Huacachina Oasis, Peru

Huacachina Oasis – Home to Adventure Tour – Dune Buggy/Sandboarding

The desert oasis Huacachina is situated five hours south of Lima and is home to an adventure tour known as the dune buggy and sand boarding tour. The tour is quite thrilling as well as frightening, transporting you deep into the desert to view huge sand dunes along the coast.

One would find plenty to explore here which comprises of winery tours, flights over the world famous Nazca Line as well as boat tours to view Humboldt penguins and sea lions. In the middle of one of the driest climates in the world is the oasis town with plush palm trees, flourishing foliage with a tranquil lagoon which is said to have curative properties.

This magical town known as Huacachina is placed 4 km from the southern city of Ica which was earlier Spanish colonial town located on the borders of the desert. On arrival at the Oasis of America which is one of the last oasis in North and South America, one would be greeted by the sights of rustic hotels, old-fashioned shops and an oasis library that tends to surround the blue lagoon.

In 1940s the luscious town was famous with wealthy Peruvian who would come to bathe in the lagoon since it was believed to have healing powers.

National Cultural Heritage Site

According to legend, a beautiful Incan princess had been found bathing, by a young hunter and when she fled, the pool of water left behind by her became the lagoon. As she fled, the folds of her mantle streamed behind her developing the surrounding sand dunes.

The water level of the lagoon had dropped over the past few years, owing to landowners constructing wells to obtain groundwater together with evaporation during high summer temperatures. In an attempt to overcome this issue, the water was pumped into the lake from Ica for the inhabitants of Huacachina.

The National Institute of Culture had declared that area as a national cultural heritage site and it is expected that this tranquil oasis would never be a mirage in the desert. Residents of the Huacachina tend to rent out sand boards as well as buggies for backpackers who travel to this town. Tourist can experience the exciting sand dunes together with splendid views

Industrial Winery Develop Pisco – Sweet Red Wine

The descendent of Inca tend to make their living by hosting guest, coming from various ends of the world to climb to the top of a wind sculptured sand dune, on rented sand boards or dune buggies, to watch the sunset illuminating the golden landscape before sailing down the slopes.

The dune buggy and sand boarding tour is both thrilling as well as amazing, transporting you at great speed deep into the desert to view huge sand dunes. The mountains of sand are gorgeous and fantastic. The coast of Peru has been making sweet red wine.

 Pisco, a strong version of brandy is known for over 250 years since the Spanish invaders had brought with them grapes to the New World. The tour offers an opportunity of visiting large, industrial winery which develops Pisco and wine utilising modern techniques as well as a small family run winery which uses ancient colonial age technique like clay jars which are known as botijas. One can get the opportunity of sampling some of the wine and Pisco at both these locations.