Huacachina Dune Buggy Tour Experience: A Must-Do in Peru’s Desert Oasis

Racing across the golden dunes on a Huacachina dune buggy tour experience is one of the most thrilling adventures in Peru. This high-speed ride through the desert offers an adrenaline rush like no other, with stunning landscapes surrounding the oasis. Whether you're a thrill-seeker or just looking for a unique experience, this is a must-do activity in Huacachina.

Beyond the excitement of the buggy ride, many tours also include sandboarding in Huacachina, giving you the chance to glide down massive dunes. The combination of adventure and breathtaking desert views makes this an unforgettable part of any trip. No matter your skill level, you’ll have a blast cruising down the slopes.

If you're planning a trip to Peru’s desert oasis, this guide will help you know what to expect. From tour options to safety tips, we’ll cover everything you need to make the most of this incredible adventure. Get ready for an experience like no other in the heart of the Ica Desert!

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Huacachina Dune Buggy Tour Experience: A Brief Intro

Huacachina is a beautiful little oasis that has a city built around it, and is just a few hours from Lima, Peru's capital.

It has become one of the most popular day trips from Lima, and one of the top things to do in Huacachina is to do a dune buggy tour.

Dune buggy tours are readily available to book online or upon arrival in Huacachina, and can vary from 1 hour to several hours depending on what you'd like included. In this guide we're going to go over what our experience looked like, as well as outline how to prepare, and which tours you can choose from.

What a Huacachina Dune Buggy Tour Experience Looks Like

Now that you can see there are different options for booking and experiencing a dune buggy tour in Huacachina, we're going to go into a bit more detail about what the tours look like.

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 Our Dune Buggy Experience

First, let's go over the Huacachina dune buggy tour experience that we chose! As we were limited on time, we went into town early and found a local tour operator to put us on the first tour out, which was at 9:00 am.

We bought our tickets at 8:30, ran back to our hostel to pack a bag, and met the guide at 8:50 in town. We paid the entrance to the dunes (this is usually separate for the cheaper tours), and then we walked up the small dune to meet our group for the 1-hour buggy tour.

The first few minutes our guide briefed us on what the tour would look like, and buckled us in.

The first few minutes of the ride are pretty smooth, and then all of the sudden you'll be flying down the dunes! It truly is an exhilarating ride, and will make your stomach drop!

After about 15-20 minutes, the driver will get up to the top of one of the dunes, where the group will get out and have some time to enjoy the views and take pictures. You can even get on top of the buggy for a super fun photo opp!

After everyone takes their photos it's time to do sand boarding! We'll be honest, the 1-hour tour really is more for beginners and families, while the later/longer tours will bring you to higher dunes. For our specific tour, we all just slid down on our stomachs because they didn't have board for standing.

After sand boarding it was time to head back to town, and we had a fun ride going down the dunes. We finished the tour exactly where we began, which is just a short walk down to town.

 The Other Dune Buggy Experiences in Huacachina You Can Book

While our dune buggy tour experience was just an hour, the majority of tours (typically found online) are 2-3 hours. These tours will bring you further into the desert for more exciting sand boarding opportunities, and more impressive views. 

A lot of the bigger organized tours are later in the afternoon, and finish with a magical sunset experience.

Here are some of the Huacachina dune buggy tours you can choose from:

• Buggy in the Dunes at Sunset with Sandboarding 2 hours $16.50
• From Huacachina or Ica: Sunset + Fun Ride in Buggy and Sandboarding 3 hours $24
• Huacachina Sandski and Sandboarding Experience (includes beers at sunset) 3-4 hours $55
• Ica or Huacachina: Dinner in the Desert | Unique Experience (includes dune buggy, sandboarding, & dinner at a desert camp) 6 hours $179
• Huacachina Dinner in the Desert (includes private chef, candlelight dinner, dune buggy, & sandboarding under the stars) 6 hours $215
• Ica & Huacachina: Desert Glamping | Night Under the Stars (includes dune buggy, sandboarding, dinner, & glamping overnight) 14 hours $235.69

Huacachina Dune Buggy Tour Experience: Costs & Times

Now you are almost prepared for your dune buggy tour in Huacachina! But let's go over some of the important details, like how much it costs, and when buggy experiences typically take place.

 How Much Do Dune Buggy Tours in Huacachina Cost?

Dune buggy experiences in Huacachina can vary greatly in price, depending on how long your tour is, and whether or not you have a special add-on experience (like dinner or drinks).

The most basic buggy tours can be as low as 35-40 soles/person (around $10 USD), and are typically closer to $30-50 for professional sand boarding experiences which are much longer and take you to taller dunes.

The most expensive buggy tours are from $160-235, but they are a true luxury experience that combines riding the dunes, sand boarding, and an exclusive glamping dinner in a desert camp (one even has a night glamping included!)

 When Do Huacachina Dune Buggy Tours Happen?

Most dune buggy tours start from 9 am, and a typically one hour. However, the later tours are usually 2 (maybe even 3) hours and finish with sunset. 

These tours leave around 4-4:30, and finish between 6:00 and 7:00 (with the exception of the glamping dinner one that finishes around 10:30 pm, or the glamping overnight one that comes back the next morning).

Huacachina Dune Buggy Tour Experience: Other Things to Keep in Mind

Now you know almost everything you need for your Huacachina dune buggy tour experience! But don't go just yet - we have a few other things to share with you.

Weather in Huacachina

Huacachina has desert-like weather. Summers have very hot and dry days with warm nights, while winters have warm days and cool nights, and Autumn and Spring have hot days with mildly warm nights. There is very little rain in Huacachina, but winters may have a bit of mist or fog in the early mornings.

The Best Time to Do a Huacachina Dune Buggy Tour Experience

The best time to do a Huacachina dune buggy tour is either first thing in the morning, or later in the afternoon. for sunset.

We got to Huacachina too late for a tour so enjoyed sunset on our own, and then the following day took the first tour out at 9 am. By 10:00 the sun was already really strong and the sand was starting to get really hot.

We'd highly recommend doing one of the afternoon dune buggy tours if you have time and choosing one that is longer so you can go to the further dunes and have a more complete experience. The shorter tours are great for families and those that want a more beginner experience.

Is a Huacachina Dune Buggy Experience Worth it?

Dune buggy experiences are definitely the number one attraction in Huacachina, and a must-do while visiting this desert oasis.

It's fun and safe for both adults and children, and is a great way to experience the unique landscapes of this beautiful area of Peru.

So are you ready for your Huacachina dune buggy tour? Experience Huacachina's most popular tour, and enjoy one of the best day trips from Lima.

Want to learn more about Huacachina? Check out our Complete Huacachina Travel Guide, as well as our other Peru guides. Make sure to subscribe to our newsletter for all of our weekly updates, as well as to receive exclusive content and discounts.

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