Peru contains an ancient oasis village called Huacachina completely surrounded by towering, endless sand dunes that make it look like a mirage from a fantasy movie.

A closer look

Peru contains an ancient oasis village called Huacachina completely surrounded by towering, endless sand dunes that make it look like a mirage from a fantasy movie. Originally a playground for the local elite who believed the water had magical healing properties, it has devolved into a massive hub for backpackers wanting to ride noisy dune buggies and aggressively sandboard down the steep hills. The natural water supply actually began drying up years ago due to well drilling, so the municipality now secretly pumps water in from the outside to keep the picturesque lagoon from turning into a dry puddle, artificially propping up the local tourism industry through sheer mechanical desperation