Rainbow Mountain quad bike tour from Cusco: Skip the hike

Kawasaki quad bikes replace the uphill walk to Vinicunca's stripes

A quad bike adventure to Rainbow Mountain (Vinicunca) near Cusco trades the standard three-hour hike for an ATV ride to the summit viewpoint at 5,038 meters. The day starts with hotel pickup before dawn, a 2.4-hour drive to the town of Japura at 4,200 meters, breakfast, one hour on the quad bike to Gosqopata, then a 35-minute walk to the mountain itself. You get the colors without the exhaustion, arrive before the crowds, and return to Cusco by mid-afternoon.

Step-by-step itinerary

ATV tour to Rainbow Mountain

• Pick up from hotels in Cusco
• Travel 2.4 hours to Japura
• Enjoy breakfast buffet in Japura
• Receive ATV instructions from guide
• Drive ATVs to Gosqopata (1 hour)
• Walk 35 minutes to viewpoint
• Take photos at Rainbow Mountain
• Walk back 25 minutes to ATVs
• Drive ATVs back to Japura
• Have lunch in Japura
• Return to Cusco (arrive ~3:30 pm)
• End tour at hotels

The experience

Hotel pickup begins in the early morning (either 3:30am or 8:30am depending on your choice), and the drive to Japura takes 2.4 hours, climbing to 4,200 meters. Breakfast waits when you arrive, giving your body time to adjust to the altitude before you mount the Kawasaki Brute Force 300 quad bike. A guide fluent in English, Spanish, Portuguese and French briefs you on the machine and the route ahead.

The ride to Gosqopata takes roughly an hour, then you dismount and walk the final 35 minutes and 1.5 kilometers on foot to the viewpoint. Rainbow Mountain sits at 5,038 meters, and because you arrive by ATV instead of on foot, you reach it before the main groups of hikers. The time you save on the ascent becomes time to shoot photos and video without the crowds pressing around you. After an hour at the summit, you walk back down to the quad bikes, ride back to Japura, and eat lunch before the return drive to Cusco, arriving around 3:30pm.

The package includes breakfast and lunch, a helmet, oxygen, a first aid kit, and fuel for the quad bike. The guide stays with your group throughout. Children from age 15 can ride, and the operator notes the tour suits all fitness levels: the quad bike removes the cardiovascular demand of a long uphill hike, though pregnancy and serious heart conditions are contraindications the operator lists.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and return transport from Cusco.
• breakfast and lunch buffets.
• a professional guide in your choice of four languages.
• a Kawasaki Brute Force 300 quad bike with fuel and helmet.
• oxygen and a first aid kit for the altitude.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 03:30, 06:30 and 08:30

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (18 to 65 years) · Senior (66 and older) · Youth (15 to 17 years) · Under 15: can't be booked

GroupUp to 12

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French and Portuguese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

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

Paid on siteUS$ 11.45

Prices and times updated 10 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by Inka Explorer Viajes

Is this one for you?The early 3:30am departure gets you to Rainbow Mountain before other groups arrive, which is worth the pre-dawn start if photography and solitude matter more than sleeping in. The 8:30am option trades the first-light advantage for a later hotel pickup and includes a mid-morning snack, so pick it if you want a gentler morning and don't mind sharing the viewpoint with other visitors by the time you arrive.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French and Portuguese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (15 to 17 years). Children under 15 can't be included in the booking.

How long does the quad bike ride itself take on this tour?

The ride to Gosqopata takes approximately one hour. After that you walk for 35 minutes to reach the Rainbow Mountain viewpoint.

What is the altitude of Rainbow Mountain on this tour?

Rainbow Mountain (Vinicunca) sits at 5,038 meters above sea level, and you reach it by a combination of quad bike and a short walk rather than hiking the full distance uphill.

Does this tour include meals?

Yes, breakfast is served in Japura after the drive from Cusco, and lunch is included after you return from the mountain before heading back to the city.

What time do I return to Cusco?

The tour arrives back in Cusco around 3:30pm, finishing at your hotel or the main square depending on the operator's standard return point.

Is the entrance fee to Rainbow Mountain included?

The entrance ticket to Rainbow Mountain is an optional add-on at checkout, not included in the base tour price.