Sandskiing in Ica: Desert dunes with instruction

Ski down towering dunes in the Ica desert with a guide and a buggy ride up

Sandskiing in Ica is a 2.5-hour activity where you ride skis down desert dunes after instruction from a professional guide. You'll test equipment at the school, ride a dune buggy to the top of the tallest dunes, and make multiple descents on sand with tips from your instructor. The guide speaks English or Spanish, and children from age 9 are welcome.

The experience

The day starts at the sandskiing school in Ica, where you arrive anytime between 11 am and 3 pm to fit your schedule. You'll test the boards, boots, skis and helmet to make sure everything fits, then get a short training run in front of the school so you understand the basics before heading into the desert. Once you're ready, the dune buggy picks you up and drives you to the top of one of the tallest dunes in the area.

From there, you ski or snowboard down the sand face while your instructor watches and calls out tips. The buggy brings you back to the top for another run, and you repeat this several times across different dunes. Whether you've sandskied before or never tried it, the instructor adjusts the difficulty to match your level. Your guide will also photograph and video the descents so you have a record of the day.

You need to be back at the school by 3:20 pm to return your gear. The National Park fees are included, as is all the equipment and instruction. If you want the photos and videos on a USB or memory card, you can add that at checkout. Public transportation runs near the school if you don't have your own transport to get there.

What’s included

• Professional sandskiing instruction for beginners and advanced riders.
• all equipment including skis, boots, board and helmet.
• multiple buggy rides to the top of the dunes.
• photos and videos taken by your instructor during the descents.
• National Park fees.
• live guide in English or Spanish.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 15:30

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (18 to 59 years) · Youth (9 to 17 years) · Under 9: can't be booked

GroupUp to 15

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.

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by SANDSNOW

Is this one for you?Pick this if you want hands-on instruction with multiple runs down the same dune to build your technique, rather than a single descent.

Traveler reviews

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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 (9 to 17 years). Children under 9 can't be included in the booking.

What's the difference between sandskiing and regular skiing?

Sandskiing uses the same technique as snow skiing but on desert dunes instead of snow. The sand is softer and slower than snow, so the sensation and the speed are different, but the body mechanics are the same. Beginners and experienced skiers both learn quickly because the sand is forgiving.

Do I need skiing experience to sandski in Ica?

No. The professional instructor teaches both beginners and advanced skiers on the same day. Beginners start with a practice run at the school before the buggy takes you to the dunes, so you'll have the basics down before your first real descent.

How many times do I get to ski down the dunes?

You make multiple descents across different dunes during the 2.5 hours. The buggy brings you back to the top after each run, so you can ski as many times as the schedule allows. The exact number depends on how long each descent takes and how many dunes your instructor chooses.

What happens if I'm not fit enough for this?

Sandskiing in Ica suits all physical fitness levels. The activity is not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health or pregnant travelers, but otherwise the pace and the descents are manageable for most people. Your instructor can adjust the runs to match your fitness on the day.

What's included in the price?

The price includes all equipment (skis, boots, board and helmet), professional instruction from an accredited guide, the buggy rides to the top of the dunes, National Park fees, and photos and videos taken by your instructor. Food and drinks are not included, and hotel pickup is not available. You'll need to get to the school on your own or by local transport.