ATV riding in Huacachina: Buggy and sandboarding at sunset

Speed across the dunes, then slide down them on a board

ATV riding in Huacachina pairs a 2-hour buggy tour through Peru's only desert oasis with sandboarding on high dunes and a sunset stop. You meet at the oasis, climb into an open buggy with an experienced driver, travel at full speed across the desert to a panoramic viewpoint, then strap on a sandboard and ride down the slopes before the final stop to watch the sun set over the dunes. The activity includes entry tax, the sandboard and all buggy time. Children from age 8 are welcome, and guides speak English or Spanish.

The experience

The buggy takes you from the meeting point in Huacachina straight into the desert, climbing and crossing dunes at speed until you reach the highest slopes. Your driver knows the terrain and handles the vehicle while you experience the full force of the ride: the engine noise, the sand flying, the angle of the dune faces as they come into view. A panoramic stop gives you a moment to see the desert and the oasis city spread below before the driver pushes deeper into the dunes.

At the sandboarding point, you step out of the buggy and take the board down the slope yourself. The sand is packed enough to ride but soft enough to slow you as you descend, and the height of the dune means a real run, not a short slide. After that comes the final leg to the sunset viewpoint, where you watch from the desert floor as the light drops over the oasis and the dunes turn gold and shadow.

The whole experience runs about 2 hours on normal days. During Peruvian holidays (Holy Week, July 28–29, New Year's Eve) the buggy portion shortens to around 1 hour due to the volume of visitors. Your guide speaks English or Spanish, and the pace is built for adrenaline. This is not a slow scenic drive. Sand, speed and the physical sensation of the dunes are what you came for, and the product delivers all three.

What’s included

• Tourist entry tax to the desert.
• sandboard for the dune descent.
• 2 hours of buggy riding with an experienced driver.
• guide in English or Spanish.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 16:00

AgesAdult (18 to 80 years) · Youth (14 to 17 years) · Child (8 to 13 years) · Under 8: can't be included in the booking

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 12 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by trueXperiences - Tours en Ica, Paracas y Nazca

Is this one for you?The guide speaks English or Spanish, so you follow the commentary in your language. If you speak neither, this activity relies on the driver's gestures and your own sense of the terrain, which works but leaves you less informed about what you are seeing.

Traveler reviews

4.89★★★★★★★★★★

38 verified traveler reviews

5 ★37

4 ★0

3 ★0

2 ★0

1 ★1

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (14 to 17 years); Child (8 to 13 years). Under 8: they can't be included in the booking.

What does the buggy ride actually feel like on the dunes?

The buggy climbs and crosses the highest dunes at full speed, so you feel the engine power and the angle of each slope as the driver navigates the terrain. It is open-air, so the sand and wind are part of the ride. The pace is fast enough to be genuinely thrilling, not a gentle tour.

Do I need experience to sandboard, or is it taught?

Sandboarding experience is not required. You receive a sandboard and ride down the dune slope as part of the activity. The descent is on packed sand that slows you naturally. The guide and driver are there, but instruction is minimal. It is designed as a do-it-yourself run down the slope.

How long is the buggy ride itself?

The buggy portion lasts about 2 hours on regular days, covering the desert climb, the panoramic viewpoint, the sandboarding stop and the final sunset point. On Peruvian holidays (Holy Week, July 28–29, New Year's Eve), the buggy ride shortens to around 1 hour because of higher visitor numbers.

What is included in the price?

The activity includes the tourist entry tax to the desert, the sandboard, and the full 2 hours of buggy riding with your driver. Guides speak English or Spanish, and children from age 8 can join.

Where do I meet, and how far is Huacachina from Lima?

You meet at the meeting point inside the Huacachina Oasis itself, which sits about 4 hours south of Lima on Peru's South Coast. Public transportation options are available nearby if you need to arrange your own way there.