The Story of the ‘Huacachina’, Peru’s Natural Desert Oasis

Q: What’s the legend behind the Huacachina Oasis?

According to Inca legend, the oasis was born when a princess named Huacca China fled from a suitor, and her mirror shattered &mdash; creating the lagoon. Some stories say she transformed into a mermaid and still lives beneath the waters, while others tell of her tears forming the oasis after her lover&rsquo;s death. The name &ldquo;Huacachina&rdquo; means crying woman in Quechua, tying the myth beautifully to the land.

Nature is essentially the greatest gift of all, after human life. But nature, per se, is life. Because of trees, we can breathe. Nature is spectacular in every way, and the Huacachina in Ica, Peru, is one of nature's most precious spots, lying in an oasis in the middle of the desert.

A Complete Guide on Huacachina - An Oasis in the Middle of the Peruvian Desert

Also referred to as the 'Oasis of America', you'll find a lake surrounded by greenery, piers, and a diverse range of hotels to stay in if you want to spend more than one day in this wonderful refuge. The landscapes this place has to offer tourists are so impressive that in 2017, the British newspaper The Telegraph named Huacachina as one of the 21 most impressive places to visit in the world, making it the only Latin American destination on the prestigious list.

Upper view of Huacachina Oasis in Peru — *Peru’s extraordinary desert oasis, Huacachina, with its gigantic and dramatic sand dunes*
*Photo: @enigmaperu*

The Huacachina Lagoon, located just twenty minutes from Ica, is an ideal place to unwind, take a break, and think about how awesome the fact that nature has once again created a place like this in the middle of the Peruvian desert. What about its history?

Enjoying the Oasis in the Peruvian desert — *A visitor in the Peruvian Desert Huacachina Oasis*
*Photo: @maikellneww*

The Huacachina's History

Huacachina has long been a popular domestic and international tourist destination. The waters of the oasis were once thought to have healing powers, and the town became a resort for wealthy Peruvians who came to take advantage of those therapeutic properties in the 1960s. It was once a playground, now it has the air of a former beauty queen. The restaurants and hotels that line the small lagoon are built in the style of old Spanish colonial revival architecture that harkens back to a bygone era.

Huacachina Oasis during the night — *The Illuminated Oasis during nighttime*
*Photo: @exploorperu*

The Huacachina Legend

Legend says...

Legend says that this oasis was created by an Inca princess named 'Huacca China' who spent her days in this peaceful location. With the sound of her voice, this woman had the ability to make anyone fall in love with her. When the princess was walking, a man noticed her and was taken by her beauty, so he decided to approach her. The princess fled from him. The lady's suit began to rip through the brush along the way until it finally came off and turned into a sheet of sand. The mirror she always carried with her also fell, and when it broke, it turned into a lagoon in which she submerged herself and became a mermaid.

View of the oasis in Ica Peru — *Visible and clear panorama of the Huacachina Lagoon*
*Photo: @iva_yviline*

Another legend tells that this lagoon was born from the tears of the same princess who mourned the death of her beloved. The name Huacachina, which means 'crying woman' in Quechua, originates from this story.

Two people laying in the sand dunes at Huacachina — *Photo: @peruhop*

A Real Desert Oasis in Ica, Peru

A Fata Morgana is not the same as an oasis. Fata Morganas do not exist and are rather a fathom, or as some call it, a 'mirage,' but the Huacachina oasis does not make a part of this category. This oasis was formed thanks to an underground current of water, which generated the growth of plants and trees in the middle of the Ica desert.

Spectacular picture of the Huacachina — *Amazing view of the entire desert surrounding the Huacachina Oasis in Ica, Peru*
*Photo: @urosvisekruna*

Currently, there are efforts underway in order to preserve the oasis and to help preserve the vegetation, which is made up of palm trees, eucalyptus, and carob trees. Yet this oasis in Peru also suffers from dehydration due to climate change. Hopefully, there won't be just Fata Morgana in the future. These kinds of miraculous natural phenomena, such as the oasis in Peru, should be cherished and can offer us a perspective on restoring nature.

Visitor in the sand dunes — *Photo: @caseyskilbeckphotography*

Important to keep in mind that the Huacachina Oasis is the only natural oasis in South America and is located just five hours away from Lima and fifteen minutes away from the city of Ica, in southern Peru. Home to the biggest sand dunes in the continent, Huacachina is a MUST when traveling to Peru!

Video by: @earthpix

It’s the perfect place to do the famous sandboarding and dune buggy tour or enjoy other variety of other tours in the town or nearby. Give yourself the chance to know one of the most spectacular hidden places on earth while you cross the desert in a sand buggy!

FAQ

What exactly is Huacachina and where is it located?

Huacachina is a natural desert oasis located in the Ica region of southern Peru, about five hours from Lima and just 15–20 minutes from the city of Ica. It’s often called the Oasis of America — a small lagoon surrounded by towering sand dunes, palm trees, and colonial-style architecture that feels almost otherworldly.

How was the Huacachina Oasis formed?

Unlike a mirage or optical illusion, Huacachina is a real oasis formed by underground water sources that nourish the surrounding vegetation. Over time, the water flow created the lagoon that became a refuge for wildlife — and eventually, for travelers seeking an escape in the desert.

What activities can visitors enjoy in Huacachina?

Huacachina offers plenty of adventure and relaxation alike. Visitors can go sandboarding down the continent’s tallest dunes, take a dune buggy ride across the desert, or simply enjoy the calm of the oasis. The area also offers boat rides, hiking, and breathtaking sunsets best enjoyed from the sand peaks above the lagoon.

What’s the legend behind the Huacachina Oasis?

According to Inca legend, the oasis was born when a princess named Huacca China fled from a suitor, and her mirror shattered — creating the lagoon. Some stories say she transformed into a mermaid and still lives beneath the waters, while others tell of her tears forming the oasis after her lover’s death. The name “Huacachina” means crying woman in Quechua, tying the myth beautifully to the land.

Is Huacachina really the only natural oasis in South America?

Yes! Huacachina holds the distinction of being South America’s only natural desert oasis. Its rare ecosystem, surrounded by eucalyptus, carob, and palm trees, makes it one of the continent’s most extraordinary natural wonders — and one that Peru is working hard to preserve against climate change and water depletion.

If you had the chance to visit the Huacachina Oasis, would you go?