Overview Rainbow Mountain Full Day
- Duration 1 Day
- Tour type Hike
- Difficulty Moderate
- Max altitude 5,036 m.a.s.l
- Accommodation Not Included
- Group size Minimum 2 people
Rainbow Mountain Tour from Cusco: Full Day
Our Rainbow Mountain tour is a guided day hike from Cusco to Vinicunca, the Seven Colors Mountain of Peru. We pick you up at your hotel between 4:30 and 5:00 am and drive about 1 h 30 to Cusipata for breakfast, then on through Chillihuani to the trailhead. You walk about 3 km (1.9 mi) and roughly 1 h 30 up to the viewpoint at 5,036 m (16,522 ft), with views of the Red Valley and the snow-capped Ausangate. After the descent, buffet lunch in Cusipata and about 2 hours back to Cusco, with drop-off near the Plaza de Armas in the late afternoon. Guide, meals and entrance fee included, from US$45 per person.
Who this tour is for
- Fitness: moderate. The walk is short, but all of it is at very high altitude; horses can be hired for part of the way (not included).
- Highest point: 5,036 m / 16,522 ft. Spend at least 2–3 days in Cusco before the tour.
- Minimum age: ask us.
- Travelers: anyone with one free day in Cusco who wants to see Vinicunca with a guide on a shared group tour. For a gentler walk, look at Palcoyo or the ATV tour.
- Season and rain: ask us about your date. Our packing list includes a rain jacket or poncho, rain pants, a winter hat and gloves.
Key facts
- Hike: ≈3 km / 1.9 mi each way, about 1 h 30 up and 1 h 30 down
- Altitude: 5,036 m / 16,522 ft at the viewpoint (official MINCETUR figure)
- Schedule: hotel pickup 4:30–5:00 am; drop-off near the Plaza de Armas in the late afternoon
- Meals: breakfast and buffet lunch in Cusipata
- Included: transport, bilingual English-speaking guide, Rainbow Mountain entrance fee, emergency oxygen and medical kit
- Not included: horse rental, drinks and snacks, travel insurance, the Red Valley community fee
- Price: from US$45 per person, paid in full when you book
Choosing between colored mountains? See Rainbow Mountain vs Palcoyo vs Pallay Punchu.
Good to know
- 5,036 mofficial altitude of the viewpoint (MINCETUR), 16,522 ft; the 5,200 m (17,060 ft) often quoted refers to higher nearby points.
- ≈3 kmeach way (1.9 mi) from the Cusipata-side trailhead: about 1 h 30 up and 1 h 30 down.
- Entrance includedthe Rainbow Mountain entrance fee is in the price; the Red Valley next to the viewpoint has a separate community fee.
Frequently asked questions
How hard is the Rainbow Mountain hike?
How high is Rainbow Mountain: 5,036 m or 5,200 m?
What time is pickup and when do we get back to Cusco?
What is included in the price?
What should I bring, and what if it rains?
Is Rainbow Mountain open?
Is there an easier option?
How do I book and pay?
Itinerary Rainbow Mountain Full Day
-
We will pick you up from the hotel from 4:30 am to 5:00 am. We will go with our transport to the community of Cusipata by paved road approximately 1:30 hours, where we will have breakfast, then continue along the branch of Cusipata for a space of 30 minutes more, until you reach the town of Chillihuani, where we will pass through pictures that places like Tintinko, Rio Tigre, observe the Surina Mountain by the town of Llacto, then pass the control of the Municipality of Cusipata, in the place you can appreciate the flora and fauna in their natural habitat. (Llamas, Alpacas, Vicuñas, etc.). Where we will continue our journey along a dirt road for about 20 minutes to reach the starting point of our hike.
Then we begin our adventure to the rainbow mountain for about 1 hour and a half, where we can appreciate panoramic views as the Red Valley and mountains with the snow-capped Ausangate and small lakes, we can appreciate and take pictures of the rainbow mountain. Then we will begin to descend to our starting point for 1 hour and a half approx. There our transport will be waiting for us to return to the town of Cusipata where we will have a delicious lunch after tasting we will return by the same route to Cusco for 2 hours approx. where we will arrive at 4:30 p.m. and we will drop you off near the plaza de armas of cusco
Includes / Does not include Rainbow Mountain Full Day
Includes
- Professional Bilingual English speaking tour guide
- Pick up from your hotel and transportation to Cusipata
- Return transportation from Cusipata to Cusco.
- Breakfast, buffet lunch
- Emergency oxygen bottle and medical kit
- entrance fee to the rainbow mountain
Not included
- drinks and snack.
- Travel /Health / Emergency insurance
- horses to rent.
Packing list Rainbow Mountain Full Day
- Rain jacket / poncho
- Winter hat and gloves
- Rain pants
- Snacks
- Sun block, factor 35+ recommended
- Sunglasses and sun hat
- Camera with spare batteries – batteries run down faster at high altitudes
- Binoculars
- Trekking poles (recommended especially for the steep descents, can be rented from us)
- Our trek rankings are the following
Prices Rainbow Mountain Full Day
Tour price
Price per person · ask us for group-size rates
- Starting from US$45 per person Check dates
- Groups & private service Rate based on your group per person Get a quote
To confirm this trip we need you to send us your personal information, Deposit of US$40 per person as well as the name of the hotel to come and pick you up.
PRICE:
Our day tours are done shared and the cost is based on your group size.
2 – 15 people to more: 45 USD$
We sometimes offer to combine private tours (with your permission) into smaller groups with a discount.
Overview
- Duration 1 Day
- Tour type Hike
- Difficulty Moderate
- Max altitude 5,036 m.a.s.l
- Accommodation Not Included
- Group size Minimum 2 people
Rainbow Mountain Tour from Cusco: Full Day
Our Rainbow Mountain tour is a guided day hike from Cusco to Vinicunca, the Seven Colors Mountain of Peru. We pick you up at your hotel between 4:30 and 5:00 am and drive about 1 h 30 to Cusipata for breakfast, then on through Chillihuani to the trailhead. You walk about 3 km (1.9 mi) and roughly 1 h 30 up to the viewpoint at 5,036 m (16,522 ft), with views of the Red Valley and the snow-capped Ausangate. After the descent, buffet lunch in Cusipata and about 2 hours back to Cusco, with drop-off near the Plaza de Armas in the late afternoon. Guide, meals and entrance fee included, from US$45 per person.
Who this tour is for
- Fitness: moderate. The walk is short, but all of it is at very high altitude; horses can be hired for part of the way (not included).
- Highest point: 5,036 m / 16,522 ft. Spend at least 2–3 days in Cusco before the tour.
- Minimum age: ask us.
- Travelers: anyone with one free day in Cusco who wants to see Vinicunca with a guide on a shared group tour. For a gentler walk, look at Palcoyo or the ATV tour.
- Season and rain: ask us about your date. Our packing list includes a rain jacket or poncho, rain pants, a winter hat and gloves.
Key facts
- Hike: ≈3 km / 1.9 mi each way, about 1 h 30 up and 1 h 30 down
- Altitude: 5,036 m / 16,522 ft at the viewpoint (official MINCETUR figure)
- Schedule: hotel pickup 4:30–5:00 am; drop-off near the Plaza de Armas in the late afternoon
- Meals: breakfast and buffet lunch in Cusipata
- Included: transport, bilingual English-speaking guide, Rainbow Mountain entrance fee, emergency oxygen and medical kit
- Not included: horse rental, drinks and snacks, travel insurance, the Red Valley community fee
- Price: from US$45 per person, paid in full when you book
Choosing between colored mountains? See Rainbow Mountain vs Palcoyo vs Pallay Punchu.
Good to know
- 5,036 mofficial altitude of the viewpoint (MINCETUR), 16,522 ft; the 5,200 m (17,060 ft) often quoted refers to higher nearby points.
- ≈3 kmeach way (1.9 mi) from the Cusipata-side trailhead: about 1 h 30 up and 1 h 30 down.
- Entrance includedthe Rainbow Mountain entrance fee is in the price; the Red Valley next to the viewpoint has a separate community fee.
Frequently asked questions
How hard is the Rainbow Mountain hike?
How high is Rainbow Mountain: 5,036 m or 5,200 m?
What time is pickup and when do we get back to Cusco?
What is included in the price?
What should I bring, and what if it rains?
Is Rainbow Mountain open?
Is there an easier option?
How do I book and pay?
-
We will pick you up from the hotel from 4:30 am to 5:00 am. We will go with our transport to the community of Cusipata by paved road approximately 1:30 hours, where we will have breakfast, then continue along the branch of Cusipata for a space of 30 minutes more, until you reach the town of Chillihuani, where we will pass through pictures that places like Tintinko, Rio Tigre, observe the Surina Mountain by the town of Llacto, then pass the control of the Municipality of Cusipata, in the place you can appreciate the flora and fauna in their natural habitat. (Llamas, Alpacas, Vicuñas, etc.). Where we will continue our journey along a dirt road for about 20 minutes to reach the starting point of our hike.
Then we begin our adventure to the rainbow mountain for about 1 hour and a half, where we can appreciate panoramic views as the Red Valley and mountains with the snow-capped Ausangate and small lakes, we can appreciate and take pictures of the rainbow mountain. Then we will begin to descend to our starting point for 1 hour and a half approx. There our transport will be waiting for us to return to the town of Cusipata where we will have a delicious lunch after tasting we will return by the same route to Cusco for 2 hours approx. where we will arrive at 4:30 p.m. and we will drop you off near the plaza de armas of cusco
Includes
- Professional Bilingual English speaking tour guide
- Pick up from your hotel and transportation to Cusipata
- Return transportation from Cusipata to Cusco.
- Breakfast, buffet lunch
- Emergency oxygen bottle and medical kit
- entrance fee to the rainbow mountain
Not included
- drinks and snack.
- Travel /Health / Emergency insurance
- horses to rent.
- Rain jacket / poncho
- Winter hat and gloves
- Rain pants
- Snacks
- Sun block, factor 35+ recommended
- Sunglasses and sun hat
- Camera with spare batteries – batteries run down faster at high altitudes
- Binoculars
- Trekking poles (recommended especially for the steep descents, can be rented from us)
- Our trek rankings are the following
Tour price
Price per person · ask us for group-size rates
- Starting from US$45 per person Check dates
- Groups & private service Rate based on your group per person Get a quote
To confirm this trip we need you to send us your personal information, Deposit of US$40 per person as well as the name of the hotel to come and pick you up.
PRICE:
Our day tours are done shared and the cost is based on your group size.
2 – 15 people to more: 45 USD$
We sometimes offer to combine private tours (with your permission) into smaller groups with a discount.
