Family ATV Tours: Kids' Ages and 3 Best Destinations

• Book a vehicle with a real seat for each child: a two or four seat buggy or a two-person ATV.
• Only 7 of the 178 listings we track state an age, so check each listing before paying.
• Published passenger minimums for ATVs, buggies and UTVs run from 5 to 8 years.
• Drivers usually need a car licence, and some listings ask for 18, 21 or 25 years.
• Family pick: ATV or Buggy Guided Tour from Tamarindo, from $90, rated 4.89 from 872 reviews.

Booking an off-road tour with children raises questions a solo trip does not. How old does a child need to be? Can they ride with a parent, and on what? Is a buggy a better idea than a quad? The honest answer to the first question is that it depends on the operator, and most listings do not say.

This guide shows the age, height and licence rules that operators actually publish in their listings, the general rule to apply when a listing is silent, and three destinations in our catalogue where tours are set up for shared vehicles.

How we chose

We read the descriptions of the 178 tour listings we track in 18 countries, captured from Viator between June and September 2026, plus the Puerto Plata listings captured on 3 October 2026, looking for any age, height or licence rule. Only 7 of the 178 listings state an age. Two of them are snowmobile tours in Whistler and are left out of the table, because this guide covers ATVs and buggies. We list them below with the tour name so you can check the rule yourself. For destinations we looked for tours that offer two and four seat vehicles and have a high rating across many reviews. Prices are the "from" price on each listing, mostly per person, and can change.

Minimum ages published in tour listings

Two patterns stand out. Passenger ages, where they are published, sit between 5 and 8 for buggies and UTVs. Driver rules are far stricter and almost always tied to a car licence. Rules can change, so confirm them on the listing before you pay.

The general rule when a listing says nothing

Most listings do not publish an age. In that case, use the safety guidance of the US Consumer Product Safety Commission as a floor. Its ATV safety page (consulted October 2026) says most ATVs are designed for one rider, that you should never carry more passengers than there are seats, and that riders under 16 should drive only youth models, never adult ones. On a tour that means children ride as passengers in a proper seat, and only adults drive the adult machines. Then ask the operator through the booking page before paying, and keep the answer in writing.

Buggy or quad with kids

A UTV or buggy gives a child a seat, a seat belt and a roll cage, and the parent drives with a steering wheel. On a single-rider quad there is no passenger seat at all. A two-person ATV is the middle option, offered in listings such as Volcano ATV Tour in Iceland and Jade Caverns and Mayan Village Cozumel ATV TOUR, which offers single or double ATVs. For a family of four, a four seat buggy keeps everyone in one vehicle. Check whether the price is per person or per vehicle before you compare. Our ATV vs quad vs UTV guide explains the vehicles in detail.

3 family-friendly ATV destinations in our catalogue

1. Tamarindo, Costa Rica

ATV or Buggy Guided Tour from Tamarindo, Conchal or Riu Hotels starts from $90, is rated 4.89 from 872 reviews and lasts 2 hours. Its listing says couples or families with kids can choose a two or four seat buggy or a double ATV, so the whole family can ride together. On the same coast, ATV and UTV Beach Tour from Tamarindo, Flamingo and Conchal Beach starts from $85, rated 4.9 from 448 reviews. Costa Rica listings in our catalogue run from $65 to $190, with a median of $88. See tours in Tamarindo and the best ATV tours in Costa Rica.

2. Punta Cana and Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic is the cheapest of the three. Listings in our catalogue run from $33, with a median of $58. Buggy Adventure Tour with Chocolate and Coffee in Punta Cana starts from $39.15, rated 4.83 from 1,086 reviews, for 4 hours. Punta Cana Family Wild Buggy Eco Adventure starts from $48.95, rated 4.66 from 2,445 reviews. On the north coast, AMBER COVE-TAINO BAY Super Buggy Tour publishes a minimum age of 5 and starts from $125, rated 4.74 from 292 reviews. See tours in Punta Cana and our guide to ATV tours from Punta Cana and Amber Cove.

3. Los Cabos and Cozumel, Mexico

OffRoad 4X4 UTV Adventure with unlimited Lunch & Tequila in Cabo starts from $199, rated 4.91 from 1,940 reviews, for 3 hours, and accepts passengers from 8. In Cozumel, Jade Caverns and Mayan Village Cozumel ATV TOUR starts from $79, rated 4.88 from 1,210 reviews, with automatic single or double ATVs and a cave swim. Mexico listings in our catalogue run from $70, with a median of $105. See tours in Cabo San Lucas and our guide to Cozumel ATV excursions.

Before you book a family ATV tour

• Find the age, height and licence rules in the listing. If they are missing, ask the operator before paying.
• Count seats, not people. Each child needs a seat with a belt.
• Check whether the price is per person or per vehicle, and if children pay less.
• Compare riding time with total tour time, which includes transfers and stops.
• Dress children like adults: closed shoes, long trousers, sunglasses that stay on. Our what to wear on an ATV tour guide has the full list.
• Read the ATV tour safety tips with older children before the ride.

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