Travel to Huacachina with kids is a must if you are in Peru. This small town was built around a natural lake in the middle of the desert. Huacachina is home to maybe 100 locals, but sees tens of thousands of visitors each year. Most of Huacachina’s visitors are vacationers from Peru. This Oasis makes for a great getaway for families from all over Peru, as well as travelers from around the world.
Table of Contents
- How to Get to Huacachina with Kids:
- Where to Stay in Huacachina with Kids:
- What to do in Huacachina with kids:
- What to Wear in Huacachina:
- How Long to Stay in Huacachina:
How to Get to Huacachina with Kids:
There are no airports in Huacachina, so flying in directly is not an option. The closest city is Ica, which is only about a 10-15 drive from Huacachina. Many people choose to stay in Ica and just drive in for day trips to Huacachina.
Most tourists will be making their way to Huacachina from Lima. The drive from Lima is approximately four and a half hours. The best options for travel from Lima to Huacachina are by private car or hired bus.
It is possible to take a public transit bus for a cheap price, but public transit can be a hot spot for crime. To avoid any thefts and pick pocketing, it is best to purchase tickets on a travel bus. A bus can be hired to pick you up from your hotel, or from designated bus depots.
Private cars can be booked for direct pick up and drop off. A private car would be the safest option, but is also the most expensive.
Where to Stay in Huacachina with Kids:
Huacachina is a town that relies on tourism, which means there are many accommodation options. The town surrounding the lake is filled with hotels and hostels. In the desert heat, booking a hotel that has a pool would be a smart idea.
If you are looking for a truly unique accommodation, book a camping experience. EcoCamp Huacachina offers large comfortable tents which include full beds, electricity and stand up fans. Bathrooms are shared and there is a communal kitchen if you would like to cook, or store anything in a fridge. The thick canvas tents have a padlock on the zipper, for security. The camp also features a large pool with a swim up bar, and an open air restaurant. The compound is very clean and tours can be booked directly through the reception. Be aware that these tents do not have air conditioning.
There are other companies that offer camping right on the dunes themselves. The camping would be a little more rustic, but the views of the night sky on the sand dunes will be spectacular.
There are many small hotels to book in Huacachina if camping is not your idea of a vacation. Most hotels have private pools, and offer free breakfast.
It really doesn’t matter where your chosen hotel is within the city. You can walk from one side of Huacachina to the other in less than 10 minutes. Don’t worry about location too much when booking a hotel, focus more on what amenities you want.
Some families prefer to stay in Ica, and day trip into Huacachina, as the drive in is less than fifteen minutes. Ica has many more hotel options for families, and being in a larger city would offer more amenities that Huacachina doesn’t have, such as large grocery stores.
What to do in Huacachina with kids:
Dune Buggy Tours
The must do activity in Huacachina is to take a buggy tour of the sand dunes and try out some sand boarding.
There are many tour companies that offer dune tours. The easiest thing to do is to book your dune buggy tour through your hotel reception. Tour prices are generally similar amongst the different companies and booking with your hotel is not only convenient, but safe.
Most companies offer a morning tour and an afternoon tour. The morning tours are usually less crowded as most people opt for the afternoon tour so as to view the sunset over Huacachina from atop the sand dunes. When touring with young children, the morning tour would be the best choice to avoid full tours and crowds. If you have your heart set on seeing that sunset though, there is no reason young children can’t go on the later tour if you can find an opening.
After a ride around the dunes, you are given an opportunity to try your hand at some sand boarding. If you don’t want to participate, you are free to watch. Be sure to bring your camera not only to take pictures of the fun you’re having, but to also snap a few pictures of the view of Huacachina from the top of the sand dunes.
Young children and toddlers are welcome on these tours as well. Some companies may require you to book a private tour with a toddler so as to provide a slower and safer dune buggy ride.
Be aware that the safety belts are suited to an adult frame. Small children will not fit well inside the harness. Make sure the lap belt is done up tight and keep small children in an inside seat to prevent being thrown around. Don’t let this stop you from booking a dune buggy tour with toddlers, just make sure you are prepared and know what to expect. With the booking of a private tour, you can request the drive go slower on the dunes than they normally would.
Boat the Oasis
There are row boats and paddle boats for rent along the shores of the oasis, the lake in the middle of Huacachina. Suitable for all ages, this is a slow paced activity to just enjoy the views and the sunshine.
Walk Around Town
Take a stroll through the town and select one of the many restaurants to try. Most restaurants have patios so you can enjoy the open air and people watch.
Aside from restaurants, there isn’t much to see in the small town of Huacachina. There are a few trinket shops to browse through, and the fresh squeezed fruit juice is a must to try.
There is very little to do in Huacachina, but that adds to the charm. This is a destination of relaxation, and to take some time to revel in the beauty of the desert oasis. Time moves slower here, and it is noticeable.
Grab a blanket or a towel and find a great spot to picnic on the dunes or around the lake.
What to Wear in Huacachina:
The warmest weather in Huacachina is between the months of December and April. With lows of 20°c (68°F) and highs of 30°c (86°F). During these warmer months you will want to dress in cool, light layers and bring plenty of sunscreen.
During May to November the weather is a little bit cooler. Lows of 13°c (55°F) and highs of 19°c (66°F) with cooler temperatures at night. Shorts could still be worn during the day, but you may want to consider some light pants for the evenings.
As Huacachina is a true desert, rain is almost non existent, January to March are considered the rainiest months with only 3mm of rainfall in January and 4mm of rainfall in February and March combined. The rest of the year is dry. When travelling to Huacachina with kids, don’t worry about packing for rainy weather even if travelling during the “rainy season”.
How Long to Stay in Huacachina:
Huacachina is not a large city. Unless you want to sit around relaxing beside the oasis for days on end, you don’t need very long in Huacachina. A weekend would suffice with one to three nights booked in town.
If you are unsure how long to spend in Huacachina with kids, you could always opt to book accommodations in Ica and make the drive into Huacachina. This way you can spend your remaining days exploring the larger town of Ica if you have run out of activities within Huacachina.
No matter what time of year you plan to visit Huacachina with kids, you are bound to have great weather and a great time.
Comments
That pool is amazing! This looks like a great adventure.
I was wondering, how you actually booked dune buggy? We have a four year old and everyone we have spoken to has said she is not allowed to go on the dune buggy.
Author
Hi Taryne. We booked directly through our hotel the day before. We did have to book a private buggy so as not to ruin anyone else’s experience. Since we did have a toddler and would not be driving as fast as others would want to. We did not try and book ahead of time at all.