ahoyne9Our journey to Huacachina began in Lima, where we arrived late at night and checked into the Holiday Inn in the financial district. The hotel was a great location, conveniently close to the bus stop for our early morning trip to Huacachina. Since it was winter, Lima’s skies were overcast, and pollution filled the air, as I’d been warned by taxi drivers. Despite this, we had a delicious dinner at La Carreta Steakhouse, which I highly recommend for its fantastic food.
Taking the Cruz del Sur Bus to Huacachina 08.31.2024
On August 31st, 2024, we boarded a Cruz del Sur bus from Lima to Ica, the best option for exploring Peru efficiently. The distance of about 300 kilometers (186 miles) took us around 5 hours due to traffic. The ticket cost ranged from $8 to $20 USD, depending on the class of service, and we opted for a comfortable journey. Be prepared, though—the temperature on the bus fluctuated between freezing and sweltering.
Arriving in Ica, we easily found taxis affiliated with Cruz del Sur to take us to Huacachina. English isn’t widely spoken, so learning basic Spanish phrases is a big help. Our driver took us to a local tourist office where we booked a dune buggy, sandboarding, and Pisco tour.
We stayed at Carola Lodge while my dad opted for Hostería Suiza. I’d recommend my dad’s choice as it was quieter, and our lodge required cash for payment, which led to an unexpected trip to the only ATM in Huacachina.
That night, we explored the oasis—a breathtaking sight surrounded by towering sand dunes. We had dinner and Pisco at Restaurant al aire libre which has great seats overlooking the Oasis. This beautiful desert village has a rich history, once a sacred site for indigenous Huacachineros and later a retreat for wealthy Peruvians. Today, it’s a top tourist destination for thrill-seekers.
Adventure in Huacachina 09.01.2024
The next day was packed with excitement. We started with two Pisco tours, the first at Fundo – Hotel El Arrabal, where we sampled way too much Pisco too early in the day! Our second stop was Pisco Nietto, a more intimate experience with a chance to grab lunch.
In the afternoon, we upgraded our sandboarding experience, swapping out sleds for proper boards. Our dune buggy driver didn’t check if we were buckled up and zoomed off—an exhilarating but risky ride. Sandboarding was tricky, requiring frequent waxing of the board to glide smoothly. While I did get the hang of it, sledding seemed like an easier option for most people.
We wrapped up the day with a stunning sunset over the sand dunes, a view I’d recommend catching from the dunes overlooking the oasis. To do this, there is a hike up the sand dunes, the cost is something like 1 USD to hike around the sand dunes of the oasis.
Back to Lima 09.02.2024
Our return to Lima on September 2nd, 2024, was a longer ride than expected, stretching to nearly 6 hours. Traffic in Lima was brutal, taking over an hour to cover just four miles. Once we arrived, we took a taxi to explore the city’s historic center, a beautiful area perfect for walking and photos. From there, we headed to the airport for our flight to Arequipa.
The trip wasn’t without a hitch—my dad left his phone in the taxi. Thankfully, with some tech-savvy maneuvering, we recovered it before leaving Arequipa, bringing an adventurous and memorable journey to a close. The taxi driver that returned the device is Miguel Sandobal +51 918 212 365 for WhatsApp.
Off to Arequipa to visit Colca Canyon, cheers!