Sandboarding in Death Valley, San Pedro de Atacama: Which Tour for Beginners?
4 min read
For a first run, book a small-group tour with a lesson and equipment included, and check the age limit on the page: it ranges from 6 to 10 years depending on the operator. Sandboarding here means sliding down the dunes of Valle de la Muerte, which one tour page says is also known as Mars Valley.
What the dunes are
Chile Travel says the Mars Valley is only 2 km from San Pedro and has sandy stretches of more than 100 m, suited to sandboarding. Fees and session times differ by tour. Each tour below starts with a pickup in town; two list the drive as 20 minutes by 4×4.
Four tours compared
| Tour | Length | Group | Not suitable for | What the page lists |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sandboarding Tour in San Pedro de Atacama | 3.5 hours | Up to 6 | Children under 10 | Board, boots, helmet, goggles, lesson, video, snack, water, park entrance; morning or afternoon session |
| Death Valley Sandboarding Lessons | 4 hours | Up to 10 | Under 6, pregnant women, people with mobility impairments, over 70 | Boots, boards, certified helmet, 4×4, food, park fees (the itinerary marks the Death Valley stop as extra fee); slopes of 35 to 50 degrees at the highest point |
| Death Valley Sandboarding Tour | 5.5 hours | Ask the operator | Under 8, pregnant women, wheelchair users | Minibus, equipment, snack, entrance fee of CLP 6,000 per person; 2.5 hours on the dunes |
| Private Sandboarding Tour | 3 hours | Your group, up to 4 | Children under 7 | Equipment, 4×4, snack, water, park admission; choice of 10 spots |
Prices are €79.33, €53.48, €87.47 and €338.72. The first tour has 139 reviews at 4.9 stars, the second 26 at 4.2.
Reading the small print
The private tour is priced for your whole group of up to four, not per person, so divide the price by the number of riders before you compare it with the others. The 3.5-hour tour describes a lesson of 30 minutes and about 2.5 hours on the sand; the 4-hour tour describes a crash course followed by descents. Sandboarding is physical: the 4-hour tour is not suitable for people with mobility impairments, and the 5.5-hour tour not for wheelchair users. The 4-hour tour lists park fees among its inclusions but marks the Death Valley stop as extra fee in its itinerary, so ask the operator whether the fee is covered.
Which to book
For most first-timers the 3.5-hour small-group tour fits best: six people at most, a lesson, and the equipment, snack and park entrance in the listing. Travelling with a child under 10? The 4-hour lessons tour sets the lowest limit of the four, at 6 years. The private tour suits a group of up to four that wants its own pace. Bring sunglasses, sunscreen and water. More options sit in the adventure tours category.
