The Huacachina Oasis in Ica Peru

Last Updated on January 8, 2024 by James Bustamante

The Oasis of Huacachina in Ica, Peru is a beautiful island amid a sea of sand that drives many travelers every year towards the city of Ica. This pleasant destination is full of great activities that will be a high point for the younger crowd of travelers as well as the older more adventurous ones. Let’s take a look at this tiny destination’s history, legend, and list of activities for travelers to take up. 

What is The Huacachina Oasis?

The original Huacachina Lagoon was formed through a series of streams that deviated from an underground river. These waterways created the lagoon which allowed vegetation to grow in the middle of this arid desert, this, in turn, became the Huacachina Oasis.

Among other species, as you walk through the area you will find Eucalyptus and Palm trees decorating the Oasis. 

In the 1960s Huacachina lagoon became one of the most exclusive summer destinations for Peruvians. It was also suggested that the underground spring waters had healing properties due to the high sulfur and salt content. This is not the case today and we do not recommend you swim through the Huacachina lagoon. 

The flow of the underground stream has dried out through the years, this resulted in the local population using artificial means to keep the lagoon full.

Today, the Huacachina Oasis is surrounded by a path for tourists to walk around the lagoon, hotels, hostels, restaurants, and beautiful scenery. 

The Emerald green waters are also visited by migrating birds that stop by to rest. Since we are so close to the Paracas national reserve, we might be able to spot some of the species that are on their way there. 

What is The Legend of The Huacachina Lagoon?

There are variations to the story but this is the most popular one. The legend states that a woman that lived in a town called “Tacara” fell in love with a young Inca warrior. Unknown to the woman, the Inca warrior had died some time ago and when she found out she set out to where they had originally met.

She dried for many days and many nights to where the lagoon was formed. One day, the young maiden saw that an unknown Inca warrior was passing by the lagoon. As he walked by he began to look at her, the young maiden jumped into the water to hide from the young man. She waited for many hours until the warrior finally decided to leave.

When she tried to walk out of the lagoon she realized her body had changed and was now a mermaid. The legend continues to say that once, every time there is a full moon the maiden can leave the lake and will continue to cry over her fallen warrior. The maiden’s name was Huaca China, which is Quechua (the language of the Incas) for “the crying woman”.

A second version of the legend says that the maiden was actually an Inca princess “Huacachina” was crying over her fallen warrior. As she cried she used a mirror and noticed there was a man standing behind her. As she ran, her garments ripped and turned into the sand dunes, her mirror fell, broke into many pieces, and turned into the lagoon. Finally, the woman turned into the mermaid that lives in the water, calling out to her lost warrior under the full moon. 

There is even a much darker version of the legend. It ends with the mermaid looking to find young men to drown in the lake every full moon, thinking they are the Inca warrior she fell in love with many years ago. 

Where is The Huacachina Oasis Located?

The Huacachina Oasis or the Huacachina village is located just outside the city of Ica, around a 15-20 minute long drive in the Southwestern region of Peru. 

How Do I Get to Huacachina?

To reach the Huacachina Oasis in Ica we head South from Lima for 4 hours and 15 minutes. We take the route called “Panamericana Sur” until we reach Chincha, then the port of Pisco, and then take the 1S exit to Huacachina. The ride is very straightforward as you can see from the map of Lima to Huacachina above. 

Is There a Bus to Huacachina?

There are a few options if you want to take the bus to Huacachina. You can take a Cruz del Sur, Soyuz or Cial to the city of Ica and at the bus terminal hire a taxi to take you to Huacachina. The same process applies when returning to Lima, just take a cab to the bus terminal in Ica and buy a bus ticket from one of the bus companies we mentioned above. 

Travelers Tips: Out of the three companies mentioned we recommend taking the Cruz del Sur if you are taking the bus. It is the more expensive option but it also has the best safety record out of the three. 

Activities in Huacachina

There is no lack of activities in Huacachina. The hotels and Sand dunes provide ample things to do during your stay. Below we go over some of the things you can do in or near the Huacachina Oasis. 

Sandboarding 

Sandboarding might be to Huacachina what hiking is to Machu Picchu. Enjoy sliding down the massive sand dunes that surround this small oasis. Most hotels will have sandboards they rent out to their guests. From there the process is quite simple. You walk up the massive sand dunes and just like snowboarding, slide down the slopes. The sand is very fine so there is little chance of running into pebbles. This is the easiest and quickest way to sandboard in Huacachina. The other route is taking out the Dune buggies. 

Dune Buggies

One of the most fun experiences anyone will have in Huacachina is without question the Dune buggy rides. We go out into the Ica desert and ride until we reach Sand dunes that look like mountains. The dune buggies are not a soft ride by any means but that simply adds to the feeling of the trip.

Once we reach the top of each massive sand dune you can take pictures of the surrounding desert or, if you are up to it, Sandboard down the dunes. If you are a bit apprehensive about standing on the sandboard then you can lay on your stomach and go sand sledding down the fine slopes.

Paddle Boats in Huacachina Lagoon

If you are looking for a more relaxing activity in the Huacachina village then we suggest taking out the paddle boats for a row. These small paddle boats fit two people and are great low impact activity for anyone that wants to relax by the lagoon.

Fly Over The Nazca Lines

One of the best parts regarding staying at Huacachina is that it can be a hub for taking tours around this part of Peru. The Nazca lines flyover tour for example can be booked while in Ica. We can then head to the local airport to begin the tour.

After Machu Picchu, the Nazca lines is probably one of the most requested things to see by travelers. These giant geoglyphs are a mere 2 hours from Huacachina so take at least one day to plan this trip if you are interested.

The Paracas Nature Reserve and Ballestas Islands

The Paracas nature reserve and the Ballestas Islands are ver near to Huacachina. Head down to the ports and take a boat tour to the Ballestas Islands where you will be able to see penguins, seals, sea lions, and rare sea birds as well. This nature reserve is home to many species that are migrating from around the continent. There are even some species that are so rare, they can only be seen in this part of the world. 

Pisco and Wine Tasting Tours

The spirit known as Pisco originates in this part of the world, there is even a town called Pisco which you can visit. During your stay in Huacachina make sure to include a tour to the local vineyards to check out how wine and of course Pisco is made. This is a very popular activity with travelers so make sure to have this booked ahead of time. Each vineyard provides its own tour (and tasting menu) and the best ones tend to book quickly. 

When is The Best Time to Travel to Huacachina?

The Huacachina Oasis is part of a Pacific desert. This means the climate is arid and hot all year so it makes little difference when in the year you decide to visit. It is very unlikely to rain at any point so if you want a destination with almost a 100% chance of sun then the Huacachina Oasis is a great place to be. 

Where to Stay in Huacachina?

The Huacachina oasis as you can imagine is quite popular and has been increasing in popularity every year. Luckily, the village has many hotels and hostels to choose from for accommodations.

You will find some very inexpensive hostels to 3-star accommodations in some nice hotels. Since many tours and activities begin in Huacachina there are also restaurants and cafes for you to relax in. 

Huacachina does have its drawbacks though, some hostels and even some hotels will not have the best service. This is due to the more “adventure style” nature of Huacachina.

Some establishments won’t have very good wifi but that is kind of to be expected, we are surrounded by massive sand dunes right in the middle of a desert after all. The cheaper hostels won’t have air conditioning either. 

Here is a list of hotels: https://bit.ly/3eHxMXp

Tips for Visiting The Huacachina Oasis

The Huacachina oasis is located in the desert so it makes sense to come prepared. Below are some items we believe you should bring to Huacachina. 

• Your Passport
• Sandals for the day to day activities
• Sneakers or any comfortable shoe for riding dune buggies and sandboarding.
• Sunscreen/sunblock/hats/caps or anything that protects you from the sun.
• Sunglasses with UV protection, remember we are in the desert. 
• Sweatshirt or a jacket – The temperatures can drop in the evenings and early mornings. 
• Cash is always a great item to bring, preferably in Peruvian soles.
• Swimsuit or swim trunks – This is so you can swim at the pool located in your hotel and not the lagoon which we do not recommend doing.

Frequently Asked Questions