Huacachina Oasis

V!VA User‘s Description

Located just 5 kilometers outside of Ica, this small desert oasis consists of a quiet lagoon surrounded by sand dunes, palm trees and huarangos (carob trees). A local legend completes Huacachina’s enchanting atmosphere: when the moon is full you can hear the mournful cry of a woman who drowned herself in the lagoon after discovering her fiancé was killed at war.

Beautiful houses line the lagoon's shores and while the water can be a bit murky at times, it makes a great place to escape from the desert heat after a day of sand boarding or cruising around in a dune buggy. A boardwalk encircles the lagoon, and a variety of enticing restaurants and hotels line the town. According to locals, the lagoon's sulfur-rich waters contain curative properties. Whether or not this theory has merit, you're bound to leave the Huacachina Oasis feeling a little more relaxed than when you arrived. To get to this dessert dream, hop on a bus from the Plaza de Armas in Ica, or catch a taxi.