONLY bus that goes direct to Huacachina Oasis, the rest go to Ica.
  • What to do in Huacachina: Dune Buggy and Sandboarding Tour, Pisco Vineyard Tour, lunch at the Oasis.
  • You can visit Huacachina on a Day Trip from Lima with Peru Hop or stop off on your way from Lima to Cusco or Cusco to Lima
  • Official Information website: www.huacachina.com

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.

Find The Perfect Pass To Get To huacachina

Must do in huacachina

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!

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

Excellent for:

  • Backpackers
  • Solo travelers

Why guests love it:

  • Lively bar
  • Day/night parties
  • Pool
ROOM TYPENORMAL PRICEPERU HOP PRICE
LARGE DORM P/B14 USD PP10 USD PP
MEDIUM DORM P/B16 USD PP12 USD PP
SMALL DORM P/B18 USD PP14 USD PP
DOUBLE/TWIN P/B56 USD PR45 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

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 DORM12 USD PP10 USD PP
DOUBLE S/B32 USD PR29 USD PR
DOUBLE P/B40 USD PR36 USD PR
FAMILY ROOM (6 PEOPLE) P/B 66 USD PR59 USD PR
PP: per person | PR: per room P/B: private bathroom | S/B: shared bathroom

Description:
Converted colonial family house next to the lagoon, with high ceilings, trendy decor and a social atmosphere.

Facilities:
Kitchen for guests, free pool access, free Wi-Fi, Netflix, and large family style living room. Italian restaurant.

Peru Hop Deal:
Up to 20% OFF for Peru Hop passengers

Excellent for:

  • Families
  • Couples
  • Older travelers

Why guests love it:

  • Swimming pool
  • Breakfast included
  • Great food
Room TypeNormal PricePeru Hop Price
Single56 USD PR49 USD PR
Double70 USD PR60 USD PR
Twin70 USD PR60 USD PR
Triple78 USD PR72 USD PR
Quadruple94 USD PR85 USD PR
PR: per room

Description: 
Hostel accommodation with beautiful views of the oasis.

Facilities: 
Private Rooms, pool, excellent breakfast.

Peru Hop Deal: 
Up to 10% OFF for Peru Hop passengers,

Most popular trips including huacachina

#1 rated on Tripadvisor!

Full 1 Day Tour
(Paracas + Huacachina)

The OFFICIAL #1 thing to do in Lima as voted by Tripadvisor users!

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Full South To Cusco

For those who want to visit all of Peru