Huacachina Peru: Is the Desert Oasis Worth It?

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Are you planning a trip to Peru and wondering if Huacachina is actually worth it?

Huacachina is a tiny desert oasis, near Ica. I spent 2 nights in there feeling like I had accidentally wandered onto another planet, or the set of a movie… Star Wars perhaps.

In this post, I’m breaking down what Huacachina is really like, what I loved, what I didn’t and whether it deserves a spot on your Peru itinerary.

feet hanging over sand dunes in Huacachina

Quick Tips for visiting Huacachina

Where to stay: Bananas Hostel is my top recommendation. The vibes are vibing and it is right next to the entrance to the dunes.

An experience worth booking: Sand boarding at sunset

Best restaurant: This one – I got the Tallarin Saltado and it was absolutely delicious!

Is Huacachina, Peru Worth it?

Table of Contents

My honest opinion

Okay let’s get real for a second.

1. I had been wanting to visit Huacachina for years. On my first trip to Peru, I briefly looked into going there but was scared away by how far away it was from everything and the fact that I would have had to catch a public bus there.

2. Since that first trip, Huacachina had become much more popular and seemingly accessible and touristy and so my expectations were pretty low.

When I finally arrived in Huacachina with my friend Candace, I was blown away by the enormity of the sand dunes. Yes, the small town is essentially a tourist town in a nutshell but it is so unique and beautiful. We checked into our accommodation at Bananas Adventure Hostel (which by the way was my favourite place that we stayed at in Huacachina. We moved to the Ecocamp on the 2nd night), and I was immediately in love with the entire place and excited to start exploring. I don’t know what got me more, the cute tiki bar in our hotel or the sand dunes towering above us.

girl sitting on top of sand dunes looking down at desert oasis in peru

We used Huacachina as a base for a few days and while we were there, went on a day trip see the Nazca Lines.

From enjoying the vibes of the restaurants, to taking sunset photos on top of the dunes, I really really enjoyed my 2 nights in Huacachina and I probably could have happily spent 1 more night there.

So yes, I think if you like photography and/or adrenaline activities like sandboarding and dune buggies, or even just want to enjoy a romantic night camping in the desert, then Huacachina is totally worth it!

4 things I loved about Huacachina

1. The scale of the sand dunes

I’m not exaggerating when I say the scale of the sand dunes in Huacachina absolutely blew me away. I’ve seen sand dunes before. I’ve even been to the Sahara Desert and seen the sand dunes there. But the ones in Huacachina were HUGE. It might be the contrast between the oasis and the dunes, making them appear larger but all I can say is photos don’t do Huacachina justice.

2. The social but relaxed vibe

Huacachina has a fun, social atmosphere without feeling overwhelming. It’s easy to make new friends, enjoy a drink or just hang out by the pool, especially if you’re staying somewhere like Bananas.

3. The epic sunsets in the dunes

I could have stayed an extra few nights just to experience more magical sunsets. Climbing the dunes for sunset was one of my favourite moments of the entire trip. The lighting, the shadows and the views over the oasis are incredible, especially if you enjoy photography like me.

4. How unique it feels

An oasis town surrounded by desert in the middle of Peru feels almost unreal. It’s completely different from anywhere else I visited on my trip, which made it feel special rather than just another stop.

girl sitting on sand dunes at sunset in Huacachina

3 things I didn’t love about Huacachina

1. It’s very touristy

Huacachina was literally built for tourism and as soon as you arrive, you can tell. If you are looking for an authentic, local town in Peru to experience the culture, this isn’t it.

2. Sand gets everywhere

The sand here is made up of SUCH tiny grains that it really truly sticks to everything. I accidentally brought a bunch back home with me that I didn’t realise was stuck to my backpack which I then packed into my suitcase.

I also have a video of me emptying my shoes after the sunset session on the dunes. By the time we were back, it felt like I had huge platform inserts in my shoes from so much sand building up! Be extra careful with your valuables here. I was super worried about my camera but it survived.

3. Everything revolves around tours

Most activities are centred around dune buggies, sand boarding or overnight desert experiences. If adventure activities aren’t your thing, your options are more limited.

4. It’s a little hard to get to

Huacachina is a little out of the way, especially if you are short on time. There are a few different ways to get to Huacachina from Lima with the easiest being to join a day tour.

Who Huacachina is for

Huacachina is for travellers who enjoy unique landscapes, photography and adventure. If you like adrenaline activities like sandboarding or dune buggies or if you want a fun, social stop to add to your Peru itinerary, you’ll probably love it.

It’s also great if you want to change it up and experience something completely different to Lima or Cusco and don’t mind that it’s a little touristy.

Who Huacachina isn’t for

If you hate sand or highly touristy destinations, then Huacachina is probably not for you. It’s also not the right sort of place, if you are looking for deep, cultural experiences or quiet slow travel. If you’re on a very tight itinerary and already feeling rushed, Huacachina might feel like a detour rather than a must-do.

However, there are day tours from Lima if you are dying to see Huacachina and are short on time! You don’t even have to miss out on seeing the sunset from the dunes!

Top things to do in Huacachina, Peru

The most obvious thing to do in Huacachina is the famous sandboarding but it’s not the only thing you can do there. Use this list to help plan your trip.

1. Climb up to the sand dunes to watch the sunset and take photos

We did this on our first night to Huacachina. You need to pay to enter the dunes each day but it wasn’t too much (around 3 – 4 soles). Just remember to have cash on you for this.

The climb up the dunes is no joke. They are STEEP. But the effort is totally worth it because the views from the top are magical. You can see the entire oasis! If you don’t want to climb, you can always book a dune buggy tour and get driven up to the sunset spot instead.

girl sitting on the top of the sand dunes at Huacachina wearing beachy clothing with the oasis in the background at sunset.

2 girls wearing beachy clothes running down towards the Huacachina Oasis in the dark

To get to the spot where we took our sunset photos, we left out the back through the bar area of Bananas Hostel and walked straight across the path to enter the dunes. Once we had paid for our tickets, we climb up the dune to the right of us.

2. Glamping under the stars in the middle of the desert

One thing that I wish I’d had time to do was to go glamping in the desert. Seriously, this whole experience looks like a fairytale. Plus, you literally do everything in one overnight tour. You’ll get taken to one of the best sunset spots in the desert to take photos.

Sandboarding and tubing are included, as well as a gourmet dinner crafted by your private chef and a welcome toast with sparkling wine.

3. Go sand boarding or sand skiing with dune buggies

This is the top thing to do in Huacachina but if it’s not for you then that’s totally fine too. There are lots of other things to do instead. In fact, I actually decided to skip sandboarding to relax by the pool and my friend Candace went without me. She had a blast of course.

Anyway, sand boarding is the classic and easiest option. It’s the one where you lie down on the board and slide down the sand dune. After doing a bunch of research, the tour I recommend for sandboarding is this one. Sadly, there were loads of tours with terrible reviews but this one stood out as a good one.

Sand skiing on the other hand is literally skiing (with actual skis) down the sand dunes. I almost booked this tour but then kind of physicked myself out because I was told that some of the dunes are equivalent to black runs and I am more of a beginner skier on snow. The guides from this tour did seem really great though because they were super responsive on whatsapp when I asked them 100 questions about the tour beforehand.

Paragliding

If sand boarding isn’t enough adrenaline for you, you could also go paragliding over the Oasis of Huacachina and the desert at either sunrise or sunset. Check availability and book a paragliding experience here.

Where to stay in Huacachina

I have 2 top recommendations on where to stay in Huacachina – one budget friendly option and one more luxury, option, but if you want more options on where to stay in Huacachina, I cover this in my guide here.

Budget option: Bananas Adventure Hostel – this is where we stayed our first night and honestly, I wish we hadn’t left because it was so nice! I will rave about this hostel forever. We shared a private room which had its own bathroom and a view looking out over the pool and towards the bar area. You can also book a dorm room to save some extra money.

Luxury option: I almost booked the Senoma Hotel but then realised we probably wouldn’t have had time to enjoy the gorgeous pool because we were out doing so much. Looking at it again now, it’s actually not all that much more than a private room at Bananas so maybe it would have been worth it.

My final thoughts on whether or not Huacachina is worth a visit

Huacachina is like no other place I have ever experienced.

It isn’t subtle, authentic or off the beaten path, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t worth visiting. I enjoyed my time there more than I expected.

If you enjoy adventure, dramatic landscapes, and a social atmosphere, Huacachina is absolutely worth adding to your Peru itinerary. Just go in with the right expectations, stay a night or two, and don’t get too mad at the sand.

I had SUCH a magical trip to Peru and have visited quite a few different places! Here are some more guides to help you plan your trip of a lifetime: