Last Updated on August 20, 2023

Peru is hands down one of the best countries for sandboarding lovers. In fact, nowhere else this sport is as popular as in Peru, where you not only can find plenty of locations to practice this oudoor activity, but also some of the tallest and steepest dunes in the world.

Today, the desert oasis of Huacachina is considered to be the Mecca of sandboarding, but there are plenty of locations across the country where it is possible to surf on sand dunes, and the regions surrounding Nazca, Arequipa and Acarì offer some of the most thrilling rides this sport has to offer! 

There simply isn’t any other country in the world that loves sandboarding as much as Peru does, and it is here that the annual sandboarding world cup is held.

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Sandboarding in Huacachina, Peru
Sandboarding in Huacachina, Peru. Photo courtesy of Jared S.

Sandboarding in Peru

Peru is often considered the best country in the world for sandboarding.

The sand dunes surrounding the city Ica are the most popular, but there are small hills closer to the capital Lima, and many less known hidden gems throughout the country where you can enjoy this sport.

You’ll actually find the steepest and most challenging peaks in the region of Arequipa, far away from tourists.

Lima region

Dunas de Asia

Small coastal dunes near the municipality of Asia, between 20 and 80 meters tall, ideal for beginners. These are the closest option for sandboarding near Lima.

Dunas the Chilca

Desert dunes about 1.5 hours away from Lima. They are very popular with 4×4 off-road vehicles and decent for sandboarding with slopes of different heights.


Ica and Nazca region

Sand dunes near Ica, Peru
Sand Dunes near Ica, Peru.

Huacachina

Huacachina is the only natural desert oasis in South America, and it is completely surrounded by sand dunes. It is one of the most popular sandboarding destinations in the entire world – a must visit, albeit sometimes overcrowded. [Travel Guide | Sandboarding & Dune Buggy Guide]

Cerro Blanco

Located near Nazca and about 300 miles south of Lima, Cerro Blanco is sometimes considered the tallest dune in the world – with an altitude of 2080 meters above sea level, but with a rocky base of approximately 1300 meters, and a sand slope of “only” 780 meters.

Cerro Blanco is one of the most popular sandboarding destinations in Peru, and also one of the most challenging, requiring a 3-hour hike to reach the top before sliding on a very steep slope.

Height: 780 meters / 2559 feet

Sandboarding in Peru: Duna Cerro Blanco, Ica
Duna Cerro Blanco. Ica region, Peru.

Cerro Huaricangana

Another sandhill in the Nazca desert with slopes you can surf on. It may not be as huge as the Cerro Blanco, but Cerro Huaricangana plenty of fun to be had on very fine, white sand.

The nearby San Fernando Bay also offer unique opportunities for sightseeing and a chance to spot local wildlife of both desert and sea.

Usaka Desert

Sandboarding tours of Nazca are best combined with some historical sightseeing. The Nazca Lines, the Pyramids of Cahuachi and tombs at Chauchilla Cemetery are all great tourist attractions right in the middle of the desert, so have your sandboard tag along.

The dunes of Usaka are an impressive natural enclave in the Peruvian desert, ideal with sandboarding and with beginner-friendly slopes.

Read more: Sandboarding in Nazca


Pisco and Paracas region

Pampa de Ocas – Pisco Desert

Extensive area of ondulating sand dunes in the Pisco Desert, popular for both sandbording and sand duning. The dunes are relatively small.

Laguna de Morón – Pisco Desert

Steeper dunes in the Pisco Desert, up to 200 meters tall, located near the Moron Lagoon. Tours can be easily arranged from either Pisco or Paracas including both dune buggy and sandboarding.

Costa Rica Oasis – Paracas Desert

The dunes of Costa Rica Oasis are located across the Peruvian California Desert (el Desierto de California) near Paracas.

There are plenty of tours that will take you there on board of a traditional carro tubulare (dune buggy).

Recommended tours:

Trujillo region

Conache Sand Dunes

The Conache Sand Dunes are a series of dunes surrounded by nature with spectacular view of the Conache Lagoon.

There are slopes of different heights and steepness levels, ideal for both beginners and more experienced sandboarders.

Las Dunas Cañoncillo, Pacasmayo

Dunes located near Bosque el Cañoncillo, a tiny peculiar forest in the desert.

Dunas de Laramie Chao, Virú


Chimbote region

Duna Huamanchacate / Duna Terror – Coishco

The dune of Huamancachate or “terror dune” has gained a lot of popularity recently, especially amongst sandboarders.

The dune has different types of terrain, which allow for various types of sandboarding styles such as slalom (descent between flags), boarder cross (race between several riders) and big air (jumps with maneuvers in the air).

The terror dune is located between the valley and the hills of Coishco, close to the fishing town of Chimbote.

Cerro Manchan – Casma

Cerro Manchan is yet another mountain-dune with incredibly steep slopes located near the town of Casma.

Some of the dunes in the area, like the “El Filo de la Navaja” reach up to 900 feet height! You can arrange a sandboarding trip in Casma through Akela Tour.


Arequipa region

Sandboarding Peru: Duna Toro Mata, Acari
Sandboarders at the Duna Toro Mata, Acarì

White Sand Dunes – Pampas De La Joya

White desert dunes near Arequipa, between 15 and 230 feet of altitude, so great for beginners and experienced sandboarders alike.

Duna Toro Mata – Acarí

The Duna Toro Mata, also called simply Duna Toro or Cerro El Toro (“Bull Dune“), is a gigantic 2,068 meters sand hill in the heart of the district of Acarí in the province of Caraveli.

The legend says that a golden, blood-spitting bull lives on top of the hill, occasionally descending down the dune and killing whoever finds themselves in its sight… Sandboarders beware!

Toro Mata (“the bull kills“) is also one of the most popular Peruvian folk songs and anthem with roots in the history of African slavery in the country.

As far as sandboarding goes, Duna Toro Mata is one of the most intimidating and challenging dunes in the entire world. Recommended for expert riders, not adviced for the faint of heart!

Contact info: TORO MATA Sandboarding Acari

Cerro de las Minas – Acarí

Another huge sand mountain located between Acari and Lucassi. Despite its size you can find many slopes to sandboard with varying degrees of steepness and difficulty levels.

Cerro de las Minas is a rather remote and not at all touristy spot, easier to reach with a 4×4 offroad vehicle. The names is due to the presence of copper mines in the surrounding area.


Sandboarding in Peru: Dunes Map
Map of major sandboarding dunes in Peru. Photo courtesy of Thiago Espindola.

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Facts about sandboarding in Peru

Peru is a relatively small country with an incredibly diverse landscape: you can find beaches, mountains, forests, jungles, and even snow… but sand dunes are the real deal.

Duna Grande (“the big dune” in Ica) is in fact the second largest sand dune on the planet, and the whole region – which includes the world’s number #1 sandboarding destination, the natural oasis of Huacachina – is covered by incredibly steep and spectacular white sand dunes. And white is not the only color you will find in Peru…

Rainbow Sand Dunes

Colored Sand Dunes in Peru Rainbow Mountain
Vinicunca, the Rainbow Mountain. Photo courtesy of
Johnson Wang.

The Peruvian Andes have something truly unique to offer: Vinicunca, also known as Montaña de Siete Colores (“Mountain of the Seven Colors”), or Rainbow Mountain in English.

This mountain, located in the Cusco region, is covered by seven differently colored layers of sand, naturally occurring due to its mineral composition: pinkish clay, white quartz, red claystones, green phyllites, brown fanglomerates and yellow sandstones all contribute to its appearance.

The most interesting fact about the colors of this mountain? They only appeared a few years ago! Vinicunca has been historically covered by a thick layer of snow and ice, which sadly started to disappear as a result of climate change. It was around 2015 that the mountain started showing its true colors, and it is now accessible for hiking.

Snowboarding vs Sandboarding in Peru

Speaking of snow: the Peruvian Andes comprise some of the tallest peaks and glaciers in America, yet snowboarding can’t be practiced on most of them.

About 700 glaciers are melting as a result of global warming, unable to build up enough ice in the winter to make up for the loss of snow in the summer.

There is only one main ski “resort” in Peru, located on the Pastoruri Glacier, which is unfortunately also shrinking. The future of snowboarding in Peru is far from bright, but sand dunes are here to stay.

Sand boarding, sand sledding and sand skiing are becoming more and more popular in Peru, for obvious reasons.

A bit of history: these practices were relatively unknown until the early 1990s or so, when a farmer and sandboard enthusiasts named Matías Grados Mora decided to promote these sports by holding the very first sandboarding championships in Huacachina.

Today, the surrounding region of Ica, and the village of Huacachina attract passionate sand surfers from all around the globe. The Peru Sandboarding Cup and Sandboard World Cup are both hosted there, and much of the economy of the region revolves around sandboarding tours and the manufacturing of “tablas de sandboard“.

Another reason driving the sandboarding trend in Peru is the aforementioned melting of glaciers due to global warming, which has left the country with fewer and fewer areas suitable for snowboarding and skiing. The Andes have lost 30% of their glaciers over the past 20 years as a result of climate change.

What to wear sandboarding in Peru

Peru’s sandboarding locations have a desert climate with high temperature differences between day and night. The best sandboarding clothes to wear sandboarding include closed-toe shoes and cotton socks, lightweight shirts and long trousers, and a jacket for early mornings and evenings.


Hanes Men’s Long Sleeve Cool Dri T-Shirt UPF 50+
Hoka One One Clifton 7

HOKA ONE ONE Clifton 7
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75% Merino wool socks
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Scott Recoil Pro WFS Goggles
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100% cotton shemagh
Read also: Sandboarding Clothes and Accessories

South America Sandboarding Map

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