RAINBOW MOUNTAIN + RED VALLEY

RAINBOW MOUNTAIN + RED VALLEY is one of Peru's newest and best attractions. Located more than 100 kilometers from the city of Cusco, on an altitude summit located at 5,200 meters above sea level (m.a.s.l.). It is a mountainous formation dyed in various shades as a result of the complex combination of minerals. The slopes and summit are tinted a variety of hues including red, purple, green, yellow, pink, and other variations. This tourist attraction was surrounded by ice not many years ago. Since 2016, this place receives hundreds of visitors a day, becoming, along with Machu Picchu, one of the most visited places in Cusco-Peru. Below all the information about the Mountain of 7 Colors.

CUSCO - CUSIPATA - RAINBOW MOUNTAIN - RED VALLEY - CUSIPATA - CUSCO

4 - 4:40 am – pick-up from your hotel in Cusco.
Transport by private vehicle to the community of Cusipata.
6 am (approx.) – buffet breakfast at our restaurant in Cusipata.
Transfer to the checkpoint of the trek at Chiliwani.
Short briefing and offering to the mountains.
Hike for about one and half an hour observing lovely landscapes until getting to the Rainbow Mountain (Viñicunca).
Panoramic view of Viñicunca.
Return trek descending to the splendid Red Valley (Valle Rojo) and the Red Mountains observing vicuñas (Andean non-domesticated camelids).
1:30 pm (approx.) - arrival to Paucarpata.
Transport back to Cusipata.
Buffet lunch at the restaurant in Cusipata.
Transport by private vehicle back to Cusco.
Around 5 pm – return to the city.
Transfer to your hotel.
End of the Rainbow Mountain + Red Valley hike.

CUSCO - CUSIPATA - RAINBOW MOUNTAIN - RED VALLEY - CUSIPATA - CUSCO

Our vehicle stops by your hotel between 4 and 4:40 am to take you southwards of Cusco. We drive for 1 and half an hour until we get to the community of Cusipata. In this place, we are served a buffet breakfast at our restaurant to later continue the trip to Chiliwani, a checkpoint of the trek.

Before we start hiking, our Tour Guide gives you a briefing and makes offering for the mountains. He also provides you a small snack and walking sticks for your best progress. Those, who do not feel in the optimal physical condition, are given an option to rent a horse for the following route which takes about 1,5 hour. On the way, we might admire lovely landscapes and especially, the splendid snowy peak Wiñayriti (which means "Eternal Snowy" in native Quechua language). Arriving at the Rainbow Mountain (or, the 7-Colour Mountain), you are given time to rest while the guide explains you about this formation of colours and shows you around. So, you are be able to appreciate it in all its beauty.

Later, you are given time to climb its main viewpoint to take some fantastic pictures. After another rest, we begin our return hike descending to the Red Valley surrounded by the spectacular Red Mountains. Sometimes, you can see and admire some gorgeous vicuñas grazing wildly. We hike until reaching the community of Paucarpata, where our private van awaits you at 1:30 pm to bring you back to Cusipata. We have a buffet lunch at the same restaurant as we were given breakfast.

Finally, we ride back to Cusco arriving there at about 5 pm. We transport you back to your hotel. The end of service of the Rainbow Mountain + Red Valley trek.

Maximum altitude: 5,036 metres / 16522.31 feet
Minimum altitude: 3,310 metres / 10,860 feet
Duration of the trek: Around 4.5 hours
Trekking distance: 9 km / 5.6 miles
Difficulty: Moderate to challenging
Weather: Cold

INCLUDED RAINBOW MOUNTAIN + RED VALLEY:

Pick-up from your hotel in Cusco.
A professional English-speaking Tour Guide.
Guide Assistant (for groups of over 10 participants).
Private transport to the starting point of the trek and back to Cusco.
Meals: 1x buffet breakfast, 1x buffet lunch, hot bevarages during main meals, snack (cereals and fruits) - a vegetarian option available upon request.
First aid kit and a bottle of oxygen.
Two-way radio.
Blankets and walking sticks.

NOT INCLUDED RAINBOW MOUNTAIN + RED VALLEY:

Entrance ticket to the Rainbow Mountain (Soles 10).
Entrance to the Red Valley (Soles 10).
An extra horse in case of emergency or to carry personal belongings (USD 28 extra).
Dinner.
Beverages (apart of breakfast and lunch).
Tips to local staff.
Pocket money in Soles.
Accommodation in Cusco.
Any flight.
Travel insurance.

WHAT TO BRING WITH YOU RAINBOW MOUNTAIN + RED VALLEY?

Necessary stuff for a 1-day trek (We recommend a backpack of up to 5 kg of your belongings some of which might be carried by an extra horse - USD 28 extra.);
Personal identification document (a copy of ID/Passport);
Personal medicines (if applicable);
Small backpack;
Warm cloths such as a jacket, sweaters, long trousers;
Rainy coat or poncho (especially, from November to April);
Trekking shoes;
Camera;
Extra batteries and/or power bank (there is no electricity on the trek);
A peak/hat;
Sun glasses;
Sun protection cream;
Towel;
Water purification tablets (optional);
Pocket money in Soles (in any case of emergency or to buy some souvenirs).