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Sandboarding Peru is a team made up of professionals, educators, and world-class competitors in the sport they love – sandboarding. Heading to Huacachina or just mad for adventure sports? Read on…
Sandboarding Peru
Did you miss our last article on Huacachina? Let me describe this area for you. Huacachina is a town with a desert lake, which is surrounded by sand dunes. It’s home to lots of hostels for travellers to stay in. At the weekend, it is a party town for locals; this changes during the week. You are not seeing a mirage, this is what Huacachina looks like. Restaurants, bars and accommodation surround the lake, which is used by locals while cooling off and by kids who play in it.
Huacachina – this is not a mirage!
Sandboarding in Huacachina
Every hostel (and bus company) in Huacachina will offer you a sandboarding experience – if you want the ‘real deal’, don’t choose them. Make your way to Sanboarding Peru next to Hostel Del Barco. If Alejo is there, tell him Two Scots Abroad sent you and you want the ‘same same but different’ from snow, sandboarding experience!
Boarding Peru v Sandboarding Companies
Both Sandboarding Peru and the generic sandboarding tours offer a dune buggy ride, which is a lot of fun! This bumpy ride up and down the dunes makes you lose your stomach to the hills. It’s excellent for those with GoPros and action cams. The main difference between the two is in the equipment and action. The generic companies mostly provide you with a low-quality board, sometimes, the boards will have socks / ‘boots’ attached. This type of sandboarding is ideal for those who simply want to tackle the dunes sitting on the boards, so using it like a sledge. It might be of use for travellers who want to try boarding for the first time, although accidents can happen. I wouldn’t recommend this unless instructed well. I know our bus tour guides at Peru Hop advise you not to stand up! Sandboarding Peru will measure and kit you out with boards with boots, and, depending on your package, skis.
Taking on the Dunes
The first time I tried boarding on the sand, it was tense! I fell a lot, my body refusing to relax. The second and third time, we flew down, still falling! Falling on sand is not the same as falling on snow, much softer and no freeze burn. Alejo also instructed us on how to use the board facing the dunes, using our toes to stop. We also had a go at skiing which was hilarious.
Dune Buggy Rides
After boarding, a dune buggy collected us for a fairground-style ride around the sandy hills! All you can hear on the dunes is joyful screams.
Sandboarding Peru + the Local Community
Sandboarding Peru has three areas to their business model
- The first is the tourist side of sandboarding (be that tourist!)
- The second is educating the local young people (of Ica)
- Finally, the competitive element
As a teacher, it was encouraging to see the work the team do with the local children. There were young kids in the office, helping with the equipment. They normally hit the dunes at the weekends, which we missed unfortunately. Alejo says it’s mostly boys who participate and commit, and a couple of girls join them less frequently. He reckons it’s mainly down to stereotypes, which he’d like to see change. The competitive part sets them apart from other companies too. Part of the team is Victor ‘Dito’ Chavez, the only Peruvian pro – snowboarder! Sandboarding Peru also puts on competitions for kids and adults to participate in; they want to get them hooked with their young and develop that passion as they grow up. It was a privilege to listen to Alejo speak about the school in this way. Regardless of (around about) 28 degrees heat in Huacachina, they still took part in World Snow Day! Sand and snow boarding – same same but different!
Sandboarding in Peru – What to Pack
- Suntan lotion
- Sunglasses (it’s dusty)
- Water
- Camera
- Action cam (like GoPro)
- Wear trainers (sand can be hot)
Final Words
Sandboarding (or sand skiing in Peru) is one of the ‘must-do’ things to do during your travels around Peru. For more details on Peru tips, itineraries, transport, accommodation, and culture, see this Peru travel guide. We get asked often – is Huacachina worth visiting, and I say yes (we actually stayed for three nights!)
Sandboarding Peru, Huacachina
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- Sandboarding Peru: Website
- Contact: +51 986 986 188
- Address: next to Hostel Del Barco
Disclaimer – We worked with Sandboarding Peru during our trip. As always, an honest review, we even paid above the discounted rate as we felt we were robbing them after such a great day on the sandy slopes!
