Huacachina Dune Buggies and the desert

19th September 2011
Our next port of call was the desert oasis of Huacachina

famous for three things:

1.Dune Buggies and Sand Boarding;
2. Wine Tours;
3. The sand dunes/ oasis in the desert.

We intended to stay a few days and immerse ourselves in all 3, not at once albeit!

First on the list was Dune Buggies! These beasts carry you through the desert at high speeds over sand dunes on a roller coaster thrill ride. Then for good measure you can throw yourself down sand dunes on a snow board!! (James only did this as Sarah, Rowena and Michael were 'too chicken').

We went out at 4 pm which allowed us to see sunset.

Next on the list was a wine tour, so we set off the next day with our trusty taxi driver Jose.

First stop was the oldest winery in Peru 'Vista Alegre, we had a one to one with a guide and had a brilliant tour.

After several glasses of whites, reds and neat Pisco we headed off to another Pisco winery for a spot of lunch and yet more Pisco!

Third on the list was the sand dunes. We had driven on them, but had not yet ventured up one on foot.... So we all decided to attempt a summit! Sarah had got up in the morning before breakfast for a cool hike, but had not seen a thing due to low cloud. So we all went up again later that day, this time it was much hotter and walking on boiling hot sand with no flipflops hurt ALOT!! We initially couldn't walk on the sand and let Mum (Rowena) and Michael walk up in their proper sandals, but we couldn't resist it.

Can you spot Rowena and Michael?

We both figured out we could last 10-15 seconds running at full pelt up the sand dune before our feet needed flipflops on or burred in the sand, so this is what we did to the top. A lady we passed thought we were mad.

The views from the top of Huacachina were amazing (see first picture at top of blog).

In the evenings we strolled around the lagoon and enjoyed Pisco sours overlooking the beautiful scenery. We had great weather during the the whole stay, which meant we could laze around the pool in the hotel, swim, and talk or play with the pet parrots (I think Michael was a pirate in a past life).

Next stop Nazca Lines.......