Hike to the Astounding Multi-colored Mountain
Close to the city of Cusco you can find one of the most stunning sights in the middle of the Peruvian Andes— the Mountain of Seven Colors, also known as Rainbow Mountain, or Vinicunca. Right next to it there is also the Red Valley, that will make you feel as if you have set foot on Mars. If you’re looking for an exciting day out of the city, this is the perfect hike for you: it will challenge you but give you the most fantastic colorful landscape.
If you visit Cusco, this day trip is a must! Our one-day tour to Vinicunca, or Rainbow Mountain, will take you through remote high-altitude remote lands and through isolated communities found in the Vilcanota mountain range. You’ll also be able to appreciate the immensity of the sacred Ausangate mountain (6,372 m/ 20,905 ft), the highest in the region.
Rainbow Mountain 1-Day Tour Map
- Itinerary
- Inclusions
- Before You Go
- Packing List
- Pricing
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Join us on this epic one-day trip in Cusco and get out into nature, among the most beautiful landscapes imaginable. Whether you’re traveling by yourself, as a couple, or in a larger group, we have daily departures to accommodate you. This tour is designed for travelers with little time and a great sense of adventure.
Along the route, the difficulty ranges from moderate to challenging, which is mainly due to the high altitude that reaches over 5,000 meters. We recommend you spend a day or two in Cusco to acclimatize before joining one of our tours.
Despite the fact that Rainbow Mountain is usually full of tourists, we start our adventure very early to be the first to arrive. This way, you can enjoy the peacefulness and beauty without many interruptions. We take our time and enjoy the hike without pressure.
You’ll also walk through the surreal Red Valley, a little-known destination with almost no tourists. Not many people get the chance to venture into this unique landscape, so make the most of your time in Cusco and join us on this epic hike.
On the hike, expect to immerse yourself in the lifestyle of the inhabitants in the small communities, observe numerous herds of llamas and alpacas grazing in the mountains, and be a first-hand witness of millions of years of geological history. The imposing landscape of the Rainbow Mountain is sure to be the protagonist of your photographs. You'll see that choosing Salkantay Trekking is a guarantee of living the best experience in Cusco and the Andes.
Highlights
- Hike among some of the most stunning Andean landscapes imaginable and let Mother Nature whisk you away in her sheer beauty.
- Immerse yourself in the small mountain communities and witness how they live their lives so far away from the city.
- Observe the unique flora and fauna and see alpacas and llamas grazing in the mountains and roaming free.
- Discover de Rainbow Mountain, one of the most unique places on our planet, and snap special photos of the spectacular geological formation.
- Enjoy views of the highest mountain in the Cusco region, Ausangate, whose snowy peak stands tall nearby.
- Walk through the Red Valley and feel like an astronaut on another planet.
Detailed Itinerary
Cusco | Cusipata - Llactoc - Rainbow Mountain Peru, Vinicunca - Red valley viewpoint
Highlight of the day: Arriving at the spectacular Rainbow Mountain and enjoying the amazing panoramic view of the surrounding landscape.
Hike to the Mountain of Seven Colors
We’ll pick you up bright and early today to start our adventure. We’ll stop off along the way for some breakfast to give us the energy we need and then continue to the start of our hike. We’ll walk for an hour and a half through gorgeous landscapes and observe some unique Andean wildlife as we make our way along the challenging path to Rainbow Mountain followed by the Red Valley. Once at the stop, you’ll have plenty of time to take in the 360° view and snap some memorable photos.
Once it’s time to come back down, it’ll take us another hour to reach the starting point of the day’s hike. From there, our transport will take us to a restaurant for lunch and then back to Cusco city. Your day will end when we drop you back off at your accommodation.
Our epic adventure begins at 4:00 am. We’ll pick you up from the door of your accommodation to head towards the Southern Valley of Cusco in our private transport. Despite the early morning, you’ll have the opportunity to catch some more sleep along the way in our comfortable transport with the cozy blankets that we provide for you.
After 1 hour and 30 minutes of travel, we will stop to enjoy a delicious buffet breakfast that will give you the necessary energy to start the hike. Then, we will continue our route through Cusipata. Along the way, we will pass picturesque Andean villages, fertile valleys, Inca agricultural terraces, and beautiful broken mountains. You will be able to admire herds of llamas and alpacas that will entertain you as you enjoy the landscape through the window.
After an hour, we will reach the starting point of the hike in Llacto (4,630 m / 15,190 ft). From there, we will follow a winding, mostly flat path through the Andean mountains. As we ascend, you will be rewarded with an impressive view of Mount Ausangate (6,372 m / 20,905 ft). Your guide will explain why this mountain is a living deity for the Andean people.
This remote region is home to many people, and you will have the opportunity to see how they take care of their herds and horses. You will be amazed by the traditional clothing they wear and craft from alpaca wool, which is one of the finest textiles in the world. Your guide will teach you about the meaning of some garments and, if you want, you can ask him to teach you some words in Quechua, the native language of many inhabitants of the zone and one that’s been spoken since Inca times.
The most challenging part is the final stretch, which includes a steep ascent and a series of stairs. This is the last effort to reach the summit! After an hour-and-a-half of walking, we’ll reach the amazing Rainbow Mountain of Cusco (5,100 m / 16,732 ft). Take your time to admire the astounding beauty of this impressive mineral formation and feel the thrill of witnessing a unique natural site. You’ll explore the surroundings a little and take in the beautiful landscape while your guide explains the theories that exist regarding the origin of this mountain that seems like it’s been taken from a colorful dream. Use this time to take some incredible photos, immerse yourself in the scenery and enjoy the snacks that Salkatnay Trekking provides to keep your energy up. We’ll spend around 30 minutes to an hour at the top, depending on how fast you hiked and the weather conditions.
After enjoying this gem amidst the Peruvian Andes, we’ll begin our trek towards the fascinating Red Valley (5,050 m / 16,568 ft). This is a place that feels like you’ve stepped foot on another planet and that’s visited by very few tourists. You’ll be surprised not only by its amazing beauty but also by the immense tranquility that’ll surround you. It only takes 25 minutes of walking from the Rainbow Mountain to reach the viewpoint from where you’ll get the best views of the valley all around.
We will then embark on a 1-hour descent to reach the starting point of the trek, passing alongside herds of alpacas. If you are lucky, you will come across some vicuñas, a beautiful undomesticated animal that has lived with the inhabitants of Peru since pre-Inca times.
Finally, we will board our transportation to the restaurant in and enjoy a buffet lunch. Then, we will board again our private transportation to return to the city of Cusco. We will leave you at the door of your accommodation to rest your tired legs.
Why Travel with us
At Salkantay Trekking, we specify the included and non-included services under all the tour itineraries listed on our website. We take care of all the logistics, but please pay attention to the details to avoid missing anything. Some items may be different for specific programs, so please read carefully before booking with us.
What Is Included?
Permits & Entrance Tickets
Entry to the Rainbow Mountain
Entrance to the red valley viewpoint
High Quality Service & Safety
Experienced Tour Guide - All our guides have professionalism, experience, responsibility, seriousness and passion, which will make your trip safe and comfortable.
Our official tour guides speak English and Spanish and are professionally trained and certified. We choose them for their experience, responsibility, unbridled passion for exploring, and pride in sharing our culture and history. In every experience, they will keep you safe and comfortable so you can enjoy your time worry-free!
Trekking Poles with rubber tips
Medical Kit or First AID Kit - Our guides are trained to deal with basic emergencies.
All Salkantay Trekking guides have received specialized training in first aid. We hold mandatory training sessions with our guides every February. Your guide will always carry a first aid kit to face basic emergencies (altitude sickness, travelers' diarrhea, cuts, scrapes, etc.) as well as oxygen. If necessary, we’ll evacuate you from the path as quickly as possible and ensure that you arrive at a clinic for treatment.
24/7 Customer Service - We have 24 hours a day telephone service.
We have telephone service available 24 hours/day for ease of communication with Salkantay Trekking leading up to your trek.
Meals
Breakfast and Lunch
Snacks and water
For the hike, we'll provide you with a water bottle and snacks of local fruits, cookies, chocolate, caramels, etc.
One cloth snack bag per person
We’ll provide you with a cloth bag for your snacks—perfect for storing wrappers and keeping the environment clean. Feel free to use it throughout your trek!
Transportation
All transportation is included in this tour. We’ll pick you up from your hotel and after the end of the trip, we’ll drop you back at the door of your hotel in Cusco.
What Is Not Included?
Dinner
Hiking Clothes
Travel Insurance
Tips for our staff
Tipping is the norm on any excursion in Peru. Although we pay good salaries to our entire team, something extra is always welcome, especially considering the hard work they do.
Additional costs or delays beyond our control
Landslides, bad weather conditions, itinerary modifications due to a safety concern, illness, pandemia, government policy changes, political instability, strikes, act of God, etc.
Here we leave you with a brief list of extras that you can enjoy during this package.
Huayna Picchu Mountain
Huayna Picchu is the mountain behind Machu Picchu and which can be climbed in 45 minutes. Although this excursion is up to you, our guide will take you to the place of entry. This walk requires an entrance ticket which we can assure for you if we have enough time in advance.
Your entry ticket will be purchased to coincide with the dates of your excursion on the Inca Trail. The entry can be done in two shifts: from 7:00 am to 8:00 am or from 10:00 am to 11:00 am. We buy the tickets in the second shift so that our clients can fully enjoy their guided tour of Machu Picchu. Remember, the shifts only indicate the time of entry. You can go up and down Huayna Picchu without haste.
The ticket for Huayna Picchu costs US$ 75.00 per person.
Machu Picchu Mountain
Machu Picchu Mountain is another of the mountains that surround the archaeological site of Machu Picchu. It offers even more incredible views than Huayna Picchu, but it takes 1.5 hours to reach the top. This walk requires an entrance ticket which we can assure for you if we have time in advance.
The excursion entrance to Machu Picchu Mountain is open in two shifts as well, the first from 7:00 am to 8:00 am, and the second from 9:00 am to 10:00 am.
The ticket for Machu Picchu Mountain costs US$ 75.00 per person.
Vistadome Train
All our tours include the PeruRail Expedition train. This train leaves Aguas Calientes at 2:55 pm. The Vistadome train is a higher category service that offers more comfortable seats, a panoramic design that will allow you to see through the roof, as well as an entertainment show on board. The Vistadome train leaves Aguas Calientes at 2:55 pm as well (subject to availability), and goes to Ollantaytambo train station. From there, we’ll take you on our transport to your hotel in Cusco.
You can access this service for an additional payment of US$ 70.00 per person.
We want to make your trip to Peru as memorable and as carefree as possible. In this section, you’ll find the answers to all the questions you have about traveling with Salkantay Trekking in one place. Please read the following information carefully – it will help you with any questions about our services.
How many days do I need to acclimate in Cusco before the Trek?
It’s very important to be well acclimated to the altitude before exerting yourself on a trek. We recommend that you arrive in Cusco at least 2 or 3 days before the trek starts to help you adjust and avoid possible problems with altitude sickness while on the trek.
You might have already been in another area of Peru at a high altitude before arriving in Cusco. In that case, we still recommend you have a whole day in Cusco to rest, recover from your travel, and enjoy the sights and sounds of Cusco before departing for the trek.
Here some suggestions for activities to do in the Cusco vicinity before starting your adventure trek:
Can I store my luggage at your office?
Of course! During the trip, your main luggage can be stored at our office (you can organize it with us on the briefing day or by email) or at your hotel, both free of charge.
Any equipment that you won’t need on the trek can be stored safely in your hotel. Nearly every hotel will provide this service. Don’t leave items of value with your bags; put them in the hotel safe and obtain an itemized receipt (in the unlikely case of theft, many insurance companies require that you have a copy of the receipt itemizing everything). It’s best to put items such as credit cards inside a sealed, signed envelope for extra peace of mind.
Pick up of guests
Please note:
- All pickups are within Cusco City, but we recommend booking a hotel in the historic center for its convenient location.
- Our guide or staff will confirm the pickup time the day before the tour.
- Due to traffic conditions, the pickup time may vary between 30 and 45 minutes.
- Cusco is an old city and has many narrow cobbled streets. Some hotels and Airbnbs are located on streets without car access or on long, steep slopes, making it difficult to transport luggage. For such reasons, we strongly advise you to book accommodation with good access.
Group Tours
Group tours are made up of different types of people, then physical conditions and ages can vary. By agreeing to be part of a group tour, you also accept that some people may be faster or slower than you. Therefore, each person can go at their own pace on the route.
It may be the case that a group wishes to modify the tour; however, the guide will be the one who decides, after consulting with all the participants, if such modifications are possible.
Strikes and demonstrations
Strikes and demonstrations are common in Peru, and this may interrupt some of our tours. Roads can be blocked, and train tracks can be taken over. However, we will try to keep your trip as originally planned, even if it means leaving the night before the scheduled date.
Under these circumstances, tours may also be canceled. In case of changes or cancellations, everything will be coordinated with you by our operations department. Your safety is our highest priority, and our decisions will be made to protect it.
Lost objects
Please pay attention to where you leave your things and remember to take everything once you leave our transport or restaurant. You’re the only one responsible for your objects during the tour.
WHAT SHOULD YOU BRING?
ESSENTIAL
CLOTHING
EQUIPMENT
RECOMMENDED
"Rainbow Mountain Peru 1-Day Tour" can leave any day of the week, from March through January. We don’t operate this itinerary in February because of the rainy season & maintenance of the route.
2025 Land Cost
Group Price: US$ 100.00 per person
This small-group journey is guaranteed to operate with just two guests.
Notice that PayPal charges a fee of 5%, which we ask the client to cover since it's due to the use of its service. This tax is just for online deposits.
Price Guarantee
Once your booking has been confirmed, we guarantee the price won’t increase, whatever the circumstances. So please, before booking, ensure you’ve read all our important tour information.
Thank you for your interest in having an adventure travel experience in Peru curated by Salkantay Trekking. Please take a moment to complete our short form, so one our friendly Adventure Consultants could provide you all the information for your trip of a lifetime in Peru.
Our Pledge | Your privacy is respected and protected. The Salkantay Trekking Company will never share, sell, or make public any of your personal contact information to third parties.
Remember | One of our Travel Experts will contact you soon to confirm the availability of the trip you chose, give you more information, and/or provide you alternative options. Once availability is established, we will ask for a deposit and a completed online registration to confirm your spot on the trek. Please call us at (+51) 958 191 179 with any questions or to confirm availability over the phone.
Note | Due to the rainy season and trail maintenance, we don't offer this trek during the whole month of february. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you, we are working to provide you a better service!
Feel free to reach us via email at info@salkantaytrekking.com or by calling us directly at (+51) 958 191 179
Every Day: 9:00 am to 7:00 pm
Triunfo Street 392, Office 212 (2nd Floor), Cusco, Peru
