Cusco → Quiquijana → Japura Base → Red Valley → Vinicunca → Cusco
03:40–04:00 hrs — Hotel pick-up in Cusco (3,400 m)
The guide picks up each participant at their hotel in Cusco's historic center. The early departure at 03:40–04:00 hrs serves two purposes: arriving at breakfast at dawn and beginning the ATV ride in the best morning light, before the main tourist groups (who depart from Cusipata at 06:00+) crowd the Vinicunca area.
~06:30 hrs — Quiquijana (3,600 m) — Andean Breakfast
Arrival at Quiquijana, ~100 km south of Cusco, after approximately 2.5 hours of driving. Andean breakfast included at a local restaurant: hot dishes, fruit, artisan bread, scrambled egg, coffee, coca leaf tea and fresh juice. ~45 minutes for breakfast and preparation.
~08:00 hrs — Japura ATV Base (~4,000 m) — Practice Session
Arrival at the Japura ATV base. The instructor assigns ATVs according to each rider's build and weight. 15–20-minute practice session: acceleration, braking, turning on uneven terrain and safety protocol. The guide explains the route ahead, the terrain sections and what to do if you need to stop.
If for any reason a participant decides not to ride the ATV after the practice session, they can continue to Vinicunca in the support vehicle.
~08:30–10:00 hrs — 70-Minute ATV Ride to the Red Valley (~4,700 m)
The ATV convoy departs from Japura. The guide leads on a motorbike, setting the pace. The route climbs from 4,000 m to 4,700 m over 70 minutes through open puna, ridge traverses and increasingly dramatic volcanic terrain. By the time the Red Valley comes into view, you have covered approximately 15–20 km of mountain trail.
~10:00–10:15 hrs — Red Valley of Lauramani (~4,700 m)
Brief stop at the Red Valley entrance for photography of the pure-hematite canyon before the final climb. The contrast between the deep red of the valley walls and the blue Andean sky is one of the most intense color contrasts in the Andes.
~10:15–11:00 hrs — Final Hike: 45 Minutes to Vinicunca (5,200 m)
The hike from the Red Valley approach to the Vinicunca summit is approximately 1 km at 45 minutes, gaining ~500 m in altitude from the 4,700 m starting point. It is shorter and less steep than the standard 3 km hike from Chillihuani. The guide maintains a slow, steady pace — at 5,200 m the altitude is the dominant factor, not the distance.
Entrance tickets to Vinicunca (paid at the site ticket booth in soles) are required here.
~11:00 hrs–12:00 hrs — Vinicunca Summit (5,200 m)
Approximately 1 hour at the summit for:
- Photographing the mineral color bands with the Red Valley visible below and the Ausangate glacier (6,384 m) on the horizon
- Guide explanation of the geology and Andean cosmology of Apu Ausangate
- Rest and acclimatization at altitude
- Upper viewpoint walk (+10 min, broader panorama)
By this time, you arrived via a route most other visitors have never seen — the Vinicunca crowd is concentrated on the Chillihuani side.
~12:00 hrs — Descent and ATV return (~30 min ride)
Descent on foot to the ATV area (~40 minutes), then 30-minute ATV return ride to the Japura base — faster going downhill.
~14:00 hrs — Buffet Lunch (included)
Full buffet lunch at a restaurant near the base: Andean soups, main course, dessert and hot drinks.
~15:00 hrs — Return to Cusco
Transfer back to Cusco arriving at approximately 17:30–18:00 hrs. Drop-off at Cusco's historic center. End of service.
