Rainbow Mountain on Horseback 1-Day Tour
Description
Discover the magic of Rainbow Mountain without the strain, ride on horseback through stunning Andean landscapes! Perfect for all fitness levels, this guided adventure offers comfort, breathtaking views, and a cultural journey you will never forget. Book now for an unforgettable and authentic mountain experience!
Tour Options
Itinerary
We take a bus from Cusco to the Llacto community, a 3-hour one-way trip, and a 3-hour return from Llacto to Cusco city
The breakfast and lunch at Cusipata town last around 2 hours.
Once arriving at the starting point of the rainbow mountain trail. We ride the horse for 1 hour up and 1 hour down.
Conquer the stunning Rainbow Mountain of Peru on this full-day tour from Cusco. Pass through charming Peruvian villages, herds of llamas and alpacas, and enjoy the breathtaking mountain scenery during your 2-hour hike. Take in the spectacular views of Ausangate Mountain before returning down Rainbow Mountain to savor a delicious Peruvian lunch.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
We pick up all our clients from their hotels or meet them at the Plaza Regocijo, which is conveniently located near our hotel. Once you book the tour, let us know the name of your hotel in Cusco. We recommend booking accommodations near the city center. Why? Because most restaurants & hotels are in the city center.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(12)
Marco (our guide) and Melquiades (our driver) took us out in the morning and were very flexible and accommodating for us! The hike to rainbow mountain was much harder than I thought it would be but Marco made sure to go our pace, bought us some smelling essence for elevation sickness, and made sure to be prepared with an oxygen mask if needed. He made sure that we all had a good time, and was an amazing guide!
This trip was booked through TripAdvisor, but the actual company was Happy Gringos. Next time I would book directly through them, not TripAdvisor (long story). This 5 star rating is for Happy Gringos. They were amazing and accommodating. Our guide, Javier (Shabby (sp?)) was the best! He was so easy to work with and made sure that everything went smoothly. I would absolutely recommend the horses. My family and I in decent shape, but I never would have made it without the horses. I took the elevation for granted. It kicked my butt! However, that being said, it was well worth it! The view was absolutely breathtaking.
Seeing Rainbow Mountain was amazing! I originally signed up for horseback, but was told by my guide, Marcelo, that I weighed too much and was told i could either walk or get a motorcycle. I opted for a ride, then was offered rides down by horse by the people at the top. Perhaps the guide is misinformed on what the requirements are, but have an expectation that the guide would advise the same things the guides on the mountain with the horses would give. I reached out to the company to get a refund on the difference between the more expensive horseback trip to motorcycle and was initially answered that they would ask the people in charge. After asking twice since then, I am no longer getting any communication from them. I highly recommend rainbow mountain but strongly discourage others from using this company.
Hello, dear Francis; Thanks for your opinion! We sincerely apologize for your experience and the frustration caused by the lack of follow-up. Weight limits for horseback riding are set for animal welfare and safety, but we should have communicated this clearly before booking and ensured consistent guidance. We regret the confusion between our guide and the on-site team, and the delay in responding to your refund request falls short of our standards. Your feedback has been escalated to management for immediate review. We’d like to make this right. Please contact us directly at [customerservice@gmail.com or +51 992499446] so we can resolve this promptly and restore your confidence in our service. Warm regards, Happy Gringo Team!
We had an amazing tour to the rainbow mountain by horse. Our tour guide was extremely knowleadgeable about the history of the Incas and rainbow mountain Vinicunca. We highly recommend this tour operator when you visit Cusco and Machu Picchu.
I wouldn't recommend taking this tour. The tour guide spoke very little English which proved to be a huge problem when I discovered they hadn't been paid for the horseback ride and I had to pay again. This tour was over £125 and the horseback was $40 (which was subsequently refunded, less fees, but only paid after I asked for a full refund via Viator). This tour is NOT value for money. I'd book a simple transfer that included breakfast and lunch for a fraction of the price and pay for the horseback ride when you arrive. Despite apologies and promises to refund, the agent, who subtracted to another company, was difficult to deal with and blamed the company. Spoiled the day for me.
Hello, dear Susan Fortune, Thank you for your feedback, and I’m very sorry your experience with us fell short. We take reports like this seriously. I’m sorry for the confusion and inconvenience over the horseback payment. That should not have happened. We aim for transparent pricing and clear logistics so guests never feel pressured to pay twice. Improving coordination between our office and partner vendors to ensure responsibilities and refunds are handled promptly and transparently. If you’re willing, I’d like to investigate your reservation personally and ensure any remaining concerns are resolved. Please send your booking reference, travel date, and the best contact email (or reply here), and I’ll follow up directly. Thank you for bringing this to our attention. We value your feedback and hope to restore your confidence in our tours. Happy Gringo Team!
We have an amazing day trip from Cusco with happy gringo tours with horseback to the rainbow mountain. The tour was good organized and highly recommend!
The trip to the colorful mountain was very impressive with the happy gringo tours agency. The guide was very professional and the food was very delicious. Recommended!
Estimado jeinerdavidc2026, Muchas gracias por su excelente comentario. Nos alegra muchísimo saber que su experiencia en la Montaña de Colores fue tan impresionante. Es muy gratificante para nosotros saber que encontró al guía profesional y que disfrutó de la comida durante el tour. Trabajamos cada día para ofrecer un servicio organizado, seguro y memorable para todos nuestros viajeros. Agradecemos sinceramente su recomendación y su confianza en nosotros. Esperamos poder acompañarlo nuevamente en otra aventura por el Perú. Con gratitud, Team Happy Gringo Tours
Mauro & Edwin were amazing guides and had a great sense of humor and advice for the Cusco area! The day started with a early pickup, then a buffet breakfast, we made it to the rainbow mountain. I got to go horseback riding there which I would recommend because it is fun and easy with the altitude. Mauro is a excellent photographer. We had extra time so we went to a really cool glacier lake as well that was on a newly made road nearby. Then we finished the day with a fantastic buffet lunch!
Dear Andrew W, Thank you very much for taking the time to share your experience with us. We are truly pleased to hear that you had such an enjoyable day on the Rainbow Mountain on Horseback Tour and that Mauro and Edwin made your journey even more memorable with their professionalism, sense of humor, and local knowledge. It’s wonderful to know that you enjoyed the early start, the buffet breakfast and lunch, the horseback riding experience—especially helpful at high altitude—and the additional visit to the beautiful glacier lake. We are also glad you appreciated Mauro’s photography skills, which certainly help capture unforgettable moments. Your kind words are greatly appreciated by our entire team at Happy Gringo Tours. We would be delighted to welcome you again in the future for another adventure in Peru. Warm regards, Happy Gringo Tours
We booked the colourful mountain tour at the last minute with local agency Happy Gringo Tours. Our tour was very organized, the trip on the horse was easy and our guide helped us a lot. Thank you infinitely to the entire agency team!
Estimado(a) mar_afernandaa2026, Muchas gracias por tomarse el tiempo de compartir su experiencia con nosotros. Nos complace saber que disfrutaron del tour a la Montaña de Colores a caballo y que la excursión fue bien organizada, cómoda y acompañada por un guía atento y profesional. Sus palabras son una gran motivación para todo el equipo de Happy Gringo Tours, especialmente al saber que incluso con una reserva de última hora logramos cumplir con sus expectativas. Agradecemos sinceramente su confianza y será un placer recibirlos nuevamente en el futuro para seguir descubriendo juntos los increíbles paisajes del Perú. Atentamente, Happy Gringo Tours
A unique experience in the colorful mountain with the local Cusco agency. The horseback riding was equally impressive the landscapes on our excursion. Recommended to visit Mountain of Colors.
¡Muchísimas gracias por tu comentario! Nos alegra enormemente saber que disfrutaste de la experiencia en la Montaña de Colores y que tanto la cabalgata como los paisajes hicieron de tu excursión un momento inolvidable. Tu recomendación significa mucho para nosotros. De parte de todo el equipo de Happy Gringo Tours, ¡gracias por confiar en nosotros y esperamos verte pronto en una nueva aventura por el Perú! 🇵🇪
