Cusco ATV Tour: Getting Dusty at Laguna Huaypo and the Maras Salt Mines – A Review

So, you’re looking to rumble off the well-trodden tourist trail in Cusco, are you? Perhaps ditching the usual ancient ruins for something a bit more… well, a bit more revved up? Good choice! Cusco ATV tours to Laguna Huaypo and the Maras Salt Mines are becoming incredibly sought-after, and for very understandable reasons. Picture this: fresh Andean air slapping you across the face as you bounce over the varied terrain, with staggering views popping up at nearly every turn. Sounds pretty fantastic, right? We tried it, got suitably muddy, and this is our rundown of what you could actually expect. Let’s get into it.

What to Actually Expect on Your ATV Adventure

The experience tends to begin nice and early. It could be that someone picks you up from your lodging to whisk you away from the city to a launching point, and this launching point, as a matter of fact, usually ends up being in the Sacred Valley. Now, this is all pretty standard. From there, that is where things tend to get really interesting. You’re greeted by your guide, who runs through the safety information, which, clearly, you really should pay attention to. You will be sized up for equipment, maybe a helmet, some gloves, all that. And, oh yeah, most likely, you’ll get assigned your four-wheeled steed. It’s almost time to hit the road.

Getting used to the ATV is certainly a key early moment. They normally let you practice a bit on a safe, open area, which you are going to want to take advantage of, very seriously. Get a handle on how the thing accelerates, how it brakes, and, just as importantly, how it corners, too. Seriously, those turns can really sneak up on you on the trail. The actual tour that we had really started quite gently, which, thinking back on it, was a pretty good thing. We traveled first on some relatively even dirt roads. This basically gave everybody a chance to get comfortable and space themselves out, to get a feel for both their ATV and also the general group vibe, to be honest.

First Stop: Scenic Huaypo Lake

Huaypo Lake really appears to be your appetizer for sights that will be seen. I mean, it is very, very beautiful in a serene sort of way. So, it’s very serene. Anyway, picture shimmering waters reflecting the towering Andes. Usually, your guide will bring the group to a great vantage point so that you can snap some pictures and absorb that peaceful atmosphere just for a bit. You are probably thinking it will be pretty chilly at that altitude, right? You absolutely should bring an extra layer or two; that’s very, very useful to know. I reckon this stop is not all that long, and it might be only about 20–30 minutes, give or take, so just soak it all in.

One of those random tidbits that really sticks with me is that Huaypo Lake is actually known for being a setting where the Incas apparently trained their navy, that is to say, if you could possibly believe that! Although that, that could be folklore. Even if it isn’t historically verifiable, though, it does really bring an added dimension to the place, don’t you think? You can almost, seemingly, imagine those ancient mariners, or whatever they were, paddling around. What is, however, absolutely true, is that this spot’s tranquil vistas are rather the perfect contrast with the thrills of ATVing, at the end of the day, and what a neat balance that truly is.

Conquering the Terrain en Route to Maras

Okay, now comes that “hold on tight” segment. It is time to leave Huaypo, but this is no tedious return down the same boring old route. This section involves getting into rougher territory. It could be that you travel up steep slopes, that you traverse uneven ground, that you’ll cross some shallow streams; whatever’s the case, these sorts of challenges are exactly where the ATVs, you know, start to become just purely fun. Keep in mind, this means that things can get quite dirty, and they almost certainly will. Embrace it though! This is really a core part of this type of experience, in some respects, at least for people that I am.

One great, pretty great thing about the routes used for these ATV tours are that they really do offer fantastic, pretty fantastic peeks into everyday life within the rural Andes. You could find that you’re cruising right by local villages, and you are likely going to see farmers working their lands in very much the same way that people have done for really hundreds of years. Wave as you pass. You just might get a wave back. Getting that glimpse into a totally separate world certainly does add an authentic cultural layer, and it feels far from being stage-managed at all, at all.

The Breathtaking Maras Salt Mines

Finally, the Maras Salt Mines sort of emerge. And wow, this spot is honestly jaw-dropping! Thousands of individual salt pools cascade down a mountainside. They are all terraced, that are all catching the sunlight, too, which gives this insane shimmering effect. The scene seems somehow both incredibly natural but incredibly artificial, somehow, at the same time, I think. This location is actually where salt has been harvested dating all the way back to the Inca period. Just consider that each and every one of these pans belongs to an individual family; that they maintain them and harvest them by hand. That just makes it pretty special, wouldn’t you agree?

You’ll probably get around 30–45 minutes or something like that just to walk around the mines. Do be careful because some sections can be a little slippery. There tend to be vendors in that vicinity who sell salt products, just in case you might want some savory souvenirs. You absolutely will get fantastic photo opportunities from just about anywhere in Maras, by the way. So, maybe have your camera at the ready and capture those lasting images of one really unbelievable location. You absolutely will not regret doing that at all, no.

The Ride Back and Final Thoughts

Sadly, you might eventually have to head back from Maras. It’s time to ride back to base, maybe on something of a similar route that got you there, to begin with. So, you could get another dose of gorgeous views. You could possibly pick up a light dusting of dust. By this stage, you’re bound to be pretty comfortable with that ATV, so just enjoy those last few thrills! Returning it is kind of a melancholy affair, by the way, but then I suppose that all fantastic experiences have that very same ending, in short.

At the launch location, it’s generally a chance to sort of freshen up, get out of your riding gear, and also relax after that exciting tour. Now, you might find that there’s transportation available to take you back, perhaps to Cusco or perhaps to another Sacred Valley spot. When you arrive at your chosen destination, just go back and just maybe revel in a really memorable excursion and consider all that that trip may have really given to you, you know?

This Cusco ATV tour to Laguna Huaypo and Maras Salt Mines could be something to choose. If that something could be a memorable alternative to ancient ruins, and that also combines both stunning landscapes with really enjoyable off-road action, then this tour may actually really fit the bill. Seriously.

Don’t wait any longer to discover the enchantment of Cusco and its breathtaking sceneries, you are very likely to feel the satisfaction of this incredible experience. So, book your tour today!

Some handy tips before the ATV Tour

Book in Advance: These excursions could be sought-after, notably during high season.
Wear appropriate clothing: Don some layers. Some long pants and, seemingly, a long-sleeved shirt. Perhaps closed-toe footwear, clearly. Be ready for any and all types of dirt!
Bring extras: You are certainly going to want things, such as some sunscreen, such as some sunglasses, also things such as water, things such as snacks. Take a few of these items on the excursion, honestly.
Adjust to Altitude: Spend several days adapting in Cusco prior to engaging in physically taxing things. This will definitely give your system some very much-needed time in order to acclimatize.
Consider Travel Insurance: This may deal with unanticipated events. So, consider it quite seriously!

Have a fantastic time out there!

#Cusco #Peru #ATV #Adventure #Maras #Huaypo #Travel #Review #OffRoad