Sandskiing, Dune Buggy and Sunset Bonfire Tour Huacachina
- DurationAbout 4 hours
- Daily
- Group
- Pickup available
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Overview
This small-group afternoon in the Huacachina desert, limited to 10 people, is built for travellers who want more than a quick buggy ride. After pickup from your hotel in Huacachina or Ica, you fit professional ski or snowboard gear, then ride an extreme dune buggy over seven or eight giant dunes, away from the busiest routes. On the slopes, bilingual certified instructors teach real sandskiing or stand-up sandboarding for every level, from first turns to confident runs. The day ends on top of the dunes with the sunset and a bonfire with snacks, while the sky turns orange and violet over the sand. Helmets, goggles, bandanas and photos and videos on an action camera are included. The conservation area tax is paid on site.
Highlights
- Real sandskiing or sandboarding with professional snow gear
- Certified bilingual instructors for all levels
- 3-hour extreme dune buggy ride over 7 to 8 giant dunes
- Explore dunes away from the busiest buggy routes
- Sunset and bonfire with snacks on top of the dunes
- Helmet, goggles and bandana provided
- Photos and videos on an action camera
- Small group of up to 10, with hotel pickup in Huacachina or Ica
Full Description
Sandskiing and sandboarding in Huacachina
Most Huacachina tours give you a simple board to slide down lying on your stomach. This experience is different: you use real skis, boots, poles and bindings, or a snowboard with boots, adapted for sand. Sandskiing feels surprisingly close to skiing on snow, but slower and softer, which makes it a great place to learn or to practise turns in warm weather.
Certified instructors speaking Spanish and English explain the basics on a gentle slope, then lead each skier or boarder to steeper dunes as they gain confidence. Experienced skiers and snowboarders can push further on long, steep faces. Because the group is small, each person gets real coaching. If you are searching for the best sandboarding in Huacachina with proper equipment, this is the tour to choose.
Extreme dune buggy over the giant dunes
Between runs, an extreme dune buggy carries the group and the gear deep into the desert, crossing seven or eight of the giant dunes that surround the oasis. The buggy climbs steep faces and plunges over the crests, giving a strong rush of adrenaline, and reaches dunes off the beaten track where you often have the slopes to yourselves.
The buggy part lasts about three hours in total, with stops for skiing, for photos and to take in the silence of the desert. The dunes here are among the highest in South America, and from the top you see an endless sea of golden sand with the green Ica valley on the horizon. Before setting off, there is a 10-minute walk over the sand to the buggy station.
Sunset bonfire on the dunes
As the light softens, the group settles on top of a high dune for the end of the day. The crew lights a bonfire and serves snacks while the sun sinks behind the dunes, painting the sand gold, orange and violet. It is the perfect time to relax, share stories from the slopes and look through the photos and videos from the action camera.
Sunset in Huacachina is one of the most beautiful moments of any trip to southern Peru, and watching it from a remote dune by the fire feels far from the busy oasis below. Bring a light jacket, as the desert cools quickly once the sun has gone. After sunset the buggy brings you back and our driver returns you to your hotel.
Huacachina oasis and the Ica desert
Huacachina is a small oasis village around a green lagoon ringed by palm trees, about 5 km from the city of Ica and a few hours south of Lima. Surrounded by towering dunes, it has become the adventure capital of the Peruvian desert, with small hotels and cafés along the lakeside promenade. The lagoon lies in a regional conservation area, and a small tax is paid on site.
The Ica region is one of the driest places in South America, so the tour runs almost every day of the year. The best time to visit Huacachina is from April to November, when the afternoons are pleasant; from December to March it is hotter but the sunsets are spectacular. Many travellers combine a night in Huacachina with a trip to Paracas on the coast.
Itinerary
- Pickup in Huacachina or IcaCollection from your hotel and a drive of about 20 minutes to the meeting point.
- Gear fittingArrive 30 minutes before the start to fit and test boots, skis or boards, helmets and goggles.
- Walk to the buggy stationAbout 10 minutes on foot over the sand.
- Dune buggy and first lessonRide into the dunes and start with basics on a gentle slope with your instructor.
- Sandskiing and sandboarding on bigger dunesMove between 7 to 8 giant dunes for longer runs, with photos and videos.
- Sunset bonfireRelax by the fire with snacks while the sun sets over the desert.
- Return to your hotelBuggy back to the starting point and transfer to your hotel, about 4 hours after pickup.
What's included
- Full ski or snowboard gear: skis or board, boots, poles and bindings
- Safety gear: helmet, goggles and bandana
- Certified bilingual instructor
- 3-hour dune buggy tour
- Sunset bonfire with snacks
- Photos and videos on an action camera
- Pickup from hotels in Huacachina or Ica
Not included
- Accident insurance
- Huacachina conservation area tax (paid on site)
- Water and soft drinks (bring your own)
Is this right for you?
Great for
- Travellers without a car — hotel pickup is included
- Active travellers looking for adrenaline
- Travellers who want a proven choice — rated 4.9/5 by past travellers
Think twice if
- You want a private tour — this one is shared with other travellers
- Walking is difficult for you — expect active parts
- You travel with young children
Not suitable for
- People with back problems
- People with mobility impairments or wheelchair users
- People with epilepsy
- People with pre-existing medical conditions
- Babies under 1 year
- People over 70 years
Meeting point
We pick you up from your hotel in Huacachina or Ica. Pickup is timed so you arrive 30 minutes before the 15:00 start to fit and test your gear. From there it is a 10-minute walk over the dunes to the buggy station. At the end of the tour we take you back to your hotel.
Important information
- Accident insurance and the Huacachina conservation area tax are not included
- Bring water and drinks of your own, sunscreen and sunglasses
- Wear comfortable clothes and closed shoes; ski boots are provided
- Bring a daypack and a light jacket for after sunset
- Tell us your shoe size and whether you prefer skis or a snowboard when booking
- Small group of up to 10 people
- Follow the instructors' safety advice and keep your helmet on while skiing
Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
Straight answers to what travellers ask us most, before they book.
Is this a shared or a private experience?
It is a shared small-group tour limited to 10 people.
How long does the tour take?
About 4 hours from pickup to return, including about 3 hours in the dune buggy.
Is hotel pickup included?
Yes. We pick you up from your hotel in Huacachina or Ica and bring you back after the sunset.
What is included?
Full ski or snowboard gear, helmet, goggles and bandana, a certified instructor, the 3-hour dune buggy tour, the sunset bonfire with snacks, photos and videos and hotel pickup.
Is the price per person or per group?
It is per person. The booking panel on this page shows the current price.
Do I need to know how to ski or snowboard?
No. Instructors teach beginners from the first steps, and experienced skiers and boarders can try steeper dunes.
What is the difference from a normal sandboarding tour?
Here you use real skis or snowboards with boots and bindings and learn with an instructor, instead of sliding down on a simple board lying down.
Is it suitable for children and reduced mobility?
Active children can join with an adult; babies under 1 are not allowed. It is not suitable for people with back or mobility problems, epilepsy or other medical conditions, or for people over 70.
What should I bring?
Water, sunscreen, sunglasses, comfortable clothes, closed shoes, a daypack and a light jacket.
What is the best time to visit Huacachina?
April to November has pleasant afternoons; December to March is hotter with dramatic sunsets. The tour starts at 15:00 all year.
What happens in bad weather?
Rain is very rare in the Ica desert. On days of strong wind the instructors may adjust the slopes or timing for safety.
How do I book and confirm?
Choose your date in the booking panel, add your shoe size and ski or board choice, and send the request; our team confirms on WhatsApp within minutes.
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