Huacachina, the ultimate oasis in Peru
Huacachina is a village built around a small oasis surrounded by dunes in southwestern Peru and about five kilometres from Ica. I was travelling on the night bus from Arequipa towards Lima; I had passed Nazca and was heading for Ica and then to Huacachina. Filling a whole post about a small place like Huacachina may be challenging, but I hope you will find it interesting.
Nazca Lines
Why did I not stop and see the world-famous Nazca Lines? First, I had to choose what I wanted to see within two weeks of travelling around Peru. I could not see everything, so I dropped this UNESCO site. The other reason is that I try to think sustainably when travelling and avoid going up in an aeroplane for fun. Besides, these signs are probably meant for the Gods to see. In Huacachina, I also dropped the dune buggy rides, which are supposed to be great fun!
Ica to Huacachina
The bus from Arequipa arrived in Ica pretty early, and there are about five kilometres to Huacachina Oasis. So, it is not like the Oasis is reached after days of walking through the desert, but a short taxi ride. At the bus terminal, several taxis are waiting, knowing many of the arrivals will go to Huacachina. However, the city is full of moto-taxis, and they take you there for half the price. Of course, it was not as comfortable, but it was my first time in a vehicle like this.
Ecocamp Huacachina
I have looked up many Ecolodges worldwide; they look like lovely retreats and are often far from the most touristic places. The downside is that they are often costly and, more often than not, meant for at least two people or whole families. So when you travel alone, it becomes expensive. The Ecocamp in Huacachina is on the opposite scale. They are built of tents and a roof for weather protection but are straightforward, with comfortable beds.
Desert Ecocamp is on the quiet side of Huacachina; they have a swim-up bar and a restaurant. The location is close to the lagoon, the dunes, stores, restaurants and the main boulevard. There is no doubt the whole village is a draw for young people, and down by the lagoon, there are plenty of bars and restaurants. However, everything gets quiet in the camp at night.
History of Huacachina
This Oasis was formed thanks to an underground current of water, which generated the growth of plants and trees in the middle of the Ica desert. Being a natural oasis, Huacachina has been one of the favourite tourist destinations of Peruvians and foreigners for decades.
Walking in the dunes
You will not walk too far from the Oasis on foot, but I did walk a full round on top of the dune surrounding Huacachina. To walk in this fine sand was fantastic but also quite challenging; the sand was not too hot, so it was possible to walk without shoes. We could see over to Ica city in one direction, but in the other direction, you only saw the desert.
As I wrote earlier, I did not ride the dune buggies but went up the height and watched the sunset. From there, I also saw the people having fun driving around. Huacachina was fantastic to look at from afar, and when the lights started to be lit, it became magic.
