Palcoyo Rainbow Mountain Full Day Tour from Cusco
Description
Escape the crowds and discover a quieter, equally stunning alternative to Vinicunca on this full day Palccoyo Rainbow Mountain Tour. With a short and scenic 40 minute hike, this experience is ideal for travelers of all ages looking for natural beauty without the intensity of a long trek. Enjoy round trip transportation from Cusco, a hearty Andean breakfast, and a traditional lunch at a local restaurant. Along the way, explore three colorful rainbow mountains, take in panoramic views of the Andes, visit the otherworldly Stone Forest, and learn about the region’s geology and culture from your professional bilingual guide.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Early Morning Departure from Cusco Your adventure begins early as we depart Cusco around 4:00 a.m. in our tourist transport. As we head south through the Andean highlands, you'll witness the first light of day over quiet villages and mountain landscapes. After approximately 1.5 hours of driving, we’ll stop for a traditional breakfast at a local restaurant, giving you a moment to relax and fuel up before the hike.
After breakfast, we continue our journey to the Palccoyo trailhead, located at an altitude of approximately 4,800 meters. Here, we begin a short and easy hike through colorful, rolling landscapes. The trail is about 1.5 kilometers (roughly 40 minutes) and follows a gradual incline, making it accessible for most fitness levels. Along the way, we’ll be surrounded by spectacular views of the three Palccoyo Rainbow Mountains, each showcasing natural mineral colors in vibrant reds, greens, yellows, and oranges. Unlike the more crowded Vinicunca trail, Palccoyo offers a peaceful and less touristy experience. At the highest point of the trail, around 4,900 meters, we’ll pause to take in the breathtaking panoramic views of the Andes mountain range. On clear days, you may even spot llamas grazing in the distance.
Visit to the Stone Forest (optional) We continue our exploration to the nearby Stone Forest, a surreal landscape of towering rock formations sculpted by centuries of wind and erosion. These unique geological structures resemble towers, animals, or ancient temples, sparking imagination and wonder. While exploring, your guide will share insights into local myths and stories associated with the rocks. We’ll also reach another viewpoint that offers a stunning perspective of the Ausangate Glacier, the highest peak in the Cusco region, standing majestically in the distance.
After taking in the views and enjoying time at the Stone Forest, we will return via the same trail to our vehicle. The descent is easier and gives time to reflect on the amazing natural sights you’ve experienced. On the way back to Cusco, we’ll stop in a local village to enjoy a hearty Andean lunch, featuring regional dishes made with fresh local ingredients such as soups, potatoes, stews, and vegetables. We expect to arrive back in Cusco around 4:30 p.m., completing a day full of vivid scenery, fresh mountain air, and a deep connection to the Andean landscape.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Pickup for the Palccoyo Rainbow Mountain Tour begins approximately 30 minutes before the scheduled departure time (around 4:00 a.m.) from your hotels in Cusco. Travelers are kindly asked to be ready and waiting in the lobby of their hotel or accommodation at that time. Our guide will contact you by phone to coordinate the pickup and ensure there are no issues. Please make sure your phone is turned on and reachable, and that you’ve provided the correct contact details and pickup location when booking
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Reviews(100)
If you have a family or don't want to walk forever this is the way to see Rainbow Mountain. The hardest parts of this journey have to be the early wake up time, the difficulty sleeping in the van and of course the walk at high elevation. There are a few inclines on this path which are even more difficult to manage given the thin, cold air. There are no other methods to scale the path other than your feet so keep that in mind. The entrance fee is very cheap about 15 sole per person. Joel did a great job at motivating us during the climb and making sure we stayed on track during our breakfast and lunch stops. Make sure you pack more water and snacks than you think.
Very friendly staff and an amazing experience! One of the best things I did in Peru. Love the quiet environment. Beautiful and comfortable drive as well. My family did great after 3 days of acclimating to the altitude
1 hike (easy with a short steep climb) will give you an open area wide view of 3 “rainbow”s and a majestic view of Ausangate. We’re lucky to get a clear sunny day. Our guide Lucas was helpful and knowledgeable, he showed us a few great vantage points for photographs. EPIC! The ride/transport of 3 hours (1way) is well worth it.
The landscape is amazing, it is like another planet! It is optional how much of the hike you do depending on how you are with the altitude, and the first rainbow mountain is very close to the parking place (although the other 2 and the stone forest are well worth the walk). We had plenty of time to see the area. The breakfast and lunch were great too. The only thing I would say is be careful with the woman taking payment for the toilets next to where the vans park as she was trying to short change people in the group - better to bring coins so you can pay exactly (this has nothing to do with the tour operator, just worth mentioning)
I did the Palcoyo rainbow mountain tour with Elisban as my guide and it was really great, I would definitely recommend! The pickup and drop off were both on time, breakfast and lunch were delicious and a lot of food, and the rainbow mountain and stone forest were incredible!! Elisban, our guide, was lovely as well, he was really informative and kept everything running smoothly. The whole day was well organised and ran very smoothly.
My husband and I really enjoyed the views of the mountains. When we arrived, we were one of the first groups there so there were no crowds. We were able to take out time hiking, taking pictures and enjoying the scenery. The hike itself is relatively flat but the altitude could be difficult for some (some people in our group were struggling a bit). The rock forest is also great to see and offers panoramic views if you are up for the extra steps. Morning pickup was smooth and communications were all done through Whatsapp. Admission fee for the mountain is not included so you'll need to bring soles to cover that. The only thing is we would have appreciated if the guide explained more. The tour felt more like walking from photo spot to photo spot. Our guide didn't provide a lot of explanations on the history or the scenery. For example, I asked what causes the colours and if it was because of specific minerals, and he just said "Yes we have a lot of different minerals that have different colours." I would have appreciated learning more about the lifestyle of the people living near the mountains, how the mountains were discovered, why they have different colors and more.
Really good trip, good value for money especially with the breakfast & lunch included. The pick up time we were given was wrong & we were stood outside for 30 minutes, not a great start to the day. It isn’t really guided, there is a guide who you can stick with or you can go off walking on your own. We were told information about Peru on the bus by our guide.
Outstanding experience. The scenery is amazing. Maybe some of the best I’ve ever seen and I’m pretty well traveled. You get 3 rainbow mountains instead of one at the original “Rainbow mountain.” Pick up was seamless and only 5 minutes past the designated time (4:05-4:15.). The breakfast stop was also the lunch stop and was a solid food choice buffet style. An “optional “ morning stop included a look at some bridges. Negligible cost and interesting. They were very safety conscious. Checking SpO2 rates, asking many questions about your experience with altitude, etc. Joel, our guide, and Luis, our driver were great guys and really good at their jobs. This is an up and coming destination and I’m happy to have been on the earlier end and support the beautiful local community. Highly recommend.
It was a wonderful ride with a lot of cool people. Our tour guide Lukas was very professional and friendly. Definitv again🙏🏾😁
Very nice experience, thanks to Ricardo who was an excellent guide who accompanied us very well throughout the day!
