My older sister turned 40 this year, and she decided she wanted to celebrate in Peru. Who was I to deny her birthday wishes? So she, my brother and sister-in-law, and a handful of friends jetted down to Peru to celebrate the great luck we have in knowing my sister. (I love you, Beth!)

The Moray ruins in Peru are concentric circles carved into the mountain, where Incan communities cultivated crops.

Toward the end of our trip, Beth and I wanted to see a bit more of Peru, so I looked into Peru Hop’s day trips from Lima. We ended up doing a two-day trip to Paracas, Huacachina and Nazca.

I didn’t know what to expect, and I was wary of bus tours that tend to cater to backpackers and travelers just barely in their 20s. I was pleasantly surprised with our whole experience, though.

Here, I share everything you need to know about budget-friendly bus travel in Peru in this 100% unbiased, unsponsored Peru Hop review.

Read this Peru Hop review before booking your trip

Peru Hop buses

Peru Hop replaces its buses every three years, so the fleet is always in top condition—and it showed on our recent day trip from Lima. The seats were comfortable and reclined (although I recommend you don’t fully tip your seat back—otherwise, you’ll encroach on other passengers’ space). The buses were always clean.

There are two bathrooms in the back, which you can use while the bus is moving—crucial for longer stretches. (Our trip from Huacachina back to Lima was about 4 hours nonstop). It’s important to know that you can only pee in the bus toilets; they’re not equipped to handle #2 or toilet paper.

Peru Hop guides

Our Peru Hop leaders were always friendly, approachable and extremely helpful. They all spoke fluent English and Spanish; some of them also spoke Portuguese.

The guides sometimes offer information about Peru and what you’re seeing. For example, one guide explained that Lima’s population boomed in the ‘60s-80s when people in the rural areas fled fighting and terrorist attacks; squatter’s laws mean that they legally own property after living on it for 10 years.

I have to give a special shout-out to Natalia, our guide from Lima to Paracas and Huacachina. She (and the other Peru Hop leaders) did an excellent job of managing many passengers, making sure we were all where we needed to be on time, and doing so with grace and a sense of humor—without seeming pushy. That is not an easy job.

Peru Hop itineraries and tours

Although Peru Hop doesn’t operate tours and activities—it contracts with local companies at the different locations it serves, thereby supporting community-based economies and entrepreneurs—I completely appreciated having a trusted recommendation for organized sightseeing.

After a week and a half of traveling in Peru, I definitely felt the decision fatigue of figuring out where to stay, eat and visit. I was more than happy to cede some decision making to Peru Hop, especially because a 2-day trip from Lima included two things to do in Peru I had been eyeing on Pinterest for months: Huacachina and the Nazca Lines.

(See my comprehensive post about everything you need to know about Huacachina for more on this desert oasis town!)

Here’s the thing: Peru Hop, which has a 96% 5-star rating on Trip Adviser, serves thousands of passengers a year. They must work with reputable, safe, high quality operators if they want to maintain their reputation. This is why I felt comfortable going with all their recommendations for activities, tours and even restaurants.

The Peru Hop 2-day trip from Lima

Beth’s birthday group spent quite a long time in Lima; we wanted to end the trip by getting out of the big city for a bit and seeing other parts of Peru. If you’re thinking the same thing, I’m so glad you’ve found this Peru Hop review. (If you’re spending time in Lima, click over to my post on the best of Miraflores.)

We were picked up in front of Starbucks in Barranco at 6:30am. The Peru Hop guide, Natalia, literally hopped off the bus to greet us: She had our names on a list on a clipboard, and there was zero confusion of where we were meant to go.

Peru Hop trip to Paracas and the Ballestas Islands

After a 1.5 hour bus ride, we arrived in Paracas, a beach town south of Lima. As it’s winter in Peru in June, Paracas was sleepy and slightly foggy, so it didn’t immediately feel like a must-see destination. From Paracas, we took a 2-hour boat tour of the Ballestas Islands, a national preserve set aside for wildlife conservation.

The hands-down highlight of the boat tour to Ballestas Islands was seeing Humboldt penguins. They were unbelievably cute, and we saw them waddle/fall down the rocks to the edge of the water, then jump in to go fishing. We also saw sea lions and approximately 79 bajillion birds that all nest on these rocky outcroppings.

I was impressed that the boat ride was smooth—I’m pretty sure no one felt sick at all. The boat captain did a wonderful job of maneuvering the boat so each side got to see the animals and rock formations.

On the boat tour, we also saw the Candelaria, an ancient engraving in the sandstone near Ballestas Islands. Historians don’t know a lot about the mysterious design (does it represent a cactus? something else?). It does look like the famous Nazca Lines (more on those later!) but they differ in many ways, too.

Peru Hop trip to Huacachina

Next, we drove about 2.5 hours south to Huacachina, the desert oasis town. After lunch, we took a dune buggy and sandboarding tour on the towering sand dunes surrounding Huacachina.

Again, here’s where my trust of Peru Hop partners came into play. Although zipping up and down sand dunes like they were rollercoasters was somewhat terrifying, I was more excited-scared than afraid-for-my-life scared. Peru Hop has been working with local companies for years and so knows which ones have the best reputation for safety.

The dune buggy ride was beyond fun, and I absolutely loved sandboarding. I also appreciated that our dune buggy guide, Orlando, gave us plenty of time to take pictures (and Boomerangs!) on the otherworldly dunes. When you’re in a one-of-a-kind place like Huacachina for such a short time, you definitely don’t want to feel rushed, and I never did with Peru Hop’s operators.

Peru Hop trip to Nazca Lines

When I first researched visiting Nazca and flying over the Nazca lines, I was totally overwhelmed. There are about a half-dozen airlines that operate flights, but every blog post on this iconic Peruvian adventure warns of disreputable companies with sketchy safety records. The thing was, I had a hard time figuring out which ones were legit and which weren’t.

This is again where Peru Hop’s help made me feel taken care of. With a guide’s help, we booked our Nazca Line flight on FindLocalTrips.com. The Peru Hop guide also explained all the must-know details, like how much cash to bring for the airport tax, and to ensure we brought our passports.

Then Peru Hop arranged transport for our small group to Nazca. We drove the roughly 3 hours on a comfortable bus, which dropped us off directly at the Nazca airport. We were picked up after our Nazca flight and brought into Nazca town, where we were later picked up to be taken back to Huacachina, and then back to Lima.

Peru Hop review: Pros & cons

Pros

Convenience. I was happy to let an experienced company arrange activities and tours because I already knew I wanted to do the trips—e.g. to the Nazca Lines and Huacachina.

Safety. Peru Hop hires and trains safe bus drivers. I felt totally comfortable with our drivers.

Cost. I thought Peru Hop’s prices were totally reasonable. Had I paid for the same activities a la cart, I would have paid a lot more—and had way more of a logistics headache.

Straightforward pricing. Peru Hop was completely transparent about what a trip would cost and what it included—there were no surprises. The company didn’t try to upsell me, either.

Clarity. I always understood where we were going, what was happening next, and when I needed to be at the meeting point for the next leg of the trip. The guides invited questions at every stage, and they never made me feel stupid when I needed clarification.

No gimmicky sales stops. Most tours you go on include “educational” activities that are little more than high-pressure sales stops. Peru Hop didn’t shoehorn these kinds of stops into the itinerary; every stop was clearly outlined, so there were never any surprises.

Cons

Driving time. Over our 2-day trip from Lima, we spent about 13 hours on a bus. This of course isn’t Peru Hop’s fault; it’s just the nature of going a far way to see Peru’s spread-out attractions. I would have preferred to spend more time in our destinations (which is also an option with Peru Hop, since itineraries are customizable and flexible), but Beth and I only had two days and wanted to see and do as much as we could. That said, know that a 2-day trip from Lima includes a lot of bus time.

Standard accomodation. Just before we arrived in Huacachina, I realized we’d been booked in the standard partner hostel, the Casa de Arena—aka backpacker party central. Beth and I are happily past that stage of life and wanted no part of a hostel scene next to a nightclub. I wish we had been given the option of choosing where to stay when making the Peru Hop reservation; I would have gladly paid extra for different lodging. Unfortunately, I didn’t know I should email Peru Hop to book a different location.

Thankfully, though, our Peru Hop guide Natalia helped sort us out: She reserved a private room at a quieter hostel for us on the fly. When we arrived in Huacachina, the Wild Olive knew to expect us and had a room ready. I did have to pay for the separate lodging (though we got a discount as Peru Hop customers); then I had to request a lodging refund via email from Peru Hop, which I got within a couple of days.

Bottom line: Should you book a Peru Hop trip?

Ultimately, my Peru Hop review is strongly positive: I would recommend taking a Peru Hop trip to just about any traveler who wants to see more of Peru without spending a ton of money.

I found Peru Hop to be:

• safe
• efficient
• helpful
• reliable
• comfortable

Peru Hop allowed me and my sister to visit Huacachina and fly over the Nazca Lines in just the two days we had available. Without booking this 2-day trip from Lima, I wouldn’t have been able to organize such an ambitious outing. Dune buggying, sandboarding and flying over the Nazca Lines are unforgettable experiences my sister and I shared, and I’m so glad we took the time to see more of Peru. I hope this Peru Hop review helps you decide if this South America bus travel is right for you.

How to make the most of a Peru Hop trip

Book your trip in person, if possible

You can reserve your Peru Hop itinerary in-person at a handful of Peru locations, including their office in Miraflores, Lima. This method is better than booking online because you can, for example, arrange for non-standard lodging (and avoid the stress of having to make a last-minute change, like we did).

Use your Peru Hop discounts

You’ll get a Peru Hop bracelet to wear during your trip, which gets you a discount at partner restaurants and hotels. Remember to show your waiter or hotel your bracelet so you don’t pay full price, which is a great perk that comes along with being a Peru Hop customer.

Bring snacks

You won’t always have a lot of time on each planned stop to buy food, so bring snacks to eat on the stretches when you’re driving long ways.

Don’t be late

No one wants to wait for you while you take one more picture or haggle for a cheaper t-shirt. Arrive at the meeting place on time so everyone can get to the next stop on schedule.

Speak up and ask questions

I found Peru Hop guides and staff to be incredibly knowledgeable and helpful. They seemed well trained and ready to help—but they wouldn’t have known how to be of assistance had Beth and I not spoken up.

Reminder: This Peru Hop review was unsolicited and unsponsored. My sister and I paid 100% of our 2-day trip from Lima, and no one from the company knew I would be writing a Peru Hop review.

Have you been to Peru? What was your favorite part of the country? And if you’ve taken a Peru Hop trip, I’d love to hear your thoughts—both pros and cons—in the comments below!

The post A complete & honest Peru Hop review: Cheap travel in South America appeared first on To & Fro Fam.

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.

The post 33 things to know about Huacachina: Peru’s otherworldly desert oasis appeared first on To & Fro Fam.