Pool days in the desert around Huacachina (Ica)

The landscape hasn't changed much during the two-hour drive from Nazca to Huacachina. But the place itself has. Huacachina is the only natural oasis in Latin America and is located just outside the city of Ica. Around the small oasis, there are a variety of hotels, restaurants, bars, and of course tour operators.

We decided to stay at the Wild Rover Hostel for once. The Irish hostel chain is everywhere here and is known for its all-night parties and younger crowd. And it lived up to its reputation. Both nights we spent here, we were in bed with earplugs and probably the first guests. The deafeningly loud music in the bar and the drinking games including the accompanying shouting didn't quite appeal to us - but it was definitely fun people-watching.

We spent most of the two days by the much quieter pool. Actually, that was the reason why we booked at the Wild Rover - the pool. The heat in the desert is something new for us and we enjoyed sunbathing and cooling down.

The sand dunes around the oasis are incredibly high and you effectively feel like you're sitting in a large sandbox. It is obligatory to climb one of the dunes before sunset. Of course, we did that too. The climb is tough - two steps forward, one step back - but it's worth it. Once at the top, you have a great view of endless sand dunes on one side and the city of Ica on the other. Unfortunately, some clouds spoiled our super romantic sunset - but it was still beautiful.

In addition to the pool and sand dunes, we took a short Pisco Vineyard Tour. In the nearby town of Ica, we were able to take a short tour of the production facility and do a tasting. We didn't like the wine because of its sweetness. Pisco itself is not a huge pleasure on its own, but mixed and in a creamy liqueur (similar to Baileys), it's quite nice.

After two loud nights and hot days, we are now moving on to Paracas on the coast, where we will make our last stop before Lima.