Rainbow Mountain Day Hike

Rainbow Mountain Day Hike

Day Hike Tours

1 Day 5.4MI / 9KM

Trip Highlights

Rainbow Mountain is a stunning high-altitude hike near Cusco, Peru, known for its vividly colored soil and breathtaking views, making it a top day trip for visitors. The 5.4-mile hike, though not long, is challenging due to elevations above 15,000 feet, but offers unforgettable scenery, including snow-capped peaks and herds of alpacas. The tour begins with hotel pickup, breakfast in Cusipata, and a scenic drive to the trailhead at Phulawasipata. After reaching the iconic Rainbow Mountain summit, hikers also visit the nearby Red Valley before returning downhill and enjoying a traditional Peruvian lunch. A horseback option is available for an extra fee, and Rainbow Mountain is also included in the extended Rainbow Mountain Llama Trek & Machu Picchu itinerary.

  • Check Mark Stunning Andes Scenery
  • Check Mark Amazing Rainbow Mountain
  • Check Mark Breakfast, Lunch and Snacks
  • Check Mark Glaciers, Peaks and Valleys
  • Check Mark Pick Up/Drop Off at Your Hotel in Cusco
  • Check Mark Expert Hiking Guides

Book This Trip

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Trip Details

  • Trip Type

    Trip Type

    Day Hike Tours
  • Trip Length

    Trip Length

    1 Day
  • Hiking Distance

    Daily Hiking Distance

    Up to 6 miles
  • Group Size

    Group Size

    1-12 Guests
  • Trip Begins

    Cusco
  • Trip Ends

    Cusco
  • Permit Info

    No permit required

Is This Trip Right For me?

The main consideration that makes this trip a Level 4 difficulty is the entire hike is above 15,000 feet, and tops out at 16,466 feet, which makes the hiking quite strenuous.

Difficulty Level
4 of 5
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Solitude Level
2 of 5
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Hiking Distances
2 of 5

Up to 6 miles

Backpack Weight
1 of 5

10-15 pounds

Terrain
2 of 5

Lightly Rugged

Max Daily Elevation
3 of 5

Up to 2,000 ft

Height & Exposure
2 of 5

Light

Trip Dates

What's Included

  • Trip Included
    Access to our Adventure Consultant team 7 days a week
  • Trip Included
    Trained hiking guide(s) with years of personal wilderness and hiking experience, medical certifications, and a passion for leading people into breathtaking landscapes. See Guide Bios.
  • Trip Included
    Breakfast, lunch and trail snacks
  • Trip Included
    Drinking water
  • Trip Included
    Roundtrip transportation from your hotel in Cusco
  • Trip Included
    Use of a hiking day pack and trekking poles

What You'll Need to Bring

  • Trip Not Included
    Hiking shoes or hiking boots
  • Trip Not Included
    Waterproof rain jacket or poncho
  • Trip Not Included
    Warm wool or fleece top
  • Trip Not Included
    Warm hat and gloves
  • Trip Not Included
    Water bottles or bladder (2 liters total capacity)
  • Trip Not Included
    Sunhat, sunglasses, sunscreen/lip balm
  • Trip Not Included
    Camera
  • Trip Not Included
    If you prefer the horse-riding option, you’ll need to pay cash upon arrival to the trailhead. The price is approximately 150 PEN.
  • Trip Not Included
    Guide and driver gratuities are optional and at the discretion of each customer. A suggested guideline is to reward outstanding service with a tip of 5-10% of the total trip cost. Local currency is preferred, or USD is also appreciated.

Trip Logistics & FAQs

Where Do We Meet?

Your guide will meet you at your hotel in Cusco at 5:00 PM the evening before the hike to finalize the details and ensure all your questions are answered. Then we will pick you up at your hotel in Cusco at 4:00 AM the day of the hike.

The tour commonly ends between 3- 5:00 PM in Cusco.

Safety Precautions

Your safety is our top priority. Our hiking tours are led by professional hiking guides, all of whom are wilderness-certified first responders or EMT’s, each with years of guiding and wilderness experience. Guides adhere to standardized risk management protocols in case of any potential or actual incident, and all tours carry an emergency communication device and comprehensive first-aid kit. Additionally we have a “24/7” system through which guides or guests can reach Wildland support personnel at any time.

In the interest of your safety, it’s important to refer to the Center for Disease Control website for up-to-date recommendations on immunizations before your trip.

Guides

Our approach to international travel is to combine the best of two worlds: the dialed-in details, professionalism and consistency Wildland trips are known for; and the cultural immersion and intimate regional knowledge that only locals can provide. To excel with this approach, we vet and hire the best local guides, welcome them into the Wildland family and train them to meet our standard of excellence with every aspect of a trip. But along with managing logistics and safety, your guides will teach you about the area’s history and culture, and provide a level of familiarity and intimate detail only locals can.

Check out our Meet Our Team page for staff bios.

Age Restrictions

Age restrictions on this trip are as follows:

  • 12 and older

Reviews

5.0 (5 reviews)
add a review
Francine M
5.0
12 months ago

Awesome!

My daughter and I did the Rainbow Mtn trip as an add-on day hike after the Machu Picchu trip. It was amazing, and what a great way to wrap up our trip to Peru. Everything was perfectly organized and Edgard continued to be a great guide in all aspects. I am so glad that WT encouraged us to do this add-on hike. Awesome!

Sherrie H
5.0
1 year ago

Loved it!

Our guide Edgar was a perfect guide for this tough hike. I was affected by the altitude as soon as I started the Rainbow Mountain hike. I ended up taking a horse up and walking down. A beautiful hike! Thank you Wildland Trekking!

Olga C
5.0
1 year ago

Perfect addition to the Salkantay trek.

Wonderful one day trip, perfect addition to the Salkantay trek. Edgar Mora guided me through the hike, bringing me to the best vantage points. The views are amazing and going early allowed us a crowd-free hike.

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