Rainbow Mountain Full Day Hike from Cusco with Local Guide





Description
Embark on an unforgettable full day adventure with Cusco Aventura to the iconic Rainbow Mountain (Vinicunca), one of Peru’s most spectacular natural wonders. Perfect for nature lovers, adventure seekers, and photographers, this guided hike leads you through breathtaking high altitude trails with panoramic Andes views. What makes this experience unique is Cusco Aventura’s expert local guides, authentic cultural encounters, and personalized service. Discover the vibrant colors of Montaña de 7 Colores, learn about Quechua traditions, and conquer Rainbow Mountain, book your adventure today!
Tour Options
Itinerary
Begin our adventure by departing from the city of Cusco to the picturesque village of Cusipata. Enjoy the scenic drive and the breathtaking Andean landscapes as we prepare for the day's hike. Our knowledgeable guide will provide insights into the region's history and culture.
Arrive in Pitumarca, a charming Andean town and gateway to the Rainbow Mountain trek. From here, we travel to the rural community of Chillihuani, where the hike officially begins. Immerse yourself in the local culture and scenic surroundings as you prepare for an unforgettable mountain adventure.
Start the hike to the Montaña de 7 Colores (Rainbow Mountain), traversing diverse terrains, including rolling hills and steep slopes. The path is lined with spectacular views and offers a glimpse into the natural beauty of the region. Our guide will share interesting facts about the trail and its significance. As we ascend, take time to appreciate the rich flora and fauna of the region. The area is home to a variety of plant species and wildlife, including llamas and alpacas. The imposing Ausangate snow-capped mountain and unique geological formations provide a stunning backdrop for our hike. Reach the summit of the Rainbow Mountain and be amazed by the vibrant colors that give the mountain its name. The panoramic views of the Red Valley and the surrounding Andean peaks are truly breathtaking. Take a moment to capture unforgettable photos and enjoy the sense of accomplishment.
Reach the summit of the Rainbow Mountain and be amazed by the vibrant colors that give the mountain its name. The panoramic views of the Red Valley and the surrounding Andean peaks are truly breathtaking. Take a moment to capture unforgettable photos and enjoy the sense of accomplishment.
After soaking in the spectacular scenery at the summit, we will begin our descent back to Chillihuani. The return hike offers a different perspective on the landscape, and we'll have the opportunity to reflect on the experience and share stories with fellow hikers.
Once we return to Chillihuani, we'll have the chance to interact with the local community. Learn about their customs, traditions, and way of life. This cultural exchange provides a deeper understanding of the region and its people.
Finally, we'll depart from Chillihuani and make our way back to the city of Cusco. As we travel through the scenic landscapes of the Andes, take in the beauty one last time. We'll arrive in Cusco with lasting memories of an incredible adventure in the southern Peruvian highlands.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Please wait for us in the lobby of your hotel. Our representative will pick you up and escort you to the transport to start the tour.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- 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(29)
Our full day hikle to Rainbow Mountain with Cusco Aventura was an unforgettable experience. The landscapes were absolutely breathtaking, with vibrant colors stretching across the mountains and stunning views along the entire trail. Our guide Wilfredo, was exceptional, very knowledgable, friendly, and attentive to everyone in the group. He shared fascinating insights about the region and made sure we were comfortable and well prepared throughout the hike. The entire trip was well organized, and I highly recommend Cusco Aventura, especially if you have Wilfredo as your guide.
We highly recommend this tour company and our amazing guide, Evelyn. The trip went smoothly, starting the day before with WhatsApp message for the pick up time. Evelyn was great at communicating the itinerary for the day. She also hiked with us and ensured that everyone made it to the top. She also helped take our pictures. Thank you for an unforgettable trip.
Marco was a great guide, giving us information about Vinicuna and Ausangate on the way, and making the schedule and plan very clear. The pricing was also clear, and we knew before going exactly what was included. The view of Ausangate, Vinicuna, and the Red Valley are stunning, and well worth the time. We recommend this trip, and recommend Marco as a guide!
I was a bit worried about the high altitude hike and it was all organised well by Wilfredo, our guide and his team. The hike is somewhat challenging, especially towards the end, but the views totally compensated the efforts. Wilfredo was very patient and shared many information about the local traditions and how they revered the mountain as a sacred entity. I do reccomend the tour if you are well acclimatized.
I swear they gave us an unforgettable experience, they even had a great detail with us that we will never forget, everything was safe and as agreed, we highly recommend and supported us in everything, our tour went to pallay punchu please do it with them
From pickup to drop off was excellent, The Guide Eveline was exceptional, the explanations direction was clear, driver was safe and the mountain climb, the assistance while on the mountain from Eveline was exceptional She took care of each and every one on the group plus gave us pointers and many information that we would not normally would get. We will recommend this activity to everyone. Rainbow Mountain and Red Vally are a must visit with this Crew
This was hands down the **worst travel experience I’ve ever had**. From the very beginning, the agency showed **zero professionalism**, and their **reckless negligence** put my safety at risk. **Pre-trip communication was a joke.** When I asked simple questions, they brushed me off with a lazy *"don’t worry"* instead of providing clear details. That was my first warning sign—**and I should have listened to my gut.** Our guide, **Marco**, was **completely unfit for the job—irresponsible, impatient, and careless**: - He gave **important instructions while I was in the bathroom** and then **got annoyed when I asked him to repeat them**, snapping *"just take a pic"* like that would magically help. I decided to just follow silently to avoid being uncomfortable —**only to realize too late that he’d disappear on me.** - Though I told him that I had COVID two weeks ago but he just decided to ignore what I have said, he **ignored the risks of high altitude**, rushing ahead at a brutal pace. I wanted to take ATV but didn’t want to lose the group so I had no choice except to follow **I lost sight of the group twice on Rainbow Mountain** because of his terrible guidance. To make things worse, **I felt dizzy and weak at the summit—completely alone**, with no guide or group in sight. - The most **unforgivable part?** When I fell behind, **he didn’t even try to find me.** What if I had passed out? At that altitude, with my health condition, **this was beyond irresponsible—it was dangerous.** But the **absolute worst moment** came when I finally made it back, freezing and exhausted, only to discover **the bus was gone**. Standing in cold for over an hour. I later found out they had **left for Red Valley without me—stranding me, a solo traveler, in the middle of nowhere.** The panic and helplessness I felt were **unbearable**. **This agency does not care about your safety.** The food was decent, but I was so stressed and in so much stomach pain that I couldn’t eat. **What should have been an unforgettable adventure turned into a traumatic ordeal.** The **only reason this isn’t zero stars** is that the food and transport (when they didn’t abandon me) were okay. **DO NOT RISK IT WITH THIS AGENCY.** Their **lack of organization, basic empathy, and total disregard for safety** is **unacceptable**. If you value your well-being—**book elsewhere.** This company should not be in business. ****One more thing: one of the 5stars reviews on google from the operator himself. I suspect the rest from him or his team.
Dear Rema, Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts. We are very sorry that your tour did not meet your expectations and caused you distress. We understand that you left two reviews regarding the same tour experience, and we would like to address your concerns in full here. After carefully reviewing your feedback and speaking with the guide who led the group that day, we believe this may have been a case of miscommunication and differing perceptions. The guide reports having made efforts to stay attentive and present during the hike, including monitoring all travelers. However, we understand that in a group with participants of different nationalities, language barriers and cultural differences can lead to misunderstandings or feelings of being left out. We are especially sorry that you experienced discomfort related to your recent recovery and that the physical demands of the hike became overwhelming. It was never our intention for you to feel unsafe, abandoned, or disrespected. We truly regret that you felt alone during any part of the experience. Your comments have led us to reinforce our guide training, with a renewed focus on: Health and safety protocols for high-altitude conditions Clearer communication before and during the tour Greater cultural sensitivity and group coordination We also want to be transparent: all our reviews follow the official policies of Viator and Google. We value honest feedback, both positive and negative, and use it to grow and improve. Thank you once again for bringing this to our attention. While we wish your experience had been different, we are committed to learning from it to ensure future travelers feel safe, supported, and valued. Sincerely, The Cusco Aventura Team
My tour with this agency was an absolute disaster—dangerously disorganized and shockingly negligent. From start to finish, it was easily the worst travel experience I’ve ever had. **Pre-trip communication was nonexistent.** When I asked basic questions, I was dismissed with a careless *"don’t worry"* instead of clear information Our guide, **Marco**, was utterly **irresponsible**: - He gave **critical instructions while I was in the bathroom and didn’t repeat them. just saying *"just take a pic"* (as if that helps!). - He **ignored my recent COVID recovery**, even though high altitude can be risky. His reckless pace left me struggling, and **I got lost twice on Rainbow Mountain** because of his poor guidance. - The **ultimate failure?** When I fell behind, **he didn’t even bother looking for me.** What if something serious had happened? At high altitude, with my health condition, this was **dangerously negligent.** The worst part? After finally reaching the summit, freezing and exhausted, I returned to find **the bus gone**. I was waiting in cold outside until my stomach hurt. Later, I discovered they had **left for Red Valley without me**, abandoning me as a **solo traveler in a remote area**. The fear and helplessness I felt were unbearable—this agency has zero regard for traveler safety. The food was decent, but I couldn’t eat due to severe stomach pain from stress. **This tour ruined what should have been an amazing experience.** **DO NOT BOOK WITH THIS AGENCY.** Their lack of organization, basic care, and **blatant disregard for safety** are **unacceptable**. Save yourself the risk and frustration—go with a company that actually values its customers.
Dear Rema_M, Thank you for taking the time to share your experience. We are genuinely sorry to hear that the tour did not meet your expectations, and we regret the distress you experienced during your visit to Rainbow Mountain. We have reviewed your feedback with our team and the guide who accompanied your group. From our internal report, we understand that the guide remained attentive and concerned for your well-being throughout the tour. However, we acknowledge that there may have been a misunderstanding or communication issue, especially considering there were travelers from different backgrounds and nationalities in the group, which may have influenced how interactions were perceived. We never want a guest to feel unsafe or abandoned, and we are sincerely sorry that this is how the experience felt for you. Your comments are being used as part of our continued efforts to improve our communication and cultural sensitivity training with guides. We appreciate your feedback and the opportunity it gives us to grow as a team. We hope that despite this situation, you were still able to enjoy some aspects of your time in Peru. Sincerely, The Cusco Aventura Team
I had a great experience hiking Rainbow Mountain, and our tour guide Michael truly made the journey more enjoyable and safe. Partway through the hike, I ran out of water, and he kindly gave me a bottle of Gatorade to help me recharge. He also noticed I was taking frequent breaks and offered to carry my backpack for me. It was pretty heavy (and I'm petite), so his help def made a big difference. Michael was also very thoughtful when it came to our safety. He gave us helpful tips about how to stay safe once we reached the top of the mountain, and throughout the hike, he made sure that everyone stayed ahead of him so he could keep an eye on the whole group. I really appreciated his kindness, patience, and professionalism, and I highly recommend him as a guide!
Mr. Ruiz was an excellent guide, friendly and giving us every detail. He gave us a lot of information and was attentive at all times.



