ATV Riding to Rainbow Mountain from Cusco: Beat the Crowds

Skip the hiking trail and ride to Rainbow Mountain's summit before the morning rush

This full-day ATV and motorcycle tour from Cusco reaches Rainbow Mountain's summit by 9 AM without a long hike, giving you an hour to photograph the striped peaks before crowds arrive. Hotel pickup starts at 3:30 AM. You'll ride ATVs for roughly 20 minutes through mountain landscapes, then take a motorcycle with driver for the final 7 minutes to the summit, followed by a short 5–7 minute walk to the main viewpoint. Breakfast and lunch are included, and the tour wraps by early afternoon with drop-off at your hotel in central Cusco.

Step-by-step itinerary

Full-day Rainbow Mountain ATV adventure

• 3:30 AM hotel pickup
• 3-hour bus ride to Hanchipacha village
• Breakfast in Hanchipacha village
• 15-minute bus ride to Kayrawiri village
• 20-minute ATV ride with mountain views
• 7-minute motorcycle ride to Rainbow Mountain
• 5-7 minute walk to main viewpoint
• 1 hour exploring Rainbow Mountain
• 25-minute walk back to Qosqopata village
• 1 hour ATV ride back to base
• Lunch in Cusipata district
• Return to hotels in Cusco city center

The experience

The day starts before dawn with pickup from your hotel at 3:30 AM. A bus takes you three hours to Hanchipacha village for breakfast, then 15 minutes more to Kayrawiri village where you'll mount the ATVs. The ride itself is roughly 20 minutes through mountain terrain dotted with llamas and alpacas, following rivers and valleys toward Qosqopata. At that point you switch to a motorcycle with a driver for the final 7-minute push to the base of Rainbow Mountain, then walk just 5–7 minutes to reach the main viewpoint. You arrive at the summit around 9 AM: early enough to photograph the striped peaks (reds, yellows, greens and purples layered across the mountainside) before the day-hikers start arriving.

You get a full hour at Rainbow Mountain with your guide before heading back. The descent takes about 25 minutes on foot to Qosqopata, where you climb back onto the ATVs for a one-hour ride back to the base, arriving around noon. Lunch is served in the Cusipata district before the return journey. Drop-off happens only at hotels in central Cusco, finishing near Plaza de Armas.

The tour runs 11 to 12 hours total, including travel time and meals. You'll need at least moderate fitness. The riding is straightforward, but the early start, altitude and physical demands of mounting and dismounting add up. Children from age 5 are welcome. A guide speaks English, Spanish or Portuguese throughout the day, and fuel is included in the price.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup at 3:30 AM.
• breakfast in Hanchipacha village.
• ATV rental (single or double seating).
• motorcycle with driver for the final section to Rainbow Mountain.
• lunch in Cusipata district.
• fuel surcharge.
• guide in English, Spanish or Portuguese.
• first aid kit.

Options for this experience

2 options

Up to 15 people · Guide in English, Spanish or Portuguese03:30

Up to 30 people · Guide in English, Spanish or Portuguese03:30

You pick the guide language when booking.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 03:30

AgesAdult (18 to 66 years) · Child (5 to 17 years) · Under 5: can't be included in the booking

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.Operator's directions: “The meeting point will be at the main square of Cusco, specifically at the water fountain located in the center of the main square.”

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditions

Operated by Viajes Speedy Tour Operator

Is this one for you?You ride ATVs to the summit instead of hiking, which cuts the physical demand and gives you more time at the peaks before crowds arrive.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and Portuguese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 17 years). Under 5: they can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24h before the start.

How early do I need to wake up for this ATV ride to Rainbow Mountain?

Hotel pickup happens at 3:30 AM, so you'll need to be ready before dawn. The three-hour bus ride to breakfast gives you time to settle in before the ATV portion begins.

Do I actually ride the ATV myself, or does someone drive me?

You ride the ATV yourself for roughly 20 minutes through the mountain landscape. For the final section to Rainbow Mountain, you switch to a motorcycle where a driver takes you the last 7 minutes to the base, then you walk 5–7 minutes to the summit viewpoint.

What time do we reach Rainbow Mountain, and how long can we stay there?

You arrive at Rainbow Mountain around 9 AM and have a full hour to explore and photograph the striped peaks with your guide before the crowds of day-hikers start arriving.

Are meals included in the price?

Yes, breakfast is served in Hanchipacha village after the bus ride, and lunch is included in the Cusipata district on the return journey.

What's the physical fitness requirement for this tour?

You should have at least moderate fitness. The early start, high altitude, and repeated mounting and dismounting of the ATV demand stamina, though the riding itself is not technically difficult.

Will I be dropped off at my hotel in Cusco?

Yes, but only if your hotel is in central Cusco. Drop-off happens near Plaza de Armas. If your accommodation is outside the city center, confirm the final stop location when you book.