Tour from Cusco
Rainbow Mountain (Vinicunca)
A full-day hike up Rainbow Mountain, at 5,000 m (16,410 ft). Pre-dawn departure from Cusco and a walk of 1 h 30 min to 1 h 45 min each way, with thermal blankets, emergency oxygen, breakfast and a buffet lunch.
- We assist you in English on WhatsApp
- English-speaking guides
- Local agency in Cusco since 2003, registered with MINCETUR
Pickup at your lodging in downtown Cusco between 4:00 and 4:30 a.m.
Explanations in English or Spanish throughout the tour
Rainbow Mountain (Vinicunca), the Checacupe Colonial Bridge and the Huacarpay Lake viewpoint
We confirm your booking within 2 hours
Rainbow Mountain at 5,000 m, with breakfast, a buffet lunch and a mountain guide
The Rainbow Mountain (Vinicunca) tour, also known as the Mountain of Seven Colors, takes you to one of Peru’s most unusual peaks, which National Geographic named among the hundred places to visit before you die. We leave Cusco before dawn and, after about two hours on the road, stop in Cusipata for a hearty breakfast.
The climb starts in Chillihuani, above 4,600 m (15,090 ft), and goes up to 5,000 m at the summit, with a hike of 1 h 30 min to 1 h 45 min each way, among alpacas and llamas. We bring thermal blankets for the early-morning cold, trekking poles, a first aid kit and emergency oxygen. The itinerary also includes the colonial bridge of Checacupe and the Huacarpay Lake viewpoint.
It costs US$ 50 per person, with breakfast and a buffet lunch included, and the full day lasts 14 to 15 hours. It’s a tough tour because of the altitude: if you aren’t acclimatized or want a much shorter hike, the Palcoyo tour lets you see three rainbow mountains with a 30 to 45-minute walk. Another high-altitude option is Humantay Lake.
Rainbow Mountain (Vinicunca)
The mineral bands that give Rainbow Mountain its name, at over 5,000 m, with views of Ausangate peak and the surrounding highlands.
Checacupe Colonial Bridge and Huacarpay viewpoint
Besides the mountain, the itinerary includes a stop at the colonial bridge of Checacupe and at the Huacarpay Lake viewpoint.
Challenging because of the altitude
A hike of about 1 h 30 min to 1 h 45 min each way, uphill and at high altitude. Being acclimatized is essential. We carry a first aid kit and emergency oxygen.
Comfort for the early start
Thermal blankets and heaters for the cold departure, trekking poles, a hearty breakfast and a nourishing buffet lunch.
Itinerary
Your full day, step by step: from Cusco to Rainbow Mountain
- 4:00–4:30 a.m. · Pickup at your lodging in downtown CuscoWe leave in tourist transport for Rainbow Mountain (Vinicunca), with thermal blankets for the early-morning cold.
- Cusipata · Hearty breakfastAfter about two hours on the road we reach the village of Cusipata, where we have breakfast before the hike.
- Chillihuani · Start of the climbBus transfer to the starting point and start of the hike at 4,600 m, following the guide's instructions.
- Rainbow Mountain (Vinicunca)About 1 h 45 min uphill to the summit. Time for photos and to enjoy the scenery.
- Descent along the same pathWalk back down to the bus on the same trail.
- Cusipata · Buffet lunchA buffet lunch as a reward before heading back.
- ≈5:30 p.m. · Return to CuscoArrival downtown, near the Plaza de Armas, after 14 to 15 hours of touring.
What's included in your Rainbow Mountain (Vinicunca) tour?
No surprises and no fine print: this is exactly what the service covers and what you will pay separately on the day of the tour.
1 day (full day), approx. 4:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. (14 to 15 hours in total)
Up to 5,000 m
Daily pre-dawn departure, pickup between 4:00 and 4:30 a.m.
English or Spanish
Included
- Visit to Vinicunca Mountain, the Checacupe Colonial Bridge and the Huacarpay Lake viewpoint
- Thermal blankets and heaters for the early-morning cold
- All meals: hearty breakfast and buffet lunch
- Trekking gear (poles), round-trip transport from your hotel and a professional mountain guide
- First aid kit and emergency oxygen
Not included
- Entrance fees to the attractions
- Extra drinks at lunch
- Handicraft purchases and personal expenses
- Tips
Note: entrance fees to the attractions are paid separately on the day of the tour and are not included in the price. If you have questions about current rates, contact us before booking and we’ll confirm the updated amount.
Frequently asked questions
Here are the answers to the most common questions, so you can book with complete peace of mind.
Do I need to acclimatize before the Vinicunca tour?
Yes, it’s essential. The hike goes above 4,600 m and the highest point reaches 5,000 m. We recommend spending at least two or three days in Cusco before this tour and doing lighter outings first.
How difficult is the tour?
High, mainly because of the altitude. You hike about 1 h 30 min to 1 h 45 min each way, uphill. We provide trekking poles and the guide keeps a pace suited to the group; we also carry emergency oxygen.
Which tickets do I need to buy separately?
Entrance fees to the attractions are not included and are paid separately, in cash, on the day of the tour. Contact us before booking if you’d like to know the current amount.
What time does it start and how long does it last?
We pick you up at your lodging in downtown Cusco between 4:00 and 4:30 a.m. The tour runs from about 4:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and lasts 14 to 15 hours in total, returning near the Plaza de Armas.
What should I bring?
Warm clothes in layers and a windbreaker, gloves and a hat for the early-morning cold, sneakers or hiking boots, a rain poncho, sunglasses, sunscreen, water and snacks, cash for entrance fees and your passport.
How do booking and payment work?
You can book right on this page, choosing the date and the number of travelers. We confirm your booking within 2 hours and arrange the exact pickup time with you. If you have questions before booking, you can also message us on WhatsApp.
What happens if bad weather affects the departure?
The tour runs all year, but mountain weather changes fast and there can be snow or rain. If conditions don’t allow a safe hike, we agree with you on a change of date or a suitable alternative.
How much does the Rainbow Mountain tour cost?
The price is US$ 50 per person. It includes the visit to Vinicunca, the colonial bridge of Checacupe and the Huacarpay Lake viewpoint, thermal blankets and heaters for the early morning, a hearty breakfast and buffet lunch, trekking poles, round-trip transport from your hotel, a professional mountain guide and a first aid kit with emergency oxygen. Entrance fees to the attractions are paid separately.
Can I ride a horse up Vinicunca?
Along the way, muleteers from local communities offer horses up to a point near the summit; the final stretch is always on foot, because the trail is very steep. This service is not included in the tour and is hired directly on the spot, in cash. It’s a good alternative if the climb feels hard because of the altitude.
What's the difference between Vinicunca and Palcoyo?
Vinicunca is the best-known rainbow mountain and also the toughest: the climb reaches 5,000 m and takes 1 h 30 min to 1 h 45 min each way. At Palcoyo you see three rainbow mountains from a single viewpoint, with a walk of just 30 to 45 minutes on a gentle slope, plus the Checacupe suspension bridge. If your fitness or acclimatization is borderline, Palcoyo is the better option.
Ready to book or have a question?
Talk to one of our travel advisors in English. We reply Monday to Saturday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. (Peru time, GMT-5).