Experience · Peru

Sandboarding the dunes of Huacachina

Huacachina is a palm-fringed oasis sunk among dunes the size of apartment blocks, an easy stop between Lima and the Nazca Lines.

Best forAdventure seekers · Groups of friends · Solo travellers
In October28°C · barely any rain
Ideal stayOne or two nights
Approx. flying time~8h 35m from Los Angeles

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Sandboarding the dunes of Huacachina, Peru

Happens around Huacachina, Peru — nearest airport Lima (LIM), about 272km away.

CurrencyPENPeruvian sol
LanguageSpanish
Local time07:066h behind the UK
PlugsType A / CBring an adapter
Drive on theRightOpposite to the UK
Dialling code+51

The experience

Two things happen out on the dunes: a buggy ride that behaves like a fairground ride with no track, and the boarding itself, which for most people means lying flat and pointing downhill. Dunes here rise over a hundred metres, so the runs are long, and guides wax the boards between goes. Sand ends up in every pocket, every camera and both ears.

The oasis sits beside Ica, about four hours south of Lima by road, and works as an overnight stop on the way to Nazca, Paracas or Arequipa. One night is enough, two if you also want the wineries and pisco distilleries around Ica. The dunes are ridable all year, hot by day and cold after dark. Anyone with back or neck trouble should skip the buggy.

Ideal stay: One or two nights
The vibe: Hot, sandy, adrenaline-first

From our guides

Dune buggies roar you to the crests — a rollercoaster with sand in it — then you slide back down on a waxed board, lying flat like a toboggan until confidence suggests standing. Zero technique required lying down; considerable comedy standing up. Book a late-afternoon tour so the ride ends with sunset turning the whole desert to gold.

Featured in Ten adventures you can do without any training

Make a trip of it

Sunset buggy run

Late-afternoon departures end with the sun going down behind the dunes and the sand turning orange. Cooler than midday and much the better light.
The oasis lagoon

A natural lake ringed by palms and a handful of buildings, now topped up artificially. Walk the perimeter in ten minutes, or hire a rowing boat.
Climb the big dune

The ridge above the village takes twenty hard minutes on foot and repays it with a view over the oasis and desert running to the horizon.
Ica wineries and pisco

The valley around Ica has made wine and pisco since the sixteenth century, and several bodegas open for tasting and a look at the old clay fermentation jars.
Paracas and the Ballestas

Ninety minutes west, boat trips run out to islands crowded with sea lions, pelicans and Humboldt penguins, alongside a coastal desert reserve.

Getting there

Fly to
Lima (LIM)

Nearest airport to Huacachina, about 272km away as the crow flies.
Then
To Huacachina

Nazca (NZC) handles sightseeing flights rather than airline services, so arrive at Lima (LIM) and take a coach south to Ica, about four to five hours, then five minutes by taxi to the oasis.
On the ground
Getting around

Huacachina is a single loop of hostels and restaurants around the lagoon, walkable in minutes, and the dune buggies collect you from your door.

Public transport: Comfortable long-distance coaches run between Lima, Ica, Nazca and Arequipa, which is all you need.

Flights

Los Angeles Huacachina, Peru

Flying from

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Roughly 8h 35m in the air from Los Angeles (LAX), estimated from the distance — check for a direct route. Pick a month to see every available flight with live prices.

Check dates and prices

Pick your departure date, then your return.

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Flight times are estimates; prices open on Google Flights.

When to go

Daytime highs run from about 25°C in July to 31°C in February. Driest May to November; wettest in February, with rain on about 7 days.

The year at a glance — pick a month for detail

October28° · no rainWarm and dry.

Monthly figures averaged from daily records for 2020–2024 at this location (ERA5 reanalysis).

Where to base yourself

Backpacker hostels with pools around the lagoon, a couple of smarter hotels, and standard city hotels in Ica. Rooms are simple, sand gets everywhere, and water pressure varies.

Best base overall
Huacachina

The oasis itself, a single ring of hostels, hotels and restaurants around the lagoon, with buggies leaving from the door. Tiny, dusty and loud at night in season.
Find stays in Huacachina
Best value
Ica

The city ten minutes away, with proper hotels, supermarkets, banks and the bus terminals. No dunes on the doorstep, but a great deal more choice and lower rates.
Find stays in Ica
Best with children
Paracas

An hour north on the coast, with resort hotels, pools and boat trips to the Ballestas islands. It makes a calmer base, though you commute for the sandboarding.
Find stays in Paracas

Worth knowing before you book: Buggy and sandboard tours are booked on the day through your hotel, but late afternoon slots go first. Weekends bring Limeno crowds, so midweek is quieter and cheaper.

Search everything else in Huacachina by budget. These are indicative budget bands in GBP per night for two people, not live quotes or guarantees of hotel type. Check your dates, guests, taxes and final price on Booking.com.

Or see everything in Huacachina

Good to know

Safety: Buggies are driven fast over blind crests and standards vary. Check seat belts and roll cages before getting in, and choose the operator with care.
Pack this: Sunglasses, a scarf for your face, closed shoes and a bag that seals. Sand gets into camera lenses and phone ports permanently.
Timing: Go in the late afternoon for cooler sand and better light. Midday temperatures in the dunes are punishing between December and March.
Getting there: Buses from Lima to Ica take four to five hours on the Panamericana, and the oasis is a short taxi ride from the Ica terminal.
Cash or card: Carry Peruvian soles. Buggy tours, board hire and small guesthouses often want cash, and ATMs are back in Ica rather than at the oasis.