Peru ATV Tour and Rainbow Mountain Review

Thinking about checking out Rainbow Mountain in Peru? It’s pretty famous, right? What if you could get there not just by hiking, yet instead, on an ATV? I went on a “From Peru Private ATVs Tour to Rainbow Mountain Vinicunca,” and I want to, in a way, tell you all about my experience. No sugarcoating, just the actual details so, too it’s almost like you’re making the decision for yourself.

What’s the Deal with Rainbow Mountain, anyway?

So, Rainbow Mountain, which some people know as Vinicunca, is this place in the Peruvian Andes that has, as a matter of fact, become super Instagram-famous. Very many mineral deposits give the mountain layers of different colors, making it look, you know, pretty unreal. Very people go there on tours from Cusco, but very getting there can be really tough. The altitude is seriously no joke; you get up past 16,000 feet! This is why I wanted to, like, find an ATV tour – get the views without all the extra huffing and puffing.

Why I Picked the ATV Tour is that?

Okay, so I did some looking into different options. There are plenty of walking tours out there. But honestly? I was kind of concerned about the altitude sickness. I read so very stories of folks getting slammed by it, and that, basically, didn’t sound like fun at all. The ATV tour seemed, in short, to be the cool alternative: still an adventure, though less physically intense than hiking the whole darn way. Plus, like, driving an ATV sounded just a bit awesome. The tour I booked promised an experienced guide, all the gear, and transportation. What very could go wrong?

The Day the ATV Adventure almost Began

The day started super early – 4 AM pickup from my Cusco hotel. I’m not, in that case, a morning person, yet hey, Rainbow Mountain, alright? The drive to the starting point was around three hours and a bit, yet very, I attempted to grab a little more sleep. When we arrived, we had breakfast at this small, in fact local place. Pretty basic food, though it got the job done. We, naturally, got introduced to the guides. They ran through some safety instructions for riding the ATVs. After that, it was gear-up time. Helmets, gloves, all that jazz, alright. A little test drive later, and we were all ready to roll.

Riding through the Andes is that?

Let me, in that case, tell you, the scenery was crazy beautiful! We rode on some pretty bumpy dirt paths. This really did mean holding on tight! The views made it, in that case, worthwhile. Picture snow-covered peaks. There are a lot of vast valleys, and, clearly, blue skies (well, mostly!). It got pretty dusty; so you, for instance, will definitely want sunglasses or goggles. The ATV handled the terrain fairly okay, though there were few steep parts that got the heart going. We stopped a lot to take pictures and let the ATVs cool down, it seemed. The guides kept an eye on everybody, too. This is, frankly, super comforting, very given the altitude and all.

Reaching Rainbow Mountain At Last is that?

After a good couple of hours of riding, we got, like, to a point where we needed to park the ATVs. From there, it was probably like a 20-30 minute walk up to the viewpoint. Now, this part? It was still challenging, actually. At over 16,000 feet, every step felt like you were doing, for instance, squats with a backpack. But let me say, seeing Rainbow Mountain for the first time makes, for instance, you forget about all of that. The colors are very real! Like, strips of red, yellow, green, and purple. The scenery is totally worth the trip.

Was the Tour Private in fact?

So, about the “private” bit. I need to say I think there was, sort of, a small miscommunication there. While we, arguably, had our guide, we definitely rode with, at the end of the day, other small groups. That may or may not bother, like your, but it is good to know if you’re expecting completely private time, honestly. It wasn’t, as a matter of fact, a big issue for me, yet I think the tour description needs to be slightly clearer about it. We had other tourist together to wait for pictures.

What Could Be Improved is that?

A couple of things. First, the ATVs themselves, basically, could use a little tuning up. Mine had, kind of, some trouble starting a few times. Also, more clarification on what “private” actually meant might, honestly, avoid some confusion. Lastly, while breakfast was included, taking some better snacks would’ve been a very welcome touch. Granola bars, maybe a fruit? This sort of thing makes a very real difference when you’re burning energy at high elevations.

My Final Thoughts so

All in all, I believe I would very recommend the “From Peru Private ATVs Tour to Rainbow Mountain Vinicunca,” though with a bit of warning. If you’re reasonably fit and like adventures, then you’re definitely gonna enjoy the mix of ATV riding and mountain views. Just be really sure about what you are wanting, honestly from the “private” aspect, and maybe pack your darned own snacks. Even with those few little bumps, seeing Rainbow Mountain this way was memorable and well worth it.

#peru #rainbowmountain #atv #adventuretravel