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Sandboarding in the Desert

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dconlisk
dconlisk
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4 out of 5
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Sandboarding in the Desert

  • March 22, 2002
  • Rated 4 of 5 by dconlisk from Dublin, Ireland
Sandboarding in the Desert

We got off the bus at a roundabout outside Ica, and took a cab straight to Huacachina - all the cabbies know it, it's beginning to establish itself as a favourite with the gringos. The road goes straight out there and ends at an oasis with a large lagoon surrounded by a small town, surrounded by desert as far as the eye can see.

We stayed in one of the newer hostels, a beautiful place called Hostal del Reya (Hostel of the Sands). It had a beautiful little pool, surrounded by a grassy area with deck chairs, parasols, a beach volleyball area, and of course the obligatory bar complete with coconut fronds on the roof. Here is where the days were spent tanning, drinking, eating, swimming and generally having a fabulous time (ok, so it may sound a bit like something from MTV's the Grind, but after a few days hard travel it really hit the spot) while waiting for the blazing sun to cool down enough for the highlight of the day - sandboarding.

At about 5.30ish each day, we'd grab some boards, and trudge for 15-20 minutes up the huge dune right behind the hostel. From there, the choice of the easy side for beginners to practice, or back towards the hostel at an insane angle (not to mention insane speed) for those who feel they can handle it. What an amazing time we had here, I only wish we could have stayed longer. After four days of sandboarding I was getting quite proficient at it, but still managed to come down looking like I was made of sand every time. Unmissable.

From journal Ten Weeks of Madness in South America

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