ATV Riding from Lima: Buggy & Sandboarding in Huacachina

Two hours on the dunes, no experience needed. A driver handles the buggy while you feel the speed.

A full-day trip from Lima to Huacachina combines a two-hour dune buggy ride with sandboarding, a sunset picnic in the desert, a visit to La Caravedo vineyard with Peruvian lunch and pisco tasting, and a two-hour boat trip to the Ballestas Islands to see sea lions, penguins and the Candelabra formation. Pickup starts at 4:20 a.m. from San Isidro, Miraflores or Barranco. Return to Lima around 11 p.m. A certified English-speaking guide leads the group in a luxury bus with air conditioning and restroom. The buggy tour includes helmets and safety briefing. A driver operates the vehicle for safety reasons on both private and shared bookings.

Step-by-step itinerary

Paracas and Huacachina day trip

• Pick up from accommodation early morning
• Travel 3 hours to Paracas
• Breakfast before boat tour
• 2-hour Ballestas Islands boat tour
• Visit La Caravedo vineyard and pisco tasting
• Enjoy authentic Peruvian lunch
• Explore Huacachina Oasis at leisure
• 2-hour dune buggy and sandboarding tour
• Sunset picnic on the dunes
• Return bus trip to Lima and drop off

The experience

The day starts in darkness. Pickup runs from 4:20 a.m. across Lima's main districts (San Isidro, Miraflores, Barranco), or at a central Starbucks if you're elsewhere. You'll be added to a WhatsApp group the night before with exact times and tips. The three-hour drive south takes you to Paracas, where you have breakfast from 8:30 to 9 a.m., then board a shared boat for two hours on the water. The Ballestas Islands trip is the one shared element even if you book privately. The rest of the day stays with your group alone. You'll see sea lions, penguins and birds, plus the Candelabra: a massive rock formation carved into the cliff face.

After the boat returns, you drive inland to La Caravedo, Peru's oldest vineyard. This stop is exclusive to this tour. No other operator brings groups here. You'll have two hours: an optional pisco tasting where you sample Peru's signature spirit, and an included Peruvian lunch (vegetarian options available) that sits at the heart of the day. Then comes 40 minutes of free time at Huacachina itself, the oasis hidden inside towering dunes where you can walk the sand and take photos before the main event.

The dune buggy runs for two hours. A driver operates the vehicle for safety (you're a passenger, not the pilot), which means you can focus on the ride itself: the buggy climbs and drops the highest dunes in Peru like a rollercoaster, and you'll try sandboarding on your stomach on the way down. Helmets are mandatory. The company is the only one in Peru offering them as standard. A safety briefing happens before you start, and you'll sign a responsibility form. As the sun sets, the group moves to a spot on the open dunes for a picnic: no other tour offers this experience. You eat, watch the light fade, and then the bus takes you back north. Arrival in Lima is around 11 p.m., with drop-off at your accommodation or the same Starbucks where outside-district pickups began.

What’s included

• Pickup and drop-off from Miraflores, Barranco, San Isidro or Lima downtown in a luxury bus with air conditioning, clean restroom, USB ports and storage.
• two-hour Ballestas Islands boat trip with all fees.
• breakfast at Paracas.
• Peruvian lunch at La Caravedo vineyard with one drink and pisco tasting.
• two-hour dune buggy ride with helmets, sandboarding and all fees.
• sunset picnic in the desert.
• certified guide fluent in English and Spanish.

Options for this experience

2 options

Picnic tour of Paraca and HuacachinaGuide in English or Spanish · 05:00includes pickup

ATV tour in place of the boat tripGuide in English or Spanish · 05:00ATV tour in Paracas lasting 2 hours, visiting the Paracas National Reserve, pickup is included

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

Before you book

Lasts 17h, runs every day at 05:00, from US$ 135 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 05:00

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (16 to 60 years) · Senior (61 and older) · Youth (11 to 15 years) · Child (3 to 10 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Moderate physical effortStroller-friendlyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Lima Experience

Is this one for you?Book this if you want three distinct destinations in one day: the driver handles the buggy so you experience the dune speed without off-road skills, and the early departure lets you fit Ballestas Islands, La Caravedo vineyard, and Huacachina's sunset picnic into a single trip from Lima.

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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: Youth (11 to 15 years); Child (3 to 10 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What exactly happens during the two-hour dune buggy ride?

A driver operates the buggy while you ride as a passenger through the highest sand dunes in Peru, climbing and descending slopes at speed. Sandboarding on your stomach is included on the way down. Helmets and a safety briefing are mandatory before you start.

Is the Ballestas Islands boat trip included, or can I choose something else?

The Ballestas Islands boat trip is included in the standard option. A separate ATV tour option replaces the boat trip if you prefer that instead. You choose at checkout. Either way, the rest of the day (buggy, vineyard, picnic) stays the same.

What's included in the La Caravedo vineyard stop?

La Caravedo is Peru's oldest vineyard and exclusive to this tour. You get one drink, a main course Peruvian lunch (vegetarian available), and a pisco tasting where you sample the spirit Peru is known for. The whole stop takes about two hours including transport time.

What time do I need to be ready for pickup, and when do I get back to Lima?

Pickup starts at 4:20 a.m. from San Isidro, 4:30 a.m. from Miraflores, or 4:50 a.m. from Barranco. If you're outside these areas, pickup is 5 a.m. at Starbucks Barranco. You return to Lima around 11 p.m. and are dropped at your accommodation or the same Starbucks.

Do I need to bring my passport?

Yes. All passengers must carry their physical passport throughout the trip for highway inspections and tax exemption. In case of a medical emergency, treatment is only provided if you present it.

What happens if I'm pregnant or have a spinal injury?

The buggy tour is not recommended for pregnant travelers or those with spinal injuries due to the high-speed nature of the ride and the physical demands. Discuss your situation with the operator before booking if you have health concerns.