Rainbow Mountain and Red Valley - Private Service
Description
Embark on an unforgettable full-day adventure to Rainbow Mountain, one of the most sacred and awe-inspiring peaks in the towering Ausangate range. Known locally as Vinicunca or Winicunca, this spectacular natural wonder is a must-see for travelers seeking the true essence of the Peruvian Andes. As you ascend, you'll pass through picturesque Quechua villages, where time-honored traditions and Andean culture thrive. The trail offers breathtaking views at every turn, leading you to the vibrant, mineral-rich slopes of Rainbow Mountain, a masterpiece of nature painted in mesmerizing red, green, turquoise, gold, and lavender hues. This is more than just a hike; it’s a journey into the heart of Peru’s untouched beauty. Ready to experience one of the world's most unique landscapes? Book your adventure today and witness nature’s artistry up close!
Tour Options
Itinerary
Wake up early to witness this natural wonder at its best. Between 3:45 AM and 4:15 AM, we’ll pick you up from your hotel for a scenic drive south of Cusco, passing through picturesque valleys and traditional Andean villages. After about two hours, we’ll reach Cusipata (3,329 masl / 12,772 ft.), where we’ll enjoy breakfast before continuing by van into the mountains. Along the way, we’ll pass herds of alpacas and llamas and see local shepherds going about their daily routines. Our hike begins in Phuluwasipata, with a two-hour ascent to Rainbow Mountain (5,020 masl / 16,470 ft.). At the summit, you’ll be amazed by the vibrant mineral colors and breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding Andean peaks. After a 30-minute break to rest and enjoy a snack, we’ll descend for 1.5 hours back to Phuluwasipata. From there, our transport will take us to a nearby restaurant for a well-deserved lunch before returning to Cusco, arriving between 4:00 and 6:00 PM, depending on the group's pace.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
We will pick you up from your hotel, hotels must be located around Cusco downtown.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Service animals allowed
- 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(9)
We had an amazing experience on the Full-Day Rainbow Mountain/Vinicunca Trek with this company! Once again, Lisseth was very helpful and ensured everything was well-organized from the start. The day began with a great buffet breakfast before heading to the starting point of the hike. Our guide, Fredy, was one of the friendliest guides we’ve had! Rainbow Mountain itself was stunning, thanks to the early start, we arrived before the crowds. Since it was just the two of us, we also had the chance to visit the Red Valley, which ended up being even more breathtaking. On the way back, we had a buffet lunch at the same place as breakfast before returning to our accommodation in the afternoon. Everything was well-planned, and the whole experience was smooth and stress-free.
Very good organization and give you a lot of confidence, pretty good tours, always looking Top-rated schedules. The Guide Frank excellent, very patient and friendly at all times
After enjoying our experience with Inkayni on the Inca Trail, my mom and I also signed up for a day tour of Rainbow Mountain and Red Valley. Inkayni had availability the next day for a private tour for us. Our guide Ali was very friendly and knowledgeable in Andean culture. He coached us on several fun poses for memorable pictures with the beautiful scenery. We were still tired from the trail and especially feeling the higher elevation, but the views make it all worth it. Ali was very patient with us needing short breaks every 20 steps or so. Further, Ali confirmed that Inkayni’s claims about working with locals are true, rather than contracting from an office in the US like other tour companies. This was a primary factor in my family choosing Inkayni to begin with, and it was great to hear directly that this appears to be true and employees enjoy working for Inkayni versus some of the more commercialized tour groups.
Be prepared to get up early and know that it’s totally worth it. We highly recommend going with Inkayni on your next visit to Peru! Be sure to request Guido Chavez. He’s a fantastic guide!
Amazing views. Lovely hike. Our tour guide Jonathan was great! He gave us the option of also doing Red Valley which was totally worth it. Epic views.
Dear Customer, Our guide Jonathan is happy to know that he did an excellent job during your Full-day Rainbow Mountain tour. Hope you can come back soon. Kind regards, INKAYNI PERU TOURS.
Of the best experiences I had during my visit to Peru, The Guido guide always watching the whole group, taking care that we were all well, the truth climb the mountain of 7 colors if it is very heavy if you do not prepare . The delicious food
I did the full day Rainbow Mountain your and received Franco as our guide and Percy as the driver. The only negative was being picked up last and having to sit in the back as the roads are rough (at no fault to the guides). The breakfast was enough to get you the energy to make it to the endpoint and our guides were very flexible and accommodating to differing levels of adjustment to the altitude (4500-5000+ meters up!). Everyone was allowed to go at their own pace and Franco and Percy operated under the "no person gets left behind and everyone will see the view, no matter what" mindset and even let some people in our group borrow their personal walking sticks. Franco was extremely knowledgeable in the history of the mountain and the peoples who reside there and had an answer for everything we threw at him! He was also very willing to assist in taking photos for and with everyone which is nice for people who may take the trip solo. The only recommendation I would have for the tour company is providing walking sticks for customers and maybe working a deal with the restaurant, for lunch specifically, to provide a drink with the meal. Otherwise I would HIGHLY RECOMMEND this adventure with Franco to La Montaña de los Colores!
Dear Sean, thank you very much for your commentary and recommendation. We take your review of the best way because it help us to continue improving. Our guide Franco and Percy are happy for your kind words. Anyway, we really hope that you have nice memories of your trip. Kind regards, INKAYNI PERU TOURS.
Really good overall service, absolutely fantastic guide. Be warned, this is not an easy walk, but definitely worth it.
This was a day trip that my wife and I added to our Peru trip as a last minute add-on. We traveled by private car from Cusco to the Rainbow Mountain trail head. We had a private guide (Percy) and a driver. Percy was very friendly and willing to share the history of the areas we traveled thru, the culture of the people and tips for managing the actual hike itself. He was very attentive to our needs and made us feel very safe and secure throughout the trip. The location is simply amazing. The trip is at high altitude. You start at about 15,000ft and finish at 16,500ft. The trail is very easy though, well marked and not technical at all. We also stopped along the way at a local place for breakfast and lunch. The staff and food were great. Overall I would highly recommend this to someone that has the time and is traveling in the area.
Dear Steve, thank you so much for your commentary. Our guide Percy is happy to know that he could provided you an unforgettable experience during the Rainbow Mountain tour in Cusco. Your review help us to continue providing a good service to our future customers. Kind regards, INKAYNI PERU TOURS.
