Conquer the Rainbow Mountain Tour (Vinicunca). Safe 1-day trek with an expert guide, oxygen, breakfast, and buffet lunch.
The Vinicunca Rainbow Mountain Tour is a high-altitude challenge that rewards you with one of the most surreal landscapes in the Peruvian Andes. Located at over 5,200 meters above sea level, this natural wonder owes its vibrant stripes to the richness of minerals formed over millions of years.
On this full-day excursion, we guarantee a safe trek at a moderate pace, constant oxygen assistance, and delicious buffet gastronomy to recharge your energy.
Cusco, Cusipata, Phulawasipata Community, and Vinicunca.
Full day (Approx. 13 hours). Starts 04:00 a.m. and ends 17:00 p.m.
Challenging. Maximum altitude: 5,200 masl. (Horse option available).
We start the day early. We will pick you up from your hotel to board our tourist transport and begin an approximately 2-hour trip south, crossing the picturesque towns of the Cusco southern valley.
We will arrive at the Cusipata district where a nutritious Andean breakfast awaits us. It is essential to eat well to have the necessary energy for the high-altitude hike.
We will continue in transport for 1 more hour along an unpaved road until reaching the Phulawasipata community (4,600 masl). Here our guide will give us safety instructions, provide trekking poles (if you requested them), and we will begin the ascent.
We begin the hike of approximately 1.5 to 2 hours (depending on your physical pace). The path is relatively flat with a steep ascent at the end. Note: If you feel tired, local community members offer horse rentals to take you almost to the top.
We will reach the main viewpoint (5,200 masl). You will have enough time (approx. 40 minutes) to catch your breath, take the classic photographs with the rainbow mountain in the background, and contemplate the imposing Ausangate snowy peak.
We will begin the descent along the same path for 1 hour to the starting point, where our transport will take us back to Cusipata. We will enjoy a well-deserved and comforting Andean buffet lunch.
After eating and resting, we will begin the return trip to the city of Cusco, ending our excursion near the Main Square in the late afternoon.
The climate at over 5,000 meters of altitude is extreme and highly changeable. It can be radiant sunshine and a few minutes later sleet or freezing wind. Prepare yourself with this essential list:
Definitely NOT. Vinicunca Mountain exceeds 5,200 meters (17,060 ft) of altitude. We strongly recommend doing this tour after spending at least 2 to 3 days acclimatizing in Cusco (you can do the City Tour or Sacred Valley first). Doing it on your first day is risky for your health due to altitude sickness.
The level of difficulty is high/demanding, not so much because of steep paths (which are mostly a false flat), but because of the lack of oxygen at high altitude, which causes rapid fatigue. If you get tired, local residents rent horses for around 70 to 90 soles (one way). The horse leaves you about a 15-minute walk from the main summit.
Your safety is our priority. Our official guide always keeps a close eye on the group and carries a first-aid kit, alcohol, and an oxygen tank. In case of any decompensation, the immediate assistance protocol will be applied and the descent will be coordinated.
No, it is not necessary. The entry ticket is managed directly by the local peasant community. It is purchased on the day of the tour, in cash, at the checkpoint booth before starting the hike. Our guide will collect the money on the bus to make a single group payment and speed up entry.
The best time (dry season) is between May and November, when skies are clear and colors appear sharper. During the rainy season (December to April), there is a possibility that the mountain might wake up covered in snow or the weather might be very cloudy, which is an unpredictable natural phenomenon.
The detour to Red Valley is optional and depends on two factors on the day of the tour: the group’s hiking pace (if there is enough time) and weather conditions. If you decide to go, there is an extra entrance fee of approximately S/ 20.00 soles paid directly to the community in charge of that sector.
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