Mancora & Sechura Desert: Sandboarding, Buggy Ride & Dunes

Summary

Rush down Sechura dunes, buggy rides and sandboarding with local flavor

You’ll barrel across the Sechura Desert in a buggy, try sandboarding at Médano Blanco with help from a local guide, and catch salty breezes by San Pedro’s mangroves. Expect laughter, sandy shoes, and moments of quiet awe between wild rides—plus lunch before heading back to your hotel.

What’s the experience like?

“Don’t worry, you’ll laugh more than you’ll fall,” our instructor grinned as he handed me the sandboard at Médano Blanco. I was still brushing sand from my shoes after the first wild buggy ride — honestly, it felt like being inside a rickety rollercoaster with nothing but endless gold all around. The Sechura Desert is huge. You can’t really picture it until you’re there, wind whipping your face and sun bouncing off every grain. Our guide, Luis, pointed out little things: vultures circling above (he called them “gallinazos”), the way the light shifts on the dunes around noon. I tried to take a photo but kept getting distracted by how loud everyone’s laughter sounded in all that empty space.

The drive from Piura to Sechura goes quick if you’re chatting — or napping — and when we finally got to San Pedro’s mangroves, it was cool and salty-smelling after all that dry air. Local fishermen waved as we passed; one had a radio blasting cumbia so loud it rattled the windows. Luis told us about old desert myths while we watched tiny crabs skittering between roots. Then back into the buggy for more dune madness — I didn’t expect how much adrenaline you get just from sliding down sand on a board (I fell twice; Luis cheered anyway). The Médano Blanco is steeper than it looks in photos. My hands were shaking but I couldn’t stop grinning.

Lunch was simple — nothing fancy, just cold drinks and something fried at a roadside spot before heading back. My legs still felt wobbly from all the sandboarding (and maybe nerves). There’s this weird calm that hits you after so much noise and motion; even now I remember that silence just before pushing off down the biggest dune. If you want a day trip from Mancora or Piura that actually feels like an adventure, this is it. I still find sand in my backpack sometimes.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Sechura Desert buggy and sandboarding

• Pick up from Piura hotel
• Drive to Sechura city
• Buggy ride through dunes
• Visit San Pedro beach and mangroves
• Sandboarding at Médano Blanco dune
• Free time for lunch and rest
• Return to hotel

Top questions

How far is Sechura from Piura?

Sechura is located about 50 km south of Piura.

Is sandboarding in Sechura suitable for beginners?

Yes, the tour includes an instructor who helps first-timers feel confident on the dunes.

Does this tour include hotel pickup?

Yes, pickup at your hotel in Piura (or meeting point) is included.

Are meals included during the day trip?

The tour includes free time for lunch at your own expense during the trip.

What else do we visit besides dunes?

You’ll also visit San Pedro beach and mangroves before heading to Médano Blanco for sandboarding.

Is this day trip suitable for pregnant travelers?

No, it’s not recommended for pregnant travelers due to bumpy rides and physical activity.

How long does the buggy ride last?

The buggy ride covers nearby dunes around Sechura as part of the adventure portion of the day trip.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup from Piura or meeting point, entry tickets for all activities, a rugged buggy ride through Sechura’s dunes with stops at San Pedro beach and mangroves, plus top-quality instruction for sandboarding at Médano Blanco before returning to your hotel in the afternoon.