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