Huacachina is a small desert oasis outside of the town of Ica that was originally established for Ica’s wealthy. It is literally just a small lagoon in the middle of the desert that a walkway with hotels and restaurants was built around leaving a portion open for a fine sand beach. The outside of the town are surrounded by high walls of sand. Unfortunately, ground water consumption has dropped the levels of the lagoon significantly draining the lagoon and leaving the future of the oasis uncertain.
Pictures of the lagoon surrounded by the walls of sand and overlooking the land at night.
However, a new sport other than swimming has become popular among the backpackers. Dune buggy rides and sand-boarding in the desert. All was going well on our sand dune ride until we rounded a hill and literally drove straight down the other side. Just like a drop in a roller coaster except our harnesses were some seat-belts that were cut from a car and tied to the back of our headrests. There were several more of these terrifying drops where I prayed to the Inca gods above to not let the buggy turn over. I was grateful when we stopped in order to sand board. Somehow sand-boarding on a vertical drop was way less scary than the dune buggy ride.
From top left: Jon standing in front of our dune buggy, Jon and I in the vast desert, me walking back up after a sand-boarding ride, and Jon cruising down the hill.
The next day we went wine and pisco tasting. I was thrilled because I have barely had a glass of wine since I left. We were set to visit two wineries, one modern and one old fashioned. We arrived at the first one where we learned about the process for making wine with a huge wooden press lowered by removing sticks from each side. Because it is so dry in the area the grapes produce a significant amount more sugar than in US or Europe which means that the wine is ultra-sweet, just the way Peruvians like it. Strait pisco on the other hand reminds me of drinking rubbing alcohol. We learned the trick of swishing it in our months first which leaves the burning on our cheeks and tongue and not in our throat. When we approached the second winery we learned that the first was the modern one. I don’t think anything in the second one has changed since it opened in 1809. The wine was even sweeter than the first tasting exactly like concord grape juice and was sold in 2-gallon plastic milk jugs. I wish I could have sent a few of those home for next girls weekend!
From top left: The wine press (you can see the sticks on the sides that are pulled out to lower the press), the tasting bar at first winery (the guns are fake and are filled with pisco), outside the second winery, and Jon inside the second winery. Those casks are filled with wine and there was antiques everywhere!
Where we stayed, Banana’s Adventure Hostel, a small backpacker oasis overlooking the lagoon. We had a basic private room with a shared bathroom for about $52 a night including breakfast and one tour per day. The tours to choose from were dune buggy ride with sand-boarding, wine and pisco tasting or a BBQ. Jon and I only stayed two nights but opted to pay extra to participate in all three tours. The BBQ, as well as all the other food at the hotel, was excellent and Jon and I gorged ourselves so we definitely got our monies worth. The grounds were a little oasis of their own with palm trees, bamboo walkways and the bonus of a small pool.
Our room, pool and grounds.
Journey with Christina 