Sandboarding in Ica: Learn from Professional Guides

Ride the Peruvian desert dunes on a board, with a guide who has spent over a decade on sand.

Sandboarding and sandskiing activity in Ica's Huacachina dunes with professional instructors, equipment, helmets and photo documentation included. The guide speaks English or Spanish, and children can join from age 5. The session runs roughly three hours, ending at sunset or dusk.

The experience

You meet at the designated point between 2:45 and 3:00 pm, then spend time testing your sandboard or skis to find the right fit before heading out. The guides (athletes with more than 10 years of experience in sand and snow) teach the fundamentals whether you've never strapped on a board or you've spent seasons on snow. They handle the instruction and the safety. You handle the learning and the riding.

At 3:45 pm you board a buggy and head into the dunes. The descent is where the guide captures photos and video on each run, so you have a record of what you landed and how you progressed through the afternoon. The session wraps around 6:15 pm back in Huacachina, timed to catch the sunset or dusk light across the desert.

All equipment comes with you: sandboard or ski board, boots, poles and helmet. The guide is there to teach technique and keep you safe, not to watch from the sidelines. If you've snowboarded or skied before, the fundamentals transfer to sand. If you haven't, the guide builds from the ground up. Children from age 5 can ride on a parent's lap if they're too young to stand on their own board.

What’s included

• Sandboard or ski board, ski poles, boots and helmet.
• professional guide who speaks English or Spanish.
• photos and videos captured on each run.
• buggy transport to and from the dunes.

Before you book

Days and timesNext departure: 18 Sep 2027

AgesAdult (20 to 40 years) · Senior (45 to 60 years) · Youth (10 to 19 years) · Child (5 to 9 years) · Under 5: can't be booked

GroupUp to 8

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go 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.

Prices and times updated 10 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPets welcomeNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by SANDSQUAD

Is this one for you?Book this if you want hands-on instruction from someone who knows sand and snow, not a group lesson or a solo descent. The guide's 10+ years on the dunes means you get real technique, not just a board and directions.

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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 (10 to 19 years); Child (5 to 9 years). Children under 5 can't be included in the booking.

What's the difference between sandboarding and sandskiing on these dunes?

Sandboarding uses a single board like a snowboard. Sandskiing uses two skis and poles like snow skiing. Both work on the Huacachina dunes, and you choose which one to try when you arrive for your equipment test.

Do I need experience on snow to sandboard in Ica?

No. The guides teach beginners from scratch, and the technique transfers if you've snowboarded or skied before. Either way, the instructor covers safety and form before you head into the dunes.

What happens with the photos and videos during the activity?

The guide captures GoPro or iPhone footage on each of your descents and progression runs. You receive the photos and videos at the end of the session, so you have a record of the afternoon.

What time of day does the activity end?

The session finishes around 6:15 pm back in Huacachina, timed so you catch the sunset or dusk light across the desert before heading back.