Sacred Valley ATV Tour
One of my favorite days in Peru was when I drove an ATV through the Sacred Valley. My friend and I had just arrived in Peru early in the morning. After settling into our hostel, we set out to walk the streets of Cusco to ask about tour prices.
After shopping around a bit, we settled for one tour company. Somehow, the lady wound up selling us a tour for that same day. We chose not to waste any time in Cusco, and without planning, a few minutes later, we were sitting in a van on the way to ride ATVs in the Sacred Valley.
Because we wanted to acclimate to Cusco before attempting any big hike, we knew we wanted to start with easy tours that wouldn’t have us struggling to breathe. So a Sacred Valley ATV tour was a perfect first choice.
It was such an enjoyable afternoon, and the views of the mountain backdrops took our breath away. We were excited to be in Peru finally and starting our trip with such an awesome adventure!
Sacred Valley ATV Tour
Table of Contents
Booking a Tour
There are many tour companies to choose from in Cusco. I booked with Machu Picchu Sol and had a great experience. You can do the ATV tours at 7 am or 1 pm with them. The total hours on tour are around 5-6.
There are different tour options. The regular tour to Maras Salt Flats and the Laguna cost us 75 soles ($19). Plus, there is a 10 sol entrance fee to Maras Salt Flats. In Peru, you’ll notice the entrance fees are not included in the total tour prices. You have to pay upon arrival. The total for this ATV tour is 85 soles.
However, we wanted to visit Moray, an archeological site that is part of the Sacred Valley. So, we paid an extra 40 soles for the Sacred Valley Pass that includes more entrances. I’ll explain later in this post. But in total, we paid 130 soles ($33). If we had skipped the Moray archeological site, it would have been just 85 soles ($21) for the tour.
Although you can book many Peru tours online, I highly recommend booking upon arrival in Cusco. There are a lot of tour companies, and you can compare prices. You can also get a discount by booking more than one tour with the same company.
Tour Itinerary
Maras Salt Flats
The tour starts once everyone is picked up on the van. Then the one-hour drive to the Sacred Valley begins. The first stop is to Maras Salt Flats. Maras is a town near the city of Cusco. It’s known for its salt mines. There are thousands of salt pools on a hillside of the Andes amidst the Sacred Valley, and they date back to Inca times.
However, local families still mine the salt today, and they each own a specific amount of salt flats. The different colored pools produce different types of salts.
The salt pools look lovely from the viewpoint. Back in the day, tourists were able to walk by the ponds. Unfortunately, over-tourism started giving trouble, and debris was found in the salt pools. So now, you can only see them from the viewpoint.
The town depends on the salt flats, and so after stopping here, your tour company will take you to a small store where they will give you a mini 15-minute talk about the mines. Then you can wander around the store and purchase salt or any other item.
ATV Practice
After the store demonstration, we went to where the ATVs were parked. They had everyone from our tour practice driving them on an open field. This took about half an hour. I was super excited because I used to own an ATV in Arizona for many years and couldn’t wait to drive one again. The guide still made me practice to make sure I knew how to drive one. Then my friend took his turn learning.
ATV Ride to Moray
After practicing, it was time to get on the dirt road. Everyone from our group chose to drive to Laguna Huaypo. Only my friend and I decided to visit Moray (we had the Cusco Pass). Therefore we got our own guide. However, I sensed they wanted us to change our plans and go to the lagoon because they said Moray was about to close and we wouldn’t make it on time.
However, we ignored the comment and said we still wanted to go to Moray. We had already paid for the entrance to the archeological site, so we weren’t going to miss out on it. Suprise, it was definitely still open. They close at 6 pm, but we barely made it before closing.
Anyhow, the drive there is on a dirt road and took us about a half-hour to arrive in Moray. We ended up covered in dirt from head to toe, but it was so much fun. Plus, the drive was lovely with the snowcapped mountains in the background. Get ready to get completely dirty.
The guide drove his motorcycle in front of us. With his fingers, he’d hold out a 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 to tell me when to change gears. As someone who already knows how to drive an ATV, I just wanted to ignore him and drive fast, but of course, I didn’t. I went at the speed he told me to. Bummer.
Moray Tour
Moray is an Incan archeological site on a high plateau. It is made of concentric terraces, and all around it is the snow-capped Urubamba mountain range. It is part of the Sacred Valley.
The ruins were fascinating to learn about. The Inca used these terraces to grow crops, but there is a whole science behind their use. For example, at the bottom of the circles, it is 5 C (9F) degrees warmer than at the top. This is important in the crop growing business.
It is believed the Incas used the temperatures differences of the terraces to study the different climate conditions on the crops. They were a sort of greenhouse of their times. It’s also believed they used the reinforced walls to prevent landslides and therefore used them to grow crops. Smart in my opinion!
ATV Ride Back
Once we toured Moray, my friend drove the ATV back to where we practiced. It took us about another half hour to get back. This time, we ran into some lovely sheep traffic and later into donkeys. Plus, it was golden hour, and the lighting driving back made it one of the best evenings in Peru.
Again, the guide led us back to the spot, and he told my friend with his fingers what gear to change the ATV to. One reason it was so enjoyable is we had the trail to ourselves. Since no one else chose to go to Moray, we had our private guide, and the views were all ours. It was just us, the mountains, and the guide.
What the Tour Looks Like
There are two tours a day. One heads out at 7 am and the second one at 1 pm. The order of the activities can be reversed too. Some tours will start with ATV rides and then visit the Salt Flats. If this is important to you, ask the tour agency you choose what the schedule looks like. Also, my times here might be slightly off, but this is as close as I remember.
- 1:00 pm pick up
- 2:00-3:00 Drive to Maras
- 3:00-3:30 Maras Salt Flats
- 4:00-4:30 Drive to Gift Shop & Salt Tasting
- 4:30-5:00 ATV training
- 5:00-5:30 Drive ATVs to Moray
- 5:30-6:00 Tour Moray
- 6:30-7:00 Drive ATVs Back to the training spot
- 7:30-8:30 Drive back to Cusco
Sacred Valley Pass
The Sacred Valley Pass is officially known as the Cusco Tourist Ticket. This ticket allows you to enter some of the most popular attractions in Cusco and its surroundings. It includes 16 places total. Sorry to disappoint, but Machu Picchu is not included. If you buy this ticket, you have 10 days to visit the sites.
A partial ticket also allows you to enter the places separately. There are 3 circuits to choose from. We bought circuit 3, which had to be used in two days to visit 4 sites, including Moray. Hence, the reason we decided to ride our ATV to Moray. The following day we would go on a Sacred Valley tour that included entrance to the other 3 sites on our ticket.
The cost of our partial ticket is 40 soles, and the general ticket with all the sites is 70 soles. This price covers the entrance fee to these places. However, it does not include transportation or guide services. That’s why we still paid for a tour. The ticket is separate and specifically for the entrances. The tour prices are for transportation, a guide, the food, and any other stops you make.
The validity of the ticket starts the day you buy it. So if you buy a short circuit, you must use it immediately. If you buy the full ticket, you have 10 days. Remember, Machu Picchu is not included in this entrance. Although Maras Salt Flats are part of the Sacred Valley, they are also not included. If you visit Maras, you must pay a 10 sol entrance fee. Check out this site for information about the ticket.
Where to Stay in Cusco
Finding accommodation in Cusco is easy. There are places for all types of travelers. You can find hostels, guesthouses, and luxury hotels. However, the city is usually busy, so hotels do fill up. Therefore I recommend booking early and ahead of time.
I’ve seen hostels run at about $7-$12 a night in shared dorms. They also have private rooms. Guesthouses can be as lows as $10, and hotels depend on the star rating.
I stayed at Kokopelli Hostel and loved the social atmosphere. My friend and I booked the first days, but we ended up booking the rest of the week with them. I did go to another budget hotel, but I won’t recommend it because it was freezing! Many places in Cusco don’t have central heating, and the rooms will be cold.
What to Pack
If you’re only visiting for a day, you only need to take a few essential items with you. Here are some items to pack in your day pack while exploring Cholula and Puebla.
Sacred Valley ATV Tour
Travel Booking Resources
Book Your Flight:
To find cheap flights, check Skyscanner and Google Flights. These search engines check airlines to find you the best deals. The more flexibility you have, the better flight deals available.
Book Your Accommodation:
Booking.com is my favorite booking site for hotels but it also shows great deals on hostels and apartments. Plus, when you reach Genius Level, you get special discounts, included breakfasts, and upgrades on some hotel rooms. Hostelworld is specifically for budget travelers who enjoy hostels. This is the best place for finding great options.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance and Visa Applications:
Travel insurance will protect you against theft, injury, illness, and cancellations. Sometimes unexpected things happen during a trip and protections will keep you covered. Two great options are: Safety Wing and World Nomads. Also, iVisa can help you get a visa if you need one.
Book Tours:
Sometimes the best way to see a place is through tours. I recommend checking out Get Your Guide for some fun and unique adventures wherever you go.
Check out my other travel resources to help you book your trip!
Disclaimer: Some of the links on this page are affiliate links. This means that if you click on a link and purchase a product, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Please note I only recommend products and brands that I personally use or have used and believe in.
Sacred Valley ATV Tour
