Peru

Rainbow Mountain Trek - 1 Day

Beat the crowds and explore in solitude

Rainbow Mountain Trek - 1 Day

Beat the crowds and explore in solitude

Rainbow Mountain Peru, also known as Vinicunca is an undiscovered land full of wild desert landscapes, snow capped glaciated peaks, herds of alpaca, and pristine beauty. This hike allows you to experience summiting a mountain over 16,000ft!

Throughout your journey you will pass through a vibrant green valley with the impressive Ausangate mountain towering in the distance, on the final stretch of the you will trek through the amazing red mountain valley, where you feel as though you are on another planet.

Don't miss your chance to explore the Rainbow Mountain day trip with us and beat the crowds!

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Trip ITINERARY

Rainbow Mountain Trek

Full Day: 2:15am- 4pm
8 km / 5 mi (RT)
Hiking time: 3-4 hours

Rainbow Mountain Tour Schedule:

Your day starts in Cusco where you are picked up from your hotel by our local professional hiking guide at 2:15am for a 3.5 hour drive to the start of the trail deep in the Peruvian Andes. You will be given a local Peruvian style breakfast prepared by our chef and fuel up for the hike ahead of you. The early departure is necessary to beat the crowds, we like to arrive to the mountain in solitude.

The hike to the rainbow mountain will take around 2 hours and is a distance of 4 kilometers (2.5 miles). Throughout your journey you will pass through a vibrant green valley with the snow capped peak of Apu Ausangate towering in the distance. You will see hundreds of roaming alpacas & llamas, and have the chance to truly see how Quechua people live. As you get closer to the Rainbow Mountain you will begin to see the first signs of the colored minerals that formed the painted hills. Your guide will explain what makes up the existence of the Rainbow Mountain and how it was formed, and finally with one last push you will hike up to a vantage point that gives you a 360 degree view of the beautiful landscape that makes up the sacred land.

We will have snacks on top and take a relaxing break to soak up the vistas, where you can enjoy the beauty that surrounds you. At this time you can also enjoy some coca tea that the locals prepare for visitors. After about an hour we will continue on to the red valley, another awe inspiring area not to be missed by trekkers but seldom visited. From here, we continue our hike back to the trailhead (1 hour). Shortly after you will have a gourmet lunch prepared by our chef in a traditional mud-house and depart back to Cusco, arriving around 4pm.

*Horseback is available to hire the morning of the trek from local horsemen. Horses are not the property of FlashpackerConnect. If you choose to hire a horse please note horsemen do not speak English nor do they always stick with the group of hikers and the guide as the horses walk faster than the hikers. Should you choose to hire a horse you assume all liability and ride at your own risk. FlashpackerConnect is not responsible for any accidents that occur from riding a horse.​

*We run our trips daily with a 2 person minimum (8 max). We take only small groups & private trips, to enhance the experience giving you the full attention of our tour guides and staff. (Solo trekkers please inquire as we can usually match you with an existing group)

Additional Trip Info

  • Peruvian style breakfast (boxed up)
  • Lunch prepared by our chef in our local community home
  • Snacks
  • Drinking water (.5 liter)
  • Bag of Coca leaves
  • Private transportation to/ from your hotel in Cusco
  • Fluent English/ Spanish speaking expert trekking guide
  • Fees to access private land
  • First aid kit & Oxygen
  • Day Pack with rain cover
  • Hiking shoes
  • Warm clothes  
  • Thermal base layer  
  • Fleece/ Sweater  
  • Insulated jacket  
  • Stocking hat
  • Gloves
  • Scarf
  • Buff/ Handkerchief
  • Rain jacket or poncho
  • Sunhat and sunglasses
  • Sunscreen
  • Lip Balm
  • 1 Liter of water
  • Personal snacks
  • Personal medications
  • Motion sickness tablets (for van ride)
  • Pillow/ blanket (for van ride)
  • Toilet paper
  • Camera/ extra battery
  • Dry change of clothes/ shoes
  • Plastic bag to store wet items
  • Torch/ headlamp
  • Cash and coins for the use of toilets on the trail

Weather

Weather in the Andes can be unpredictable ranging from hot and sunny to rain, wind and cold. Hikers should be prepared with proper gear and be ready for variable weather conditions throughout the day. Small changes in the itinerary are a possibility as well as trip cancellations due to bad weather. We reserve the right to cancel a trip prior to departing Cusco if we feel conditions are unsafe. If this happens you will be refunded your deposit in full, or have the opportunity to reschedule, however trips still depart when there is rain, snow or fog and refunds are not granted due to poor weather conditions. Temperatures can range from 0 degrees Celsius in the morning to 15 degrees Celsius in the afternoon. The sun can get intense in the afternoon and we highly recommend bringing sun protection.

Altitude

Our treks take place anywhere from 10,000 feet up to 17,000 feet. It is essential to spend 2-3 days minimum in the Cusco region or similar elevation prior to taking any trek with us. We recommend staying well hydrated while you are in elevation and to get plenty of rest prior to your trek. FlashpackerConnect is not responsible if you get altitude sickness. Please consult your doctor is you are concerned with the altitude.

Tipping

Our guides and staff are paid on a per trip basis based on the number of days they spend on the trail. While tipping is not required, it is a common practice in Latin America. If you feel your guide, and crew went above and beyond to make your trip special gratuity is greatly appreciated. A common tip is 10-15% of your total trip cost

Reservations

We recommend booking 3-4 months prior to ensure availability. If your dates are flexible we can take reservations on short notice, however our treks tend to book out as we keep our group sizes very small. In order to book we send out an invoice for deposit via PayPal, and your final payment is due at least 30 days prior to your trip departure date.

Departures

Our treks depart everyday upon request with a minimum of 2 guests (Solo travelers can be matched up with existing groups)

Food

We take pride in preparing a wonderful variety of food throughout your trek. You will always be served local Peruvian style dishes in a family style manner and you will never go hungry. We can cater to any dietary needs, but ask that you notify us of your request at the time of booking. If we are not informed during your booking we cannot guarantee that we will be able to accommodate.

First Aid

Trekking in the Andes and in high altitude can be dangerous and because of this our staff always carries a proper first aid kit along with emergency oxygen for our guests to use if they are feeling ill.

Accommodation

All accommodation on multi-day treks is tent camping. We bring quality 4 person tents but sleep a maximum of 2 persons to each tent. For tours that require hotels, accommodation is based on double or triple occupancy. Solo travelers will be matched with another guest of the same gender unless a single supplement is paid.

Group Sizes

Our treks depart everyday with a minimum of 2 guests and a maximum of 8 guests. We can also accommodate private trips and large group trips. Group pricing is available if your group is 4 or more people.

Insurance

Travel protection is essential for your peace of mind and safety throughout the trip. Unexpected medical emergencies or illnesses prior to or during your trip could make you lose pre-paid, non-refundable payments. Emergency medical transport and air ambulances in remote locations can be extremely expensive and will probably not be covered by your medical health plan so it is compulsory that you purchase personal adequate travel insurance which is appropriate for your trip. This insurance must cover personal accident, medical expenses, air ambulance, loss of effects, repatriation costs and all other expenses which may arise as a result of loss, damage, injury, delay or inconvenience during your trip. We also suggest you purchase cancellation and curtailment insurance. When obtaining travel insurance, you must inform the insurer of the type of travel to be undertaken, especially when "adventure activities" are included in your trip. There are several insurance companies offering travel protection plans available for purchase online.

Visiting Machu Picchu

We suggest booking activities such as Machu Picchu & the Sacred Valley prior to trekking the Rainbow Mountain. This will allow for proper acclamation, and prevent altitude sickness. Check out our tour packages linking the Rainbow Mountain hike with Machu Picchu and the Inca Trail. If you are wanting a longer trek check out our Ausangate trek+ Rainbow mountain we offer 2,4 and 6 days options.

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