After Nazca we headed to the city of Ica to go to the museum there that was highly recommended. Their collection of textiles, ceramics, mummies, and other historical relics were really impressive.
After that we headed to nearby Huacachina, which is a tiny oasis town in the middle of towering sand dunes. We hadn't expected much, but it was actually really cool, if overly touristy. It was the weekend, and all the local Peruvian families and kids from Ica and other nearby towns were there swimming in the laguna and sand-boarding alongside backpacker kids. Eight-person dune buggies were roaring crazily over the dunes, eliciting screams. I had the feeling that the town's sole purpose was as a natural playground.
We only stayed one night and unfortunately didn't do any sand boarding, but we got our fill of running up and down the dunes and were washing sand out of our scalps and ears for days after.
Borrowed from http://theotherwayroundtheworld.blogspot.com/2011/09/huacachina-dunne-buggies-and-desert.html. We didn't bring our camera up because of all the sand but it was really beautiful and impressive. Everything to the right and behind where this picture was shot is dunes far into the distance.
Arequipa
