The Huacachina Oasis is a wonderful destination that invites you to break away from the day-to-day routine to enjoy not only the vast desert dunes, but also invites you to discover other incredible destinations that the region has to offer.

These 7 destinations will leave you fascinated by all the scenic beauty that the Peruvian desert offers, as well as how different the culture is in this area.

1. Buggy or dune buggy ride through the Huacachina Oasis:

One of the adventure activities for which the Huacachina Oasis stands out the most and is best known is buggy rides and sandboarding, two of the activities that will fill you with adrenaline and give you a good break from the routine.

To be able to do these activities (dune buggies and sandboarding) in Huacachina, you must first travel from Lima to the city of Ica and then to the Huacachina Oasis, which is located 15 minutes away by taxi. From there, you can book this great itinerary with a travel agency and wait for them to tell you the tour start time, or already have a reservation made and simply arrive to enjoy this adventure.

This ride in the dune buggies at Huacachina lasts an average of one hour, where speed and movie-like landscapes combine to make your heart race.

During this same ride, there will be time for you to do the Sandboarding activity, where you will slide down the largest dunes in the world; hold on tight because if you move, you can be sure that you will be filled with sand down to your soul.

We recommend doing these activities in the afternoon, since you will have the chance to take spectacular photos with the best possible light that the Huacachina desert has to offer.

2. Tour to the Ballestas Islands:

Another of the must-see destinations you can visit if you plan to travel to Huacachina is a tour to the Ballestas Islands, where you will see sea lions, one of the 11 species of penguins in the world: the Humboldt penguin, pelicans, guano birds of Peru and other animal species.

To reach the Ballestas Islands, it is necessary to take transportation for three hours from the city of Ica and then take a tour to go by boat into this beautiful wildlife-watching experience.

This ride lasts a little more than one hour, a unique experience where the guides explain interesting details about the fauna on this side of the world.

3. The vineyards of Huacachina:

Certainly, if someone says Huacachina desert, what comes to mind is an inhospitable and desolate place where nothing grows, right? Well, let me tell you that it is not like that; in fact, this part of Peru has some of the most fertile lands.

The first grape plantations established in South America were made precisely in Ica. Just one hour by car from Huacachina are the famous grape plantations, home of the famous Peruvian Pisco, Peru’s national drink par excellence, from which the Pisco Sour, cocktail is made, Peru’s national cocktail and one of the top ones in the world, which we recommend you try to lift your spirits.

If you plan to take any of these drinks back to your country, without a doubt this is the place where you should buy them, not only because of the variety of flavors but because of everything it means to be in the heart of where this super famous cocktail was born: the pisco sour.

*NOTE: If you plan to buy a bottle of pisco or wine with the intention of taking it home, keep in mind that your luggage on the plane must include checked baggage; otherwise, they will ask you to leave the bottle / bottles behind and well, alcohol should not be wasted!

4. The Nazca Lines:

One of the most enigmatic and little-explored places in Peru is the Nazca Lines, for which you have to travel around 6 hours from Lima or about 3 hours from the city of Ica.

In total there are more than 2,000 Nazca Lines and they come in all sizes, from the alcatraz (representation of a Peruvian bird), which has the span of 3 soccer fields, the bird of almost 300 meters, the lizard of 180 meters, the pelican of 135 meters, the condor of 135 meters, the monkey of 135 meters, the spider of 42 meters and many other lines.

There are two ways to be able to observe and contemplate them:

4.1. The airplane ride:

To be honest, the best way to see the Nazca Lines is by airplane, since you will be able to observe many more lines than with the other option that we will discuss in point 4.2.

4.1.1. The 45-minute airplane ride:

With this option, you will be able to see 16 of the 2,000 Nazca Lines, getting to appreciate the main ones described above. Although this is one of the more expensive options, believe me when I tell you that it is worth it; adding about USD 20.00 to the 30-minute ride will allow you to enjoy it more.

4.1.2. The 30-minute airplane ride:

One of the relatively affordable options, at USD 80.00 per person, allows you to see 9 Nazca Lines, among which the Monkey, the Spider, the Alcatraz, and the Condor stand out.

4.1.3. Considerations for flying over the Nazca Lines:

1st: What we recommend is bringing lemon candies to suck on during the flight, since 50% of the people who take this tour end up feeling dizzy and even nauseous due to the movements of the small plane.

2nd: Each passenger in either of the two options is seated on the left and right sides of the seats in an equal manner, so that the small plane remains stable.

3rd: Since the passengers are seated side by side so that everyone can see the Nazca Lines, the small plane circles around each figure, so that whether you are on the left or right side, you will not have to invade the other person’s space to look through the window of the passenger next to you.

4th About the 6-passenger small plane: This is undoubtedly the best of all the options, since you will be able to fly as close as possible to the Nazca Lines, at only 350 meters away. By simple logic, being closer means you will see the lines larger.

5th About the 12-passenger small plane: This is also a good option; however, the small plane will be much higher due to the weight, at 450 meters away from the lines, resulting in you seeing the lines smaller since you see them from a greater distance.

4.1.4. What you absolutely need to know before boarding a small plane:

Keep in mind that all airlines allow you a maximum weight of 90 kilos. This includes your body weight plus all the clothing and photography equipment you carry with you. If you exceed this weight, you can be sure that they will charge you more.

5. Paracas Bay in the Huacachina Desert:

Another of the spectacular places that the Huacachina Desert offers is Paracas Bay. Just four hours from the Huacachina Oasis is the Paracas National Reserve with its beautiful beaches.

Some beaches are red in color, others have rocky formations with intricate shapes that resemble a Cathedral, and a third one where you can get in and relax for a while in the sea, all of this before eating a delicious fresh ceviche from the area.

Doing this tour will take you an entire day, departing from the city of Ica and returning to the same place. Do not forget to bring sunscreen, a hat, and a small backpack that you can leave in the car so that you are always ready at all times.

6. The Canyon of the Lost:

This beautiful place closely resembles the Grand Canyon in the United States, where the rock formations and the views offered by the place will leave you speechless and wanting to take lots of photos with every step you take.

7. The lost city in time of Cahuachi:

The Huacachina Oasis, before, long before, the Viceroyalty period or even the Inca Empire, was occupied by two cultures called Nazca and Paracas. The latter built a monumental city in the middle of the desert, which today is known as Cahuachi.

These inhabitants lived there and used it as their main capital. Along the route, they built both irrigation aqueducts as well as their houses and cemeteries, which can still be seen today.

Curiously, this destination is located quite close to the flight over the Nazca Lines, so if you are passing by those lines, it is undoubtedly a place that we recommend you visit.

Final conclusions for a memorable trip to the Huacachina Oasis:

This is a fairly large place (in terms of its territorial extension, we mean) and at the same time quite hot, where each destination is quite far from one another, so traveling with a local guide will not only save you a great deal of time but will also allow you to learn much more about the area with fewer worries.

Each activity involves a certain level of risk, such as flying over the Nazca Lines, so we recommend traveling with insurance purchased in your country.

If what you enjoy is tasting the wines and piscos that are produced and you want to take one or many more home, do not forget to book a flight that allows you to carry checked baggage; otherwise, they will take away all your bottles before boarding the plane. Whether it is a domestic or international flight, these are the rules for flying in Peru.

Remember that alcohol should not be wasted, thank you for reading this post. 😇