Huacachina is a desert oasis in Peru – it’s a must-see on any visit to the country.
(Photo: Getyourguide.com)
If you thought Peru was all about mountains and the coast, think again. The South American country has one must-see destination that is unlike anything you might expect to see. Located five hours from Lima, Huacachina is the only natural desert oasis in South America and also home to the biggest sand dunes in the continent. Not only is the lake and the village that surrounds it a unique place to visit, it is also somewhere where you can try sandboarding or take a dune buggy tour. Here is a comparison of Huacachina day trips from Lima.
From Lima: Paracas, Ica, and Huacachina Day Tour
As days out go, it’s hard to imagine fitting much more in. This tour has, unsurprisingly, an early start, picking up passengers in Downtown Lima, San Isidro, Westin Hotel and Miraflores, before heading to the Ballestas Islands where you have the chance to catch a glimpse of sea lions, penguins and other birds. Before arriving at Huacachina, there is a stop at a vineyard in Ica to taste wines and piscos, with a chance to learn how to make a Pisco Sour. After lunch, and if you have energy left, there is the highlight of the day – a visit to the oasis of Huacachina, with activities such as tube rides and sandboarding. You’ll be back in Lima by 10pm, with a stop at a souvenir shop en route if there is time. From €58.86.
Book at Getyourguide.com
From Lima: Paracas and Huacachina Oasis Full Day Tour
This is a similar tour to the above, albeit without the stop at the vineyard – we’ll leave it up to you to decide if that is a good or bad thing. It’s still a jam-packed day, with a two-hour boat tour of the Ballestas Islands, before a transfer to Huacachina. Thankfully there is some free time factored in to sit back and enjoy this natural wonder, before hopping in a buggy and heading up the dunes where you’ll strap on a sandboard to cruise down. It’s a long bus ride back to Lima but a good time to kick back and take it all in – you’ll be back in the city around 11.45pm. From €66.52.
Book at Getyourguide.com
The Nazca Lines & Huacachina Oasis from Lima
This top-rated tour may be more pricey than the others but it is really rather special. Not only does the tour include a trip to Huacachine Oasis for sandboarding and a dune buggy experience, it also takes to the skies to see another of Peru’s incredible sights. You’ll board a small plane from Nazca airport to see the Nazca Lines from the air, huge geoglyphs made in the soil of the Nazca Desert in Peru – it is the only viewpoint to really experience these ancient drawings, created between 500 BC and 500 AD. The tour is a small group with a maximum of 14 people with a knowledgeable guide to explain everything you need to knnow along the way. From €461.25.
Book at Viator.com