We hadn't planned to visit Huacachina (pronounced Waccacheena) as the place wasn't even referred to in our guide book, but we have met so many people who have been here and said it was worth visiting that we decided to give it a go. From Pisco we had to take a local bus to Ica, about an hours drive, and from there a short taxi ride to Huacachina a few kilometers away. The bus ride from Pisco was amazing - every minute was through a vast desert and if we hadn't had the Peru stamp in our passports we could have sworn we were somewhere in the Middle East. The desert area spans some 5000 square kilometers and we are informed that it is the driest desert in the world with no significant rainfall since the last ice age (they get 20 minutes of rain per year!). Huacachina is actually an oasis town in the middle of the desert and consists of a small lake in the centre of town sourrounded by the worlds largest sand dunes (so we are told) - and that is the main reason for visiting the area - sand boarding and dune buggies!. We took a ride out with 7 other brave souls in a purpose builst buggy, driven by our local guide. The only way I can describe it is to say es loco! (it was crazy). We had such good fun on the dune buggies which were driven at what felt like horrendous speeds over enormous vertical drops. Chris then also had the chance to have a go at sand boarding which is basically the same as snow boarding but thankfully a little slower, due to the friction of the sand, as over here they don't seem to have heard of using nursery slopes for beginners. Instructions were in Spanish, then they greased the bottom of the board and off you went. By the third dune Chris was getting into the swing of it though this was after a few tumbles. The disadvantage that sand boarding has over its colder cousin is that sand doesn't melt and Chris is still having to shower three times a day to get rid of the damn stuff. We also got to stay in the desert for the sunset over the dunes. I have to say that this is one of the most beautiful sights I have ever seen and was incredibley peaceful - take a look at the photos. On the night that we stayed in Huacachina we discovered a hotel down the way which did an all you can eat barbecue for 2.50 pounds each - just what the doctor ordered after so much activity, all washed down with the local beer and some freindly conflab with a few other travellers. This is really the time that you get to learn about what is good to do and what is worth avoiding and we have met some really nice people this way who we have been able to keep in touch with. Huacachina is a small town though and after one night and a day in the place we had pretty much exhausted all it had to offer. Nasca next stop.