33 things to know about Huacachina: Peru’s otherworldly desert oasis

When I recently traveled to Peru for my sister’s birthday, it worked out that the two of us would have a few extra unplanned days. So I set to researching day trips from Lima, Peru—and discovered Huacachina, Peru’s desert oasis town. I was intrigued and just had to visit Huacachina. I only wish I’d had this resource: everything you need to know about Huacachina.

My sister and I didn’t spend a ton of time here, which is how most travelers see Huacachina. I could have stayed another day, but unfortunately we both had planes to catch and so had to cut our visit short.

I fell in love with this strange, otherworldly desert oasis town, though, and I’m pretty sure you will, too. Here’s everything you need to know about Huacachina to make your visit unforgettable. Read on for tips on dune buggy tours, sandboarding tips and where to eat in Huacachina. Save this post for later by pinning one of the images below—you definitely won’t want to forget Huacachina, Peru when you’re making your bucket list or planning your trip to South America!

What to know about Huacachina: the nitty gritty details

1. Plan for partying

Huacachina is a party town. Thursday through Saturday nights are the loudest, and it’s hard to escape the noise, even if you’re not staying in a backpacker’s hostel. (A nightclub’s noise carries and echoes in the dunes.) If you’re not the partying type, visit Huacachina Sunday through Wednesday, and select one of the quieter lodgings. (I stayed at Wild Olive, which was quite mellow, and the price included breakfast.)

Level 10 travel tip: If you just can’t abide the party vibe, you can stay in nearby Ica. It’s just a few minutes away from Huacachina by taxi. The most out-of-the-way hotel within Huacachina is the Hosteria Suiza; the Casa de Bamboo is on the quieter side, too.

2. Don’t expect 5 stars

Much of the lodging in Huacachina is quite basic. Windows don’t have a lot of insulation so you’ll hear whatever is happening on the street, and you definitely can’t flush toilet paper down the toilet. You come to Huacachina for the otherworldly sand dunes, though, not for impressive hotels.

Level 10 travel tip: The swankiest lodging in Huacachina is the Curasi Hotel. It’s still pretty basic, compared to what you may be used to, but it’s less of a backpacker vibe and it has a pool with a view of the oasis.

3. Respect the dunes

Make sure you don’t drop anything, even a scrap of paper. Garbage is a huge problem in tourist centers like Huacachina, and you’ll see evidence of people’s carelessness on the dunes.

Level 10 travel tip: If you’re staying for a few days, look into volunteering with Eco Dunas Huacachina. They’ll take you up on the dunes, where you’ll learn about the local ecology and help pick up trash, preserving this incredible place for everyone.

4. Don’t bother with taxis

The small oasis town of Huacachina is tiny, but that won’t stop taxi drivers from trying to take you places. You can walk anywhere in Huacachina within a few minutes.

5. Don’t mind the dogs

Like in the rest of Peru, Huacachina has a lot of stray dogs—and people’s pets that wander on their own. They walk through hotel lobies and restaurants alike, looking for handouts. I recommend not feeding them—you might not be able to get rid of them.

Level 10 travel tip: Huacachina’s streets are kept pretty clean by workers who sweep up garbage and waste, but watch where you step anyway—you don’t want to walk through dog doo.

6. Take care for safety

Anywhere you travel, you’ll need to take commonsense measures to protect yourself and your belongings: Secure your passport and extra cash in a safe, be aware of your surroundings and stay in well-lit, public places. Huacachina is a tourist center, which means you’re susceptible to people triyng to take advantage of the concentration of money. We didn’t have any problems at all (in fact everyone was super nice), but beware pickpockets.

7. Don’t expect an early rising town

Huacachina is a backpacker’s paradise, and people tend to party at night. Accordingly, mornings start later than you may be used to. (At our hotel, breakfast began at 8am.)

What to pack for Huacachina

8. Plan for the arid air

The climate here in the desert oasis town of Huacachina is, of course, very dry. Bring along body lotion and eyedrops. (I didn’t plan ahead and my eyes burned the whole time from being so dry!)

Level 10 travel tip: If you forget your eyedrops, ask at a pharmacy in town for gotas lubricantes para los ojos.

9. Bring fannypacks back

I don’t keep it any secret that I’m a huge fan of fannypacks. (I rock one very similar to this space kitty fannypack all the time and get compliments on it all the time! – affiliate link) No matter your opinion on them, there’s no denying their practicality on Huacachina’s dunes. In it you can stash your room key, phone and sunglasses. Twist it around to your back when you slide down sandboarding.

Level 10 travel tip: For extra protection for your phone, bring a ziplock baggie. You can put your phone in it when you’re not using it, further guarding it against sand.

10. Bring enough cash

Huacachina doesn’t have an ATM, so take out enough cash to get you through your stay in Huacachina. Many places take cards, too, but will charge a fee.

11. Wear layers

Huacachina is in the middle of the desert, so the temperature drops immediately after sunset. I wore a sweater plus a jacket at night.

12. Find out if you need a towel

Much of the lodging in Huacachina is hostel-style, which means it doesn’t provide a towel. Check with your hotel to ensure they provide towels and soap; otherwise, bring your own.

What you need to know before a dune buggy tour

13. Research dune buggy tours

It seems as if there are more dune buggies than people in Huacachina, and just about everyone will try to sell you a tour of the dunes. Do your research first to ensure you book with a reputable and safe company. FindLocalTrips.com books with reputable groups.

14. Your dune buggy guide may not speak English

If there’s anything in particular you need to communicate with your dune buggy guide (and you don’t speak Spanish), make sure you tell him before you head out to the dunes, when someone nearby can help translate. In the group of about 5 guides I interacted with, none of them spoke English.

15. Protect your belongings on the dunes

When you dune buggy up Huacachina’s famous dunes—and you definitely should—leave your nice camera in your hotel. Bring, instead, just your phone. You’ll get great photos without running the risk of bumping your DSLR on the buggy’s rollercoaster ride or dropping it in the sand.

16. Bring water

Your throat will be parched after breathing the arid air (and screaming your head off on the rollercoaster-like dune buggy ride), so definitely bring a bottle of water on your dunes tour.

17. Try sandboarding

Before I got to Huacachina, I was on the fence about sandboarding. After all, I’ve never snowboarded or skiied (crazy, right?). Turns out, though, you should not stand up on the sandboards unless you’re very experienced; the rest of us slide down on our bellies, face-first.

Sandboarding this way is simple enough that even total newbies like me can do it—and have a blast. I laughed the entire way down!

18. Your feet are your brakes

You’ll hear your dune buggy guide yell “Baja los pies!” when you’re sliding down the dune on a sandboard—that’s because dragging your feet behind you slows you down. So if you’re going too fast, or you need to steer, use your feet.

19. Zip your pockets

When you slide down the dunes on sandboards, sand flies everywhere. Sounds obvious, but in my excitement, I forgot to zip my pants pockets. I ended up with about a pound of sand in my pants as a result.

20. Wear sunglasses

Yes, your sunglasses protect your eyes from the glare, but they’ll also stop sand from getting in your eyes. I wore my sunglasses even after sunset for this reason.

Level 10 travel tip: If you forgot your sunnies, there are people walking around selling them. You can also buy a bandana to wear over your face, which is what the locals do to protect from the sand.

21. Stay for sunset

When you book your dune buggy tour, go around 4pm. You’ll have lots of time to bomb around the dunes in the sun—and wrap up right before sunset around 5:30. Watching the sun dip below the dunes is a gorgeous sight.

Where to drink and eat in Huacachina

22. Know what you’re getting into with the BBQs

When you arrive in Huacachina, someone might try to sell you an entry to a BBQ. The price may be right, but find out first if they also have an all-you-can-drink special at the same time and place. If that’s your thing, great, but if not, know there will be a gaggle of 20-somethings drinking as quickly as they can there.

23. Find good vegetarian food

If you’re vegetarian, there are good places to eat in Huacachina. Casa de Bamboo has plenty of vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options (we tried the quinoa risotto and the Thai curry, which was actually spicy—unusual in Peru). Desert Nights has a veggie burger special, with a house-made veggie patty plus a small salad and delicious fries for 20 soles, or less than US $6.

24. Eat with a view

When you’re staying in the oasis town of Huacachina, you should definitely eat your meals somewhere you have a view of the oasis. Desert Night’s rooftop patio has the best view in town.

25. Use your discount promotions

If you go to Huacachina with a tour group (which is what we did—we went with Peru Hop and had a great experience), take advantage of discounts it offers. Peru Hop, for example, partners with several restaurants in town and you’ll get up to 20% off listed prices. Just show your bracelet. We often stopped at these places because I trusted them more: After all, the tour company wouldn’t continue to partner with them if their clients got sick!

If you didn’t go with a tour, your hotel or hostel may offer discounts at its own restaurant and bar or at partnering ones. Ask when you check in.

26. Drink a lot of water

It’s easy to get dehydrated in the desert, so be proactive and drink more water than you think you’ll need. 

27. Look for cervezas artesenales

To be honest, I don’t have a high opinion of cocktails in backpacker-heavy locations: The mixed drinks tend to be poorly made. So instead of ordering cocktails like Peru’s signature pisco sour, opt for one of the country’s wonderful craft beers. Ask your waiter which cervezas artesenales they have. We drank Candelaria La Peruana, a light amber ale that was beautifully refreshing on a hot, dry day.

What to do in Huacachina

The main activities in Huacachina are dune buggy tours and sandboarding. If you already finished your high-speed sand adventures, here are additional ideas.

28. Rent a paddle boat

You can pedal boat around the oasis pool at the center of Huacachina for about 20 soles per half-hour (approximately US $7). There are several places to rent boats; they’re impossible to miss.

29. Walk up the dunes

Even if you did a dune buggy tour already, it’s a blast to walk up the sand dunes. It’s most popular to do so at sunset—just bring a light jacket, as the temperature drops quickly.

30. Pop into the library

There is a small but sweet library in Huacachina with quite the collection of philosophy and Peruvian culture books, in addition to other topics. Most are in Spanish.

31. Relax in a tree

Perhaps the best view in all of Huacachina is a tree that overlooks the oasis pool across from Nuna Cocina Bar. Climb up and watch the pedal boats go by.

32. Walk the horseshoe promenade

The U-shaped boardwalk around the oasis is peaceful in spite of the men trying to get you to rent boats and come to their restaurants. Take a slow stroll along the pedestrian-only path, which stops at the dunes on both ends.

33. Collect recuerdos

Huacachina’s artisan shopping isn’t extensive, which is actually a refreshing change. At the few handicraft and tourist stalls, you’ll find postcards, souvenirs and woven hats in the typical Peruvian style.

Ultimately, I recommend anyone with a few extra days in Peru travel to this desert oasis town. Pretty sure reading everything you need to know about Huacachina convinced you, too.

Add Huacachina to your Peru itinerary, jot it down on your bucket list or save this pin for later. Between Huacachina’s sandboarding, dune buggy rides and otherworldly landscapes, you won’t regret a visit.