Huacachina oasis
Dunes, pools, partiesThe village around the lagoon, with hostels at the foot of the dunes.
Oasis guide
Things to do in Huacachina
A palm-fringed lagoon surrounded by giant sand dunes, five minutes from the city of Ica. Dune buggies and sandboarding by day, pool parties by night, and pisco bodegas, Paracas and the Nazca Lines nearby.
11
Hostels in the city
8.4
Average, from 10,355 reviews
2–3
Days with day trips
An oasis in the desert
Huacachina is a tiny village built around a green lagoon in the coastal desert of southern Peru, just outside the city of Ica. Some of the biggest sand dunes in South America rise steeply on every side. Once a resort for wealthy Peruvians, it is now one of the busiest stops on the backpacker route between Lima and Cusco.
The big activity is a dune buggy ride over the sand, with stops to sandboard down the slopes, timed for sunset. Climbing the nearest dune on foot for sunrise or sunset is free. The rest of the day is spent by hostel pools, and the village has a party reputation at night.
Huacachina itself needs a night or two, but the area fills more days. Ica's valley is the heart of pisco and wine production, with bodegas offering tours and tastings, Paracas and the Ballestas Islands are an hour north, and the Nazca Lines are around two and a half hours south. Most travellers spend two or three days here.
Where to base yourself
Stay in Huacachina for the dunes and the hostel scene, or in Ica for cheaper beds and a local city, five minutes away by taxi.
Ica centre
Cheaper, localThe city five minutes away, with markets, bus terminals and cheaper food.
Orange labels are neighbourhoods, dots are the 6 top-rated hostels. Map data from OpenStreetMap contributors.
Things to do
Things to do in Huacachina
Take a dune buggy tour in the late afternoon. Buggies race up and down the dunes, stopping at the tops for sandboarding, usually lying on your front down the steeper slopes, and for the sunset over the desert. Choose a well-reviewed operator with seatbelts and a careful driver, as accidents have happened.
Climb the dune above the lagoon at sunrise or sunset for the view over the oasis; it is steep and hard work in soft sand. Rent a board to try it on your own, or hire a pedalo on the lagoon.
Visit the pisco bodegas around Ica, from small traditional producers to large estates, for tours and tastings of pisco and local wine. Paracas, an hour north, has boat trips to the Ballestas Islands, with sea lions, penguins and seabirds, and a desert reserve with red beaches. The Nazca Lines, giant ancient figures drawn in the desert, are best seen on a short flight from Nazca or from Pisco.
Free things
And what it costs nothing to do
Climbing the dunes around the lagoon is free, and the views at sunrise and sunset are the best thing in Huacachina. Go early to avoid the heat.
Walking around the lagoon and the village costs nothing. Some bodegas offer free short tastings, especially small family producers.
The Plaza de Armas in Ica is a short taxi ride away and free to explore.
Food and drink
Eating and drinking
Huacachina's restaurants are mostly aimed at travellers and a little pricey. For cheaper, local food, go to Ica, where menús cost a few euros.
Ica is the pisco capital of Peru. Try pisco sours, chilcanos and tejas, sweets filled with dulce de leche and fruit. Carapulcra, a stew of dried potato and pork, and sopa seca are local dishes.
The bodegas sell pisco and wine at good prices.
Nightlife
Going out
Huacachina has a lively party scene for its size, centred on a few big hostels with bars, pools and DJ nights. It is busy most nights of the week.
The rest of the village has a handful of bars around the lagoon.
Keep valuables locked up, never leave a drink unattended, and do not swim in the lagoon at night.
Getting around
Getting around
Huacachina is tiny and walkable. Taxis take five minutes to Ica, where the bus companies have their terminals.
Buses from Lima take around four to five hours, and from Paracas around one hour. Buses south to Nazca take around two and a half hours, and on to Arequipa overnight. Some backpacker bus services stop in Huacachina directly.
Nazca flights leave from Nazca, and from Pisco near Paracas.
Costs
What Huacachina costs
Huacachina is a little pricier than Ica. Dorm beds start around €9, with well-rated hostels from €10 to €16, and restaurants cost more than in town.
Dune buggy tours are good value, though there is a small fee to enter the dunes. Bodega tours are cheap or free. Ballestas boat trips and Nazca flights are the main extras.
Carry cash in soles for buggies, taxis and the bodegas.
Safety
Safety and scams
Huacachina is generally safe, but theft from hostel rooms and on the dunes happens. Use lockers and do not leave belongings unattended.
Dune buggy accidents have happened. Choose a well-reviewed operator, wear the seatbelt and ask the driver to slow down if needed. Sandboard on your front only on gentle slopes, and keep your feet up.
The desert is very hot and sunny by day and cold at night, so carry water and sun cream. Avoid walking the dunes alone after dark. In an emergency, call 105 for police or 106 for an ambulance.
Worth leaving the oasis for
Pisco country, wildlife islands and mysterious lines.
Paracas and the Ballestas Islands
Boat trips to islands of sea lions, penguins and seabirds.
Nazca Lines
Giant ancient figures in the desert, seen from a small plane.
Paracas National Reserve
Desert cliffs and red beaches.
What's on
What is on while you are there
Harvest festivals and pisco celebrations.
March
Festival de la Vendimia
Ica
The grape harvest festival, with grape-stomping, parades and pisco.
First Saturday of February
Día del Pisco Sour
Ica and nationwide
A day for Peru's national cocktail.
Hostels
Where to stay
The highest-rated hostels in Huacachina, straight from Hostelworld. Prices and availability are live on each property page.
Wild Rover Huacachina
Dorms from €9 a night
See dates and book
Banana's Adventure
Dorms from €22 a night
See dates and book
Viajero Huacachina Hostel
Dorms from €11 a night
See dates and book
La Casa de Bamboo
Rooms from €22 a night
See dates and book
The Upcycled Hostel
Dorms from €13 a night
See dates and book
Wild Olive Guest house
Dorms from €7 a night
See dates and book
When to go
Huacachina is dry and sunny all year. December to March is very hot. June to September is cooler, with misty mornings on the coast nearby.
Jan
Hot, busy holidays
Feb
Hottest
Mar
Hot. Grape harvest
Apr
Warm
May
Pleasant
Jun
Cooler
Jul
Cool, busy
Aug
Cool
Sep
Warming up
Oct
Warm
Nov
Warm
Dec
Hot
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average highs, rounded. It almost never rains.
What your trip will cost
Per night, for one person, based on Huacachina prices.
Treat these as a guide. Nazca flights and Ballestas tours cost extra.
—
- Beds—
- Food and drink—
- Getting around—
- Doing things—
Huacachina questions
The ones we get asked most.
How long should I stay in Huacachina?
A night or two for the dunes, and two or three days with the bodegas, Paracas or the Nazca Lines.
Are dune buggies in Huacachina safe?
Mostly, but accidents have happened. Choose a well-reviewed operator and wear your seatbelt.
Can you swim in the Huacachina lagoon?
It is not recommended. The water is not clean, and the hostel pools are a better option.
How do I get to Huacachina?
Take a bus to Ica, around four to five hours from Lima, then a five-minute taxi.
Can I see the Nazca Lines from Huacachina?
Yes, on a day trip to Nazca for a flight, around two and a half hours away, or from Pisco near Paracas.
Is Huacachina a party place?
A few big hostels run parties most nights. It is easy to find somewhere quieter too.
When is the best time to visit?
Any time. It almost never rains. December to March is very hot.
Also trending this week
Say yes to hostels, meet the world
Compare hostels in Huacachina: live prices, real reviews and free cancellation on most bookings. Then meet the people already there in the app.
Get the App.