Peru · SANDBOARDING & DUNE BUGGY TOURS
Every trip has one free day too few. These 15 sandboarding & dune buggy trips justify the slot, priced and timed so you can decide in minutes and get back to the fun part.
You’ll race across Huacachina’s desert in a 4x4 buggy, climb dunes up to 30 meters high, learn basic sandboarding, and stop for sunset photos above the oasis. English- and Spanish-speaking drivers such as Frank, Jorge, and Riccardo have led recent trips, with groups capped at 10.
“Love it!!! It’s great? You must do it if you’re here. ❤️❤️❤️❤️”
Leave Lima at 5 a.m. for a full day with IZI Peru. You’ll cruise around Islas Ballestas for penguins and sea lions, stop for lunch and pisco tasting, then race across Huacachina’s dunes by buggy and sandboard before returning around 10:30 p.m. Guides such as Diana, Mar, Scott, and Christopher have earned warm praise.
“The trip was a lot of fun. Everyone was very knowledgeable. Sand boarding was the highlight of the trip”
Take the wheel of a private mini buggy for two and cross the desert scenery of Paracas National Reserve. An instructor handles the safety briefing, then you stop at Yumaque Beach, Red Beach, and the reserve’s upper viewpoint. This is a driving adventure, not a cultural tour.
“Le premier départ du matin permet d'avoir le désert pour soi.”
Start in Huacachina with equipment fitting and sandboarding or sandskiing instruction, then ride a dune buggy to higher dunes for about four to five runs. Guides such as Dito, Juan, Antonio, and Aldahir provide coaching and GoPro photos and videos. Sunset and Pisco shots finish the afternoon.
“One of the best tours I’ve been on, great guide that is a professional skier for Peru and is trying to make the Olympics. He carried my stuff when my ankle is injured. Thrilling ATV ride definitely a bit scary. Very friendly guide and great company”
Travel south from Lima with a private driver and guide to Chilca’s desert dunes. Carlos, Abraham, and other instructors teach beginners standing sandboarding and sledding, while a 4x4 ride adds a dose of off-road fun. Expect about 4 to 6 hours, with roughly two hours on the sand.
“Sand boarding was an awesome experience! The tour guide / driver and sand board instructor were both great!”
From Ica, you’ll fly 30 to 35 minutes over the UNESCO-listed Nazca Lines, then return for a Huacachina dune buggy and sandboarding ride. Guides including Sam, Jorge, and Irving provide help with timing, taxes, and transfers. Bring your passport, a light bag, and protection from blowing sand.
“Irving came on time. He is very outgoing and answered all the questions we had. We could not have had a better operator. After seeing the beautiful Nazca lines, he took us for lunch to a very good restaurant. Then we went for the dune buggy experience and sandboarding. It was sooo much fun!”
Leave Lima for the desert reserve of Lomas de Ancón, where instructors such as Luis and Annie teach first-time riders how to sandboard. You’ll get hotel transfers, a 4x4 ride over the dunes, equipment, snacks, water, and photos or video. Plan on six to eight hours, including the drive.
“This experience was so much fun. I have never snow boarded and barely skied in the past, but this was quick and easy to learn. The instructor was extremely knowledgeable and patient. We started out on small dunes and worked our way up to bigger ones. We sand boarded at a protected dune park and there was no one else around. We had it all to ourselves which was awesome.”
Meet your English or Spanish-speaking guide at the Huacachina Oasis office, walk to the dunes, then ride a 4x4 buggy across the sand. Your instructor explains the basics before you slide down several dunes, with time for photos above the oasis. The group is limited to 10 people.
“Bei Ankunft in der Agentur herrschte erst einmal etwas Verwirrung. Man hatte uns wohl nicht erwartet (haben aber auch erst ein paar Stunden zuvor gebucht). Man geht dann durch den Ort zum Eingang der Dünen und weiter zu den Buggys. Insgesamt hat die Aktivität genau eine Stunde gedauert, also mit Wartezeit, Fussweg, Fahrt zum Aussichtspunkt, Pause, Sandboarding, Rückfahrt.”
Meet Johnny and the team near Huacachina at 2:40 PM for helmet, board or ski equipment, and wax. Ride a dune buggy into the desert, learn sandboarding or sandskiing with an instructor, enjoy several runs, and finish with sunset photos among the dunes.
“Overall we LOVED this experience. We got lots of skiing/boarding time, followed by a great sunset moment, and dune buggy riding the whole time. The overall experience was far more unique than the generic tours, and we’d highly recommend this trip/company to anyone. Great highlight thus far!”
Travel from Paracas to Ica by private vehicle, visit a traditional pisco and wine winery, then ride a dune buggy across Huacachina’s desert. You’ll have time by the oasis, a sandboarding lesson, and a sunset stop. The transport is private, but the buggy portion may be shared.
“Lo único privado es el transporte desde y hacia el Oasis, el resto del tour no es privado, sino tercerizado con otras empresas en donde hay más turistas. El tour está bien, pero demasiado caro para lo que fue.”
Meet at La Casa del Bamboo in Huacachina for a two-hour buggy ride across the dunes, with photo stops, sandboarding instruction, and a possible sunset finish. Sam Travel Experiences limits the group to about 10 people. Bring cash for the local tourist tax, and confirm the tour length before booking.
“We did this activity as part of the day trip from Lima, the drive is really long, like 4 hours. The activity itself is really fun. Dune Buggy and sand ski are so fun that the 1 hour time easily passing by. Also the view of the sand dune and the pond is stunning. There are many local people selling the buggy tour in that area, You can just walk in and get this activity schedule without advance booking.”
Meet SandSquad in Huacachina at 2:45pm for a small-group sandboarding or sandskiing lesson with Peruvian athletes such as Jhayr. You’ll test equipment, ride a dune buggy, practice descents, receive GoPro or iPhone photos and videos, and finish with a sunset by 6:15pm.
“Well organised trip, private trip, boots, board and helmet provided. We travelled in a sand buggy to various dunes to learn sandboarding, the teaching was excellent! We really enjoyed the sandboarding and was one of our highlights of our trip to Peru.”
Drive a two-person automatic buggy through Paracas National Reserve, following a lead vehicle to viewpoints, beaches, and colorful desert scenery. Hotel pickup, a safety briefing, and guides such as Manuel, Ramon, or Joel are included. Expect sun, wind, dust, convoy driving, and a separate park entrance fee.
“Great afternoon on the National Reserve with Manuel! We had a terrific time on our dune buggies exploring the reserve and watching the sunset! Manuel gave us plenty of details and it was an added bonus that he is a Geologist. We loved all the details of the land formations and fossils. Would highly recommend !!”
Leave Lima for the Chilca dunes in a private 4x4, where Abraham and the driving team teach beginners to sandboard or sled. Start on gentle slopes, work up to higher dunes, and repeat two or three runs. Hotel transfers, helmets, water, and equipment are included.
“This was an amazing experience. The guides were super knowledgeable about the terrain and Sandboarding. They were extremely patient. You cannot visit Lima and leave without this experience”
Meet at La Casa de Bamboo in Huacachina for a 2-hour buggy ride over steep dunes, repeated sandboarding runs, photo stops, and sunset views. Your driver guides the activity and helps with photos. Bring cash for the S/3.60 entrance fee and a jacket for the cool evening.
“It was exactly as described. Lots of photo stops, sand boarding, sand dune buggy riding, and an amazing sunset. I will say it was a bit more intense with the buggy riding then I expected but my husband loved it.”
Pick a ruin, a summit, a dune or a kitchen.
