ATV riding in Huacachina: Dune buggy with sandboarding

You drive the buggy across massive sand dunes and sandboard down them.

Dune buggy riding in Huacachina (Ica, Peru) puts you behind the wheel of a 10-passenger buggy to navigate desert slopes, stop for photos at the Canyon of the Lost, and learn sandboarding at the top of a large dune. A guide leads the route and teaches the sandboarding technique. Hotel pickup is included. The activity runs roughly two hours on regular days, though holiday schedules shorten to around one hour.

Step-by-step itinerary

Buggy tour and sandboarding in desert

• Start at Hotel La Casa del Bamboo
• Pay tourist tax at control booth
• Climb small sand dune to board buggies
• Drive desert dunes with photo stops
• Practice sandboarding at large dune
• Enjoy photos and desert views
• Return to Huacachina lagoon
• End tour at Hotel El Bamboo

The experience

You start at your hotel in Huacachina and travel to a tourist control booth where you pay a small entry fee (S/3.60 soles per person, cash only). From there the guide drives a small practice dune to show you how the buggy handles before you climb aboard for the main ride. The route crosses the wide desert landscape with stops so you can photograph the Canyon of the Lost and the dunes themselves. This is where most people get the shots they came for.

At the top of a large dune, the guide demonstrates sandboarding and sets you loose on the slope. You get time to try the sport yourself and take more photos before heading back toward the Huacachina lagoon. The whole outing takes roughly two hours on regular days. On Peruvian holidays the ride compresses to around one hour, so timing matters if you're visiting during a national holiday. The guide speaks English or Spanish depending on which departure you book.

A waiting room with furniture and office facilities (including restrooms) are available before and after. The buggy holds about ten passengers, so you're riding with a small group rather than alone. Pickup from hotels in Huacachina is included. If you're staying in central Ica, you'll need to arrange your own transport to the starting point or book a separate taxi through the office.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup from Huacachina.
• dune buggy ride across the desert with photo stops.
• sandboarding instruction and time to practice on a large dune.
• guide in English or Spanish.
• waiting room and office facilities with restrooms.

Options for this experience

2 options

Dune buggy in Huacachina, 1 hrGuide in English or Spanish · 8 departure times: the first at 10:00, the last at 17:00Pickup is included

Dune buggy in Huacachina, 2 hrsGuide in English or Spanish · 15:45Starts only at 16:00 hrs, with pickup included

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day9 departure times: the first at 10:00, the last at 17:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Child (10 to 17 years) · Under 10: can't be booked

GroupUp to 10 · max 8 per booking

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 2 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 2.32

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Sam Travel Experiences

Is this one for you?Book the two-hour option if you want time to explore the dunes and practice sandboarding without rushing. The one-hour ride works better if you have a limited afternoon or are visiting during a Peruvian holiday when the schedule compresses anyway. Children from age 10 can join, though the activity is not recommended for anyone with spinal injuries or cardiovascular concerns.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (10 to 17 years). Children under 10 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 is the Canyon of the Lost that the itinerary mentions?

The Canyon of the Lost is a desert landmark in the Huacachina dunes where the buggy stops so you can see the landscape and photograph it. The guide points it out during the route.

Do I need experience to sandboard, or will the guide teach me?

The guide teaches sandboarding at the top of the dune before you try it yourself. No prior experience is needed. The instruction is part of the activity.

How much does the tourist tax cost and when do I pay it?

The tourist tax is S/3.60 soles per person and is paid in cash at the control booth before the buggy ride starts. Foreign visitors may face a higher rate (S/8.10 soles). Confirm the exact amount when you book.

Can I book a two-hour ride, or does the length depend on when I go?

You can choose between a two-hour option and a one-hour option at checkout. On Peruvian national holidays, even the longer option runs closer to one hour, so check the calendar if you're visiting during a holiday period.

Is hotel pickup included from anywhere in Ica, or only from Huacachina?

Pickup is included from hotels in Huacachina. If you're staying in central Ica, you'll need to arrange your own transport to the starting point or book a taxi through the office.