Rainbow Mountain Cusco

We will pick you up early from your Cusco hotel and set out on a drive through the South Valley. The drive to the trailhead at Quesiuno (4,326 m / 14,189 ft) is 3 hours long. Once we reach the Inkintuyoc bridge, we will have a fueling continental breakfast.

We then start off on our hike, following a lovely stream. You will be immediately surprised by literally herds of alpacas and llamas. We will have consistent views of the Ausangate Mountain. We will hike through villages and interact with the local residents. We will stop for a deluxe box lunch along the Rainbow Mountain Cusco trek.

Back on the hike, we encounter more of the traditional elements along trail to the Vinicunca Mountain. This includes potato fields and unique fauna. We have the prospect of seeing chinchillas and vicunas. Vicunas are the only non-domesticated animal of the llama family in Peru. Many red mountains are also a highlight of this portion of the hike.

After a total hike of approximately 5 hours, we finally reach our destination, what we came to see the Rainbow Mountain (5,020 m / 16,466 ft). After getting over the shock of their beauty, you will have time to explore the area. You will have time to take pictures and soak in the environment. We will spend approximately 30 minutes at the top.

At this point, it is time to go back down. We hike downhill the way we came. The hike will take 4 to 5 hours. Our private van will be waiting for us when we return.

We will embark on the 3 hour drive back to Cusco and drop you off at your Cusco hotel. Approximate arrival time is between 17:30 and 18:00 .

Meals: Continental Breakfast / Lunch

Lowest Elevation: 4,326 m / 14,189 ft

Highest Elevation: 5,020 m / 16,466 ft

Distance to walk: 15 km / 9 ¼ miles

Approximate walking time: 5 to 6 hours up; 4 to 5 hours down

Level of Difficulty: Challenging

• Pre-tour briefing (Our guide will contact you by phone or email);
• Professional tour guide;
• Entrance fee to Rainbow Mountain Peru;
• Meals: 01x Breakfast, 01x Lunch (Optional Vegetarian);
• Tourist transportation from your hotel to the head trail and drop off you near the main square;
• Oxygen bottle and first aid kit.

• Meals not details in this itinerary
• Traveler`s insurance
• Discretionary expenses such as gratuities, alcoholic beverages, etc.

Here is everything you need to know about the Cheap Rainbow Mountain Cusco trek.

Where is located Vinicunca Mountain?

The Rainbow Mountain is located in Vinicunca, province of Quipicanchis, department of Cusco. Dominated by the beautiful snowy Ausangate (6,384 m.a.s.l.), one of the gods of this region.

 

Altitudes in the trek

• "Quesiuno" at 4,326 m.a.s.l.
• "Rainbow Mountains" at 5,020 m.a.s.l.

How many kilometers is walked during the Cheap Rainbow Mountain Cusco trek and how many hours?

The trek to Rainbow Mountain is 15 kilometers long or 9 ¼ miles. You will have to walk for along 5 to 6 hours up, and 4 to 5 hours down.

 

 

How difficult is the trek to Vinicunca Mountain?

The trek has sections with a difficult degree of means to height and you need to have good physical condition. The residents of the community offer you transport by horses from 80 to 100 soles (25 to 50 USD) depending on the section to be traveled.

 

Is it possible to do the trek to Rainbow Mountain on my own?

Tourism agencies in Cusco offer packages for this place, the main service they provide is transport and basic food. So, this trek can be done on your own.

 

After 3 hours of bus trip from the center of the city of Cusco, you arrive at the beautiful valley of Vinicunca. You must pay an entrance fee of 10 soles, with that income the locals generate a fund that allows them to keep the place clean the infrastructure in good condition. Then, the ascent to this unique mountain begins.

Bring a backpack for the trek with the following items:  

• Warm clothes: The colorful mountain tour is NOT so frigid; especially if it's a sunny day; however, remember that the cold is felt on the top of the mountain and for this, you must wear: a light but warm coat, a sweater or sweater, a scarf, a cap and wool gloves that will help you protect yourself when you are taking your best pictures or simply enjoying the scenery of the Vinicunca mountain. 
• Food: bring mineral water to stay hydrated, and some snacks such as nuts, chocolates, sweets, cookies, etc. These will help you recover the energy that the walk demands. Other personal items: rain poncho, sunglasses or sunglasses, sunscreen, trekking shoes, shoes, and/or additional sandals to rest your feet on the bus. 
• Money: Do not forget to bring some extra money in soles for your personal expenses of snacks, mineral water, soft drinks or sodas, horse service, and tips. 

Additionals:

• Walking sticks or poles cost $5 to rent. 
• Backpack for your hike U$ 10
• Rain Poncho U$ 5
• There are emergency horses available for rent along this trek if you are unsure you will be able to complete the hike, which cost $50.

Extra equipment:

• Copy of the identity document 
• Personal medicine kit (bandages, cotton, bandages, alcohol, aspirin, pills for stomach problems, medicines to prevent altitude sickness). 
• Camera, extra batteries 
• Boots or shoes for hiking. 
• Walking stick with rounded rubber tip. 
• Hat or cap 
• Long sleeve shirts 
• Canteen Dehydrated fruits, candies and chocolates 
• Gloves, scarf, wool stockings. 
• Raincoats in the rainy season. 
• Long pants. 
• Sunscreen. 
• Sweaters and a jacket 
• Medium backpack (approx 40 liters) for walks. 
• Toilet paper. 
• Warm clothes in case of friajes (sweater and jacket). 
• Binoculars. 

The Rainbow mountain Peru tour is a trek through the Andes villages with living traditions. Cusco is the ideal place for outdoor sports and adventure. The Andean geography of Cusco is plagued by a great number of snow-covered mountains of more than 5,000 meters, lagoons, rivers, bucolic valleys, and picturesque villages.

Cusco has excellent scenarios for mountaineering, trekking, rafting, mountain biking, paragliding and hanging gliding, balloon flights, bungee rides, and horseback riding. Highlighting the mountain circuits such as Ausangate, Salkantay, Choquequirao, and the famed Inca Trail to Machu Picchu.

Surprise yourself with a destination without equal: the Rainbow mountain tour full day. The Vinicunca mountain, known as the Mountain of 7 colors or Rainbow mountain, offers you a dreamlike landscape by having the seven colors of the rainbow stacked one on top of the other. Like a multicolored mantle or the reflection of the rainbow on earth, Vinicunca rises to be admired throughout the year. This destination is almost 5,000 meters high (16,400 feet) and has three hours of walking. The radiant sun will accompany you along the route as well as families of llamas such as llamas or alpacas, sheep, horses, and the imposing landscape of mountains that will be the protagonists of your photographs.

Vinicunca Trek Peru

The adventure begins very early at 04:30 a.m. we will start the pick up for their different lodgings and then go to the picturesque town of Pitumarca south of the city of Cusco, where we will make a stop to provide some necessary things to start the tour as for example water or energy drinks, snack, cereals, etc. 

After this short stop, we will continue our trip where we will observe the multicolored landscapes and crops that mix between the mysterious mountains and snowy mountains, Andean animals such as the llama, alpaca, sheep, vicuñas and the deep valleys. We will arrive at 06:30 am at the picturesque town of Japura (Hanchipata), the starting point of our trek, here we will enjoy a delicious Andean breakfast prepared by our Chef. 

After having enjoyed our breakfast, we will start our trek for 3 and a half hours, up the mountain until we reach the town of Machuraccay and then we will ascend to the foothills of the Vinicunca hill, place of access control to this mystical place. Continuing the walk we will go through a path that little by little will change the landscape between mountains of intense colors and small streams of ice water that feed and give life to this valley, as we walk we will observe how the colors of our surroundings will change by the climate, we will reach an altitude of 5033 meters above sea level. Top of the mysterious mountain of 7 colors (Vinicunca). 

This will be the point where we will have enough time to be able to take pictures, videos, etc. At the same time it will be the place where we will enjoy our refreshment while our sight delights with the magic that the mountains enclose behind their veil of clouds and snowy peaks, after such exquisite experience we will undertake the return walk to the town of Japura (Hanchipata) where We will have a delicious buffet lunch prepared by our cook, later we will return to Cusco arriving at around 6:00 p.m., so we finish the walk to the mountain of 7 colors. 

Note: During the ascent we will have a backup horse in case of an emergency.