+51 918 885 164 info@happygringotours.com
+51 918 885 164 info@happygringotours.com

Rainbow Mountain Cusco – Cusco to Rainbow Mountain Tour

(4 Reviews)
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From$58
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From$58
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Cusco to Rainbow Mountain Tour Details
Rainbow Mountain Cusco

The 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 Rainbow Mountain Cusco lend it wow appeal. 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 summit, you will have a staggering 360-degree view, including nearby Snow-Capped Apu Ausangate Mountain (6384m), 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! 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 start to disappear, you maneuver your way back to the lunch spot through herds of alpacas, sheep, and Andean people in colorful 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 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. 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
  • Pick up & drop off - Door-to-door
  • 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
  • Water and soap to wash your hands
  • 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 (25 Soles)

Recommended To Carry

  • Sunscreen 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, 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.

Video
Photos
Infographic
Rainbow Mountain Tour
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