Huacachina - Sandboarding the Oasis.

Huacachina is a brilliantly random little stop located just outside Ica in between Cusco and the coast. Huacachina is a beautiful oasis town that consists of a cluster of hostels set again the most amazing backdrop of towering sand dunes. It ended up being one of the highlights of our trip.

Hopefully this gem in the middle of Peru will change little in the next few years, however the back-packing scene is ever expanding and for good reason. The desert surrounding the lagoon is a playground for travellers and the hostels are all fitted with pools and a laid back atmosphere to give this oasis its deservedly laid back atmosphere. On a night however, this can all change if you want it to. Strangely enough this tiny town houses a huge club that locals flock to from far around on weekends and some of the hostels can get pretty lively on a night.

The sand dunes surrounding the oasis are asking to be played on and the locals have caught on, offering an adrenaline fuelled couple of hours of sandboarding and dune buggying, which are a must. Everyone hops in a buggy that looks like something out of mad max that proceeds to absolutely bomb it over the sand dunes, leaving you flailing round like your on a roller coaster. The buggy stops at the top of huge dunes along the way and everyone is encouraged to hop on a sandboard to cruise (or quite often fall) to the bottom of the dunes. Many think sandboarding is pretty lame however i can assure you that standing up and aiming straight downwards will get your blood pumping. But don't worry many others simply slide down on their chest whooping and hollering. The genius of it is that the buggy then picks you up at the bottom, saving you from slogging your way back o the top. It really is an awesome little trip.

For those people who really enjoyed it, or simply want to go and have a longer board, proper snowboards can be rented from many of the hostels, leaving you to explore the never ending dunes to your hearts content.

Hostel : Most have a pool and a view of the lagoon. Bananas had it all and for good value.