ATV Riding in Ica: Buggy and Sandboarding at Huacachina

Ride buggies through desert dunes at sunset, then return to the coast in one day

A full-day guided tour from Ica combines a boat trip to the Ballestas Islands, a scenic drive through Paracas National Reserve with free time at three beaches, and an hour of buggy and sandboard riding at the Huacachina oasis at sunset. Hotel pickup is included, and a bilingual guide leads the group throughout. The tour runs 11 hours and covers roughly 180 kilometers of Peru's south coast.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Canyon of the Lost1h 30m
2. Ballestas Islands3h · entry included
3. Paracas National Reserve3h · entry included

Explore Paracas and Huacachina

• Pick up from hotel in Ica
• Travel to Paracas
• Boat tour to Ballestas Islands
• See Candelabra geoglyph
• Observe penguins and sea lions
• Free time for crafts shopping
• Visit Paracas National Reserve beaches
• Lunch with fresh fish and seafood
• Return to Ica
• Visit Huacachina oasis
• Buggy and sandboard tour
• Watch sunset at Huacachina
• Return to hotels

The experience

You start with hotel pickup in Ica and drive toward the coast, stopping at the Canyon of the Lost before boarding a tourist boat for two hours among the Ballestas Islands. The boat passes the Candelabra Geoglyph first, then moves into the islands themselves where you watch penguins and sea lions in their habitat. After the boat returns, you have time to browse local crafts at the pier.

The tour then enters Paracas National Reserve, where the guide takes you to three beaches (Playa la Mina, Playa Rojo and Playa Lagunilla) with free time at one for lunch. Fresh fish and seafood are available locally. The reserve's coastal cliffs and wildlife make up the scenic portion of the day before you head back inland toward Ica.

The final stop is Huacachina, a small oasis surrounded by massive sand dunes. You spend an hour riding a buggy and sandboarding among the dunes, timed to end at sunset. After that, the guide drives you back to your hotel in Ica. The entire day is led by an expert local guide who speaks both English and Spanish, and all transport between stops is included.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup in Ica.
• bilingual English and Spanish guide.
• transport to all stops.
• two-hour boat tour of Ballestas Islands with views of the Candelabra Geoglyph, penguins and sea lions.
• access to three beaches in Paracas National Reserve with free time.
• one hour of buggy riding and sandboarding at Huacachina at sunset.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:00

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (16 to 75 years) · Child (4 to 15 years) · Under 4: can't be booked

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight 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.

Paid on siteUS$ 8.60

Prices and times updated 9 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Visitemos Perú

Is this one for you?Book this if you have a full day and want four distinct landscapes (islands, reserve, dunes, desert sunset) in one guided loop from Ica. The fixed route means you'll move quickly between stops rather than linger at any single location.

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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 (4 to 15 years). Children under 4 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 exactly happens on the Ballestas Islands boat trip?

The boat spends two hours at the Ballestas Islands, starting with a pass by the Candelabra Geoglyph so the guide can explain its history, then moving into the islands to view penguins and sea lions in their natural habitat. You return to the pier with free time to shop for local crafts before moving on to Paracas.

Can I choose which beach to visit in Paracas National Reserve?

The tour visits three beaches in the reserve (Playa la Mina, Playa Rojo and Playa Lagunilla), and you have free time at one for lunch and swimming. The guide determines which beach based on conditions and group preference.

How long is the buggy and sandboarding session at Huacachina?

You get one hour of buggy riding and sandboarding combined at the Huacachina oasis, scheduled to end at sunset so you experience the light changing over the dunes.

What's included in the price, and what costs extra?

Hotel pickup, all transport between stops, the bilingual guide, the boat trip to Ballestas Islands, and the buggy and sandboard hour at Huacachina are included. Tourist entry tickets for Paracas (S/22 soles) and Huacachina (S/8 soles) are paid separately at each site. Lunch is not included but fresh seafood is available for purchase at the Paracas beaches.

What's the minimum age for this tour?

Children are welcome from age 4. The tour is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, pregnant travelers, or those with poor cardiovascular health due to the buggy riding and the length of the day.