Apr 2007

Leaving behind the madness that was Cuszo the next destination was to be Ica, or more precisely, Huacachina - home to some of the biggest sand dunes in South America and prime spot for those thrillseekers amongst you!

On the west coast of Peru about 6 or 7 hours south of Lima lies the little oasis that was Huacachina. Leaving behind the congested, polluted town that is Ica, a short 8km taxi ride away lies this little place for relaxation and excitment combined. Basically its tiny and has a man made lake right in the middle with huge sand dunes surrounding the town from almost all directions. Why do people come here? Well basically to strap on a sandboard (same as a snowboard but minus the snow) and throw yourself down massive dunes hoping that:

1) If you fall its not going to hurt
2) That you'll actually manage to stay on your feet for more than 2 seconds and not look like a complete ass
3) If you can't stand up you will successfully manage to get down to the bottom whilst lying on your stomach and not 'sand' off your most precious parts!

So that's basically what I was hoping......and thankfully I managed number 3 without 1 and 2 coming into it! (minus a little bruising and sand in every crevice imaginable)

You start off by ripping up and down the dunes in big old sand buggies going at speeds that feel like 100mph being thrown about all over the shop and hanging on for dear life whilst hysterically laughing as the adrenalin rushes through you and that's before you even set foot on the sand - racing up huge hills at a rate of knots and not being able to see over the tip before getting there and then screaming like its a roller coaster ride as it speeds down the other side - lunacy I tell you - lunacy! That's the start.....then you get to the top of one of these monsters and suddenly the buggy stops, out hops the driver and then before you know it you are staring down this precipice of sand.....oh my god! Do I have the balls to actually do it you ask yourself and then away you go - the best fun you can have with your clothes on! As the hours tick by you progress to bigger and bigger dunes and realise that first one was nothing - the real fear is saved for the last one..... This one had a lip so you couldn't actually see the bottom so had no idea how big it was until you are over, and believe me it was big! Basically you stand at the top watching those who have gone first and when you realise that they themselves disappear for about 4 or 5 seconds before rocketing out at an impossible speed and distance away from the start point do you realise what you have let yourself in for.....but what a rush. Then when its over and you reluctantly get back into the buggy and rip off over the dunes again you get to stop and watch the most beautiful sunset - a perfect end to a perfect few hours. HIGHLY recommend.

On the relaxation side there are a couple of hostels here and we managed to find a hotel standard one equipped with a great pool, sun loungers, hammocks and strongest (and most disgusting) cocktails a girl could ask for.

Great little spot to spend a couple of days - made even more so when a crowd of people from Cusco turned up a day later, many laughs were had and was a shame to leaveand split up again but that my friends is the nature of this backpacking thing, time to move on and up! Next it was to be back to Arequipa for 1 night whilst awaiting my connection to Puno and Lake Titicaca.