Rainbow Mountain, Vinincunca or Palcoyo Full Day Tour.

Located in the Peruvian Andes in Cusco just 3 hours away from the historical center, Rainbow Mountain is becoming the main attraction to see after or before Machu Picchu. As you could guess, the mountain is famed for its natural, multi-colored beauty at a staggering 5,200m above sea level. This rainbow-like appearance is created by the sediment of minerals throughout the area giving the mountain the turquoise, lavendar, gold and other colors.

It was only recently discovered due to the snow melting revealing the hidden gem that’s still considered holy by many until this day. Since its discovery, Rainbow Mountain as slowly started gaining popularity and has even been listed in National Geographic’s “Top 100 Places To Visit Before You Die”.

How did it become so popular

Once the mountain’s existence was known outside of the local communities, it started attracting locals and travelers alike, first having a couple of dozen of people to now taking in hundreds of visitors a day. The first thing that caught everyone’s attention was, you guessed it again, the colors seen nowhere else. But that wasn’t the only thing. It’s one of those places where the whole journey is as amazing as the destination. Llamas, horses, and alpacas are dispersed all over the range, with local communities still living almost the same life as before but now also helping visitors discover the colored mountain. The scenery along the trek is just like the pictures and even they don’t do it justice sometimes. Add to this the geological and local history and it’s no wonder why it’s gaining popularity!

Our Rainbow Mountain Tour starts early morning to ensure you are one of the first to arrive at the top of the Mountain and avoid the crowds!

Pickup at your hotel/hostel. Airbnb’s can choose to meet at the nearest hotel/hostel from our huge list of options.

Local Breakfast stop at Cusipata village, continue on to Fulawasipata where walk/trek starts. Our local expert guides will give you all the info and advice needed.

Walk starts at foot of stunning Ausangate Mountain Range. Trek uphill 1 hour to highest point of Rainbow Mountain at your own pace.

Free time at the Mountain to soak everything in, take pictures, learn about the Mountain’s history

Our Rainbow Mountain Tour ends with a beautiful descent of about 1 hour through the Mountain Range, followed by a delicious local lunch stop before returning to Cusco for drop off mid afternoon.

03:00am - 03:30am Hotel/hostels pick you up for transport towards Rainbow Mountain

03:30am – 05:00am Departure from Cusco city takes approximately 1.5 hours to get to Cusipata Village.

05:00am – 06:00am Arrival and Breakfast in the district of Cusipata Village.

06:00am – 07:15am Start the uphill trek to Rainbow Mountain

09:00am – 09:30am Arrival to the Rainbow Mountain. Spend some time at the top of the mountain taking in the view of the beautiful surrounding scenery

09:30am – 10:00am OPTIONAL – Visit the Red Valley (does not include entrance)

10:00am – 11:30am Return to the starting point where transportation awaits for us.

11:30am – 12:30pm Return in transport to Cusipata district

12:30pm – 1:30pm Go to a restaurant for lunch before hitting the road back to Cusco

1:30pm – 3:00pm Takes about 1.5 hours to get back to your Hotel or place that you decide.

Included:

Tour guide in English, German and Spanish
Transportation (bus)
Entrance Tickets
First aid kit
Oxygen tank
Breakfast and lunch

Excluded:

Travel Insurance
Mineral water in the Tour
Alcoholic beverages
Tips for the team
Snacks

January :Every Day
February:Every Day
March:Every Day
April:Every Day
May:Every Day
June:Every Day
July:Every Day
August: Every Day
September:Every Day
October: Every Day
November:Every Day
December:Every Day

Top facts

It is also known as Vinicunca, a word originating from Peru’s native tongue Quechua, which translates to “colored mountain”
The mountain is made up of 14 different, colorful minerals
Just 4 years ago it was entirely covered in snow, making it impossibe to fully witness the beauty of the mountain
Temperatures still drop below 0 at night – good to know for anyone visiting Rainbow Mountain on a multi-day Ausangate trek
Llamas and alpacas can be seen dotted all along the route to Vinicunca
Weather can change rapidly from snow to rain to blistering sun in the space of an hour
You can rent a horse at any point on the way if you begin to find the trek difficult – you do not need to have one hired from the beginning