Ica / Huacachina

So after a week here, i was invited my two of the other volunteers to take a trip to Ica.
I knew absoutely nothing about it but happily agreed to have a little adventure.

Coach trips are so cheap here, it only cost about 11 pound for a return journey to Ica, a city four hours away. Nice!

So we actually stayed in a place called Huacachina (please google) its a natural oasis in the desert 10 minutes outside of Ica and my god is it beautiful. We stayed in a hotel called el Huacachinero, a fab hotel which for us was cheap as chips. We stayed in a 10 bed dorm which cost about 7/8 pound a night and the facilities were soooo good. It had its own pool/restaurant/bar etc!

So being in the desert we HAD to do some sand boarding, no?
So we jumped in a buggy and off we went into the dunes.
It was everything that you could imagine it to be, just breathtaking, dunes upon dunes, beautiful.
Then for the sand boarding...
I thought there would be more rules or safety regulations to it but no. Just a lie-down on a board and being told to keep your elbows on the board (to avoid what would be horrible sand-burn).
And it was incredible!!!!
It really was that feeling of freedom just WOW im sand boarding down a ridiculously high dune!!

Experiencing the sunset in the desert. CHECK.
It was unbelievable, a true kodak moment (ill have to work out how to upload photos onto this!!)

The next day we went to the Nasca Lines which are figures in the ground that have been there for centuries, nobody knows how or why they are there (kinda like crop circles i guess, but in the ground not crops). At first I wasnt too fussed, but it was actually quite interesting to hear all the theories surrounding them.

Then to the wineries...my favorite part of the day.
We got taken to two wineries, and got given soooo much wine to taste.
There is a very famous alcohol called Pisco here and its like 40% volume, its good but my god, strong! But there are also variations of pisco wine which is delicious sweet wine!! A must try!

We also ended up tastign wine with a famous Peruvian comedian (apparently), everyone was made up to see her etc and he bought us chocolates ... always appreciated!!

The next day I went to Paracas to see the Islas Ballestas, which are islands out to see which beautful birds, sea lions and penguins!! gorgeous!!

All in all, after only 3 days of trip, we managed to do and see quite alot and have a pretty amazing time.
I'd highly recommend Ica for any tourists to Peru.