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Rainbow Mountain
2 Day / 1 Night Tour
- 2 days / 1 nights
- Max Group Size: 8
- Starts in Cusco
- Book all year round
- Regular & luxury tents available
- Ends in Machu Picchu
Introduction
Our 2-day Rainbow Mountain trek offers a unique adventure that takes you away from the usual tourist crowds and deep into the natural beauty of the Andes. Over two days, you’ll journey through rugged landscapes, cross high mountain passes, and experience breathtaking views of snow-capped peaks that rise majestically above the horizon.
As we hike through isolated valleys and remote trails, you’ll witness the vibrant colors of the Vinicunca Rainbow Mountain in a more intimate setting, where the multi-colored stripes of red, orange, yellow, and turquoise spread across the mountainside like a natural tapestry.
Along the way, you’ll be surrounded by awe-inspiring vistas, from rolling green valleys and herds of alpacas to serene glaciers and quiet highland villages. This trek is not just about reaching Rainbow Mountain; it’s about truly immersing yourself in the untouched beauty and tranquility of the Andes, making for an unforgettable adventure.
Highlights
Max Altitude
Distance
Duration
Average daily hike
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Itinerary
The 2-day Rainbow Mountain tour takes you from Cusco through scenic valleys and high passes to the breathtaking Vinicunca Rainbow Mountain. You’ll hike past colorful lagoons and stunning peaks, camp overnight at Anantapata, and ascend to Vinicunca Pass for panoramic views of the vibrant Rainbow Mountain and Ausangate before heading back to Cusco.
Our 2-day trek to Rainbow Mountain begins bright and early as we set off from Cusco after breakfast at your hotel. We’ll journey toward Puno, traveling along the scenic Vilcanota Valley, passing through the vast altiplano on a well-paved road.
After about two hours, we leave the main road and continue along a winding dirt road to the charming village of Checacupe. Here, we’ll take a break to explore the Colonial Church of the Immaculate Conception before heading up the picturesque Pitumarka Valley.
We’ll stop briefly in Pitumarka town for a chance to pick up some refreshments, then continue onward to the village of Hanchi Pacha. From here, we drive another hour through stunning valleys and narrow canyons, featuring unique rock formations perfect for photo opportunities, until we reach the trailhead for our trek.
After approximately 4 hours of travel from Cusco, we reach Qh’esihuno, where we begin our 3-hour hike, gradually climbing to the Pucacocha Pass (4,950m / 16,240 ft). From this viewpoint, you’ll be treated to sweeping views of vibrant lagoons, the surrounding valleys, and the majestic Ausangate mountain.
We’ll then descend to our campsite at Anantapata (4,750m / 15,583 ft), where we will spend the night. Given the high altitude of the camp, you should be well-acclimatized with at least three days at elevation prior to starting the trek. Nights can be quite cold, so warm clothing and a sleeping bag rated for -15˚C (5˚F) are recommended.
During the trek, keep an eye out for local weavers who can often be seen caring for their flocks and working on traditional textiles, a beautiful cultural experience unique to the Quispicanchis region.
Hiking Details:
- Distance: 12 km
- Time: 5-6 hours
- Altitude Range: 4,500m (14,762 ft) to 4,950m (16,240 ft)
- Camp Altitude: 4,750m (15,583 ft)
On the second day, after an early breakfast, we set off on a 3-hour hike, ascending gradually toward Vinicunca Pass. Along the way, we’ll cross two mountain passes, reaching Warmisaya Pass (5,020m / 16,469 ft) after about 1.5 hours. The higher we climb, the more challenging the breathing becomes, so we’ll take it slow and steady. Be prepared for strong, cold winds at the top, so make sure to layer up and keep warm with a woolly hat!
From this vantage point, we will be rewarded with spectacular views of the mighty Apu Ausangate and the distant colors of the Rainbow Mountains. We descend briefly to a lagoon before making our final climb toward the iconic Vinicunca.
We’ve Reached Rainbow Mountain!
Arriving at the top, you’ll be greeted by the breathtaking sight of Rainbow Mountain, with its striking bands of turquoise, orange, brown, and red. You’ll also enjoy panoramic views of the snow-covered Apu Ausangate if the skies are clear. After taking in the views and snapping some memorable photos, we’ll retrace our steps back to K’airahuiri. The downhill return trek is faster and should take around 2-2.5 hours, allowing you to enjoy the beautiful scenery one last time.
We’ll have an early lunch at K’airahuiri, say our farewells to the local team, and then drive back to Cusco, arriving around 4 pm.
Hiking Details:
- Distance: 14 km
- Time: 5-6 hours
- Altitude Range: 4,700m (15,419 ft) to 5,040m (16,535 ft)
Note: This itinerary is subject to change based on weather conditions and group preferences.
Optional Extension: If you’re well acclimatised and feeling energetic, you can opt for an additional hike through the stunning Red Valley before returning to Cusco.
Rainbow Mountain Photo Gallery
Essential Information
Click on the tabs below to see what is included and what is not included as part of your trip. If there is something which is not mentioned here or your have any questions about what to bring, please get in contact with us on the contact page.
Accommodation
- Tents: Two people will share a spacious 4-person tent, providing extra comfort and space for storing backpacks.
- Camping Pillows: Soft pillows provided for a more restful sleep.
- Mattresses: A basic foam mattress is included. If you prefer added comfort, inflatable mattresses are available for rent. Check our Optional Extras & Upgrades section.
- Toilet Facilities: A dedicated toilet tent is set up for your convenience.
Meals
- Dining Setup: Enjoy your meals in a dining tent equipped with tables and chairs. A separate kitchen tent is used by our cooks to prepare your food.
- Cooking Team: Our skilled cook, along with assistants for larger groups, will prepare delicious meals.
- Meal Plan: All meals listed in the itinerary are included. Our expert chefs offer a mix of traditional Peruvian dishes and Western cuisine. Special dietary needs, such as vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free, are accommodated—please discuss any preferences with your Travel Consultant during booking. Fresh salads are prepared using boiled water.
- Final Day Lunch: Included in the itinerary.
- Drinking Water: We provide boiled water for drinking throughout the trek (bring your own reusable water bottle). Filtered water is also available on the first day.
Transport
- Pick-Up Service: We’ll pick you up from your hotel in Cusco on the morning of your trek.
- Private Transfers: Comfortable, private transport from Cusco to the starting point of the hike, and back to Cusco at the end.
Trekking Team
- Professional Guides: An experienced guide who speaks English, Quechua, and Spanish will lead the trek. For groups larger than 8, an assistant guide will also accompany you.
- Support Team: Horses and horsemen will transport your personal gear (up to 8kg/17lbs per person), as well as all camping gear, food, and cooking equipment.
- Staff Accommodation: Tents, sleeping bags, and sleeping pads are provided for the staff, along with a budget for their meals.
Safety Measures
- Emergency Horse: An extra horse will be available in case anyone feels unwell or needs additional support during the trek.
- First Aid: A comprehensive first aid kit, including an emergency oxygen bottle, is carried by your guide.
Additional Benefits
- Pre-Trek Briefing: A detailed briefing session is provided before your trek, where you will also receive a duffel bag for your personal items (up to 8kg/17lbs per person).
- Entry Fees: All entrance fees to the Rainbow Mountain area are included in the tour price.
Meals
- First Morning Breakfast: Not included; please have breakfast before departure.
- Dinner on the Final Night: This meal is not provided.
Equipment
- Sleeping Bags: Not included, but can be rented if you don’t have one. We recommend sleeping bags rated for at least -15˚C (5˚F) for cold nights.
- Extra Horses: If you need additional horses to carry more than the included 7kg/15lbs of personal gear, this will incur an extra cost.
- Trekking poles: Not included but these are available for rent from us
Other Exclusions
- Gratuities: Tips for your guide, cook, and horsemen are not included. Tipping is optional but appreciated.
- Flights: Airfare to and from Cusco is not covered.
Travel Insurance:
- You must arrange your own travel insurance for the trip.
- A small backpack to carry your things during the trek.
- Appropriate rain gear (Appropriate rain gear (especially if you travel in the rainy season from October to May 15 approximately)
- In the large backpack carry warm overnight clothes.
- It is advisable to place all your clothes and sleeping bag inside plastic bags to prevent them from getting wet if it rains.
- Original passport.
- Sleeping bag.
- Small towel.
- Trekking shoes, comfortable, it is recommended that they are waterproof.
- Sandals/ flip-flops
- Hats for sunny and cold weather.
- Sun block and moisturizing cream & after sun.
- Mosquito repellent (minimum 30% deet).
- Hands sanitizer.
- Flashlight, camera, camcorder and batteries (with the cold weather they are consumed quickly).
- Toilet paper, wet wipes.
- Personal first aid kit.
- Lip balm
- Ear plugs.
- Snacks (energy bars, dried fruit, chocolates, cookies, etc.).
- Water bottles. You can refill it with boiled water during the trekking.
- Cash in soles and dollars.
- Credit or debit card
- Hiking poles (recommended) or you can rent them from us.
- Hiking Pants
- Hiking Socks, polo shirts
- Hiking long sleeve T-shirts
- Thermal Underwear,shorts
- Sweater, jacket.
- Towel, bathing clothes.
- Hat, scarf, sunglasses
- Rehydration powder for mild dehydration
FAQs
We understand that sometimes your plans may change due to unforeseen circumstances. If you make a booking but then wish to cancel it, the following cancellation policies apply:
[Insert Cancellation Policy Table here]
Yes. We always recommend that you take out an insurance policy before travelling. We do not cover you on our insurance policy and we require you to sign a waiver prior to travelling for any damages, injuries etc that may occur on your trip.
However, you can rest assured in the knowledge that our experienced guides will ensure that you have a safe and enjoyable trip.