Rainbow Mountain Beat-the-Crowd, Small Group - 8:00 AM Departure
Description
Rainbow Mountain is Peru's second most visited destination after Machu Picchu. And with that popularity comes the crowds — large groups all rushing to reach the summit at the same time, often before sunrise. We do it differently. Our Early Bird Departure gets you to the summit among the first, returning to Cusco by early afternoon. Our Comfort Departure is timed so you arrive when the morning crowds have left — giving you the viewpoint almost to yourself. No long lines. No rushing. No fighting for photos. Just you, the colors, and the silence. Imagine standing before the painted hills and sweeping glaciers at your own pace — space to breathe, time to absorb the beauty, and freedom to capture the perfect shot. After the hike, enjoy a delicious meal surrounded by Andean landscapes. A moment to relax, refuel, and take it all in. This is Rainbow Mountain the way it should be experienced — with tranquility, privacy, and genuine connection.
Tour Options
Itinerary
We'll pick you up directly from your hotel. Exact pickup time will be confirmed based on your selected tour option and hotel location. From there, we travel approximately 1 hour 45 minutes to our rest stop, where you'll enjoy: Early Bird Departure: Full breakfast included Comfort Departure: Snacks provided Restrooms are available here before we continue to the trailhead.
Upon arrival at the trailhead, your guide will brief you on the hike, provide walking sticks, and arrange horse rentals for those who prefer to ride. Time to Summit: By horse: Approximately 1 hour (40 min riding + 20 min hiking the final stretch) By foot: Approximately 1.5 to 2 hours At the Top: The reward — stunning views without the crowds. Early Bird departures arrive before the masses. Comfort Departure guests arrive after they've left. Either way, you'll have space to breathe and take photos in peace. Return & Lunch: After soaking in the views, we'll hike back to the parking lot and drive to our restaurant for a delicious lunch. Vegan, vegetarian, or other dietary needs? No problem — just let us know the day before so we can coordinate with our team.
Upon arrival at the restaurant, lunch will be ready and waiting. Take your time — no rush, just relax and refuel. After lunch, we begin the 2-hour scenic drive back to Cusco. And yes, we drop you off at YOUR hotel — not the main plaza. True door-to-door service, from start to finish.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
AirBnb places if these have acces for cars. Pick up is included only for hotels in Cusco City.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- 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(848)
Willy was a fantastic guide who arranged a timely pickup, lunch, and horses at Rainbow Mountain. We took a short walk to the Red Valley as well which was a real highlight! It was a fabulous day- I highly recommend this company and guide!
This was one of the BEST experiences I have had with a tour group in all of my worldly travels. I was picked up and returned at my door. I enjoyed leaving at 8:00 AM rather than 4:00 AM. I was greeted by hiking guide, Alex and the driver, Yober. Alex gave me a bag with water and a lot of great snacks! We stopped at a restaurant to use the extremely clean restroom along the way and place our lunch order for the post hike meal. Once we arrived at the hiking start point we walked a short ways where he helped the other hiker in my group get settled on a horse. The two of us took off and hiked all the way to the top and with the bonus of the last high peak to reach one of the “hands” so I could get more great photos. He knows all the primo photo spots and was kind to take lots of photos for me. I enjoyed listening to some history about the mountain, Cusco and practicing my Spanish with him along the way. Upon returning to the van, Yober handed me a warm wash cloth that smelled and felt great. He also asked me what type of tea I would like. Top notch service again! We drove back to the restaurant and our food was ready. WOW, my quinoa soup and trout were delicious. I also tried my hiking mates chicken, which was excellent too. The dessert was a Lucuma mousse and I’d like another one. I only have great things to state about this trip and that you receive a lot of great service for what you pay. I highly recommend this trip. If at all possible allow yourself to acclimate to the altitude before you go on this hike to Rainbow Mountain. I exercise a lot and hike but not at this extreme altitude. You might have to consider a horse to get you up. It can also be cold and windy so wear layers, bring a sun hat and sunscreen. One last important point to mention is that the office staff did a great job about responding to my pick up questions. They also needed some information in advance and that was smooth as well. Thank you for an amazing day Alex and Yober!!!
It was a one of a kind experience and the feeling of being able to reach the very top was amazing. This was my first time with this type of experience and my fear/nervous disappeared thanks to our guide Ronald. We were a group with a couple of elements that struggled a bit, but our guide was able to be there for all of us. 5/5
Ronald is the man! Always available to help and a very good guide
Visiting from Florida, we almost cancelled our Rainbow Mountain trip because we felt we were acclimated enough. I am so happy we didn’t! Our guide John was wonderful! He gave us tips on how to breathe on the mountain, to hydrate and to eat the snacks provided. Leaving at 8 am was a bonus since it gave us some extra hours of sleep and the mountain had just a few visitors since it was later in a day. The lunch provided was also delicious! If you are interested in visiting the Rainbow Mountains, I highly recommend choosing this tour! John (our guide) and Alex (our driver) were both great!
Excellent tour. Found it fantastic: from hotel pick, history, meals, and return. I found Ronald, Alex and Thao to be highly respectful, kind, knowledgeable, caring and just good at what they do.
I had a great time on Rainbow Mtn. Our guide, John, was very supportive with the high altitude and very knowledgeable about things. Food was delicious and communication was clear as I had to switch groups from 8 am departure to 4 am departure. I'd highly recommend it!
We had the best experience with Ronaldino. He was extremely patient, kind and informative throughout our entire trip. I would highly recommend this tour to anyone, whether it be your first time or not.
It's cold at the top, bring warm gear. An easy walk, challenging only due to the altitude. We absolutely loved it!
Our guide, John, was exceptional. He was not only knowledgeable but also wonderfully engaging, making the journey as memorable as the destination itself. John went out of his way to accommodate the group in adding the Red Valley, which was spectacular. We paid extra to go by horse, definitely worth it! We had a fabulous lunch included at a beautiful restaurant in the middle of nowhere. This tour offered a unique and stress-free way to enjoy Rainbow Mountain. Highly recommend it to anyone looking for a more relaxed and intimate visit.
