Rainbow Mountain Beat-the-Crowd: 7 AM Departure (Small groups)
Description
Rainbow Mountain Cusco attracts over 800 trekkers a day. It tops the bucket list of many travelers, just as Machu Picchu. Rainbow Mountain is a part of the Vilcanota Mountain range. It was discovered in 2016. It soon became a popular attraction. The colors are a result of mineral deposits. On this trip, you will also be witnessing the life of Andean people in this remote region of the Peruvian highland. You will also get an amazing view of the mighty Ausangate mountain which dominates the southern skyline of Cusco on a clear day. Rainbow Mountain Vinicunca Peru is at 5200 meters (17,000 feet) above sea level. The high altitude experience needs you to be reasonably fit and well acclimated to avoid altitude sickness. The tour starts with a pickup from your hotel in Cusco at 0700 AM. To make the most of your experience on the seven-color mountain, we include lunch. You will be accompanied by an English-speaking local mountaineering expert.
Tour Options
Itinerary
We will be picking you up from your hotel in Cusco at 0430 AM. Then in our private transport, we will be driving you along the South Valley of Cusco for two hours to Cusipata.
At Cusipata, we will be stopping for breakfast. After relishing a typical and nutritious breakfast, we will be driving you for another hour to the trail head.
Our guide will be giving you a safety briefing before beginning the trek. If you are not sure of hiking, you will have the option of renting a horse from the local community. Be sure to negotiate the rice before renting one. We will then begin the trek with a gradual uphill climb for two hours. The view on the trek is stunning. You will be rewarded with sights of Andean farms. You will also be able to spot some Andean camelids like Alpacas and Llamas grazing here. Once at the summit, our guide will share some local rituals with you. You will also be able to get a closer look at the mighty Ausangate peak. To locals, it is a sacred peak. On a clear day, it dominates the southern skyline of Cusco.
Once you have had your fill of this out worldly view, we will start our trek back to the trailhead. Our driver will be waiting for us here. We will be driving you back to Cusipata for lunch.
After lunch, we will embark on a two hours drive back to Cusco city.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
We will pick you up at your hotel.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- 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(42)
The Rainbow Mountain Hiking tour was excellent! The scenery of the rainbow Mountain was spectacular. Our tour guide Elizabeth was very helpful and knowledgeable. She provided a lot of interesting facts about the geology and animals of the region. She also helped taking a lot of wonderful pictures. We definitely felt very lucky to have her as our tour guide!
It's beautiful! I confess I had some difficulty getting to the top of it, because I have some difficulty breathing through my nose. But the guide encouraged me a lot, by the way he is great! But it was worth the effort, because it was an unforgettable experience!
It was an interesting tour, in which we left for our last day in Cusco due to altitude. The Enterprise picked us up on time at the hotel and gave all support during the period and route. It really presents a degree of difficulty, but we were physically prepared and with that we could take advantage of a whole. The view of the colorful mountain and a prize, but all the way and beautiful and results in beautiful photographs. A detail that caught my attention and the number of people occupying the mountain to make their registration which makes it difficult sometimes for everyone to record this moment and the excessive trade of the "locals" who put their flames in strategic points and then complain that we are making photos of them and want money for it.(and we are not). It was a beautiful experience.
Querido Luiz, Muito obrigado por compartilhar sua experiência no Rainbow Mountain Beat-the-Crowd: 7 AM Departure (Small groups)! Ficamos felizes em saber que tudo correu bem, que o suporte da equipe foi eficiente e que vocês puderam aproveitar essa paisagem incrível. A Montanha Colorida é realmente um espetáculo — e entendemos bem sua observação sobre o movimento no local. Agradecemos o feedback! Na próxima visita, que tal conhecer Maras e Moray em quadriciclos? É uma forma divertida e autêntica de explorar o Vale Sagrado! Com carinho, Equipe Machu Picchu Tours
Incredible experience that became even more special with the Machu Picchu Tours. The guidance and kindness of the guide Luiz made all the difference for the tour to take place in the best possible way. We could enjoy every moment!
Querido viajante, Ficamos muito felizes em saber que você teve uma experiência incrível durante o Rainbow Mountain Beat-the-Crowd: 7 AM Departure (Small groups) e que o guia Luiz tornou o passeio ainda mais especial! 🌈 Na Machu Picchu Tours, adoramos criar momentos únicos e ver nossos viajantes aproveitando cada instante dessa aventura pelos Andes. Da próxima vez, que tal conhecer Maras e Moray em um passeio de quadriciclo? 🛞 É uma maneira divertida e cheia de adrenalina de explorar o Vale Sagrado, com paisagens de tirar o fôlego e muita cultura local! Com carinho, Equipe Machu Picchu Tours
The landscapes are amazing all the way, but when we got there, literally the landscapes were breathtaking. We were in a super comfortable van and we already received instructions from our guide Luis so that we could take advantage of the journey of more or less 3 hours until the arrival to rest and start our acclimatation, after all, we would reach up to 5100 meters altitude. We were in a family group of 9 people and the guide left us very comfortable for each to follow their own pace, all the guidelines were very responsible and made the experience more comfortable, we were with the appropriate clothes (well warm) and support equipment (track stick and oxygen that was not necessary to use). It is a climb that for me was difficult and requires a lot of concentration in the breathing and the pace of the steps. There are options for those who prefer to ride a horse or motorcycle, but I recommend that you try to walk, as it is an amazing communion with nature and a true overcoming. MachuPicchuTours once again sent very well throughout the organization so that we could enjoy the best experience.
Querida Aline, Muito obrigado por compartilhar essa linda e detalhada experiência no nosso Rainbow Mountain experience. É muito gratificante saber que sua jornada foi marcada por paisagens inesquecíveis, organização impecável e, acima de tudo, uma conexão verdadeira com a natureza e com sua família. A trilha até os 5.100 metros de altitude realmente exige preparo e respeito pelo próprio corpo, e você descreveu perfeitamente o desafio e a recompensa que vêm com cada passo. Ficamos especialmente felizes em saber que o nosso guia Luís ofereceu o suporte necessário com responsabilidade e empatia, permitindo que cada pessoa do grupo seguisse no seu próprio ritmo. Esse cuidado é essencial para transformar o esforço físico em uma experiência transformadora. Já pensou em conhecer outros lugares históricos do Peru? Que tal visitar o sítio arqueológico de Raqchi ou explorar o misterioso Q'eswachaka? Com carinho e gratidão, Equipe Machu Picchu Tours
An unforgettable adventure! The Rainbow Mountain trek was incredible, with stunning scenery and adorable llamas and alpacas along the way. Huge thanks to Machu Picchu Tours and our fantastic guide John for making it a truly special experience.
Dear Karina, Thank you for your amazing review of the Rainbow Mountain tour! We're so happy to hear that your adventure was as unforgettable as the scenery itself. It’s wonderful to know that the breathtaking landscapes, along with the friendly company of llamas and alpacas, made the trek even more memorable. We're also thrilled that John helped make your journey truly special — he’ll be delighted to hear your kind words! With warm regards, The Machu Picchu Tours Team
Perfect tour, unforgettable experience with the guide Jose! We have chosen a private tour and that gave us nice opportunity to make some stops in beautiful places on the road to Rainbow Mountains. The tour starts early, but we had a nice breakfast and lunch in a local restaurant. I suggest you to take horses nearby the mountain, to make the track easier and more fun. On the way back we went by step and it was a nice journey despite the rain. Jose helped us a lot to survive the high point and also made a lot of photos with Rainbow Mountains View! All the trip was very safety and calm! We appreciate "Machu Picchu Tours" for this journey! It was our second trip with the agency, and everything was super!
Dear Ev, Thank you for your wonderful review! We’re thrilled to hear that you had an unforgettable experience on the Rainbow Mountain Tour with José. Opting for a private tour was a great choice, allowing you to enjoy the breathtaking stops along the way at your own pace. It’s fantastic to know that you appreciated the local breakfast and lunch, and that José’s guidance, support, and photography skills helped make your journey even more special. We truly appreciate your trust in Machu Picchu Tours, especially since this was your second trip with us! Knowing that we’ve been part of your adventures in Peru is incredibly rewarding. We would love to welcome you back for even more unforgettable experiences in the future! Ps: Thank you for your great videos, they are so exciting and inspiring. Warm regards, The Machu Picchu Tours Team
Amazing! The road to get there is beautiful! Our driver was careful and very calm! Our guide (José) was amazing! Passionate! 10/10 ! I recommend to everyone!
Cher passager, Merci beaucoup pour ce merveilleux retour ! Nous sommes ravis de savoir que votre expérience avec Machu Picchu Tours a été à la hauteur de vos attentes. La route vers Machu Picchu est effectivement spectaculaire, et nous sommes heureux que notre conducteur ait contribué à rendre votre trajet agréable et en toute sécurité. Un grand merci également pour vos compliments envers notre guide José. Sa passion pour la culture et l’histoire locale est ce qui fait la différence et nous sommes ravis qu’il ait su rendre votre aventure encore plus mémorable. Nous vous remercions chaleureusement pour votre recommandation et espérons avoir l’opportunité de vous accueillir à nouveau pour de nouvelles découvertes lors de notre Machu Picchu Full Day Tour. Cordialement, L’équipe de Machu Picchu Tours
We had a great tour of Rainbow Mountain. Jose was extremely knowledgeable and was a lot of help. The tour included good breakfast and lunch. I highly recommended this tour
Dear Gabriel, Thank you for sharing your wonderful feedback! We're thrilled to hear that you had a great experience on the Machu Picchu Full Day Tour to Rainbow Mountain. It’s fantastic that Jose’s knowledge and assistance added so much to your journey. We're also glad you enjoyed the breakfast and lunch during the tour. Your recommendation means a lot to us. We look forward to welcoming you back for more unforgettable adventures! Sincerely, The Machu Picchu Tours Team
Thank you Jose, for being so patient organized and very informative we really enjoyed our adventure towards the mountain of colors. Without your help, it wouldn't have been possible to complete it. The service completely filled my expectations, I am left with nice memories of Machu Picchu Tours agency as all their team are very professional and completely friendly.
Estimada Noemi, ¡Muchísimas gracias por tu excelente comentario sobre el Rainbow Mountain Tour desde Cusco! Nos alegra mucho saber que disfrutaste de tu aventura hacia la Montaña de Colores y que José estuvo a la altura de tus expectativas. Es un placer para nosotros ofrecer un servicio organizado y lleno de detalles que marcan la diferencia, como bien mencionas. Nos enorgullece que el apoyo de José, su paciencia y conocimiento, haya sido clave para que pudieras completar este recorrido con éxito. Además, nos llena de felicidad que los recuerdos de este viaje queden grabados en ti gracias a nuestro equipo de Machu Picchu Tours, que siempre busca brindar lo mejor con amabilidad y profesionalismo. Te agradecemos mucho por tu recomendación y por resaltar la calidad de nuestro servicio. ¡Esperamos poder acompañarte nuevamente en futuras aventuras en Perú! Sinceramente, El equipo de Machu Picchu Tours
