Private Palccoyo Rainbow Hike Without the Crowds
Description
Escape the crowds: Be among the first to witness the captivating Palccoyo Rainbow Mountain and enjoy a leisurely 50-minute hike on a flat path, skipping the challenging and crowded 2-hour ascent of Vinicunca. Intimate Group Setting: Immerse yourself in the adventure with like-minded travelers in a small group limited to a maximum of 8 participants, ensuring a personalized and engaging experience. Llama Companionship: Experience a unique bond with the Andean landscape as you hike alongside delightful alpacas/llamas, an exclusive opportunity for our travelers in collaboration with the local community. Seamless Comfort: Travel in style and comfort. We prioritize your ease with our top-notch transportation, ensuring your journey is as remarkable as the destination itself.
Tour Options
Itinerary
3:30 am: We'll pick you up at your hotel earlier than everyone else because of one reason - to be one of the first ones at Rainbow Mountain. 5:30 am: Energetic breakfast in one of the best restaurants in the area.
7:30 am: Briefing at the parking lot, from where you can already see a rainbow mountain. 7:45 am: 'Walk the alpaca' while we're on our way to the main viewpoint. Once there, you'll see all three rainbow mountains. The hike to the stone forest with a spectacular panoramic view of the entire valley is optional. 11:45 pm: Delicious lunch in local restaurant consisting of either a buffet or 3-course menu.
3:30 pm: Arrival in Cusco and drop-off at your accommodation. Note: All times are approximations.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
You will be picked up from your hotel/hostel/Airbnb (if it's close to the Cusco city center). IMPORTANT: After you made your reservation, please send us immediately via the TripAdvisor messenger the pickup location and food preferences. This messenger will be available within your booking confirmation.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Minimum age is 12 years (due to the altitude)
- Bring your backpack, a rain cape and layers of clothes so you'll be warm and prepared for every kind of weather
- Take gloves, a hat, hiking shoes + an extra pair of socks with you (in case of snow) and if you want to you can bring hiking poles as well
- Bring sunscreen, sunglasses, some cash and snacks
- Be in Cusco min. 24 h before the start of the tour to get used to the altitude
Reviews(87)
Amazing experience and 5* service. Maik (and the driver German) made us feel well taken care of every single moment of the trip. Excellent explanations, cool attitude, friendliness and the itinerary was well executed. The lunch was also delicious which adds to the overall experience. We were the first to start the hike on foot without the crowds so promise to beat the crowds was honoured.
Thank you for the wonderful review! Maik and German are a great team and it's fantastic to hear every moment felt so well looked after. Getting you on that hike ahead of the crowds is something we plan carefully, so we're glad it delivered exactly as promised. And that lunch - always a highlight! Best wishes from the entire Exploor Peru team
We had a fantastic time exploring Palcoyo, thanks to our experienced guide, Jesús Carrion. The tour started promptly, and Jesús took great care of us throughout the day. Although the walk to Palcoyo, also known as the alternative Rainbow Mountain, was relatively easy and moderate, the high altitude of 4900m caused my husband to feel short of breath. Jesús made a concerted effort to ensure his well-being while also keeping an eye on the rest of the group. Compared to Vinicunca, Palcoyo was noticeably less crowded, and it offered breathtaking views of three rainbow mountains, the red valley, and the stone forest. Unfortunately, we had to skip the stone forest due to my husband's condition. Nevertheless, we thoroughly enjoyed the walk and appreciated Jesús' guidance.
Thank you so much for your thoughtful review, Pauline! We’re really happy to hear that you had such a positive experience exploring Palccoyo and that Jesús took such great care of you throughout the day. It’s great to know that you enjoyed the quieter atmosphere and the stunning views of the rainbow mountains and Red Valley. Thank you again for sharing your experience. Best wishes from our entire Exploor Peru team!
Very personal experience. John Mike was very knowledgeable and accommodating to our needs. He made sure we were having the best time of your lives yet safe. He has a very interesting background to chat along the hike as well and a pretty good cameraman.
What an amazing message, Wilson - thank you for sharing it! We’re so glad you had such a memorable experience with John Mike. His deep knowledge, friendly personality, and care for every detail truly make him one of a kind. It’s wonderful to hear that he made sure you felt both safe and inspired along the way, and that you enjoyed his great conversation (and camera skills!) during the hike. Warm regards from all of us at the Exploor Peru team.
He is very friendly and get to know each of us. He is making sure we have the best experience for the trip. helping us and show us a good spot taking pictures.
Thank you so much for your kind words, Tom! We're really glad to hear that you had such a positive experience and that your guide made you feel welcome and well cared for. It’s great to know he went the extra mile to help with photos and make sure you had the best possible experience. Best wishes from our entire Exploor Peru team!
Maik was an excellent tour guide and German was a great driver for our tour of the rainbow mountain. Mark gave us a lot of helpful tips and shared a lot of wonderful history with us. He made the trip to the rainbow mountain extra awesome by giving us optional routes. I highly recommend this tour if you want a great experience in the rainbow mountains
Thank you so much for your kind words, Kelvin! We're thrilled to hear that you had such a great experience at Rainbow Mountain. Maik will be happy to know that his insights, tips, and flexible route options made the day extra special, and German will appreciate your recognition of his excellent driving. We’re glad you enjoyed the balance of adventure, comfort, and learning along the way. Thanks again for the recommendation! Best wishes from our entire Exploor Peru team.
Excellent, super, unique We can only recommend the tour to Palocoyo. Our guide Junior was absolutely great. Pick up on time. Great driver. Super comfortable seats, even for lying down. Good breakfast buffet and great lunch. Breathtaking impressions even on the journey. Incredibly beautiful impressions on the great hike. The stone forest was also great and a lasting experience. It could hardly be more beautiful.
Thank you so much for your fantastic review, Ralf! We’re thrilled to hear how much you enjoyed the Palccoyo tour and that Junior made the experience so memorable. It’s great to know that everything met your expectations. The Stone Forest truly is something special, and we're glad it left such a lasting impression. Thanks again for your kind words and recommendation! Best wishes from our entire Exploor Peru team.
Maiki and Fredi gave us an amazing experience! They were knowledgeable, patient, and encouraging as we experienced hiking in higher altitude. They brought humor, fun, and joy to our day and were ready to help make us comfortable and address any emergencies. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Highly recommend!!! (P.S. - trust them when they say leaving at 3:30 is a better experience. It truly was!)
Thank you so much for your kind words, Brenda! We're thrilled to hear that Maik and Freddy made your experience so special. Their knowledge, energy, and support - especially at higher altitudes - really help make the day both fun and safe. We’re also glad you trusted the early start… it truly makes a difference! Thanks again for the glowing recommendation. Best wishes from our entire Exploor Peru team.
Great experience! Jesus prepared and helpful made the hike safe and pleasant. Recommended!!!!!!!
Grazie mille per il tuo bellissimo commento! Siamo felici che l’esperienza ti sia piaciuta e che Jesús abbia reso l’escursione sicura e piacevole con la sua preparazione e disponibilità. Un caro saluto da tutto il team di Exploor Peru!
We had such a wonderful day hiking to Rainbow Mountain! We were lucky enough to enjoy the place before the big crowds arrived, which made the experience even more special. Our guide, Jesus, was incredibly knowledgeable and professional, but also made us feel truly welcomed and cared for throughout the entire trip. Highly recommended!
Thank you so much for your kind words, Veronica! We’re so glad you had a memorable experience hiking to Rainbow Mountain - and even more so that you got to enjoy it before the crowds arrived! Jesús will be happy to hear that his knowledge, professionalism, and warm approach made you feel truly cared for. Best wishes from our entire Exploor Peru team.
What a fabulous experience-Maiki was an excellent guide and the driver was great as well. The views blew me away…..which says a lot as I hike all over the world Thanks for a memorable day-not to mention great photos
Thank you so much for your kind words! We're thrilled to hear you had such a memorable experience and that Maik and our driver made your day extra special. It's an honor to hear that the views impressed you, especially as an experienced hiker. We're also glad you enjoyed the photos! Best wishes from our entire Exploor Peru team.
