ATV Riding in Huacachina: 2-Hour Dune Buggy & Sandboarding

The dune buggy and sandboarding happen back-to-back in the same two-hour block, with photo stops built in.

A full-day trip from Lima combines sightseeing at Paracas and Ica with a two-hour dune buggy and sandboarding experience at Huacachina. Hotel pickup and drop-off, a bilingual guide, boat tour of the Ballestas Islands, wine and pisco tasting, and sunset are included. You choose whether to add the Paracas National Reserve or a campfire picnic. The buggy ride crosses towering sand dunes with stops to take in the landscape, followed by sandboarding on the slopes: both happen in a natural desert setting where walking on sand is part of the experience.

Step-by-step itinerary

Paracas and Huacachina day trip

• Transfer from Lima to Paracas
• Cruise Ballestas Islands and see wildlife
• Visit vineyard for wine and pisco tasting
• Free time for lunch in Ica
• Explore Huacachina Oasis
• 2-hour dune buggy and sandboarding
• Watch sunset over Huacachina dunes
• Return drive to Lima and hotel drop-off

The experience

The day starts before dawn with a 4:00 AM pickup from your Lima hotel (or a designated meeting point, depending on which experience you choose). The drive south hugs the Pacific coast toward Paracas, where you board a speedboat for a two-hour tour of the Ballestas Islands. You'll spot sea lions, Humboldt penguins, and seabirds among dramatic rock formations, including the famous Candelabra geoglyph carved into the cliffs. A certified bilingual guide narrates from the boat, though wind and engine noise mean audio clarity can be uneven.

After Paracas, you stop in Ica for a traditional vineyard visit where a guide walks you through wine and pisco tasting, Peru's iconic brandy, and you have time to buy lunch. The route then heads inland to Huacachina, a lagoon surrounded by towering dunes where you have free time to walk around, photograph, or rest before the main event. The two-hour dune buggy adventure starts mid-afternoon. You ride across the sand dunes with built-in stops for photos and to take in the landscape, then transition directly into sandboarding down the golden slopes. The sandboard is artisanal (no stand-up required), and helmets are provided. This is a natural desert environment, so walking on sand dunes is part of the experience and can be physically demanding.

The day ends with sunset over the dunes. Every option includes this moment, though the Premium and Full Experience options add a campfire and picnic in the desert itself. The return drive to Lima takes the evening, with drop-off in Barranco, Miraflores, or San Isidro around 11:45 PM (traffic and external factors can push this later, especially on weekends). A comfortable air-conditioned bus with a restroom and USB ports carries the group throughout. Bring cash for breakfast stops and any meals you want to buy along the way. Sunscreen, sunglasses, a bandana for desert wind, and closed shoes for sandboarding are essential.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in Lima.
• a certified bilingual guide with first aid training.
• a two-hour Ballestas Islands boat tour with sea lions, penguins, and seabird spotting.
• a traditional vineyard visit with wine and pisco tasting.
• a two-hour dune buggy adventure and sandboarding experience with safety helmets.
• sunset viewing over the dunes.
• a comfortable air-conditioned bus with restroom and USB ports. Entrance fees and taxes are included with the Premium Sunset and Full Experience options.
• the Classic option requires separate payment for Ballestas Islands and Huacachina entry.

Options for this experience

3 options

Classic tour with hotel pickupGuide in English or Spanish · 05:00Included: Ballestas Islands boat tour, vineyard visit with pisco and wine tasting, a 2-hour dune buggy and sandboarding session, and the desert sunset. Duration: 17 hours. Lunch is optional and can be bought directly at the local vineyard restaurant. Good to know: entrance fees are extra, and there is no picnic or campfire. Pickup is included.

Exclusive Sunset ExperienceGuide in English or Spanish · 05:00Sunset picnic and bonfire: finish your day with our signature sunset campfire and picnic experience, surrounded by the breathtaking dunes of Huacachina. Duration: 17 hours. Lunch is optional and can be bought directly at the local vineyard restaurant. Also included: everything in Classic, entrance fees, and a sunset picnic and campfire in Huacachina. Pickup is included.

Full ExperienceGuide in English or Spanish · 04:00 and 05:00Paracas National Reserve: explore Playa Roja and the Isthmus viewpoint. Duration: 18 hours. Lunch is optional and can be bought directly at the local vineyard restaurant. Also included: everything in the Exclusive Sunset Experience, the Paracas National Reserve, and Playa Roja and the Isthmus viewpoint. Pickup is 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 dayDepartures at 04:00 and 05:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (18 to 50 years) · Youth (13 to 17 years) · Child (8 to 12 years) · Infant (3 to 7 years) · Under 3: can't be booked

GroupUp to 30

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 if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 24

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Peru Bucket List

Is this one for you?Book the Full Experience if you want to add the Paracas National Reserve (Red Beach, La Catedral, and the Isthmus) to your day. It extends the coastal sightseeing before the dune buggy. Choose the Premium Sunset Experience if the campfire and picnic in the desert after sunset appeals to you and you want hotel pickup included. The Classic option works if you're comfortable meeting at a designated point and paying entrance fees separately, and you want the core experience (islands, wine tasting, buggy, and sandboarding) at the lowest price.

Traveler reviews

4.86★★★★★★★★★★

1,480 verified traveler reviews

5 ★1,373

4 ★58

3 ★15

2 ★10

1 ★24

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 17 years); Child (8 to 12 years); Infant (3 to 7 years). Children under 3 can't be included in the booking.

What exactly happens during the two-hour dune buggy and sandboarding experience at Huacachina?

The dune buggy adventure and sandboarding are combined into one two-hour block with photo stops and time to enjoy the landscape built in. You ride across the towering sand dunes in the buggy, then transition to sandboarding down the golden slopes using an artisanal sandboard. Safety helmets are provided, and the experience takes place in a natural desert environment where walking on sand is part of it.

Do I need to pay extra for entrance fees to the Ballestas Islands and Huacachina?

Entrance fees depend on which experience you book. The Classic option requires you to pay PEN 25 per person for Ballestas Islands and Huacachina entry. The Premium Sunset and Full Experience options include all entrance fees in the price.

What time does the tour start and when do I get back to Lima?

Pickup is at 4:00 AM from your hotel or a meeting point. The full day runs 17 hours, with return to Lima estimated around 11:45 PM, though traffic and external factors can cause delays, especially on weekends. Do not book flights on the same day, as exact arrival times cannot be guaranteed.

Is the Ballestas Islands boat tour a shared experience or private?

The Ballestas Islands tour is a shared group experience on a speedboat with other travelers. It lasts around two hours and is mainly scenic and photographic, with an officially certified bilingual guide onboard.

What should I bring for the dune buggy and sandboarding?

Bring sunscreen, sunglasses, a bandana for desert wind, and closed shoes for sandboarding. Light, comfortable clothing for warm weather and a light jacket for the boat ride are recommended. Helmets are provided. Bring cash for breakfast stops and meals you want to purchase along the way.

Can I upgrade to a professional sandboard instead of the artisanal one?

Yes, a professional stand-up sandboard upgrade is available as an optional add-on for USD 17 at checkout.