J
Good trip
Great experience with alex and Elis, had a wonderfull day, good lunch and great view. Would recommend this trip!
Rainbow Mountain Beat-the-Crowd, Small Group - 8:00 AM Departure
+40 photos
At a glance
- Duration
- 11–12 hours
- Price from
- $89 / person
- Location
- Cusco, Peru
- Rating
- 4.9 / 5 · 937 reviews
- Languages
- EN, ES
- Group
- Small group, up to 12
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
- Hotel pickup
- Available
- Confirmation
- Instant
- Ticket
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Operator
- Peru Private Tours
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.
Schedule & prices
- Runs
- Every day
- Start times
- 4:00 AM and 8:00 AM
- Next available
- Fri, Oct 9
- Adult (ages 5+)
- $89
Prices change with the date; the lowest is shown.
Prices are per person when two book together; a solo traveller pays $95.
Larger groups pay less per person.
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 8.
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.
Rainbow Mountain Peru
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.
What's included
Included
Professional licenced tour guide
Hotel Pick up & Drop Off (Door to Door Service)
Walking Sticks: Upon your request, we provide walking sticks to support your trekking experience.
Oxygen during the hike & in the car on your disposal
Confortable Transportation
Lunch at an exclusive restaurant in Cusipata
Snacks: A bottle of water, chocolate, cake, Andean cereal bar, fresh fruit and delightful candies.
Not included
Vinicunca Rainbow Mountain
Horse Riding (Optional) to be paid directly to locals in cash
Pickup Locations & Times
AirBnb places if these have acces for cars. Pick up is included only for hotels in Cusco City.
Traveller Ratings
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
4.9
937 reviews
How it compares in Cusco
- No. 22 by number of reviews among 4,438 tours in Cusco
- Starting price $89 is 11% above the typical $80 for tours of similar length in Cusco
Excurgo comparison of 4,438 Viator tours, recalculated daily.
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
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
1+ days before100% refund
0–1 days before0% refund
Frequently asked questions
How long does this tour take?
Rainbow Mountain Beat-the-Crowd, Small Group - 8:00 AM Departure lasts about 11–12 hours. The itinerary has 3 stops.
How much does this tour cost?
Prices start at $89 per person for this Cusco experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. That is the per-person price when two book together; a solo traveller pays $95. There are 2 booking options, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
What days does this tour run?
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs every day, starting at 4:00 AM and 8:00 AM.
Can I cancel this tour for free?
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Is hotel pickup included?
Yes, pickup is offered. AirBnb places if these have acces for cars. Pick up is included only for hotels in Cusco City. Pickup points include Hotel Viva Cusco, Lucios Hostal.
What languages is this tour offered in?
The experience is available in EN, ES.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 12 participants.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Is this tour worth it?
Travellers rate it 4.9 out of 5 across 937 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor; it is run by Peru Private Tours.
Reviews(937)
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
A
Excellent tours!!!!!
Excellent service, attention, and punctuality, the guide was very professional and always attentive to each one of us who went.
P
The best trip in Cusco!
I highly recommend this tour because it offers everything you need! I also suggest starting the tour at 8:00 AM, as it’s less crowded, the lighting is perfect, and it’s much easier to tackle the trail when you're well-rested. First, you are picked up right from your accommodation at the exact scheduled time, and then you receive a small package with water and snacks to kick off the tour with energy. Trekking poles are provided, oxygen is available if needed, and last but not least, the staff shows incredible patience. Alex was our guide and he was the best. He was patient with everyone, making sure the experience was as smooth and easy as possible. Also, the driver—whose name is also Alex—was very attentive and skilled. To top it all off, we had an absolutely delicious lunch included in the price. In conclusion, it was an amazing experience and I truly recommend it!
Operator response
Thank you so much for your detailed and wonderful review! 😊 We’re thrilled to hear that you had such a smooth, enjoyable, and memorable experience with us. We’re especially happy that you appreciated the early 8:00 AM start, the snacks and water, trekking poles, oxygen, and of course the delicious lunch. It’s great to know that Alex was patient and attentive throughout the trek and made sure everyone felt comfortable. We’ll also be sure to share your kind words with our driver Alex! Thank you for highlighting the care and effort of our team. Your recommendation means a lot to us, and we hope to welcome you back for another adventure in Peru! 🇵🇪✨
B
Rainbow mountain experience
Had a lot of fun on the rainbow mountain tour! Our tour guide Alex was very accommodating and gave us snacks and waters and made sure we delt with the altitude correctly! Admission fee to the mountain was 30 soles and it cost 80 soles to rent a horse. Liked this one a lot because it was not crouded at all at the time we went.
Operator response
Thank you so much for your great review! 😊 We’re happy to hear that you had a lot of fun on the Rainbow Mountain tour and enjoyed having a quieter, less crowded experience. We’re especially glad that Alex took good care of you throughout the tour and made sure you stayed comfortable at altitude, while also keeping you energized with snacks and water. We truly appreciate your kind words and are so happy you enjoyed the experience! 🌈⛰️ We hope to welcome you again for another adventure in Peru! 🇵🇪
S
Rainbow mountain
I have to say this was the best tour and our guide john was the best guide I have ever had.i would recommend this tour as one of the best for ranbow mountain. All the little extra bread on the way blankets hot tea after walk the use of poles the lunch was beautiful
Operator response
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! 😊 We’re truly happy to hear that you had such a great experience and that John made your Rainbow Mountain tour so special. We’re glad you appreciated all the little touches along the way, from the bread and blankets to the hot tea after the hike, trekking poles, and delicious lunch. We put a lot of care into making our guests feel comfortable and well looked after, so your kind words mean a lot to our whole team. Thank you for recommending us! We’ll be sure to share your compliments with John. It was a pleasure having you with us, and we hope to see you again in Peru! 🇵🇪🌈
E
What a great day! John,...
What a great day! John, Alex, and Christian were fantastic and led a great experience for all of us. It was nice to leave later in the morning because it wasn’t as crowded as it states in the description. John was our guide was always checking on us to make sure we were okay getting up the mountain! He made sure we were comfortable and had everything we needed. He gave us some cool fun facts about the mountains on the way up too. The lunch at the end of the hike was also great. Nothing but good things to say about our experience. Thank you again!
Operator response
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! 😊 We’re delighted to hear that you had such a great day with John, Alex, and Christian. It’s especially nice to know that John’s care and attention helped you feel comfortable and supported throughout the hike. We’re also glad you enjoyed the quieter experience, the interesting facts about the mountains, and the lunch after the trek. We’ll definitely share your kind words with the whole team! Thank you for choosing us and for sharing your experience. We hope to welcome you back to Peru for another adventure! 🇵🇪🌈
3
Don’t miss this tour!
Guide and ride showed up on time, and brought some snacks for us which was a nice touch. Through the ride he would point out things along the way. Once we got up to Rainbow mountain we stopped as needed (altitude didn’t bother us until we got here as elevation is higher than Cusco). So beautiful definitely don’t miss this if you’re capable of getting up there. It is about 3 hr drive each way. Also stopped for lunch at a buffet lunch on way down that had a huge selection of food. Also bring a beanie or headband and also a wind jacket/winter coat. It’s colder up there and windy. Gloves an poncho as well (it started to drizzle on way down but we just missed the rain thankfully)
Operator response
Thank you so much for taking the time to share such a detailed review! 😊 We’re glad to hear that you enjoyed the journey, the stops along the way, and the beautiful views at Rainbow Mountain. We’re especially happy that the snacks and the explanations during the drive added something special to your experience, and that the team was able to take breaks whenever needed during the hike. We’re also glad you enjoyed the buffet lunch after the trek! Thank you as well for sharing your helpful tips about the cold and windy conditions at the mountain. We hope your review helps future travelers come prepared and enjoy the experience even more. It was a pleasure having you with us, and we hope to see you again in Peru! 🇵🇪🌈
S
Rainbow Mountain Experience
Ronald did an amazing job guiding us on our Rainbow Mountain hike. He was friendly, informative, and most importantly, concerned for our safety. He made sure we knew we could take our time due to the difficulty of the hike and checked in on us frequently. He also took plenty of photos for us. Highly recommend!
Operator response
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! 😊 We’re delighted to hear that Ronald made your Rainbow Mountain hike such a positive experience. Your safety and comfort are always our priority, so it’s great to know that his patience, frequent check-ins, and encouragement made you feel well cared for throughout the hike. We’re also happy that you enjoyed the photos he took along the way! We’ll definitely share your kind words with Ronald. Thank you for recommending us, and we hope to welcome you back for another adventure in Peru! 🇵🇪🌈
H
The best of rainbow mountain
Ronald the tour guy was very friendly and attentive. Alex the driver was very friendly and excellent driver as well. I am glad I choose this tour very well worth the money. It's absolutely beautiful view. The BEST...thanks so much to Alex and Ronald
Operator response
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! 😊 We’re thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your Rainbow Mountain experience and found it well worth it. We’re especially happy to hear your kind words about Ronald and Alex. Their friendliness, attentiveness, and professionalism are exactly what we strive for, and we’ll be sure to share your compliments with them. We’re also glad you enjoyed the incredible views! 🌈⛰️ Thank you for choosing us and for trusting our team. It was a pleasure having you with us, and we hope to welcome you back to Peru someday! 🇵🇪
B
Rainbow mountain
Good guide; smooth young man. Good outlet; clear communication
Compare similar tours in Cusco
- Lowest price: Excursion to Rainbow Mountain Full Day Optional Red Valley — $25
- Best rated: Rainbow Mountain Beat-the-Crowd, Small Group - 8:00 AM Departure — 4.9 (937 reviews)
- Shortest: Private Rainbow Mountain Tour - 08 am departure Skip the Crowds — 10 hours
| Tour | Duration | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rainbow Mountain Beat-the-Crowd, Small Group - 8:00 AM Departure | 11–12 hours | 4.9 (937) | $89 | |
 Private Rainbow Mountain Tour - 08 am departure Skip the Crowds | 10 hours | 5.0 (338) | $149 | View |
 Excursion to Rainbow Mountain Full Day Optional Red Valley | 12 hours | 4.9 (4,024) | $25 | View |
 Cusco: Rainbow Mountain & Red Valley Premium Day Trip with Meals | 12 hours | 4.9 (2,436) | $49 | View |
 Rainbow Mountain In Quad Bike | 14 hours | 4.5 (459) | $90 | View |
 Full-Day Rainbow Mountain Adventure with ATV | 11–12 hours | 4.6 (440) | $75 | View |
 Rainbow Mountain Peru + Red Valley with ATVs FULL DAY TOUR | 12–13 hours | 4.9 (44) | $67 | View |
from$89
4.9(937) Free cancellation