Dune Buggy & Sunset Picnic in Huacachina

Race down golden dunes, then watch the sunset from the sand with wine in hand.

A three-hour dune buggy adventure in Huacachina combines high-speed desert riding and sandboarding with a private sunset picnic. You start with a 10-minute walk up the dunes to the Dunapuerto, then climb into a sand cart for the ride across the desert landscape. After practicing sandboarding on the highest dunes, you move to a private picnic spot where wine, seasonal fruit and snacks wait while you watch the sun drop behind the oasis.

Step-by-step itinerary

Dune buggy ride and sunset picnic

• Pick up from Huacachina
• Walk to Dunapuerto dunes
• Ride dune buggy through desert
• Practice sandboarding on dunes
• Enjoy picnic with wine and snacks
• Watch sunset over dunes
• Return to Huacachina

The experience

The day starts at 4:30 PM with pickup from Hotel Carola Lodge in Huacachina. A short walk up the dunes brings you to the Dunapuerto, where you board the tubular sand carts and head out across the desert. The dune buggy ride is the core of the experience. You're operating the vehicle yourself, racing down steep slopes and cutting across open sand. Between runs, you get time to try sandboarding on the highest parts of the dunes, where the views stretch across the entire landscape.

By 5:30 PM, the pace shifts. You're taken to a private picnic area set up with a carpet and decorated table in the middle of the dunes. A bottle of wine (or beer), seasonal fruits and salty snacks arrive as the light starts to change. There's no rush here. You sit, eat, drink and photograph the sunset as it happens over the oasis. The return journey back to the Dunapuerto and Huacachina happens after 6:30 PM, though the exact time shifts with the season.

What’s included

• Dune buggy ride and sandboarding practice on the desert dunes.
• private picnic in the desert with wine or beer and seasonal fruits.
• salty snacks.
• all fees and taxes.
• live guide in English or Spanish.
• hotel pickup from Huacachina.

Information

Lasts 3h, runs every day at 04:30, from US$ 446 per person, with a live guide in English and Spanish, as a private tour and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 04:30Another time? ›

GroupPrivate5 group tours ›

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.You can choose from 3 pickup points.

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (12 to 80 years) · Under 12: can't be booked

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.

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Machu Picchu Peru Tours

Is this one for you?The three-hour window means you can fit this into an afternoon without losing the rest of your day, and the sunset timing is built into the schedule. You don't need to guess when to show up. If you have spinal injuries or are pregnant, this activity is not suitable because of the dune buggy riding. Otherwise it works for any fitness level.

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

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.

How long does the dune buggy riding actually take on this trip?

The full experience runs three hours from pickup to return. Most of that time is spent on the dunes (the ride itself, sandboarding practice, and the picnic) with a 10-minute walk at the start to reach the Dunapuerto where the sand carts wait.

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

You operate the dune buggy yourself. You climb aboard the sand cart and drive it across the desert dunes during the ride portion of the day.

What's included in the picnic at sunset?

The picnic includes one glass of wine or one beer, seasonal fruits, and salty snacks. It's served at a private spot in the dunes while you watch the sun set over the Huacachina oasis.

What time does this activity start and finish?

Pickup happens at 4:30 PM from Hotel Carola Lodge. The picnic and sunset viewing take place around 5:30 PM, and you return to Huacachina after 6:30 PM, though the return time varies by season.

Is sandboarding included, or is that something I pay extra for?

Sandboarding is included in the experience. You get the chance to practice it on the highest parts of the dunes during the dune buggy portion of the day.