Get in touch using the form below, and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.
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 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.
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.
Cusco Hotel Transfer
0430 AM
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The 2 Day Inca Trail is a shorter version of the classic trek, offering breathtaking scenery and cultural insights. It’s ideal for travelers with limited time who want to experience the journey to Machu Picchu in a condensed yet memorable way.
The Two Day Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is a moderate trek suitable for most people in good physical condition. It involves some uphill climbs, but nothing too strenuous. The second day is the most rewarding as you hike through the Sun Gate and get your first breathtaking view of Machu Picchu. It’s a great option for those who want to experience the Inca Trail but don’t have the time or energy for the full four-day hike.
The Short Inca Trail is a 1-day trek, whereas the traditional Inca Trail takes 4 days. The short trail offers a quick but rewarding experience of the Inca civilization, passing through ancient ruins and beautiful scenery before reaching Machu Picchu. It’s a perfect choice for those who want to explore the Inca Trail without committing to the longer version.
While the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is a challenging hike, it is designed for people with average fitness levels. The trek involves some uphill climbs and altitude changes, so it’s important to prepare by walking and hiking beforehand. If you’re physically prepared, you’ll be able to enjoy the trek and the stunning views of the Andes without much difficulty.
The Two Day Inca Trail to Machu Picchu covers approximately 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) over two days. You’ll experience breathtaking landscapes, ancient ruins, and rich Inca history. On the second day, you’ll arrive early at Machu Picchu and have plenty of time to explore the site before returning to Cusco.
Each review from our users is important to continue growing and offering the best service to each of our clients. Our priority will always be that you enjoy your trip to the fullest while our professional team works to fulfill it.
The 1-day trip to Machu Picchu was very well organized!
Our vacation was great to the land of the Incas in Perú with Gringo Tours.
We strongly recommend traveling... read more in Cusco. We had an amazing experience.. Thanks to our guide Juan!
We highly recommend booking the Machu Picchu day tríp from Cusco with Happy Gringo!
Everything else was a dumpster fire that had us waiting for two hours for a guide to show up (he stated he hadn’t been notified from the travel agency even though we went to the physical Happy Gringo location to check in the day before AND provided all requested information in person and again via WhatsApp). If we hadn’t reached out to them on WhatsApp, I’m certain we would have still been standing outside of the train station waiting. The information you get when you get to the Machu Picchu location is also confusing, telling you to go to a Pueblo, but when you look it up on the maps, there are several listed, which further added to the confusion. Very much underperformed our expectations for nearly $800.
Final thought, Machu Picchu is very much worth the visit, but not with this outfit.
My family had difficulty to find a travel agent to book the Machu Picchu tour, however the workers of Gringo Tours were very helpful... read more to assist us with our trip to Machu Picchu.
The pick up was on time, the journey from Cusco to Aguad Calientes town was amazing with fantástic views, and finally the tour guide at Machu picchu was very knowledgeable.
Highly recommended tour operator in Peru!
The communication was great, the pick up was on time, the box lunch was very delicious,... read more the hotel at Aguas Calientes was clean and our tour guide Wilder was very informative.
All the team of Happy Gringo tours were professional. Therefore, we hughly recommend hiking the Inca trail to Machu Picchu with them and with Wilder!
¡Thanks for everything!
We booked the 2 days tour to Machu Picchu. The service was very well organised from Cusco, the Communication... read more was fsntastic with Ariana, the pick up ass on time and our tour guide Ivan gave us a lot of information of Machupichu site.
Strongly recommend our guide Ivan and thanks Gringo tours!
We noticed the sirious work and profesionalism that we received. Juan is the persona who gave us all his support. Therefore, we share our experience that Happy Gringo is the only company in Cusco that got our dream reop to Machu Picchu.
Thanks all the team of Gringo tours for your help and we highly recommend the travelers who want to ise this tour operator in Cusco.