Rainbow Mountain has recently become one of the most popular one-day hikes in the Cusco region. With more than 5000 meters (16000ft), Rainbow Mountain and the Red Valley is truly an unforgettable experience where you will be exploring the rich colors of Vinicunca.
Vinicunca, Rainbow Mountain, or the Coloured Mountain are some of the few names of this amazing place, a relatively new tourist attraction located in Cusco.
TreXperience will pick you up from your hotel in Cusco and drive for 3 hours to the trailhead, where your local chef will serve a picnic breakfast with amazing views of the Vilcanota Mountain range. After breakfast, start a 2-hour hike to the top of Rainbow Mountain. The hike is challenging due to the high altitude of Rainbow Mountain (5000m-16000ft).
Red Valley is located just meters away from Rainbow Mountain; you can reach the iron-rich soil landscapes after enjoying the Rainbow Mountain. Then, you will continue to hike down to the trailhead, where your trekking chef will be waiting with a fresh lunch prepared with local products.
TreXperience’ Rainbow Mountain tours will provide you a door to door service (we pick you up from your hotel and drive you back to your hotel), private transportation, an exclusive tour guide, trekking chefs, picnic meals, all entry fees, and the necessary equipment to hike this painted hill of Vinicunca.
Highlights of the Rainbow Mountain
- Book with Confidence and Flexibility
- Visit the Andean communities and interact with locals as you hike along with llamas and Alpacas.
- Visit Rainbow Mountain and Red valley in one day from Cusco with picnic meals.
- Travel in small groups with an exclusive tour guide and trekking chef.
Price per person USD$ 140 [payment_system_code]
To book Rainbow Mountain, you need to make an initial payment of 50.USD per person, the remaining balance can be paid online, in installments, or Cusco with any credit card at no booking fees at all.
Full Description of Rainbow Mountain
We will pick you up at 5:00 am from your hotel in Cusco at any location inside the city (Hotels, Airbnb, Apartments, hostels) and drive for 3 hours to the trailhead. Upon arrival, our chef will prepare a delicious breakfast with plentiful choices while you enjoy the view of the mountains with a hot cup of coffee or coca tea to help us with the 5000 meters mountain ahead.
After breakfast, we will start the 2-hour to the top of Vinicunca mountain (Also known as Rainbow Mountain). Throughout the route, you will be able to see hundreds of llamas and alpacas, hike along the snowcapped peaks of the Ausangate Mountain range, the highest mountains in Cusco city. As we get closer to the top, the views get more impressive with every meter we climb.
The hike is mainly flat with a gradual steep inclination at the final part, the temperature is cold at the top, and you will need a good jacket, hats, gloves, and a good camera to capture the amazing views.
At the top of Rainbow Mountain, your tour guide will explain to you the formation of the painted hills, the Andes, and the importance of this mountain to locals.
After enjoying the beautiful views of the Peruvian Andes, contemplating the spectacular 360°-degree view from the top of Vinicunca, we will take an extra 30-minutes hike to Red Valley, another breathtaking and inspiring place with landscapes that will take your breath away and is rarely visited by travelers.
Next, we will head back to the beginning of the trail, where our lunch will be waiting for us. We use local products to provide you the best of our gourmet Peruvian food prepared by our chef and later Come back to Cusco, arriving around 5:30 pm.
What’s Included In the Rainbow Mountain:
- Transportation: TreXperience offers a door to door service (pick up and drop off at your hotel)
- Professional tour guide (all our tour local tour guides speak fluent English)
- Picnic, Breakfast & Lunch
- Snacks, water, hot drinks
- Entrance tickets to Rainbow Mountain and Red Valley
- First Aid Kit, Oxygen tank, Satellite phones
- Trekking poles
- Trekking chef, porters
- Picnic equipment (Tents, chairs, tables)
- Private portable toilets
Not Included:
- Optional horse riding
- Gratuities
Packing list:
- Rain gear (just in case)
- Camera and extra batteries
- Hat and sunglasses
- Warm Layers
- Sun cream
Cancellation policy
You can cancel this tour for up to 48 hours, and you’ll get a full refund.
Covid-19 measures to keep you safe during traveling
- Temperature checks for all travelers are mandatory.
- Face masks are required for travelers and staff in public areas
- Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff at all times
- High traffic places and equipment are sanitized regularly between use.
- Maximum eight people per group to reduce crowds
- Transportation and touristic sites capacity will be reduced to 50%
- Printed material such as maps or vouchers will be avoided.
- 100% online payments with no booking fees at all
- Flexible bookings during COVID – 19 outbreak
Rainbow Mountain FAQs
Is Rainbow Mountain very Challenging?
Rainbow Mountain or Vinicunca is located over 5000 meters – 16000 ft; to arrive at the top of this mountain without having problems with altitude, you need to acclimatize before. We recommend staying in Cusco for a few days before visiting this place.
You should plan your trip in a way that you spend few days in Cusco, travel to Machu Picchu, and in the end visit Rainbow Mountain. This way, you will have time to adapt to the altitude while you are visiting other places. The recommended order is:
- City tour in Cusco
- Sacred Valley Tour
- Trekking tour or tour by train to Machu Picchu
- Tour to Rainbow Mountain
The hike itself is not very challenging; it’s an easy 2-hike to the highest point of rainbow Mountain and another similar time to return to the trailhead. However, the altitude can make this hike challenging.
Why choose TreXperience?
TreXperience’ Rainbow Mountain tours are organized in small groups with private transportation, exclusive tour guide, and picnic meals with plenty of different choices. Our tours are simply hiking; we make sure you enjoy the Peruvian food served in a picnic style with amazing views of the mountains. Also, you will have cultural experience visiting these amazing places.
How many hours of the hike is the Rainbow Mounatin tour?
You can reach Rainbow Mountain with a relatively easy 2-hour hike from the trailhead and a similar time on the way back.
Can I get altitude sickness?
Rainbow Mountain has over 5000 meters/16000 feet, and altitude sickness is a real problem that many travelers will face.
To reduce the risk of altitude sickness, you should:
- Take time to acclimatize to Cusco before visiting Rainbow Mountain
- Start taking altitude medicine a few days before the hike
- Drink plenty of water during the hike
- Drink Coca tea that will be available during breakfast
There is no way to avoid altitude sickness; however, by following the indications above, you can reduce the chances of having problems with the altitude.
When is the best time to hike the Rainbow Mountain?
Peru has 2 seasons; the rainy season and the dry season. We recommend taking this tour during the dry season. However, we will have visitors all year round.
Recommend months to visit Rainbow Mounatin:
April to December
Not recomended
January to March
How large are the group to Rainbow Mountain?
We organize small group tours of a maximum of 8 people. This way, you will have a personalized service.
We can organize larger private groups as well on request. in this case, we will provide 2 or more tour guides
How far is Rainbow Mountain From Machu Picchu?
Rainbow Mountain and Machu Picchu are located in opposite sites; while Machu Picchu is located at the North of Cusco, the rainbow Mountain is Located at the south of Cusco.
What to wear in Rainbow Mountain?
You need to bring warm clothes to this mountain, the weather is freezing in the mornings and when it is cloudy or raining:
Gloves, fleece jackets, rain gear, sun protection, hat, bennie.
Can I hire a horse?
Yes, you can hire a horse if you struggle or prefer not to hike; a one-way horse ride costs are around 70 soles to 8o soles.
