Day Trips to Rainbow Mountain from Cusco

Among the best things to do when visiting Cusco are the excursions to the Rainbow Mountain. These trips tend to be a bit challenging and even exhausting. However, they are entertaining and offer an incredible experience that will stay in your memory for a long time.

Some tours offer a half-day walk, while others even plan a camping trip. Others include a different mode of transport such as ATVs or even going horseback riding for a good distance. This makes each excursion different and varied. You can choose the one you like best.

Travelling to the Rainbow Mountain from Cusco is one of the most popular activities for tourists travelling to Peru. It is usually a day hike that lasts approximately 12 hours and costs around 80 €. Without a doubt this is one of the best activities you can do in Cusco.

In this type of excursion you will always have a professional guide who knows perfectly the way through the Peruvian countryside to get to the Rainbow Mountain. Before starting the tour, your guide will pick you up from your hotel in private transport. Finally you will arrive at the starting point to begin the tour.

The first stop will be in the village of Quessiuno, where you can enjoy a good breakfast. With your energies recharged, you can continue the five-hour hike to the Rainbow Mountain. From there you will be able to see beautiful landscapes and take all the pictures you can of this beautiful site.

After a while watching the scenery of the last stop, it will be time to return to Cusco. On this road you will meet again the village of Quessiuno. There you will enjoy a delicious lunch. Finally, you will reach the last stop, the Plaza Regocijo (Kusipata).

Interesting details

• Price: around 80 €.
• Duration: about 12 hours.
• Means of transport: walking tour.
• Advantages of this option: this type of excursion includes breakfast and lunch, as well as a first aid kit to help those who need it along the way.
• Disadvantages of this option: it is advisable to have physical stamina to withstand the 12-hour journey without any problems.

You don't feel like hiking for too many hours, but you want to see the Rainbow Mountain? Then I recommend an ATV tour from Cusco. You can experience this incredible adventure for an average cost of 80 €. Please note that the approximate time for this tour is 10 hours, sometimes less.

This is definitely one of the most entertaining ways to do a tour from Cusco. First your guide will pick you up at your hotel and take you to the meeting point. There you will receive all the necessary instructions to drive the ATV safely. Remember that at all times your guide will lead the group, so you must follow him as you make your way up the mountain.

As you enter this beautiful landscape, you will be able to take amazing pictures. As you look up at the sky and all the rest of the site, your guide will tell you everything you need to know about this corner of Peru. Feel free to ask all the questions you want about this famous tourist attraction.

At the end of the tour you will take the road back to Cusco. On the way you will make a stop to enjoy a typical lunch of the region. Finally you will arrive at the starting point where a guide will be waiting to take you back to your hotel in a private vehicle.

Details of interest

• Price: around 80 €.
• Duration: about 10 hours.
• Means of transport: ATV.
• Advantages of this option: you will be able to drive an adventurous vehicle so you won't get too tired on the way. In addition, you will reach your destination quickly.
• Disadvantages of this option: you need to know how to drive to be able to enjoy this experience.

Did you know that camping has multiple benefits for your health? If you camp in a place like Rainbow Mountain, I'm sure those benefits will increase. Getting fresh air and being in contact with nature is the best natural remedy for the body. Experience approximately two days of camping for an average cost of €400.

As is typical for these tours, your guide will pick you up from your hotel early in the morning in private transport. When the whole group is assembled at the starting point, it's time for a briefing about the tour. The great thing about this plan is that the organisers have tents and other equipment ready, so you don't have to carry them yourself.

You will start the walk with convenient stops to enjoy the scenery and have lunch. When you arrive at the specified campsite, the team will set up the tents, and you can help in the process too! Afterwards you can settle down and enjoy the sunset, share with the other tourists and the organising team.

Please note that food and drink for both days are always included in these experiences. You don't have to worry about these details, you just need to bring your camping clothes and a bag with what you are told to bring. You will also have a portable toilet for the whole group and a first aid kit in case of any problems.

Details of interest

• Price: around 400 €.
• Duration: around 2 days.
• Means of transport: walking tour.
• Advantages of this option: you will be able to spend a night on Rainbow Mountain and admire the beauty of this natural landscape.
• Disadvantages of this option: to do a camping tour you need much more time in Cusco, so it may not be convenient when you have few days of holidays.

Rainbow Mountain is not the only destination you can visit on a trek from Cusco. You can also take advantage of the hike to visit the Red Valley and marvel at its colours. This experience has an average cost of 200 € and lasts approximately 15 hours.

For this adventurous day, you should wait for your guide to take you in a vehicle to the starting point. From there you will start walking to the villages of Quechan where you can enjoy a hearty breakfast. Please note that this hike can be very challenging for some people, so it is best to only join if you have sufficient physical stamina.

Your guide will take you to the highlights of the trail. He or she will explain the reason for the colours of the Vinicunca Rainbow Mountain and the Red Valley. You will also hear about the mysteries and legends of these sites. You will be able to make convenient stops to recharge your batteries, eat snacks and drink water.

A Peruvian goumert-style lunch is also included in this tour. If you like this kind of food, I recommend you to take a Peruvian cooking class in Cusco after this tour. At the end of the tour you can return to the starting point. You can ask the organizers to take you back to your hotel for more comfort.

Details of interest

• Price: around 200 €.
• Duration: around 15 hours.
• Means of transport: walking tour.
• Advantages of this option: you can visit two destinations in the same trip.
• Disadvantages of this option: the journey can be somewhat long and tedious.

If you plan to stay in Cusco for more than three days, I recommend taking a horseback tour to Rainbow Mountain. The average cost of these tours is 100 € and they last approximately 15 hours. You will be able to ride a horse to make the tour less strenuous and entertaining.

To begin this experience, your guide will pick you up in a private vehicle to take you to the meeting point. There you will receive a lesson in which you will learn how to ride a horse, as well as the general instructions of the experience. I recommend that you ask all the questions you need to ask before moving on.

At all times the tour group will be following the guide. This professional will be in charge of telling you all the details and curiosities about the different sites. You will pass through picturesque villages. There you will see herds of alpacas and llamas, take a picture with these adorable animals!

When you come back, you can eat a delicious dinner, as it is recommended to do this tour at sunset. Then you can decide to do some evening activities in Cusco to continue enjoying these beautiful natural landscapes.

Details of interest

• Price: around 100 €.
• Duration: about 15 hours.
• Means of transport: on horseback.
• Advantages of this option: you will be able to interact much more with nature.
• Disadvantages of this option: people who do not know how to ride a horse may have a less pleasant experience. However, they are recommended to request a short lesson a few days before to ensure that the tour will be safe and fun.

Traveller tip
When interacting with the horse try not to be frightened, but very confident and affectionate. This way the tour will be calmer.

The time you need to walk from Cusco to Rainbow Mountain can vary. You should bear in mind that the number of activities included in your experience, as well as the pace of the trek, may take more or less hours.

On average a round trip takes 12 hours. However, some tours that include transport take at least 10 hours. If you decide to camp, the duration is usually two days. Each of these options are different plans that adapt to the tastes of each tourist.

On the other hand, in all the excursions the guides constantly talk about the history of the landscape and its curious facts. You have the opportunity to ask as many questions as you like. Sometimes these conversations make the tour a bit longer or take longer to finish.

If you are interested in learning more about the Rainbow Mountain or about the whole city of Cusco and its surroundings, I recommend you to visit the best museums of this city. You can learn about its culture, traditions and the reason for the colours of this mountain.

To visit the Rainbow Mountain in Cusco you should consider when is the best time to go to Cusco. It is generally recommended to make this trip between the months of June and August, as the rains are infrequent. Thanks to this you will be able to walk with more tranquility and comfort.

On the other hand, it is important that you keep in mind some tips for hiking. For example, you should wear comfortable clothes, carry walking sticks, take water, among other things. In general, the organisers of the excursions always offer a safety talk so that you are prepared for this adventure.

Footwear is also important, as you will be on your feet the whole way. Your shoes should be special shoes for this type of activity, so you won't get tired so quickly. On the other hand, using sunscreen is a necessary step for your walk. On the trail you won't be able to protect yourself from the sun, so you should apply it to your skin before you set off.

Peru's Rainbow Mountain has seven beautiful colours that will amaze you. Also known as Vinicunca, this mountain has such a variety of colours thanks to the different minerals found in it. These include clay, limestone, silicates, copper oxide and many more.

By hiking this beautiful natural landscape you can admire its beauty up close, learn all about its curious facts and much more. The hike, although it can be a bit challenging, is rewarding, as you will constantly see beautiful natural images.

If you go camping, you will have the opportunity to observe the starry sky in the middle of one of Peru's most frequented destinations. Enjoying nature is always a good plan to have a great time with friends.