Rainbow Mountain Day Hike
Cusco, Peru
5.0 (5 reviews)Trip Highlights
- Stunning Andes Scenery
- Amazing Rainbow Mountain
- Breakfast, Lunch and Snacks
- Glaciers, Peaks and Valleys
- Pick Up/Drop Off at Your Hotel in Cusco
- Expert Hiking Guides
Description
This iconic Peru hike is a must-do day trip if you’re in the Cusco area and have some extra time! Rainbow Mountain is a high alpine series of peaks and ridgelines with mesmerizing, “rainbow” colored soils that make for some of the most beautiful and other-worldly photography on Earth. The hike is not long (5.4 miles), but it is all above 15,000 feet so, while it is challenging for that reason, it is also one of the best day trips in Peru!
Your guide will meet you at your hotel in Cusco the evening before your hike to finalize details and ensure all your questions are answered. Our tour begins early the next morning with pick-up at your hotel in Cusco. We will drive 2 hours to Cusipata and stop for a delicious breakfast at a hand-picked restaurant (included.) After breakfast we have another 1-hour drive across the Peruvian landscape, past traditional villages and stunning views of the high Andes to our trailhead at Phulawasipata (15,149 ft.).
Our hike begins along a meandering path with spectacular views of snow-capped peaks and herds of Alpacas and llamas. After 1.5-2 hours of hiking we come to Rainbow Mountain (16,466 ft.) No Photoshop or Instagram filters needed here! The stunning display of colorful landscapes, framed by glaciated mountains in the background make for breathtaking photography. We will take our time at the summit to take pictures, explore and soak up the beauty.
Then we’ll take a short, 20-minute hike into the Red Valley itself, a tranquil and beautiful hike amongst crimson rocks that leads us to another spectacular view of the valley.
When it is time to turn back, we hike downhill the way we came in. In a sense though this is almost a different hike, as we take in the views that were behind us on our ascent. The hike back will take around 60-90 minutes. We’ll shuttle back toward Cusco, stopping again in Cusipata for a delicious Peruvian lunch, and finishing up our drive, and our day after that.
You can also enjoy this tour on horseback for an additional 150 PEN (approximately). Let your guide know the morning of your trip if you would like to take a horse.
Please Note: Our Rainbow Mountain Llama Trek & Machu Picchu includes Rainbow Mountain as part of the standard itinerary.
$185-$585 Per Person
DIFFICULTY LEVEL 4
Scale of 1-5. 1 is least difficult; 5 is most difficult
Hiking Distances:
Up to 6 miles
Backpack Weight:
10-15 pounds
Terrain:
Lightly Rugged
Max Daily Elev. ↑↓:
Up to 2,000 ft
Heights Exposure:
Light
PHYSICAL DEMANDS OF THIS TRIP
- Hiking uphill or downhill with a 10-15 pound backpack for 6-8 hours
- Maintaining balance and footing on variable, uneven terrain
- Hiking at a sustained elevation of 15,000+ feet
SOLITUDE LEVEL 2
1 least solitude, 5 most solitude;
We rate this Peru hike a solitude 2. You can expect to be around other hikers most of the time.
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