EN
ES
PT
Rainbow Mountain by ATV as a solo traveler: how it works
Solo travelers are some of our favourite riders. They arrive with open plans, make friends over breakfast in Cusipata and usually end up in everyone else's photographs. If you are in Cusco on your own, the Rainbow Mountain ATV tour is easy to join, and you pay nothing extra for travelling alone.
Here is how booking, pricing and the day itself work for one person, which of our two tours gives a solo traveler the best value, and a few habits that make the day smoother when there is nobody to hold your gloves.
Yes, you can book on your own
The shared departure is a small mixed international group of up to 18 riders, so solo travelers join it at the standard rate with no single supplement. You do not need to find a partner or wait for a minimum group. The only option that needs two people is the private service, which is built for couples, families and friends who want their own guide.
What a solo traveler pays
On the classic tour, your own quad plus the gate fee comes to a little less than the Express and adds the Red Valley, so it is the better value for most solo riders. The Express makes sense if walking about two hours above 4,800 m is not for you. Breakfast, lunch, hotel pickup, the guide and the helmet are included either way; our price guide has every detail.
| Option | Tour price | Gate fee | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| ATV + Red Valley, own quad | $65 | S/30 in cash | Lowest price and the Red Valley |
| ATV Express, own quad | $90 | Included | Least walking, one price |
| Sharing a quad | $60 each | S/30 each | Only if you travel with a friend |
Join the next shared departure
Your own quad for $65, or the Express at $90 with the entrance included. No single supplement.
From $65 per person
Check availability Ask on WhatsAppWhat the day is like on your own
We collect you at your hotel at 4:00 AM or 6:00 AM and you meet the rest of the group in the van. The drive to Cusipata takes about an hour and twenty minutes, and breakfast there is the natural moment to get to know the others — by the time the quads start, nobody feels like a stranger.
After the briefing everyone rides their own machine behind the guide, so you are never riding alone. On the classic tour the group walks together from the parking area to the Red Valley and on to Vinicunca, at the pace of the slowest person. At the viewpoints there is always someone happy to take your photo, the guide included, and lunch in Cusipata on the way back is usually the most talkative meal of the trip.
Safety habits for solo travelers
- Send your booking confirmation to a friend or family member and keep our WhatsApp number in your phone.
- Acclimatise for two nights in Cusco first. Travelling alone, nobody will notice if you feel off, so tell the guide early. Our acclimatisation plan helps.
- Bring cash in soles for the gate and small purchases; there are no ATMs on the route.
- Carry a power bank: you will be taking your own photos all day.
- Take travel insurance that covers adventure activities.
- Read our honest safety guide if riding a quad for the first time makes you nervous.
Fitting the tour into a solo itinerary
Most solo travelers spend three to five days in Cusco. A comfortable order is a gentle first day in the city, a lower day trip on the second, Rainbow Mountain on the third, and Machu Picchu after that. Our guide to fitting Rainbow Mountain into a short stay shows how to arrange it, and choosing between the 4:00 AM and 6:00 AM departures helps you pick the right start.
Book your seat
Reserve your quad on the Rainbow Mountain ATV tour page with a 20% deposit; your confirmation arrives by email. Prefer to ask first? Our team in Cusco answers on WhatsApp, usually within minutes.
