On Tuesday the 16th of July, the maximum temperature is 21 degrees Celsius, and the minimum temperature is 16. The wind is strong in Paracas, so it feels a little colder than the numbers indicate. Today, I went to work at the museum with my coat on. It's the first time in my life that I'm wearing a coat in mid-July. Plus, it’s a rather thick coat that I bought quite a long time ago to go and see the Northern Lights in Finland. These trivial things make me suddenly feel that I really am on the other side of the world from Japan. I hear it has gotten quite hot in Japan, so please take care not to get heat stroke. My latest craze is to get out of the office and work in the sunshine. The beautiful sky, the sea in front of me, out in the open. It’s the best. It's a little windy, but that's no problem!


Well, this time I’d like to tell you about the attractions of Huacachina, a recommended sightseeing spot in the Ica region where I live. (Just between you and me, in my opinion, it’s a tourist spot that compares favorably to the famous Machu Picchu.）


It's been roughly 8 months since I started living here in the Ica region, and I've been to Huacachina many times because it's the only tourist spot, I can easily go to for recreation.
Also, when a friend thankfully comes to visit Ica to spend some time with me outside work, the place I always take them to see is Huacachina. By the way, “huacachina” means “weeping woman” in Quechua, one of the official languages of Peru. The origin of the name "weeping woman" apparently lies in "The Legend of the Beautiful Princess Called Huacca China", but there are too many different versions of this legend and if I tell it to you here, I will go over my word count allowance for this article, so I will leave it out this time. For now, please take a look at these photos.


Huacachina in the daytime

After the sun has gone down

The sky changes color every second

One-on-one with the sun

Huacachina at night
The appeal of Huacachina lies in those awesome changes in this world of sky and sand revealed at different times of the day. Even though you're in the same place, they take you to another world. I think that might be where the biggest appeal of Huacachina lies. By all means, if you're reading this, I hope you come and try this experience at least once: that’s the sort of place it is. It’s recommended that you go just before sunset because the colors of the sky and the infinite sand change every second once the sun sets. I really do hope you come and enjoy Ica in southern Peru, climb to the top of a dune, squarely face the great big sun, and watch it as it sets. It's the best feeling to be all alone in the sand and look up at the sky, having it all to yourself!

Another way to enjoy Huacachina is by doing sand activities, riding around the desert on a dune buggy and going sandboarding.





Rushing at great speed around the endless world of sand is awesome, to say the least. It blows lots of other things out of the water. Plus, when I booked locally for the dune buggy and sandboarding, it was about 1,000 yen. Isn’t being able to have fun at a reasonable price another of Huacachina’s attractions? If you’re reading this article and want to go to Huacachina, please come and visit Peru during the Obon holiday. I’m looking forward to it!


Well, here’s where I say “Adios!” This has been Shoko Yamamoto from Paracas, Peru.