Vinicunca Rainbow Mountain 1 Day, New Route Cusipata

Juan Carlos was our guide for an incredible trip to the Palccoyo mountains. We had a private tour, which allowed us to leave early. We were the only people in the mountains for about an hour! I was concerned about possible altitude sickness, given that we live a sea level. Juan Carlos brought oxygen concentrating equipment and even carried it on the whole 2 mile hike. The trip to the mountains was amazing as well. There were herds of alpacas with their shepherds, vistas of terraced potato fields, and views of the red river.

Just completed a hike up Rainbow Mountain with Juan Carlos from Mayuc. He did an outstanding job of keeping a group with varying abilities together and made it a most enjoyable experience for all. He was highly knowledgeable about the history, geology, and culture and was extremely personable. Fantastic experience. Lunch at the nearby Mayuc compound was a great bonus and a treat not to be missed!

We arrived at the Cusipata River Lodge and was greeted by 'Tito', our host, for a two night stay and Rainbow Mountain hike. He was helpful, friendly and very accommodating for our family. The river lodge, located just outside the town of Cusipata, is rustic, but very comfortable and enchanting. The lodge sits right on the river, perfect location for their rafting expeditions, and it is also located minutes from the new Rainbow Mountain access road. The guest rooms have a bunkbed and single bed (sleeps 3) with a private bathroom. The showers were hot and beds were warm and comfortable. The dining area is cozy and inviting with huge windows to view the river and surrounding landscape. The daily menu (we had breakfast and dinner) was filling and delicious with local flavors. Our particular favorite was the warm oatmeal in the mornings and chicken soup at night. There was always hot coffee and tea at any time of the day. Tito took us on a short walk over to the town of Cusipata to sample the local market and sights. He really made us feel at home and took care of any of our needs. Finally, the lodge is home to two wonderful dogs, Oso (St. Bernard) and Rin Tin Tin (German Shepard). If you are a dog lover, like us, these two companions really complete the atmosphere and make you feel at home. We contracted a guide (Juan Carlos) from Mayuc to take us on our hike the next day to the Vinicunca Rainbow Mountain. Juan Carlos was the most professional, knowledgable and passionate guide I have ever had the pleasure of working with. He truly cared about our well being and ensured that our experience was the best. He reviewed the entire hike with us the night before and made sure we were prepared for all conditions and hiking at elevation. One anecdote that speaks to Juan Carlos' dedication and passion is how he cared for other guests who had hiked the day before, without a guide, and were affected by altitude. Juan Carlos checked the guest's oxygen levels and fitness and recommended self care and recovery steps. This showed me how the entire staff at Mayuc was dedicated to ensuring their guests overall best experience well being. We had heard that the mountain can get very crowded with about 1500 people visiting per day, so Juan Carlos wanted to make sure we had a pleasant experience, without many tourists or crowds. The morning of the hike, Juan Carlos gave us a wake up notice at 4:00 am. Our warm breakfast (included with stay) was ready for my family to eat and we were ready to head out to the trail head by 4:30-4:45 am. The drive into the mountain was about an hour from the highway and we reached the Vinicunca parking area just before 6 am. (There is a 10 S/ per person entrance fee to the mountain) We were the third group on the mountain trail that morning, so needless to say, no crowds and no lines. We started our hike slow, and after about 20 minutes of walking, Juan Carlos checked everyone's oxygen levels. He was especially attentive to my young children (12 and 14) to ensure that they did not suffer any affects from the altitude. The hike up Vinicunca passes over 16000 ft. so if you have not acclimatized to the altitude, or are not high altitude experienced hikers you may feel the effects. Juan Carlos was prepared with extra oxygen, which we did use. The beginning 3/4 of the hike is rather flat, the last 1/4 of the hike is steep. One of my child's oxygen levels was low, so Juan Carlos took the necessary precautions and safety steps to ensure that we all completed the hike safely, together, and without any negative affects. We all reached the top after an amazing hike, and we truly were in awe of the natural beauty of the Rainbow Mountain. Juan Carlo also helped take some amazing family photos and really made our ascent experience safe, fun and informative. As we descended, Juan Carlos gave us an amazing explanation of the history, geography and cultural significance of the Vinicunca. In addition, we descended down the back side of the mountain, via an alternate route, which avoided 100% of the crowds and traffic which had arrived to the mountain after us. We returned to the parking lot by about 10 am (which, by now, was full of tour busses) and to the Cusipata River Lodge by about 11 am. I can't express enough how wonderful an experience it was to have a professional guide who made our hiking experience safe, fun and memorable. I recommend using a guide, whether you are a family hiking for the first time, or experienced hikers looking to learn more about the local culture. Well worth the cost. In addition, the Cusipata River Lodge is, by far, the best location to stay for access to the Rainbow Mountain.