Name: Rainbow Mountain Cusco – Cusco to Rainbow Mountain Tour
Brand: Happy Gringo Tours
SKU: 1
Price: 58 USD
Availability: InStock

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Cusco to Rainbow Mountain Tour Details

Rainbow Mountain Cusco

Cusco to Rainbow Mountain Tour is a popular full-day tour in the Cusco region. Locally known as montaña de siete colores, the yellow, red, ochre, white, and turquoise mineral stripes on the Rainbow Mountain Cusco lend it wow appeal. Rainbow Mountain Cusco can be fully enjoyed during the dry season in Cusco, due to the lack of rain and clear skies.

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

From the summit, you will have a staggering 360-degree view, including nearby Snow-Capped Apu Ausangate Mountain (6384m). It is the highest mountain in southern Peru.

Rainbow Mountain Cusco

Rainbow Mountain Travel offers breathtaking views that easily allow you to forget about the 2-hour struggle you leave 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 to remember forever! Needless to mention, you will have the opportunity to click enough pictures to fill your social media feed.

After relishing the vires from the summit of Rainbow Mountain Peru; the descent is just as spectacular. As the outstanding views slowly started to disappear, you manoeuver your way back to the lunch spot through herds of alpacas, sheep, and Andean people with colorful clothes with their horses.

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

Why hike Rainbow Mountain Peru with us?

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

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

If you are not willing to hike, then do take a look at our Palccoyo Rainbow Mountain Trip from Cusco. Alternatively, you can experience the vibrant beauty of Cusco’s Rainbow Mountain like never before with our thrilling and accessible ATV Rainbow Mountain Tour. It is perfect for all ages and fitness levels.

Do take a moment to check our review on Trip Advisor.

Departure & Return Location

Cusco Hotel Transfer

Departure Time

0430 AM

Price Includes

Cusco hotel transfer
English speaking experienced professional mountain guide
6-8 people with 1 guide, 2 Guides for a group of 9-17 trekkers
Breakfast and Lunch
First-aid kit including emergency oxygen tank
Snacks
Water and soap to wash your hands
Water to fill in your water bottles
Free luggage storage at Happy Gringo Tours office

Price Excludes

Guide Service Fee (Optional)
Travel and health insurance for the duration of your tour
Entrance to Rainbow Mountain (10 Soles)

Recommended To Carry

Suncreen and Sunglasses
Waterbottle and snacks
Peruvian Soles in Cash

Tips on hiking Rainbow Mountain Cusco

Carry a small backpack with plenty of water, snacks and toilet paper
The entrance fee tothe local community is 10 Soles. It is not included in the price of the tour.
There are two Rainbow Mountains - Vinicunca and Palccoyo. Palccoyo involves less hiking.
The weather in Rainbow Mountain is unprecedented can change in seconds when you’re high up. So be sure to pack sun block, sunglasses, a rain jacket, a hat and wear some thick hiking socks; but also bring a spare pair of socks just in case.
Try and beat the altitude by chewing on coca leaves – Ask our tour guide for some

Itinerary

Rainbow Mountain Cusco - Cusco to Rainbow Mountain Tour

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

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

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

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

Locals here practice a ritual called Apacheta. They pile stones each on top of the other in order 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.

If you are not sure about hiking in the high altitude, you can rent horses at the base camp. Make sure to negotiate the price before getting on one.

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

After enjoying the seven-colored mountain, we will be hiking for two hours down the hill back to the place where we started the hike. Here we will be serving you lunch. After lunch, we will be driving you back to Cusco city.

Video

Photos

Infographic

FAQs

How does Vinicunca mountain get it colors?

Seldom anyone knew about the existence of Rainbow Mountains of Vinicunca until 2016. It was covered in dense snow, when the snow started to melt, the colours started to appear. The region is dense in minerals. Infact, many mining companies have placed a bid to start mining here. The colours are a result of minerals.

Where is Rainbow Mountain?

Rainbow Mountain is 82 kilometres (51 miles) to the south of Cusco city. It is near Pitumarca town. The easiest and the cheapest way to get there is by signing up for an organised tour as the guides will be there to assist you in case if you feel altitude sickness.

How long is the hike to Rainbow Mountain Vinicunca?

From the base camp, it normally takes 2-2.5 hours of hike to reach to the summit of the Rainbow Mountain Vinicunca. If you are not keen on hiking, you can always pay extra to locals and jump on a horse back.

What causes Rainbow Mountains?

The yellow, red, ochre, white and turquoise mineral stripes are a result of mineral deposits in the mountain that lend the wow appeal to it.

How high is Rainbow Mountain?

The Rainbow Mountain of Cusco also known as Vinicunca is 5200 metres (17060 feet) above sea level. It is located some 100 kilometres to the south east of Cusco city.

4 Reviews

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Scott

Couple Traveller

The tour was extremelly hard.

We had hard time to book this trip to rainbow mountain; likely we connected with gringo tours and they gave us very possitive messages to travel with them.

The guide was very helpful and knowleagebl; thanks him we made it!

Highly recommend to book with them, there are many travel agencies but Gringo Tours reaaly helped us.

Thanks so much for this experience.

November 4, 2020

Kalyani

Family Traveller

This was my dream trip and I am very glad that we went with Happy Gringo Tours. They exhibited and delivered an optimum level of service with a well prepared guide who kept encouraging us all the way on the trek. The food they served was very nutritious and plentiful. An unforgettable experience.

February 5, 2020

Yajaida

Solo Traveller

No words to express my gratitude to Marko and his team who were very organised and caring on this trip to Rainbow Mountains. The food they provided was nutritious and kept me full till i treked back down for lunch. A wonderful organisaton with friendly people.

December 18, 2019

Sreeram

Solo Traveller

Marko is an excellent person. He picked us up from the airport. He speaks good English and has a good knowledge about the history and culture. The night before the trek Marko visited our hotel and gave us a detailed briefing on what to carry and what to expect. The whole trip was very nicely organised. The best thing, they give a certain share of the profit to the local communities. We enjoyed a lot.

September 5, 2019

Rainbow Mountain Cusco – Cusco to Rainbow Mountain Tour

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