An ATV tour is the loudest, muddiest and, for many visitors, the most fun way to get into the mountains behind Puerto Vallarta. It is also the excursion that generates the most questions before booking: do I need a licence, can my kids come, how hard is it to drive, and what exactly is on the route. This guide covers all of it, based on the ATV tour at Rancho Capomo in Las Palmas, 25 minutes from the city.

Where the ATV tour goes

Our ATV route starts at the ranch in the village of Las Palmas and heads straight into the Sierra Madre. The first section runs through the village itself, past farms and the church, so you get a look at rural Jalisco that most tourists never see. From there the trail turns to dirt and follows the river: you ride along its banks, splash through fords, and climb into the rainforest on a track that alternates between shaded jungle and open hillside with views over the valley.

Along the way you stop at a waterfall to cool off and swim in the natural pools. The return leg loops back to the ranch by a different track, and the day ends with lunch and drinks under the palapa. Total riding time is around two hours, enough to feel like an adventure without exhausting first-time drivers.

Single or double ATV?

We run automatic ATVs in two configurations:

  • Single ATV ($113 USD): one rider, full control. Best for adults who want to drive.
  • Double ATV ($138 USD): a driver plus a passenger behind. Perfect for couples where one prefers to hold on and take photos, and for parents with a child.

Passengers on a double do not need any experience; drivers get a full briefing and a practice loop at the ranch before we leave. If you have never driven an ATV, ask for a single anyway: the machines are automatic (throttle on the thumb, brakes on the handlebars, no clutch) and most people are comfortable within five minutes.

What to expect on the day

Pick-up

Transportation from Puerto Vallarta and Nuevo Vallarta is included. The shuttle stops at the OXXO in the Zona Romántica (8:15 am), Starbucks Marina Vallarta (8:40 am) and Starbucks Las Juntas (8:50 am). The ride to the ranch takes about 45 minutes. See the maps on our pick-up points page.

Briefing and gear

At Rancho Capomo you get a helmet, a safety talk and a demonstration of the controls. Guides check that everyone can start, stop and turn before the convoy leaves. Goggles or sunglasses are strongly recommended for dust and splashes.

The ride

The group rides in a line with a guide in front setting the pace and another at the back. On straight, open sections the pace picks up; through the village and on rocky descents it slows down. River crossings are the highlight: water sprays everywhere and everyone comes out laughing.

Waterfall and lunch

After the swim you ride back to the ranch, learn to make salsa and hand-made tortillas, and eat a full Mexican lunch (fajitas or chicken, guacamole, beans, rice) with an open bar. Then it is back on the shuttle to town.

Rules: licence, age and health

  • Drivers must be adults with a valid ID. Children ride as passengers.
  • Weight limit: 250 lbs (120 kg) per rider.
  • Health: expecting mothers and guests with back, neck, heart, balance or dizziness conditions should not ride.
  • Alcohol: the open bar is at lunch, after the riding. Nobody drives an ATV after drinking.

What to wear on an ATV tour

You will get dusty or muddy depending on the month, and you will get wet at the river. Dress for that:

  • Clothes you do not mind ruining: an old t-shirt and shorts or light pants.
  • Closed shoes. Sneakers are fine; hiking sandals with a heel strap are the minimum.
  • Swimsuit underneath for the waterfall.
  • A bandana or buff to cover your mouth and nose on dusty sections (dry season).
  • Sunglasses or goggles. Sunscreen and bug spray.
  • A small backpack with a towel and dry clothes for the ride home. Phones go in a zip bag.

The ranch has a place to leave your things while you ride, and you can rinse off at the waterfall before lunch.

ATV vs. horseback riding: which should you choose?

Both tours use the same mountains and the same waterfall, but they feel completely different. Horses are quiet, slow and go deeper into the jungle; ATVs are fast, loud and cover more ground. Teenagers and thrill-seekers tend to prefer the ATV; families with small kids and anyone who wants to hear the birds tend to prefer the horses. If you cannot decide, do both: the horseback riding + ATV combo is $150 USD per person, only $37 more than the ATV alone, and includes the waterfall, cooking class and lunch. For the full set, the ultimate combo adds seven zip-lines on top.

When to book an ATV tour in Puerto Vallarta

ATV tours run all year. The rainy season (July to October) gives you the muddiest, most dramatic ride and the biggest waterfall; the dry season (December to April) gives you dust, sunshine and easier tracks. Morning departures are always the coolest part of the day and rain, when it comes, arrives in the afternoon. High season fills up: book online a few days ahead between December and March.

ATV tour vs. renting an ATV on your own

You will see ATVs and side-by-sides for rent along the highway in Nuevo Vallarta and Bucerías. Renting one for an hour on the beach or a dirt road is a different product from a guided mountain tour, and it is worth knowing the difference before you decide:

  • Terrain: a rental keeps you on public roads or a beach strip. The guided tour takes you onto ranch and village tracks, through river fords and into the rainforest, land you cannot access on your own.
  • Safety net: on the tour a guide rides in front choosing the line and another behind watching the group. On a rental you are alone with a machine you have never driven.
  • What is included: the tour price covers transport from your hotel zone, helmet, guide, waterfall, cooking class, lunch and open bar. A rental is the machine and a helmet.
  • Insurance and liability: a rental agreement makes you responsible for damage. On the tour the machines are ours and we maintain them.

If what you want is thirty minutes of throttle by the beach, rent. If you want the mountains, the river and a day, book the tour.

Safety record and how we run the convoy

Our convoy rules are simple and they are the reason ATV days at the ranch end with laughter rather than scrapes: keep two ATV lengths from the machine in front; never overtake; stop when the guide raises a hand; on descents, brake before the slope, not on it; and on river crossings follow the guide's tyre tracks exactly. The lead guide sets the pace to the slowest driver, and the sweep guide at the back carries tools and a first-aid kit. Machines are serviced at the ranch and every ATV is checked (tyres, brakes, throttle return, fuel) before the group leaves. Speed is fun; the fun part of the day is the river, not the speedometer.

A word about the village

The first and last kilometres of the route go through Las Palmas, where people live. We ride through it at a walking pace, keep to the right, and stop for anything that moves: kids, dogs, a truck full of mangoes. The village tolerates a convoy of tourists on quads because we behave like guests. Please help us keep it that way; the waves you get from doorways are the reward.

How to drive an ATV: a two-minute primer

If you have never driven a quad, here is what the guides will show you at the ranch, so you can picture it before you arrive:

  • Start: turn the key, press the start button. The engine idles. There is no clutch and no gears to change.
  • Throttle: a small lever under your right thumb. Press gently to go, release to slow down. Beginners press too hard at first; the guides will have you practise a smooth squeeze.
  • Brakes: levers on both handlebars (front and rear) and a foot pedal on the right. Use both hands together for a smooth stop.
  • Steering: the handlebars turn the front wheels, like a bicycle, but an ATV does not lean. On turns you shift your body weight toward the inside of the curve. On uphill sections lean forward; on downhill lean back.
  • River crossings: slow and steady, keep the throttle constant, let the guide in front pick the line and follow his tyre tracks.

The practice loop at the ranch lets you do all of this on flat ground before the trail. By the time the convoy leaves, nobody is thinking about the controls.

The route in detail

From the ranch gate the convoy rolls through Las Palmas, a farming village where the road is cobbled in places and dirt in others. Kids wave; dogs ignore you. Past the last houses the track drops to the river and follows it upstream. The first crossing is shallow and wide, a good warm-up. The trail then climbs through mango orchards and into the rainforest proper, where the canopy closes over the track and the temperature drops noticeably. There are a couple of steeper pitches with loose rock where the guides slow the group and take it one machine at a time.

The turnaround point is near the waterfall. You park the ATVs, walk a short jungle path and arrive at the pool. After the swim the convoy returns by a parallel track with a long open stretch above the valley where drivers who want more speed can open up (within the guides' limits). Back at the ranch you rinse off, and the cooking class and lunch begin.

ATV tours and the environment

We keep the convoy on established ranch and village tracks, never on new trails, and we do not ride through the waterfall pools, only to them. The machines are serviced on the ranch and checked for leaks before every departure. Rancho Capomo is, before anything else, a working ranch where our family lives; keeping the river clean and the trails intact is in our interest more than anyone's.

Who the ATV tour is best for

  • Couples: a double ATV with the driver's role swapped halfway is the classic, and the river photos are worth the price.
  • Groups of friends: a convoy of singles with the odd double for whoever wants to film. Bachelor parties, this is your tour.
  • Families with teens: teenagers as passengers with a parent driving, and the horseback + ATV combo so everyone gets their favourite.
  • Cruise passengers: the tour fits easily into a port day from the Marina Vallarta pick-up. See our cruise passenger guide.

ATV tour reviews: what guests mention most

Reading through our Google reviews, three things come up again and again: the river crossings ("we were soaked and laughing"), the guides (patient with nervous drivers, quick to spot someone struggling) and the lunch ("we did not expect to learn to make tortillas"). The complaints, when they come, are about mud on clothes in August, which is why this guide spends so much time on what to wear. Bring the old t-shirt.

Frequently asked practical questions

Can I bring my camera or GoPro?

Yes on the ATV, as long as it is strapped to you or the machine. A chest or helmet mount works best. On the zip-line portion of combo tours, cameras are not allowed for safety.

What if it rains?

Morning rain is unusual. If a storm makes the river unsafe, the guides adapt the route; the tour is not cancelled for light rain, which is honestly the best ATV weather.

Is there a place to shower?

You can rinse at the waterfall and at the ranch. Bring dry clothes for the shuttle.

How do I book?

Pick a date on the ATV tour page, choose single or double, pay online and you are set. For questions, WhatsApp +52 322 230 7793.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a driver's licence to ride an ATV in Puerto Vallarta?

You need to be an adult to drive an ATV on our tour. Bring a valid ID. Passengers on a double ATV do not drive, so they need no licence.

How much is an ATV tour in Puerto Vallarta?

The Rancho Capomo ATV tour is $113 USD for a single ATV and $138 USD for a double ATV (driver plus passenger), including transportation, guide, helmet, waterfall visit, lunch and open bar. The horseback + ATV combo is $150 USD per person.

Will I get muddy?

In the rainy season (July to October), yes: mud and river splashes are part of the fun. In the dry season it is dust rather than mud. Either way, bring a change of clothes.

Can children ride ATVs?

Children ride as passengers on a double ATV with an adult driver. They wear a helmet like everyone else.

Is an ATV tour safe for beginners?

Yes. Our ATVs are automatic, the guides explain the controls and lead a practice loop at the ranch before the trail, and the group rides in a convoy at a controlled pace with a guide in front and behind.