What to bring to the Ica Desert (and what to leave at the hotel)

Ica sand is extremely fine. It gets into your camera, your pockets, your sunglasses case and places you would not imagine. Almost everything on this list exists because of that.

The non-negotiables

Sunglasses. Not for the look: on the dunes the light bounces up from below and in from every side. If there is wind, they also keep sand out of your eyes.

Sunscreen. High factor, and reapply it. Sand reflects and burns you far faster than you expect, even in winter under the grey coastal sky.

Water. More than you think you need.

Comfortable, covering clothes. Long trousers and a light long-sleeved top beat shorts and a t-shirt: they cover you from sun and sand, and they are not hotter.

Closed shoes. No sandals. You will be climbing in and out of a vehicle and walking on hot sand.

A light jacket if you go at sunset. The desert cools down fast once the sun goes, especially from June to August.

For your phone and camera

This is the part most people skip and most people regret.

• A sealed ziploc bag solves 90% of the problem and costs almost nothing.
• If you plan to film, a waterproof case or an action camera is a better idea than pulling your phone out mid-dune.
• A wrist or neck strap. A phone dropped from a moving vehicle on a dune is not easily recovered.
• Blow and brush before cleaning the lens: rubbing sand scratches the glass.
• Clear your storage before you come. You will take far more photos than you expect.

For a UTV trip

On top of the above:

• A buff or scarf for neck and face. With a helmet on, that is what keeps dust out of your mouth.
• Tie your hair back if it is long.
• Nothing loose on you: caps, long scarves, dangling bags. They fly away.
• Shoes with a firm sole. You will be using a throttle and a brake.
• If you wear glasses, bring them with a retaining strap.

Helmets and harnesses are ours — you do not need to bring those.

What to leave at the hotel

• Suitcases, big backpacks and anything that cannot be secured in the vehicle.
• Good shoes. Any footwear that enters the dunes comes out full of sand.
• Clothes you care about. Fine sand marks light fabrics.
• Drones, unless you have confirmed in advance where flying is allowed.

Health and common sense

• Eat something beforehand, but not a heavy meal.
• If you get car sick, tell us before we leave: there are ways to adjust the route and your seat.
• If you have back or neck problems, or you are pregnant, message us before booking and we will talk it through honestly.
• Alcohol and dunes do not mix. Not before, not during.

The golden rule

Everything you carry has to fit in a zipped pocket or be secured in the vehicle. If you have to hold it in your hand, leave it behind: on the dunes you want both hands free.