A wonderful one day trek from Cusco to visit the increasingly popular natural, multi-colored "rainbow mountain" (Vinicunca). You have the option to hike or ride a horse through the beautiful Andean valley to the top viewpoint. Along the way you will see snow capped peaks, herds of alpaca, glaciers and birds of prey, all set within this incredibly stunning mountain range at 5,200m above sea level. Sediment of minerals give the mountains its distinctive turquoise, lavender, gold colors.
At your hotel
We have a very early morning start, you will be picked up from your hotel in Cusco. Meet your guide at reception. It’s about a 3 hour drive to the start of the trek - enjoy the sunrise and scenery from your private transport, or sleep a little bit longer.
When we arrive, you will be provided with breakfast to energize you while the crew prepares for the trek. You can also rent a horse if you prefer not to hike. The hike then takes about 3 to 4 hours to the viewpoint. We recommend you bring both rain and sun protection. Take your time to enjoy the journey and various landscapes, and we’re sure to encounter some llamas and alpacas!
We take in the wonderful view of the colored mountains for a while and take pictures. Your guide will also explain some of the history and geography of this area. After about half an hour, we trek back to our starting point.
Enjoy your lunch there at around 12:30 - 1PM. Our private transport will be waiting to take us back to Cusco.
Expected return time to Cusco. We can drop you off either at your hotel, or the main square if you prefer to continue your exploration there.
At your hotel or the main square
Meals: Breakfast, a packed lunch, water.
Activities: Entrance to Rainbow Mountain, trekking with private, expert, English-speaking guide.
Transport: Private transport to the start of the hike and return to Cusco.
First Aid Kit: To deal quickly with basic first care.
One safety horse in case of emergency.
Dinner, personal snacks and other drinks.
Rent a horse at additional cost if you don't want to hike.
Tips including for your guide.
Accommodation.
Trekking poles (but you can rent these from us).
During weekends I’m usually at Machu Picchu now so we can discuss that too. Middle of the week I am in Cusco.
ALTITUDE WARNING
The hiking path will not be too steep but we do reach high altitude (maximum 5,200m) so the difficulty will not only depend on your level of fitness but also on how well you’ve acclimatized and react to the altitude. We rate this moderately difficult.
Rent a horse at additional cost if you don't want to hike. However, the last 600m are too steep for horses and you will have to walk this last part.
Our group just loved the tour of Cusco, Peru and Mike, our Tour Guide. I think Peru will have more tourists after having seen this virtual tour! Thank you!!
The m you very much Lisa
Wow! What an amazing experience! I booked this as an opportunity for our students to "travel" and learn about a place we are unable to visit in person. Michael did an excellent job on this tour. He created a truly unique educational experience for our students and families. I have received many notes of positive feedback stating how much they enjoyed this experience. Michael was communicative through the whole process ensuring that the tour would meet the needs of our group. He was patient as we worked through some technical difficulties on our end. I would 100% recommend this tour. Thank you Michael for bringing the beauty of Peru and Machu Picchu to our homes.
Thank you so much Rachel for your review, I'm really happy to hear everyone enjoyed it. It was an absolute pleasure hosting you and your students virtually at Machu Picchu!