Huacachina

Huacachina (population: 115) is a tiny Peruvian village built around a natural oasis on the outer fringes of a beautiful but barren desert. Anyone who has ever dreamed about seeing the Sahara desert or visiting the vast deserts of the Arabian peninsula will be thrilled by the imposing sand dunes surrounding Huacachina and the palm-tree walkway around the oasis. Only the camels are missing.
Located about 5 hours south of Lima, Huacachina is just a few kilometers from the downtown of Ica. This means that if you are taking the bus to Cuzco, Nazca, or Arequipa, Huacachina is just minutes out of your way!!! Huacachina plays host to a large number of foreign and Peruvian tourists who flock to its sandy banks for two very different reasons: to relax in a hammock and soak in the sun, AND to satisfy their need for adrenaline on the white-knuckle sand buggy tours & sand-boarding down the slopes of 300 feet tall sand dunes.
The "golden age" of Huacachina was from around 1920 to 1950 when wealthy people from various corners of Peru came to soak in the waters of the oasis, which were considered to have medicinal properties. Nowadays it is clear that the golden age of the oasis has passed, and the place has a bit of a decayed appearance, since some of the colonial buildings haven't been well-maintained. However, never in its history has it seen as many visitors as the current era - it is a major hotspot for Peruvian and international tourists.
Huacachina makes a memorable and exciting addition to any trip to Peru. Some tourists turn Huacachina into a two or three day "rest break" on their way to or from other tourist destinations such as Nazca or Cuzco. However many tourists travel great distances just to visit the dunes of Huacachina. We hope to see you here soon, and will endeavor to answer any questions you have about the region.