Adventure

Rainbow Mountain Day Tour From Cusco

Duration 1 days

Group size Max 15

Difficulty Moderate

Tour Overview

Rainbow Mountain Tour & Red Valley Hike | Peru Day Trip

The Cusco to Rainbow Mountain Tour is a popular full-day tour in the Cusco region. Rainbow Mountain, locally known as montaña de siete colores, features bright stripes of yellow, red, ochre, white, and turquoise. These colors give it a stunning look.

Due to the lack of rain and clear skies during the dry season, Rainbow Mountain Cusco can be thoroughly enjoyed.

Rainbow Mountain Cusco is the second most visited destination in the country after Machu Picchu.

From the top, you will see a stunning 360-degree view. This includes the nearby Snow-Capped Apu Ausangate Mountain, which rises to 6,384 meters. It is the highest mountain in southern Peru.

Rainbow Mountain Peru

Rainbow Mountain Travel offers breathtaking views that make it easy to forget the 2-hour struggle you left behind. The Ausangate glacier on one side and bizarre, colorful peaks on the other.

This memorable high-altitude hike in South America is an experience you'll never forget! You will have the opportunity to click enough pictures to fill your social media feed.

After relishing the views from the summit of Rainbow Mountain, Peru, the descent is just as spectacular. As the amazing views begin to fade, you make your way back to the lunch spot. You pass herds of alpacas and sheep. You also see Andean people in bright clothes riding their horses.

A fresh, homemade buffet lunch will be served as we end the Cusco to Rainbow Mountain Tour.

Why hike Rainbow Mountain in Peru with us?

We are a fully locally owned tour company in Cusco. To avoid altitude sickness, it is strongly recommended that you spend 2-3 days in Cusco before visiting Rainbow Mountain.

For further information, we highly recommend you read our detailed article about the Rainbow Mountains.

If you are unwilling to hike, look at our Palccoyo Rainbow Mountain Trip from Cusco. You can experience the colorful beauty of Cusco's Rainbow Mountain in a new way. Join our exciting ATV Rainbow Mountain Tour. It is perfect for all ages and fitness levels.

Do take a moment to check our review on TripAdvisor.

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Starting from

$58 USD / person

Max 15 pax

Medium

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Local expert guides

Itinerary — 1 Day

Your epic full-day trip to Rainbow Mountain, Peru, begins early in the morning at 0500, and we will pick you up from your hotel in Cusco. We will then embark on a three-hour drive along the South Valley of Cusco to the Hanchi Pacha community in Pitumarca Village.

Here, we will serve a traditional breakfast. After a short safety briefing, we will begin the Rainbow Mountain Trek, which will take us two and a half hours to the summit at 5030 meters (16502 ft.) above sea level.

Along the hike, you will see beautiful landscapes, Llamas, Alpacas, local people, and spectacular, colorful rocky mountains.

You will also be hiking through different highland Andean communities. Our tour guide will give you an immersive insight into their life and traditions.

Locals here practice a ritual called Apacheta. They pile stones on each other to honor the Mountain God (Apus). They then use three coca leaves (K’intu) to seek blessings. It is a belief that this would safeguard their path to the summit.

You can rent horses at the base camp if you are unsure about hiking at high altitudes. Make sure to negotiate the price before getting on one.

The Red Valley lies farther and can be hiked on a two-day trek.

After enjoying the seven-colored mountain, we will hike for two hours down the hill back to where we started the hike. Here, we will serve you lunch. After lunch, we will drive you back to Cusco City.

Included

Includes

Cusco Hotel Transfer: Enjoy a smooth, stress-free experience with our private transfers from your Cusco hotel. We’ll pick you up right at your door and drop you off at the end of the tour, ensuring comfort and convenience from start to finish.
Pick Up & Drop Off – Door-to-Door Service: We handle all transportation logistics so you don’t have to. Our team comes right to your place and takes you back safely. This makes your trip easier and less stressful.
English-Speaking, Experienced Mountain Guide: Your adventure is led by a certified mountain guide. They have a strong knowledge of Andean culture, history, and hiking routes. Our guides speak fluent English, are patient and friendly, and are trained to offer a safe and enriching experience.
Small Groups for a Better Experience: To ensure personalized attention, we limit groups to 6–8 people per guide.For groups of 9 to 17 trekkers, we provide two professional guides. This ensures safety, support, and a great experience for all.
Breakfast and Lunch Included: Begin your day with a fresh breakfast. Enjoy a tasty lunch made with local ingredients. We accommodate vegetarian and special dietary requests upon prior notice.
First-Aid Kit with Emergency Oxygen Tank: Your safety is our priority. Our guides have a full first-aid kit and an emergency oxygen tank. They are ready to help with altitude problems or any unexpected situation.
Water and Soap for Handwashing: We maintain high hygiene standards on all our tours. You’ll have access to clean water and soap to wash your hands before meals and after activities.
Free Luggage Storage at Happy Gringo Tours Office: Travel light and worry-free. You can store any extra luggage securely in our office at no additional cost while you enjoy your tour.

Not included

Excludes

Guide Service Fee (Optional)
Travel and health insurance for the duration of your tour
Entrance to Rainbow Mountain (25 Soles)

Packing List

Clothes

Jacket

Equipment

Sunglasses

Essential

Cash

Passaport

Recommended

Sun cream

Gallery 6 photos

Frequently Asked Questions

Booking with us is very simple. Just click the BOOK NOW button. Then, choose your preferred departure date. Finally, fill out the registration form with each participant’s personal information.

You can pay your remaining balance in cash (USD or soles) at our office in Cusco one day before your tour.
If you prefer to pay by credit card, you may do so at least 1 week before your tour, but please note that a 5% service fee applies.
We recommend paying in cash to avoid extra fees.

No, Rainbow Mountain does not offer any student discount for this tour.

You may find cheaper tours in Cusco, but these usually include:

It is not mandatory.
However, if you want the famous Rainbow Mountain passport stamp, bring your original passport.
The stamp costs 2 soles.

No, because all our Rainbow Mountain departures start from Cusco.
If you are staying in the Sacred Valley, we can arrange a private service, which requires a $30 USD transport upgrade.

Yes. Local residents offer horse rentals directly on the trail.
Prices range from 70 to 100 soles (approx. $20–25 USD) depending on demand and season.

The best time is from April to November (dry season).
From December to March, trails may be muddy, wet, and sometimes covered with snow or fog.

Yes — mornings can be below freezing.
As the sun rises, temperatures get milder.
At the summit, conditions are typically:

Our guides carry:

There are no official age restrictions, but we recommend:

Rainbow Mountain tickets never sell out. You can book last minute.
However, during high season (May–August), many companies run out of guides.
We recommend booking at least 1 month in advance.

Yes, along the Cusipata route, there are:

Yes. Bring cash in soles for:

Yes, especially:

Of course!
We offer private Rainbow Mountain tours.
Just contact us to check availability.

There are no charging points during the hike.
You can only charge your devices inside our van.
Bring a portable charger.

Yes. With Happy Gringo Tours you are safe because:

We recommend staying in Cusco for at least 3 days before the hike.
If you come from a place with a similar altitude, 1 day might be enough to rest.

If you’re tired, the guide will recommend renting a horse or taking more breaks.
If you prefer, you can also return to the trailhead, where the van will wait for you.

The only other option is the Rainbow Mountain ATV Tour.
Even then, you must walk about 10 minutes to reach the viewpoint.

Yes. The trail is wide, stable, and free of cliff edges.
There is one optional viewpoint that looks steeper, but you can skip it.

Yes!
The Red Valley is included as an optional extension.
If you feel too tired, you can return to the starting point with the group.

Yes, as long as they are active and acclimatized.
We recommend:

Sure.
We use spacious vans, and you can safely store any extra items inside during the trek.

Yes, we can drop you off at the Cusco Airport after the tour.
The airport is on the route back, so you will be dropped off first.

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