Huacachina Sandboarding: Extreme Buggy Tours Review

Huacachina, a little desert oasis in Peru, is, arguably, one of those places that sticks with you. Imagine, sort of, towering sand dunes surrounding a lagoon, creating this almost unreal landscape. The main reason most folks visit is, arguably, for the sandboarding and dune buggy rides. The “Extreme Buggyes” are a pretty big deal. So, you’re thinking about going, here’s the lowdown on what you might actually experience. We took this excursion in late October, like your typical warm day with loads of sun. Get ready for a sandy, bumpy, and super memorable experience! It’s, in fact, a pure blast!

Booking Your Adventure: What to Expect

Finding a tour company is pretty easy because you’ll discover lots of little agencies around Huacachina, right? I actually booked online before my trip. Lots of options exist but “Extreme Buggyes” sounded pretty good, just a little cheaper than some and seemed like a pretty fun bunch, really. Typically, the tours last about two hours, including the dune buggy ride and sandboarding. Pricing varies depending on the season. However, it generally hovers somewhere between $20-$40 USD. I ended up paying around $30. So, don’t worry too much.

It’s very important to check what’s included. Make sure you know if it includes sandboards, photos or video (if you’re very keen on capturing everything), and how much time you will have. Confirm the meeting spot ahead too because it just makes life so much simpler. Remember to, honestly, ask those important questions because it actually can influence your final experience. After you take the time to compare a handful of tour providers, you are, virtually, guaranteed to have a good time!

The Dune Buggy Ride: Hold On Tight!

Buckle up for the dune buggy part, that’s actually the real adventure, I think. So, these buggies, often, have beefed-up suspensions, are loud, and they fly over those sandy hills, alright? The drivers are really something else. They have this skill, almost instinct, to go up, down, and all around those dunes. They usually stop at spots so that, seemingly, people can get awesome photos. But, mostly, it’s just so that they can whip around as fast as they can while everyone is screaming! That is how our drive felt, very.

A little tip: secure anything that could fly away – hats, glasses, phones. If you don’t, that could be a recipe for disaster, is that? The ride itself is so intense it may seem fairly short, however it goes a pretty long time, basically. I felt this pure rush of adrenaline the whole time, so maybe you will too. One of the most common remarks I heard, while on our ride was “Oh my goodness!!”, so maybe that will be your expression. A fun expression for an awesome time!

Sandboarding Down Huacachina’s Giants

Okay, so sandboarding! So, if you’ve never done it, no worries. Some of the tour guides will, often, show you the ropes. The basic move is to lie on your stomach on the board and go down. Don’t think too much about standing because it needs actual balance, you know? The steeper the dune, the faster you go, by the way.

That is why people find it so, sort of, thrilling. However, be prepared for sand everywhere – in your hair, your clothes, everywhere! As I was saying, a bit of advice: keep your mouth closed, literally! Those dunes tower, but that means the higher up you climb, the, seemingly, better the view is when you reach the peak! Take the time to absorb it! Another bit of fun? Falling on the soft sand only really hurts your ego.

Safety First: Important Tips

Safety is genuinely really important, alright? Confirm the tour operators maintain their equipment well. Also, make sure they offer safety briefings before anything actually begins. It is a rough ride, right? Wear that seatbelt during the buggy tour and always listen to the guides. Respecting the dunes means staying on designated paths; it is what’s often said, anyway. Bringing sunglasses helps block the, you know, sunlight and sand. Slather on sunscreen. Protect your skin, even when it’s not just super hot, because you just never know, right? The desert sun is surprisingly quite strong.

So, stay hydrated, especially! The desert heat can get you down without you realising. Carry a bottle of water with you because a shop will not likely be there, if you understand, right? So, one tip, too it’s almost, wear closed-toe shoes. Hiking the dunes in flip-flops can be, kind of, a challenge. A thing to keep in mind: travel insurance can also be pretty useful! Make sure that you know what the company is covered for and that your current travel package offers comprehensive coverage. Unexpected accidents happen, usually. The cost tends to be a pretty worthy investment for peace of mind while visiting and having fun.

What to Bring with You

Besides water and sunscreen, there’s a good idea to bring other necessities to make things a little better, so to speak. Think about clothes you don’t really mind getting very sandy because they definitely will! A hat, definitely, helps to protect your head from that sunshine, but hold onto it tight! The wind is like your real friend there, right? Think of bringing a camera. That way you can capture the trip to, sort of, re-live those moments; you know. However, also think about keeping it in a case of some sort or something secure so that it, seemingly, won’t get full of sand.

Think about it: lots of ziplock bags will assist. Carrying hand sanitizer helps, especially if you’re planning to snack and eat afterward, by the way. Cash is useful because many little vendors only, maybe, take soles, the local money, yet. Keeping a small first-aid kit handy is, I think, a great thing. Include items for treating small cuts and scrapes because it will be helpful, you just never know, so do prepare. So, if you tend to be sensitive with breathing or air and things like this, bring something for dust. It’ll get stirred up a lot so maybe do what is a comfort.

Making the Most of Your Visit

The thing I recommend, is booking the afternoon tour so you could watch the sun set, yet? Watching the sunset on those big dunes is a fantastic experience, basically. It’s just worth it to make time for, frankly, seeing the Huacachina lagoon itself and walking the town, of course. So, sample a number of the Peruvian food at those little places that have local food and drink! Many stores offer, honestly, pisco sours, the common Peruvian drink.

So, plan a visit in the morning because there won’t be too many visitors or in the, literally, late afternoon when, honestly, the heat dies a little bit, okay? Weekends have tons of local Peruvians. So, you may want to choose a weekday so it’ll be quiet. However, be friendly and respectful toward all others. Peruvians will want the experience for themselves and, basically, want you to respect it!