Huacachina is one of those places that doesn’t feel real until you’re standing in it — a tiny oasis tucked into the middle of Peru’s tallest desert dunes. People come here for one reason above all: Huacachina Sandboarding. Between the dune buggies, the boards, and those epic sunsets, it’s an adventure worth the effort it takes to reach this pocket of the country.

Before you strap on a board, here are 21 things worth knowing about Huacachina sandboarding before you go based on our family’s experiences, injury, and some last minute realizations.

Huacachina Sandboarding

What is Huacachina Sandboarding?

Sandboarding is just what it sounds like — snowboarding, but on sand. The dunes around Huacachina are some of the tallest in South America, making them perfect for it.

Besides having different boards, sandboarding requires more weight on your back foot whereas on a snow slope you drive on the front foot. The feeling is more liquid too and in that regard feels a bit like surfing.

What makes Huacachina sandboarding so special is the setting: carving down golden slopes with seemingly endless desert around you.

It’s thrilling and certainly a little intimidating the first time you peer over the edge.

The Huacachina Sandboarding Experience Overview

There are three unique and breathtaking components of a Huacachina sandboarding tour.

Note: We booked a private tour so that our kids could get plenty of coaching and also we could choose how aggressively our buggy traversed the dunes. The private tour also allowed us to hit 6 different runs whereas many group tours only have time for about 3.

The Dune Buggy Ride Adventure

Perhaps the most cardio you’ll get on the tour is the short hike up the dune to where all the buggies are parked.

The buggies are basically giant desert rollercoasters. Drivers fly up, over, sideways and down dunes at steep angles that had me white-knuckling the handlebar. It’s great fun, but my butt felt bruised for a few days after.

Safety tip: If you’re going with kids, make sure they sit all the way back against the headrest. The jolts are intense and their heads are at the worst level to bang into the bar in front of your seat. We had a close call when my son tried to lean forward to grab a water bottle he dropped.

Learning Sandboarding Techniques

Most tours let you try a few styles:

• Standing up (like snowboarding): If you’ve boarded before, give it a go.
  
• “Sand Sledding” (lying down headfirst): Fly down dunes like you’re boogie boarding.
  
• Sitting or kneeling

From the oasis, the dunes look tall but manageable. Once you’re at the top, peering down, it feels like staring off a cliff.

On our first try, I asked our instructor if there was an easier hill. She just smiled and said, “This is the beginner one.” Thankfully, she was helpful, patient, and even walked me backward down half the slope until I found my form and courage.

Before each run you’ll wax the bottom of your board. After each run, your buggy will come to the bottom of the dune to collect you and your gear.

As far as technique goes:

1. Keep your board horizontal with the ground to keep a slower pace. This means you’ll actually be traveling sideways down the dune instead of straight.
2. Keep a bend in both knees, shift your weight back, and keep your back straight and arms out.

Watching the Desert Sunset

If you choose the last tour of the day, you’ll get the added bonus of a desert sunset. The desert sky glows pink and orange, and the view is unreal.

With our tour, we were each handed a cold beer and Gatorade for the kids as we sat atop our dune buggy and watched the sun sink behind the mountains of sand.

Choosing the Right Huacachina Sandboarding Tour

There are a ton of companies offering Huacachina sandboarding, and not all of them are created equal.

Prices range from about $15–$70 per person, but here’s what we learned:

• Safety is sacrificed. Shockingly, some tours don’t even provide helmets. That was a hard no for me with kids.
  
• Book with a reputable company. Sometimes this is easier to tell when bookin in person.
  
  We originally booked online with another operator but canceled a few days before because they weren’t responsive and we didn’t feel comfortable trusting them with our young kids.
  
• If you’re looking for a private tour, we highly recommend Sandboardgirls. They provided helmets, goggles, and buffs to keep sand out of our mouths.
  
  As I mentioned above, they also packed beers and Gatorade to enjoy at sunset.
  
  We really appreciated that they spent 30 minutes with us before the tour to make sure we all had the optimal fit for helmets, polarized goggles, boards, and boots. We picked out our buffs that we’d keep as well.

Topics to Discuss with your Huacachina Sandboarding Tour Company:

• If you want lessons in English, make sure to confirm that clearly when booking.
• Minimum age required. Some companies won’t even allow kids under 8 or so, and the experience can feel intense for first-timers. See the section below (“Is it safe to sandboard with kids?”).
• How many runs are included.
• Time of return (make sure it doesn’t make you miss your bus out of town)
• Cash or Credit Card expectation

Is it safe to sandboard with kids?

Some tour companies in Huacachina won’t take children under 8, but from my experience the biggest safety concern isn’t the sandboarding itself—it’s the dune buggy ride. The buggies bounce hard over the dunes, and you get tossed around more than you might expect.

My advice: if you’re traveling with little ones, book a private tour. That way the driver can adjust both the speed and their “aggressiveness” on the dunes to match what your kids are comfortable with.

Safety gear is non-negotiable. Make sure your kids have a proper helmet, and request a bodyboard as a backup. Sometimes younger kids lose interest in standing on a board or donning heavy boots, and it’s nice to have other options so they don’t feel left out. My 5-year-old gave the bodyboard a couple tries before deciding he preferred sliding down on his butt. My 7-year-old, on the other hand, took to the sandboard quickly.

The only time I felt squeamish was when a giant dune separated me from my littlest while I waited for him to come down or vice versa.

For our family, it was my husband that ended up with the sandboarding injury after falling hard on his tailbone. We’ve been home for a few weeks now and it still causes him to wince when he sits.

Prices: How Much Does Huacachina Sandboarding Cost?

Tours fall in the $20–$70 USD range per person. The lower-cost options often mean big groups, no extras, and sometimes questionable safety precautions. Look for a tour that includes:

• Buggy transport
  
• Helmet, goggles, boots and board (Also, a bandana or buff unless you bring your own. Buffs are sold on the street for 10 soles or less.)
  
• Instructor guidance
  
• Sunset stop
  
• Drinks (a nice touch)
  

Important: You’ll need to pay a small park fee to access the dunes (about 4 soles per person) as it typically is not included in your Huacachina sandboarding tour. Bring cash for this and for tips.

Best Time to Go Sandboarding in Huacachina

By Season

Huacachina is warm and dry year-round, but the busiest times are June through August (Peru’s winter and high tourist season). Expect more crowds and higher prices. The temperatures are very comfortable this time of year.

By Time of Day

• Morning tours: Cooler temperatures.
  
• Afternoon tours: The most popular option — hot at first, but you’ll catch golden hour and an epic sunset.

What to Wear and Pack for Huacachina Sandboarding

• Long sleeves and pants (protects from sunburn + sand rash). Long socks will be more comfortable inside board boots.
  
• Closed-toe shoes if boots aren’t provided
  
• Polarized goggles
  
• A bandana or buff
  
• Chapstick with SPF and sunscreen
  
• Plenty of water – hold or secure it on the bumpy ride. Many bottles are thrown by the dune buggies and litter the desert.
  
• A small backpack to carry extras. Clip it to the buggy if possible.
  
• Drone, GoPro
  

How to Get to Huacachina

There are no major airports near Huacachina, but here are the most popular cities’ routes to Huacachina.

• From Lima: Direct buses run daily on this 5hour route. Cruz del Sur and Peru Hop are the most popular companies or you can book an all inclusive Huacachina sandbaording tour.
  
• From Paracas: About 1.5 hours by bus or car — easy to combine with a Ballestas Islands tour.
  
• From Nazca: Around 2 hours, often paired with a Nazca Lines flight.
  
• From Cusco: It’s a long haul (about 17 hours by bus), so most people break it up with stops along the way in Arequipa or even a detour down to Lake Titicaca.
  
• From Arequipa: The bus ride is long (about 14 hours with 3 stops), but the views are plenty and you can add a stopover for a Nazca lines flight or you can see the lines via a brief stop at the viewing tower.

To find how we fit Huacachina sandboarding into our diverse 2 weeks in Peru, check out our itinerary.

Where to Stay in Huacachina

You can either stay directly in Huacachina or in Ica (10 minutes away). We recommend Huacachina because everything is walkable once you’re there (see image above).

Yes it is touristy, but waking up surrounded by dunes felt magical. It was nice to explore the dunes on our own outside of the tour timeslot as well.

• Budget: Hostels with pools and a lively backpacker vibe like Wild Rover.
• Mid-range: Family-friendly hotels around the lagoon. We loved Hotel Mossone. This was a quiet spot away from the noise of the nightlife.

Other Things to Do in Huacachina Besides Sandboarding

Huacachina Sandboarding is the main draw, but don’t miss these extras:

• Climb the dunes on your own (no buggy needed). The park fee is 4 soles per day.
  
• Walk around the oasis lagoon. Just don’t expect to swim — the water is dirty and swimming isn’t allowed. I will say, those who travel to Huacachina solely for the lagoon views will be disappointed, its dirty and swimming is prohibited.
  
  Paddle boats are available for rent.
  
• Pisco tours. Nearby Ica is the heart of Peru’s pisco production, a grape based spirit. We loved visiting Nietto, where you can sample and learn about the process. The tour is free through Peru Hop.
  
  If you’re traveling with kids, the adults can taste while the little ones wander around the sunny courtyards.
  
• Stargaze – Because you’re out in the desert with very little light pollution, the sky lights up in a way I rarely see when traveling.
  
• Dining – If you’ve got more time in Huacachina, you’ll find a mix of small cafés and casual restaurants circling the lagoon. Most aren’t fancy, but they’re fun for grabbing a cold drink or people-watching between activities.
  
• Nightlife – Huacachina has a great party vibe after night fall!
  
• Day Trip to Paracas – If you haven’t hit this coastal gem on your route, make a day trip out of it. It’s only 90 minutes each way and you’ve got to see the Ballestas Islands (Mini Galapagos) boat tour and Paracas National Reserve.
  
• Day Trip to Nazca Lines – Book an excursion that includes a flight over the mysterious and awe inspiring Nazca Lines.
  

Advice for First-Time Sandboarders in Huacachina

Can I go Huacachina Sandboarding without a tour?

If you want to get active without booking a tour, you can climb the dunes on your own. It’s free exercise (and trust me, it’s a workout), plus you get great views back over the oasis.

Experienced Sandboarders can rent boards in town and climb the dunes.

If it is your first time, I recommend going with a guide. The dunes are steeper than they look, and without someone showing you technique, it’s easy to end up banged up.

Do you have to be in shape to try Huacachina sandboarding?

Not really. I wouldn’t consider myself an athlete and had zero boarding experience yet managed to stay upright for most of my attempts. The instructors are wonderful with feedback.

As an alternative you can choose to lie down on your stomach (sand sledding), which is still exhilarating.

Can you sandboard in Huacachina without any prior experience?

Absolutely. Most visitors are first-timers — instructors are used to helping beginners and can even walk you partway down the dune.

How long do Huacachina sandboarding tours last?

Tours typically last 2 to 2.5 hours with a thrilling buggy ride, multiple stops for sandboarding, and often finish at the top of a dune for sunset.

How much does a Huacachina sandboarding tour cost?

The price range varies greatly from $12 to $30 USD per person for a group tour or upwards of $45 per person for a private tour. Plus a park entrance fee of around S/ 4.00 soles.

Note you will typically spend a little more if you secure your tour online vs. booking locally.

When is the best time of day to go sandboarding?

The late afternoon/sunset tour (around 4:00 PM depending on sunset time) is highly recommended for cooler temperatures and the best photo opportunities. Morning tours are the other option to avoid the midday heat.

Is the dune buggy ride safe?

The buggies are modern and driven by experienced, licensed operators. They are equipped with roll cages and seatbelts. It is, however, an extremely fast and thrilling ride, so hold on tight!

Secure everything in your pockets before hopping in the buggy. We picked up SO much trash on the dunes, likely from blowing or bouncing out of the buggies.

Is it safe to bring my camera/phone for Huacachina Sandboarding?

Bringing a phone or small action camera (like a GoPro) for photos is fine, but they must be secured in a zipped pocket or bag. DSLR cameras are not recommended due to the fine sand and the bumpy buggy ride.

Is Huacachina Sandboarding Worth It?

Absolutely. Huacachina Sandboarding is messy, intimidating, and will leave you sore in muscles you didn’t know you had — but it’s also one of the most unique adventures in Peru.

In my son’s words after our tour: “This was the best day of my life!”

Pin for future Huacachina sandboarding planning:

Catherine – Savvy Family Travel

My favorite pastime is finding fun, interesting experiences to share with family and friends.

I’m a mom of two energetic and curious boys who have endless patience with my tendency to over plan activities on our family vacations. My tireless husband, Troy, provides comic relief, is our favorite photographer, and expert navigator.

I’m a firm believer that travel with kids doesn’t have to be intimidating or expensive. It can be affordable, epic, and, dare I say, even relaxing!

Are you a travel loving parent too? I’d love to meet you, please reach out via Messenger and say “hi!”

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