Spinelli - 1D Rainbow Mountain trek - 2 August 2023 - Shared

      AP
      Apus Peru
      • Email address verified
      30 reviews
      Aug 2, 2023
      Group size: 1 - 12
      Spinelli - 1D Rainbow Mountain trek - 2 August 2023 - Shared
      Vinicunca

      Apus Peru
      • Email address verified
      30 reviews

      Aug 2, 2023
      Group size: 1 - 12

      About this trip

      Our full day Rainbow Mountain day trip is for the intrepid traveler short on time, but not on adventure! We have curated an experience designed to get you out of sync with the crowds. 


      Known locally as Vinicunca (cunca means “neck” in Quechua, the local indigenous language), this hidden gem near the Ausangate circuit goes by a lot of nicknames: Rainbow mountain, Painted mountain, Colored mountain, montaña de 7 colores, and even Stripy mountain – all of which speak to its unearthly and radiant colored peaks.


      On this Rainbow Mountain 1 day trek, you’ll climb up to a breathtaking (literally!) altitude of 5040m (16, 535 ft) to capture that classic view of Vinicunca, and then walk back down along the same path. It is a steep climb up and down so you must make sure you’re prepared for the challenge and properly acclimatized.



      TREKKERS WANTED!


      Words from the group:


      "My name is Augusta, Italian living abroad, and I’m in my mid-fifties. I travel a lot for business and I like it, and I LOVE hiking, immersing in nature and learning different cultures. I will be in Peru for a couple of weeks and I’m super excited of this trek and the opportunity to share the experience."

        

      Final rates are based on the number of paying participants that enroll for this trip.
       

      We are currently accepting deposits to secure space on the trek. Please be advised once the deposit deadline is reached, we will, at that time, determine how many paying participants have enrolled and adjust the final cost of the trip. This information will determine the final balance per person.


      If you have any questions please ask prior to signing up. 


      Prices are per person:


      Group of 2 people: $310 USD 

      Group of 3 people: $220 USD

      Group of 4 - 6 people: $155 USD

      Group of 7 -8 people: $125 USD

      Group of 9 - 12 people: $115 USD 


      Final balance is due 7 days prior to your trek departure.

      Important details about your booking

      Dear Fellow Traveller,


      This is your payment link for your upcoming 1-day trek. The price quoted here is the price per person. Please be sure to enter the correct number of passengers for whom you will be paying the deposit.  

       

      Please make sure you read and understand our Booking Conditions before paying your deposit. Please also download and fill out this Passenger Details Form and this Medical Declaration & Insurance Waiver Form. You will be prompted to upload these documents when paying your deposit. 


      Thank you, and we look forward to seeing you in Peru!


      Lorena and the Apus Peru team

      Available Packages

      Price per Person - Group of 2

      This is the price per person based on a group size of 2.


      $310
      Deposit: $124

      Itinerary

      Rainbow Mountain trek
      One day trek
      • Total Walking Distance: 7km (4.3 mi)
      • Total Walking Time: 2.5-3h
      • Minimum Altitude: 4650m / 15255 ft
      • Maximum Altitude: 5040m / 16,535 ft

      We leave Cusco City at around 7:30 am for our Rainbow Mountain day trip, a not-too-early start compared to the standard 3 am departure on other Rainbow Mountain day tours! Thankfully, we will be fully rested and prepared for the long day ahead.


      Our day trip starts with a 3-hour drive along a paved road across the altiplano. We’ll travel through the fertile Vilcanota Valley, in the direction of Puno, until we reach Chillihuani (4700m / 15,419 ft).


      Arriving in Chillihuani, we’ll be treated to magnificent views of the valley and its surrounding mountains. This is where our Rainbow Mountain 1-day trek will begin. We’ll begin hiking around 11 am – just as the morning crowds should be coming down from the mountain. The path will be busy climbing up, but we should reach the viewpoint when most people have left.


      From the trailhead at Phulahuasipata (4650m / 15,255 ft), we climb for about 1.5-2 hours, gaining 390m in altitude as we go. This is a challenging climb and our breathing is sure to become more labored as we gain altitude. There is a rest stop halfway at Phuñacancha (4740m / 15,551 ft), with toilets available for 1 sol (about $0.30 USD).

      Arriving at the Vinicunca Pass – the Classic View of Rainbow Mountain

      When we reach Vinicunca Pass (5040m / 16,535 ft), we will enjoy spectacular views of the unique colored rock formations that give Rainbow Mountain its name. This is your reward for the strenuous climb: glorious layers of turquoise, orange, brown, and red rock sediment. There may be some cold gusts of wind here so please ensure that you are bundled up and that your head is covered with a woolly hat!

      When the day is clear, we will also be treated to impressive views of the snow-capped Apu Ausangate, the most important apu, or mountain deity, in Andean cosmology.


      After some time to rest and take those classic shots for your Instagram feed, we return down the mountain the same way we came. Our private transport will be waiting for us when we arrive back at the trailhead. We will enjoy our boxed lunch in the car, sheltered from the wind and cold, and then begin our return journey to Cusco. We arrive back at your hotel around 5 or 6 pm.

      Your Organizer


      AP
      Apus Peru
      30 reviews
      Our mission is to getting you off the beaten track and into the mountains, experiencing the best the Andes has to offer and catching a glimpse of the REAL Peru.

      Reviews

      I’m glad we decided to go with Apus Peru for the 4-day Classic Inca Trail Trek. From begin to end, everyone was attentive to making sure we had a seamless experience. I hade both Lorena and Sheree helping me with my booking. There were a lot of delays and changes on my end but they never ceased to check in and accommodate. The team of porters, chefs, and guide were so friendly and made the trek quite enjoyable! William was our guide and full of great energy and stories of the history of the Incas, the Spanish colonization, the fauna and flora unique to the Andes, and the culture of Peruvians today. He gave great advice of other places to visit in Peru. If you book a Trek, I highly recommend William! I don’t remember all the names of the porters and the sous chef, but our head chef, Mauricio, and head porter, Valentin, made sure we had a 5-star experience at each rest stop. Each time we were greeted with refreshments, a floral centerpiece, and 3-course meals that were delicious, nutritious, and presented in a way you’d think you were at a hotel and not camping. And who can forget the applause and cheering they gave each time we arrived! I loved each time we passed each other on the trail because they kept us upbeat and motivated! Hands down to the team for carrying all that equipment and keeping a positive environment for us! The tents were comfortable and kept us protected from the rain we got for two of the nights. I highly recommend Apus Peru! We saw some larger groups which would probably have been an experience on its own, but I loved our smaller group because we didn’t feel rushed at all. We were able to go on our own pace and enjoy every bit of the experience! I also love that Apus Peru uses our fees to support the Peruvian locals and the tradition of weaving. They also employ the husbands of the weavers as porters. I felt great knowing that we were all benefiting from this amazing experience!
      By Patrick Joseph H for Halili - Classic Inca Trail - 12 March 2024 on Mar 17, 2024
      A perfect trip. We got in and up and down and out of Machu Picchu easily. Tours of Cusco and surrounding areas outstandng. Our tour guide, Greco, was thoughtful, knowlegeable and professional. Cannot thank him enough. The tour was very interesting and full of facts and historical contexts. Two well educated travelers were duly impressed. The food and accomodations were also excellent. Trains, drivers, meets and transfers all went off without a hitch. Booking and details were well-handled and communicated clearly. You felt at ease. A+ for Apus Peru and their staff.
      By Stevin G for Groth - Custom 3d tour - 22 Feb 2024 - Private on Mar 04, 2024
      We really enjoyed our tour - thank you very much! Andrés and his family welcomed us wholeheartedly and let us participate in their unique craft and daily life. The food was delicious and they surprised us with a song and a birthday cake. We were able to buy some of their beautiful handmade textiles - well loved gifts and a cherished memory back home. Our guide Ofelia was excellent, so was our driver. The trip as well as the preparation for our tour was very well organized and we got lots of useful and interesting information. Our needs and wishes were at the center of the attention, even detours were possible. All in all it was far more than we expected. We recommend this tour to anyone who wants to experience something beautiful and unique far off the beaten track. We would love to join other trips from Apu Peru at some point in a hopefully not far away future.
      By Martina S for Schafer - Huaran weaving tour - 17 February 2024 - Shared on Mar 03, 2024
      5 stars We were very well taken care of. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic. Besides of course seeing Macchu Pichu, we also visited several amazing archeological sites. The food and accommodations were excellent. I highly recommend APUS Tours for this trip.
      By Paul P for PRITCHARD - 9d Custom Cusco & Machu Picchu Tour - 5-13 Nov on Nov 27, 2023
      Trotz nasser 1. Nacht und 2. Tag war der 3 tägige Lares Trek ein Eindrückliches Erlebnis. Der Reiseführer war flexibel, hatte grosse Kenntnisse. Der Koch war eine Klasse für sich. Das ganze Team, mit den Pferdeführern, war sehr aufmerksam, hilfsbereit und freundlich. Schade, dass wir nie Sicht auf die hohen Berge hatten. Unglaublich für uns, wie in dieser Gegend noch mit einfachsten Mitteln, auch von jungen Leuten, gearbeitet wird.
      By Pia G for Grieder - 3d custom Lares trek - 08 Nov 2023 - Private on Nov 19, 2023
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