What activities can be done in Huacachina?
Have you ever thought about visiting an oasis in the middle of the desert? This is your chance! Huacachina is a paradise from every angle — a tourist attraction you simply can't miss.
To help you discover and enjoy this unique place, in this article we'll tell you what activities can be done in Huacachina so you can have a dream trip.
The legend of the Huacachina Lagoon
Before we tell you what to do in Huacachina, let us share with you the magical story behind this place that makes it even more fascinating.
According to this well-known legend, a maiden named Huacachina (which means “the woman who cries” in Quechua) fell in love with a brave young warrior. Shortly after they got married, the warrior had to go off to war and lost his life in battle.
Heartbroken, the maiden went every day to the place where they had met to cry for her lost love. After many days of nonstop weeping, her tears formed a small lagoon.
One full moon night, a warrior passing by saw her crying and tried to approach to help her. Upon seeing him, Huacachina got frightened and threw herself into the waters of the lagoon.
She stayed in the water for a long time until the warrior left. When she tried to come out, she realized that instead of legs, she now had a fin — the maiden had turned into a mermaid.
According to this legend, every full moon night, Huacachina emerges from the lagoon to mourn her lost love.
Facts about Huacachina
The Huacachina oasis is located 307 kilometers from the city of Lima and 5 kilometers from the city of Ica.
It is a beautiful place nestled in the middle of the Pacific coastal desert at 400 meters above sea level.
The climate here is generally mild, with little rainfall, although the humidity becomes more noticeable during the summer. The average annual temperatures are 27°C (80°F) as the maximum and 17°C (62°F) as the minimum.
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Top 13 Activities You Can Do in Huacachina
There are various activities you can enjoy in Huacachina, whether you visit on a full-day tour or decide to stay overnight.
This oasis is an ideal place to spend a few days relaxing in tranquility, to enjoy the nights, and also to dive into adventure. In other words, it has it all!
That’s why we’re listing everything you can do here, so you’ll have a guide when you visit this incredible destination.
1 – Dune buggy rides:
If you're wondering what to do in Huacachina, you should know this is a perfect place to try out some adventure sports, such as taking a dune buggy ride.
This ride takes you across the desert in a unique way. The drivers of these buggies are known for giving you a thrilling experience, racing up and down the sand dunes at full speed.
If you don’t want to miss out on this one-of-a-kind adventure, we want to let you know that Guru Explorers offers the Huacachina and Paracas Full Day Tour, where you can fully enjoy this ride.
2 – Sandboarding:
Continuing with the adventure sports available in the Huacachina oasis, there’s sandboarding, which is done with a board and is similar to snowboarding — but on sand.
From the top of a dune, you’ll have the chance to learn the best moves to launch yourself with the board at full speed and slide down the sand. An injection of pure adrenaline and excitement.
To enjoy this experience to the fullest, you should know that Guru Explorers offers the Best of Huacachina and Paracas in 2 Days Tour, where adventure takes center stage.
3 – Boat ride on the lagoon:
Among the activities Huacachina has to offer, we can’t leave out the option of taking a boat ride on the lagoon itself. You can rent a pedal boat for 2 people or a rowboat for up to 6 people. This is the best way to explore the lagoon, since swimming in it is not recommended. That way, you can enjoy a different view of the oasis, along with its surrounding vegetation and dunes.
4 – Glamping in the desert:
Without a doubt, glamping in the desert is one of the best activities you can do in Huacachina. Glamorous camping in the middle of the desert and sleeping under the stars is an experience well worth living.
To enjoy this unforgettable adventure, Guru Explorers offers the Glamping in the Huacachina Desert Tour, where you’ll experience a night unlike any other.
You’ll have dinner under the desert night sky, enjoy a bonfire, and sleep in a campsite equipped with everything needed for comfort. The tents and common areas are carefully arranged down to the last detail.
5 – Watching the sunset in the desert:
If you're wondering what to see in Huacachina, we must tell you that the sunset is one of the most stunning sights you can witness in this oasis in the middle of the desert.
The sand dunes provide the perfect setting for this magnificent spectacle. That’s why, if you go on a dune buggy ride or do sandboarding in the afternoon, you can take advantage of the opportunity to watch the sunset from the top of the dunes at the perfect time.
If that’s not the case, you can also walk to the exact spot on the dunes where the last rays of sunlight can be seen.
Here you’ll be able to take incredible photos, and this activity is one of the most romantic things to do as a couple. The moment the sun disappears is something you will surely never forget.
6 – Visit a pisco distillery:
If you're visiting Huacachina, you should take the opportunity to explore some of the vineyards located in the Ica region, a city just 5 kilometers away.
Since pisco is Peru’s most iconic drink, visiting a distillery to learn about its production process is a must.
To do this, we want to tell you that Guru Explorers offers the Huacachina + Ballestas Islands + Pisco Winery Full Day Tour, in which you can visit La Caravedo, one of the oldest distilleries in Latin America.
During a guided tour, you’ll learn about the history of the place and its old facilities, the different types of grapes, and the process of making Peruvian pisco. You’ll also have the chance to taste the delicious pisco made right there on-site.
7 – Trekking through the dunes:
The impressive dunes of the Huacachina desert can also be explored on foot. Besides the dune buggy rides, if you’re a fan of adventure, you can venture into the desert with a scenic hike across these vast sand dunes.
This is something that can be done individually, but you also have the option of hiring a local guide who can take you along the various trails and paths available for exploring the dunes.
The experience is captivating, and the views from the top of the route are absolutely unforgettable.
To make the most of this activity, we recommend bringing water, sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, and comfortable footwear.
8 – Have a picnic in the desert:
Have you ever imagined having a luxury picnic in the middle of the desert? In Huacachina, it’s possible! This is another unmissable activity you can enjoy in this fantastic oasis.
Guru Explorers offers an exclusive Private Picnic in Huacachina, which will make your stay in this location even more unforgettable.
This private desert picnic is the ideal setting to enjoy the unique landscape created by the surrounding sand dunes.
You’ll have all the amenities to enjoy a comfortable evening inside a specially arranged tent, with every decorative detail carefully curated — including flowers, rugs, cushions, and lamps.
You’ll also enjoy an exquisite menu served by a waiter, including delights such as skewers, liquor truffles, sponge rolls, olives, a cheese board, charcuterie, and beverages like wine, pisco, and mojitos.
This picnic is a premium exclusive service that will leave you with the best memories of your stay in Huacachina.
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9 – Paracas National Reserve:
Very close to Huacachina, less than an hour and a half away, is the Paracas National Reserve. This is an important coastal area that holds incredible natural wealth to discover.
This region of Paracas was declared a National Reserve to protect its vital marine and coastal ecosystems.
To visit this unmissable natural wonder, Guru Explorers offers the Huacachina + Paracas Full Day Tour (Natural Reserve + Ballestas Islands), through which you can explore the main viewpoints, its vast virgin beaches, and observe the marine flora and fauna that characterize this fantastic place.
It’s worth noting that the views from the reserve’s lookouts are unmissable, and the photos you’ll capture from here will be breathtaking.
10 – Dining in the Huacachina desert:
Having the chance to dine in the middle of the desert is clearly not something we get to do every day. And this is, without a doubt, something worth experiencing when visiting Huacachina.
You should know that Guru Explorers offers the exclusive Dinner in the Huacachina Desert service, where you’ll have the opportunity to enjoy a unique evening—a very original alternative to typical dinners in bars and restaurants.
Here, everything will be arranged for your comfort, including the service of a private chef and a waiter.
The dinner site will be warmly set up and elegantly decorated with candles, a bonfire, cushions, canopies, and everything needed to create a cozy and pleasant atmosphere.
During dinner, you’ll enjoy delicious dishes such as cheese-stuffed tequeños, mini meat empanadas, grilled meats, roasted chorizo, potatoes, and grilled vegetable salad. Everything is designed to offer a spectacular evening in the desert.
11 – Strolling along the Malecón:
When thinking about tourist attractions to see in Huacachina, a stroll along the malecón (boardwalk) is a must. Here, you’ll find a variety of bars and restaurants perfect for refreshing yourself with a beer or a Pisco Sour, as well as spots to try the delicious traditional dishes of the region. It’s the ideal place to enjoy the local gastronomy.
It’s also where you’ll find night pubs that attract many young tourists looking to party.
Additionally, it’s a great spot for a peaceful walk along the edge of the lagoon while taking in the surrounding landscape.
Some bars even have terraces that offer beautiful panoramic views of the lagoon and the desert.
12 – Boat tour to the Ballestas Islands:
Another tourist attraction near Huacachina is the Ballestas Islands.
To visit them, you’ll need to take a boat tour departing from the port of Paracas. This is an unmissable experience, especially if you’re a nature lover.
These islands, filled with rocky formations, are part of the Paracas National Reserve and serve as a natural habitat for a variety of marine wildlife such as Humboldt penguins, sea lions, and pelicans, among others.
Taking a boat ride to get up close to all the animal species that inhabit these islands is truly thrilling.
13 – Discover the Nazca Lines
146 kilometers from Huacachina lies one of Peru’s greatest mysteries: the Nazca Lines.
These lines are etched into the desert and form a group of geoglyphs, some of which are up to 300 meters in length.
To observe them, it is necessary to fly over the area, and for this, Guru Explorers offers the ideal tour. On the 2-Day, 1-Night Huacachina + Paracas + Nazca Lines Tour, you’ll enjoy a 30-minute flight over the 17 main figures, which represent animals and plants.
Flying over the Nazca Lines is the best way to truly grasp the magnitude of this spectacular site.
Conclusions
Undoubtedly, the Huacachina oasis in the middle of the desert is a must-see stop if you’re visiting Peru.
As we've seen, it offers a wide range of activities and nearby tourist attractions that can make your trip a truly unique experience.
Its natural features make it an exceptionally special place.
Remember that Guru Explorers offers a variety of Tours in Huacachina so you don’t miss the chance to explore this paradise.