ATV riding in Huacachina: Dune buggy and sand sled

You operate the sand sled yourself on the way down.

Dune buggy and sand sled activity in Huacachina, Peru, where you ride as a passenger in an expert-piloted buggy across the desert, then take a sand sled down the dunes on your own. The experience runs 2.5 hours from late afternoon into sunset, with a live guide speaking English or Spanish. Children from age 4 are welcome. Service animals are allowed.

Step-by-step itinerary

Desert adventure with dune buggy and sled

• Arrive at Sandboard shop for check-in
• Walk to Dune Buggy parking zone
• Board dune buggy
• Ride dune buggy in desert
• Enjoy sand sledding down dunes
• Watch and photograph sunset

The experience

You arrive at the Sandboard shop by 3 PM for check-in, then walk 15 minutes to the dune buggy parking zone. The buggy departs the desert around 3:45 PM, and from there the ride is the point: an expert pilot handles the vehicle while you sit as a passenger, moving fast enough to feel the adrenaline but controlled enough that the ride stays safe. The desert itself is the landscape: open, high-altitude sand with no fixed stops, just the terrain rolling past.

Partway through, you switch to sand sledding. Unlike the buggy, where the driver steers, you control the sled on the descent down the dunes. It is the simpler, funnier half of the afternoon: belly boarding or standing sled down the face of the sand. The timing is built around sunset, so the light shifts as you move, and there is time to take pictures before the ride ends.

Bring 3.60 soles in coins per person for the Ica government tourist tax, payable on the day. The activity suits all fitness levels and welcomes children from age 4 onward. It is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, poor cardiovascular health, or pregnancy.

What’s included

• The dune buggy ride with an expert pilot.
• sand sled for the descent.
• a live guide in English or Spanish.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 15:00

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (18 to 49 years) · Senior (50 to 75 years) · Youth (13 to 17 years) · Child (4 to 12 years) · Under 4: can't be included in the booking

GroupUp to 20

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.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 7 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Dito Sand Xsports

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to feel the speed and control of a dune buggy without driving it yourself, then take over on the sand sled for the descent. The fixed late-afternoon start and sunset timing mean the light and temperature work in your favor, and the 2.5-hour length fits easily into a day split between other activities in the region.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 17 years); Child (4 to 12 years). Under 4: they can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What time does the dune buggy activity start and end?

Check-in at the Sandboard shop is 2:45 to 3 PM, with a 15-minute walk to the parking zone. The buggy departs around 3:45 PM and runs through sunset, finishing within 2.5 hours total.

Do I drive the dune buggy myself or does someone else pilot it?

An expert pilot operates the dune buggy while you ride as a passenger. You control the sand sled on your own when you switch to sledding down the dunes.

What is included in the activity and what do I need to bring?

The dune buggy ride and sand sled are included. Bring 3.60 soles in coins per person for the Ica tourist tax, payable on the day. Pictures and bottled water are not included.

Is this activity safe for someone with a medical condition or injury?

The activity suits all fitness levels but is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, poor cardiovascular health, or pregnancy. Check with the operator if you have concerns about a specific condition.