Full-Day Vinicunca from Cusco is one of the most preferred tours in Cusco. Locally known as Montaña de Siete Colores, over 800 people embark on the Cusco to Rainbow Mountain Tour each day.
To most travelers in Peru, visiting Rainbow Mountain from Cusco on a full-day tour is second on their bucket list, after Machu Picchu.
There are two Rainbow Mountains in the vicinity of Cusco, Palccoyo, and Vinicunca. Travelers who are not willing to hike choose to visit Palccoyo Rainbow Mountains. They are quite low in altitude and can be reached with an easy 45-minute hike.
Vinicunca Rainbow Mountains on the contrary retains its authenticity. There are no roadways so the only way to reach the top is by hiking for an hour and a half.
The route is dotted with beautiful landscapes. You will be hiking through highland Andean farms and villages. Along the trek, you will be witnessing stunning views of the Andes mountain range at every turn.
The colors of Vinicunca are the result of mineral deposits, with layered hues of gold, red, lavender, and turquoise towering to the sky.
The highest point of the Full day Vinicunca Rainbow Mountain Tour is at 5200 meters/ 17060ft above sea level.
Although all our trekking guides are extensively trained in first aid and providing assistance to altitude sickness, it is imperative that you spend at least 3-4 days in Cusco before embarking on Cusco to Rainbow Mountain tour to avoid altitude sickness. As a safety measure, we carry oxygen tanks on all treks.
If trekking is not your thing, then you will also have the option of renting a horse from the base camp. Make sure to negotiate the price before you get on one.
Treks in Cusco is a locally owned tour operator based in Cusco. We offer an authentic local experience to our trekkers. We offer this full-day Vincunca hike in a small group or as a private tour.
Here’s an article to help you figure out the difference between Vinicunca and Palccoyo? Also, confused about choosing between Humantay Lake and Rainbow Mountain? Check out our detailed post.
Do take a moment to check out our reviews on Trip Advisor.
Cusco Hotel Transfer
0600 AM
Your full-day trip to Vinicunca from Cusco starts with an early morning pickup from your hotel in Cusco at 0400 AM. We will be embarking on a three hours drive to the south of Cusco to a remote Andean town called Cusipata.
We will be stopping for breakfast in Cusipata. After relishing a traditional breakfast, we will be continuing our drive for another hour to the trailhead of Rainbow Mountain Peru.
Before reaching the base camp, we will be crossing a checkpoint where we will be paying the entrance fees to the local community.
Once in the base camp, our local expert will be sharing some tips and information on hiking in the Andes. All set, we will begin the two hours uphill hike to the summit of the Rainbow Mountains of Peru.
The trek is dotted with stunning views of the Andes. You will also be getting pristine views of the mighty Ausangate Mountain. This is a sacred Andean peak. It is also the highest in the region and dominates the southern skyline of Cusco on a clear day.
There will be no rush so you can hike up in your peace.
Once at the summit, we will have plenty of time to soak in the captivating views of the Andes from the Rainbow Mountains. Our tour guide will explain the prominence of Coca Leaves in Andean mythology and how the locals use them to seek the blessings of Apus (Mountain Peaks).
After contemplating the views, we will gradually start descending back to the starting point of the trek. It normally takes about an hour and thirty minutes. We will be meeting our transport and will be driving you back to Cusipata town.
Here we will be stopping for a traditional lunch before driving you back to Cusco City. We will be reaching Cusco at around 06:00 PM.
The Rainbow Mountain also known as Vinicunca is located to the South of Cusco.
The summit of the Rainbow Mountain of Vinicunca is 5200 meters or over 17,000 feet above sea level.
The Rainbow Mountains are some 99 Kilometres (62 miles) away from Cusco city.
The company guide a day before explained me very well about the tour, was very attentive gave me his number to call if I had any questions or setbacks, the service was excellent.
We did the trip to Rainbow Mountain with Treks in Cusco after experiencing their Maras Salt Flats tour. We had a great guide on both tours. We highly recommend them. This was the best experience in South America.
