Buzz
Locals whisper tales of a beautiful maiden bathing in the waters of Huacachina Oasis, only to be discovered by a passing hunter.
Huacachina Oasis Emerges Like a Mirage in the Peruvian Desert
Under the scorching sun of the desert, prolonged exposure might lead to hallucinations of lush green lakes under palm tree shades – a scenery seemingly impossible amidst vast stretches of sand. However, this 'hallucination' is very much a reality amidst the sand dunes of southwestern Peru.
Located 4 km away from the coastal city of Ica, the Huacachina Oasis presents itself like a scene straight out of a movie. According to ancient legend, Huacay China, a beautiful maiden of the region, was bathing in the oasis when she was discovered by a young hunter. Startled by the sight of a stranger in the mirror-like waters, she fled, causing the mirror to shatter into a lagoon, her flowing robes turning into sand dunes surrounding the area. She then dove into the depths of the water to escape the unfamiliar face.
Locals claim that the enchanting Huacay still resides within the Huacachina Oasis and has transformed into a mermaid. In reality, the El Cascajo lake within this oasis is formed by underground water channels of the desert.
With only around 100 residents, Huacachina welcomes tens of thousands of tourists every year. News of this green oasis in the heart of the desert only began to spread in the 1940s when a spa catering to the wealthy claimed that its lagoon water could heal ailments. However, by the 1950s, Huacachina suddenly faded into obscurity and lay abandoned for decades.
It wasn't until the 1990s that curious travelers began flocking to this beautiful oasis. Tour companies started organizing off-road driving tours, sandboarding experiences, and more to attract adventurous visitors.
By the early 2000s, rampant well digging threatened Huacachina's water source. To compensate for this loss and preserve the heritage, local businesses began pumping water into the lake. However, the oasis water became increasingly polluted due to the surrounding infrastructure development.
In 2010, Marino Morikawa, a Peruvian-Japanese scientist, successfully researched nano-technology to revive Huacachina's El Cascajo lake - where he spent his childhood fishing.
In just six months, Marino developed a micro-nano bubble generation system and a biological filter to clean the entire oasis lagoon area. By 2014, thanks to Marino's efforts, 40 bird species migrated back to El Cascajo, and 10 fish species reemerged in the lake.
Today, visitors to Huacachina Oasis can paddleboat on the oasis lake, go off-road driving to explore the surrounding sand dunes at $50 USD per hour, go sandboarding, or admire the vibrant sunset from the desert. For accommodation, tourists can rent rooms in the village or camp in adventurous exploration areas.
According to Pham Huyen/Vnexpress
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Reference: Travel Handbook Mytour
MytourAugust 30, 2019
