2 Days
Specific Tour
10 people
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known locally as Vinicunca (its Quechua name) or the montaña de siete colores (seven-colored mountain), is an absolute must for all those who love stunning landscapes and gorgeous scenery. Nestled in a remote region of the Andes Mountains, Rainbow Mountain was once a spectacle only to be admired by trekkers along the Ausangate Trek, but now you can witness this display of natural beauty in all its glory on a shorter 1- or 2-day hike as part of your Peru vacation.
The Rainbow Mountain trek 2-day offers a selection of wildlife including soaring vicuñas, alpacas, condors, and pumas. The colorful sandstone mountains in the area are probably the coolest and most unique natural phenomenon you will ever see.
On the first day of your Rainbow Mountain adventure, we will pick you up at your hotel at 4:00 am and drive 3 hours to the trailhead. While packing up our gear near the trailhead, our chef will be preparing a hot breakfast to get you fueled up for the hike ahead of you. Our guides will go over the itinerary for the day and safety tips to ensure you are fully prepared for the next two days. The trek begins in a large green valley. There, you will see hundreds of alpacas, local farmers, and the beautiful Ausangate Mountain, towering high above. This is only a teaser for what is to come on your journey! As you continue making your way on the trail, you will conquer the first pass of the trek, the Pucacocha pass. At around (4876mt, 16,000 ft), the pass sits just above Pucacocha Lake, and the massive Ausangate Mountain is directly in front of you. After a successful climb, we will stop around noon to eat lunch and recharge our bodies for the remainder of the hike.
Our destination for the night is Anata, where we will enjoy a beautiful evening surrounded by jaw-dropping landscapes at the base of the Andes Mountains. As the sun sets, we set up the dining tent with chairs for the group to relax and enjoy conversation while dinner is being prepared. This night you will see an unforgettable night sky full of constellations, and shooting stars, and keep yourself warm with coca tea or hot chocolate made from Peruvian chocolate.
Today is what you have been waiting for! Your chance to see the beautiful Rainbow Mountain, and the best part is you’re almost there! We will wake you up bright and early between 4 am and 5 am with coca tea delivered to your tent and serve a hearty breakfast to fuel you up for your final climb to Vinicunca (Rainbow Mountain). Upon arrival, you can take all the time you want soaking in the amazing 360-degree vistas of the surrounding lands and explore the mountain itself. Take some time to yourself and really enjoy the beauty of nature around you. It truly is a magical place. The hike down will only take about three hours and here we will celebrate a successful journey, and enjoy lunch before departing back to Cusco (3 hours). Arrival time back in Cusco will depend on how long you want to spend on Rainbow Mountain, but we typically get back around 5 pm and drop you off at your hotel.
Rainbow Mountain or Vinicunca is located in Peru, in the Cusco region, province of Canchis in the village of Pitumarca.
This mountain is a natural formation that shows the whim of nature through kilometers of land that are changing their coloring by the richness in minerals and it is from the viewpoint of Vinicunca, from where you will have a spectacular view of the entire Cordillera of the Andes with its whimsical colors that resemble the Rainbow.
The point of maximum height is 5200 meters above sea level; however the tour part of the city of Cusco, passing through towns like Checacupe and Pitumarka until you get to the start point of the walk called Pampachiri to 3800 meters above sea level, from where we will ascend to the observation deck at a height of 5200 meters above sea level.
The Mountain Rainbow is located 138 km from the city of Cusco and takes about 4 hours to get to this place between the trip by car and on foot without counting the stops to feed and rest.
The degree of difficulty of this route is intermediate – easy, so it is recommended for people with an optimal physical state, as the advancement could be a little tiring for people who are not accustomed to these walks in height. However you can rent a horse in the same locality of Pampachiri with the Communards who offer this service just for people who cannot walk or not willing to walk for three hours.
You must bear in mind that the horse is guided by a horseman and will leave about 15 minutes from the viewpoint of Vinicunca so if you or if you will have to walk this stretch.
The tour departs every day of the year, being the dry season the most recommended between the months of April to November however the rest of months even with the presence of rain and hail (sometimes) offers us a view that can only be seen with this climate that you can cope with a rain poncho and good trekking shoes.
Member Since 2023
