Deserts in Peru, who knew? When I planned my trip, I pictured endless mountains, misty jungles, llama traffic jams… but sand dunes? A full-blown desert oasis? That one blindsided me. We first heard whispers of Huacachina back in Cusco, usually from wide-eyed travelers leaning across hostel tables like they were sharing classified intel. A lush green oasis surrounded by towering dunes, they said. The coolest thing they’d seen in Peru, maybe ever. While I wouldn’t go that far, the place is undeniably striking. It’s a perfect postcard: a small lagoon, a ring of palms, and maybe 25 buildings, all restaurants, hostels, or tour shops, orbiting around the needs of people exactly like us. A beautiful spot, yes, but make no mistake: it exists for travelers.
We stayed for two nights. On our one full day, we signed up for sandboarding and dune buggying, the two rites of passage Huacachina insists you complete. The evening before, we climbed one of the massive dunes to catch sunset, gold light stretching across the sand, everything you hope for, only to hear distant screaming from buggy riders who sounded like they were plummeting straight off the horizon. We laughed it off, assuming they were being dramatic. The next day we learned they weren’t. Those buggy rides are unhinged. I still can’t believe we didn’t roll while tearing down dunes at angles that should require a waiver from God. The drivers were fearless; the passengers very much less so.
Midway through, we stopped for sand sledding, which is exactly what it sounds like: lying face-down on a board and launching yourself down a dune. Sandboarding itself was… fine. Less adrenaline, more commitment to the bit. Still worth trying just to say you did it.
If nothing else, Huacachina is unique, photogenic, and deeply memorable. It feels half real, half movie set. And given the time in Peru, I’d call it a must-visit, maybe not for the oasis itself, but for the wild ride you’ll talk about long after the sand is out of your shoes.