Best Quad Tours of Cusco

Cuzco is a city in the Peruvian Andes and the ancient capital of the Inca empire. Here, you will find important archaeological sites and amazing natural spaces, which you can discover and enjoy to the fullest during your stay.

In this sense, quad biking tours are one of the best things to do in Cusco. It is a different way to explore the city and its surroundings, being able to live an off-road adventure in places like Maras, Moray and Salineras, the abode of the Gods, the waterfalls of Perolniyoc, the sanctuary of Inkilltambo, among others.

During your stay of 3 days or more in Cuzco, you can take part in one of the quad tours in the city. You will follow in the footsteps of the Incas along the rugged trails of Moray and Maras, discovering landscapes, sites and much more.

You will depart by van from the door of your hotel or from a pre-arranged location in the city centre. In either case, the driver will take you to Cruz Pata, a community located about an hour away.

There, you will train with your quad for about 30 minutes and then you will start this activity, considered among the best quad tours in Cusco, driving on your own to Moray, about 90 minutes away. At this archaeological site, you will see the terraces used and built by the Incas for the adaptation of crops.

Afterwards, you will return to the van to travel to the salt mines of Maras, where you will see the terraces of salt production by evaporation. All of them are framed by the Urubamba mountain range, the Chicón and Verónica mountains. Afterwards, you will return to Cuzco by van on a different route.

Interesting details

• Price: the average cost of this guided quad activity is 35€ per person.
• Duration: the duration of the activity is set for approximately 6 hours.
• Means of transport: van and quad.
• Advantages of this option: you will follow in the footsteps of the Incas on a quad bike adventure through the villages of Moray and Maras.
• Disadvantages of this option: the activity does not include food and drink.

Enjoy a series of modern stone carvings and ride your way to them on an all-terrain quad bike. This is another of the best quad bike tours in Cuzco. You will visit the Abode of the Gods and contemplate the impressive sculptures here.

This activity usually starts with a pick-up from the city centre to an area called Tica Tica, about 25 minutes away by car. There, your guide will explain how to use the quad bike and you will have some free time to practice a bit before hitting the road.

Once on board your quad, you will embark on a route of approximately 20 minutes to the Abode of the Gods. Upon arrival, you will be amazed by the artistic quality of each of the works: a giant puma, a series of representative images of Inca faces, sculptures in honour of the Pachamama, among others.

You will be able to get close to each of the sculptures and take amazing pictures for your social networks and as a souvenir of your trip. You will also enjoy a unique connection with the natural environment. After exploring the site, you will drive back to the starting point.

Interesting details

• Price: The price of the tour to the Abode of the Gods starts at around €27 per person.
• Duration: The tour usually lasts 3 to 4 hours.
• Means of transport: minibus and quad.
• Advantages of this option: You will experience a thrilling quad biking adventure, beautiful natural scenery and impressive rock carvings.
• Disadvantages of this option: usually, the activity does not include the entrance ticket to the Abode of the Gods, so you will need to buy it on your own.

Whether you plan to spend 2 to 5 days in Cusco or more, you should incorporate a visit to Rainbow Mountain into your itinerary , as it is a unique place in the world. And what better way to do it, if not through a quad biking experience in Cusco.

With this quad tour you will save time, anticipating the typical tourist crowds. You will be able to buy tickets to Rainbow Mountain and enjoy the place without any inconvenience.

You will travel from the centre of Cuzco by minibus to the town of Japura, approximately 2 hours and 40 minutes away. From there, you will leave on board your quad to Qosqopata, a route of about one hour. You will get off your quad bike and walk for about 35 minutes, which is approximately 1.5 kilometres. You will arrive at the mountain of the seven colours.

You will be able to admire this amazing natural work and take pictures. Afterwards, you will return to the place where you left the quad bike and drive to Japura for lunch and return to the city in time for other activities on your itinerary.

Details of interest

• Price: The Rainbow Mountain tour is usually priced at €87 per person.
• Duration: this quad biking experience lasts 10 to 12 hours (approx.).
• Means of transport: minibus and quad.
• Advantages of this option: you will get to know a unique place in the world with an amazing natural scene.
• Disadvantages of this option: the activity may not include the entrance to Rainbow Mountain, so you will have to buy it on your own.

The Inkilltambo ar chaeological site is another must-see destination during your stay in the city. And, if you like off-road adventures, then you can combine this visit with a guided quad biking activity in Cuzco.

The starting point for this tour is usually from the Killawata sector, where you will arrive by private car, thanks to the usual pick-up service offered in these experiences. There, the guide will teach you the basics of driving the ATV and then you will leave for Inkilltambo.

When you arrive at this ceremonial area belonging to the Sacsayhuaman Archaeological Park in Cusco, you will be amazed by every single detail of this enormous construction built on a rock. You will see a series of prehistoric canals, narrow passages, rectangular enclosures, an urn, platforms, etc.

Afterwards, you will continue to enjoy a 20-minute walk through Yuncaypata. This while observing the natural environment and breathing the fresh air of the region, and then driving back to the base of the quad bikes and finally getting into the car to start your way back to Cuzco.

Details of interest

• Price: this quad biking adventure in Cuzco costs approximately €88 per person.
• Duration: the duration of this tour to the Inkilltambo archaeological site is usually about 5 hours.
• Means of transport: Tourist car and quad.
• Advantages of this option: you will get to know an archaeological site that is sometimes forgotten by tourists, but which is of great historical and cultural importance.
• Disadvantages of this option: you will need to bring a bottle of water and a snack, as the activity does not usually include these additional benefits.

One of the best activities in Cusco is the guided quad tour of the Perolniyoc waterfall. You will be able to discover this waterfall of approximately 100 metres high through an all terrain route, where you will be surrounded by a variety of floral species and plants.

This important natural reserve is located about 90 minutes away by car from the centre of Cuzco, being this the usual route for this kind of tours. Upon arrival in the Sacred Valley you will board the quad, but before you do, the guide will give you some driving instructions.

You will ride your quad following the path marked by the guide, entering the jungle terrain of the Peruvian Andes. You will arrive at the imposing Perolniyoc waterfall and have time to take in the scenery, take pictures and explore.

Afterwards, you will hike to the top of the waterfall. There, at about 3560m above sea level, you will find the archaeological site of Raqaypata, with a series of well-preserved ruins. On the way down, you will drive by quad to the Sacred Valley Brewery for some local drinks and then drive back to Cuzco.

Details of interest

• Price: the price of the tour is around 129€ per person.
• Duration: the Perolniyoc waterfall activity lasts approximately 6 hours.
• Means of transport: minibus and quad.
• Advantages of this option: you will explore an important nature reserve with an impressive waterfall and some archaeological sites.
• Disadvantages of this option: Generally this tour does not include food and drinks.

Any time is the best time to go to Cusco and take part in an ATV tour of the Sacred Valley. You will be amazed by the mountain environment and the natural treasures hidden in the village of Mara.

As is customary in this type of experience, you can choose between a pick-up at the door of your hotel or at an agreed location in Cusco. From there, you will depart on a route of approximately 50 minutes by van to Cruz Pata, located right in the heart of the Sacred Valley.

In this community, the guide will teach you how to drive the quad bike and give you the necessary safety equipment. After about 20 minutes of practice, you will drive freely to the Huaypo Lagoon. This is a natural space of about 1.5 kilometres, where several species of birds and fish coexist.

Afterwards, the adventure continues on board the van to the salt pans of Maras. There, you will see the salt terraces from a viewpoint, while the guide tells you the history of the place. You will also be able to buy some local products made with salt.

Interesting details

• Price: the price of this experience starts at around 36€ per person.
• Duration: the tour lasts at least 6 hours.
• Means of transport: van and quad.
• Advantages of this option: You will see one of the best-preserved treasures of the Mara and enjoy the mountain scenery that surrounds it.
• Disadvantages of this option: this type of tour does not usually include entrance to the attractions visited.

Before embarking on a quad biking tour in Cuzco it is important that you take into consideration some basic tips. This way, you will be able to avoid some inconveniences and, thus, improve your off-road experience.

• Take a bottle of water and sunscreen with you. This will keep you hydrated and reduce the impact of radiation on your skin.
• Wear closed-toe shoes with a high level of traction. This will keep your feet protected when driving and walking on uneven terrain.
• If you are travelling with children, remember that children under the age of 16 are not allowed to drive on these tours, so they will be able to participate, but as your companions on the same ATV.
• Don't wear your best clothes, as after a few minutes of riding you will start to get dirty with dust, sand, mud and water, depending on the terrain.

One of the biggest attractions in the city are the day trips to Machu Picchu from Cusco; after all, it is one of the seven wonders of the world. However, there are other natural spaces of great cultural importance, which you can explore in a different way through quad tours in Cuzco.

In this type of adventure you will see amazing places like the Rainbow Mountain or Vinincunca, whose particularity is that it combines seven different colours, offering a true visual spectacle. Also, the Inkilltambo Sanctuary, which is an archaeological site built on a large rock.

Through the quad tours in Cuzco you will also have access to the Abode of the Gods; with sculptures representative of the Inca civilization, the Salt Mines of Maras; where a series of terraces of salt production and a privileged landscape led by the Cordillera de Urubamba, the Chicon and Veronica Mountains, among others.

Quad biking tours in Cuzco usually last between 3 and 12 hours. Of course, the length of time will depend on the destinations you want to visit in the same activity and how far they are from the city.

For example, if you plan to go to the Abode of the Gods you will need about 1 hour and 30 minutes (round trip by quad) and at least a couple of hours to explore the place on foot. In total, that would be 3 hours. But if you want to visit Moray and Maras, you will need about 6 hours. This includes the transfer, the quad tour and some hiking.

On the other hand, there are the tours to the Rainbow Mountain, which usually take 10 to 12 hours, as the place is remote. In either case, when you return you will have enough time to continue with other activities on your itinerary or connect with the transfer service to Cusco Airport, assuming it is your last day in the city.