Our adventure will begin very early, with pickups between 03:00 a.m. and 03:30 a.m. directly from your hostels or hotels in Cuzco. The initial drive will take approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes, passing through villages like Qollasuyo in the southern part of Cusco, an area that played a huge role in the history of the Tawantinsuyo (Ancient Inca people).

Our first stop will be in the district of CUSIPATA, for 30 minutes, to have breakfast. From there we continue onwards with our journey for another hour and a half, passing through the village of PITUMARCA (another important location in the history of the Incas) and other small villages until we reach the community of HANCHIPATA-LLAMA CHIMPANA. This is where we start the hike, but first, your guide will give you a quick briefing on the journey.

After the briefing, we begin our walk at the foot of the Ausangate mountain range and make our way up the mountain for approximately 1 hour 45 minutes. We will then arrive at the highest point of the Rainbow Mountain (Vinicunca) and the best place to see the incredible colors and the Ausangate snowy peak.

During this journey, we will have the opportunity to see the different types of South American camelids (relatives of the camels). We will also have the chance to visit the red hill, where we will have time to soak in the scenery and take some beautiful pictures.

Finally, we will finish the hike with a 1-hour descent into the flat terrain and back to where the walk began, HANCHIPATA. There, the driver will be waiting for us to return to the District of CUSIPATA where we can enjoy 1 hour of a delicious traditional lunch. Following lunch, we will return to Cusco, arriving at approx. 3:30 p.m.


Note 1: If you are not staying in your pickup location then it is your responsibility to be at the main entrance of the hotel or hostel that you selected to be picked up from for the entire duration of the pickup time on the date of your tour.

Note 2: After Vinicunca, there is an optional additional trek into the Red Valley. The duration of the walk is approximately 30 minutes, and you will be required to pay an entrance fee to the area of 20 soles ($7 approx). Please have this in cash.

Note 3: Please, make sure to bring your original passport (a copy will not be accepted) on the day of the tour for access to all areas.

Minimum age: 10 years old – must have parents’ permission

Recommendation: We strongly recommend staying in Cusco for 2 days before the expedition in order to acclimatize. Remember that although the walk is approx. 3 hours if you are not well acclimatized you may have difficulties during the journey.

03:00am - 03:30am

Hotel/hostels pickups for transport towards Rainbow Mountain

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03:30am - 05:00am

Departure from Cusco city takes approximately 1.5 hours to get to Cusipata

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05:00am - 06:00am

Arrival and Breakfast in the district of Cusipata

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06:00am - 07:15am

Transport to the starting point of the trek – Fulawasipata

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07:15am - 09:00am

Start the uphill trek to Rainbow Mountain

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09:00am - 09:30am

Arrival to the Rainbow Mountain. Spend some time at the top of the mountain taking in the view of the beautiful surrounding scenery

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09:30am - 10:00am

OPTIONAL – Visit the Red Valley (DOES NOT INCLUDE ENTRANCE S/. 20.00)

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10:00am - 11:30am

Return to the starting point where transportation awaits us

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11:30am - 12:30pm

Return in transport to Cusipata district

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12:30pm - 13:30pm

Go to a restaurant for lunch before hitting the road back to Cusco

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13:30pm - 15:00pm

Takes about 1.5 hours to get back to Plaza Regocijo in Cusco – 2 blocks from Plaza de Armas

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- Pick-up from your accommodation in Cusco (hotels or hostels)
- Private Comfortable Bus Transport throughout the day (Mountain is over 100km from Cusco)
- Professional Rainbow Mountain Expert Guide (fluent in English & Spanish)
- Local breakfast and a buffet lunch all included
- Entrance to the main Rainbow Mountain Area
- Oxygen tanks for any emergencies as we travel through high altitude

- Red Valley 20 soles ($7 approx) per person (optional)
- Travel insurance
- Water
- Snack
- Saddle horse (if required)
- Rain poncho
- Walking sticks

- PASSPORT - very important!
- Hat to protect from the sun or rain.
- Sunglasses.
- Protective sunscreen
- Dri-FIT T-shirt
- Waterproof jacket or rain poncho.
- Water bottle
- Small backpack
- Trekking shoes
- Personal medications

We strongly recommend staying in Cusco for 2 days before the expedition in order to acclimatize. Remember that although the walk is approx. 3 hours if you are not well acclimatized you may have difficulties during the journey.

It is recommended to not take part in the trek if over 60 years of age or in poor physical conditions. Due to the high altitude and steep climbing, it can be dangerous for your health. Other tour operators won’t tell you this, so be very careful.

WARNING: When being picked up, check with the guide to ensure your name is on their list. Many local companies go to hostels and try to persuade you to go on their tour

Cancellation or changes to this tour:

CHANGES: Any changes to the tour date need to be done before 6:00 pm the day before the tour begins.

NO SHOWS & CANCELLATIONS: If you cancel the day prior to the tour before 6:00 pm (Lima time) or earlier, a 10% administration fee (+ the card fee) will apply. After this time, there is a 100% no-show or cancellation fee.

You must email bookings@rainbowmountaintravels.com (include the reservation number) to cancel this tour or to make any changes.

1. I cannot find my accommodation listed in the operator pick up locations when making my booking. What should I select?

   This operator only offers pick-ups from the hotel and hostel accommodation listed, this covers over 90% of the accommodation providers in the area. They do not provide pick-ups or drop-offs at private residences, Airbnbs, bus terminals etc. Select an alternative close by and be ready there for pick-up at the time on your booking confirmation

2. Do I need to bring trekking shoes?

   Not necessarily, but as you will spend a couple of hours hiking, we recommend that you at least wear stable and comfortable shoes.

3. Will I have problems with altitude sickness on this tour?

   Altitude sickness can catch many travellers a little bit off guard. Not everyone gets sick in high altitudes, and it is difficult to predict who is likely to be badly affected by it. For most people, it is nothing more than a headache and a dizzy sensation that diminishes over a short period of time, 1 to 2 days for most people. If you want to limit your chances of getting sick, there are a few things you can do. Firstly, do not fly directly into high altitude - proceed slowly, allowing your body time to acclimatise as you ascend gradually. However, for many that is not possible, so it’s important to drink lots of water, and to slow down! This sounds simple, but both of these things are very important. Your body is struggling because you don’t have enough oxygen, so avoiding any strenuous activity is a good idea. Chew some coca leaves - the native people of South America have been chewing coca for centuries, thanks to its ability to alleviate mild altitude sickness symptoms. Coca leaves can be bought in any supermarket, and even souvenir shops or street stalls. Take altitude sickness pills (Soroche): these are sold over the counter all over Peru and Bolivia, and are just a few dollars. If you are flying straight into altitude over 2500meters without spending any time at an intermediate elevation, and you’re worried about getting sick, you can ask your doctor for more specific and stronger altitude sickness medication in advance. In the rare case that your symptoms are more severe than a headache and mild dizziness, you should descend in altitude and seek medical assistance.

4. How physically fit do I need to be?

   You should be reasonably fit to undertake the trek. The trek is not particularly steep, but at this altitude the gradual climb is difficult.

5. What are the symptoms of altitude sickness?

   Common symptoms of altitude sickness (sometimes called acute mountain sickness) can be similar to a bad hangover and may include a headache, nausea and vomiting, dizziness, tiredness, loss of appetite and shortness of breath. A severe headache that is not relieved by medication, nausea and vomiting, and increasing fatigue or shortness of breath may indicate more serious problems – seek medical attention.

6. How do I avoid altitude sickness?

   Take Soroche (Diamox) pills, eat small meals, drink coca tea, drink lots of water, and avoid alcohol (it’s a dehydrator). The best way to avoid altitude sickness is to acclimatize yourself. The recommended approach for acclimatization is to ascend gradually, spending at least 24 hours at every 2,000 ft increase in altitude.

7. Can I rent a horse during this trek?

   Yes, you can rent a horse for 90 soles approx for approximately 3 hours, but there are some parts that you will need to walk (approx. 20 to 40 minutes). If you want to hire a horse, you will need to inform the guide at the beginning of the tour and it is subject to availability.

8. What do the breakfast and the lunch include?

   Breakfast: Coffee, tea, chuta bread (traditional bread made in Cusco), butter, jam, a glass of fruit juice, oats, pancake Buffet lunch: Salad (lettuce, tomatoes, broccoli, cucumbers), soup, potato, sweet potato, rice, noodles (red noodles or sautéed noodles), quinoa, meat (chicken, beef, sautéed, or some stew), a hot drink and a small serving of dessert.

9. What does first aid include?

   Sanitary towels, 1 medium gauze, Large gauze pad, Band-Aids, Gauze sponge, Adhesive plasters, flowery water, blister pack of ibuprofen, blister pack of gravicol, blister pack of paracetamol, diclofenac gel, pure alcohol, Iodized alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, absorbent cotton, elastic bandages.

10. How many people are on each tour? How many guides are in the group?

    The number of people per tour can vary. We operate sprinters with 18 seats with the main guide and a suport guide and vans (Renault) with 13 seats with one guide.

11. Is there oxygen ballon on the tour?

    Yes, there is one with the guide and it is used only in emergency cases. The measures are 20 cm high and 6 cm in diameter. Category C

12. What happens my tour if the weather is bad?

    Rainbow Mountain Travels always try our best to ensure all our clients can visit the summit of the mountain. At these altitudes, the weather can change suddenly and without warning. Your safety is our priority. RMT shall not be liable for any shortening of the tour or failure to complete the tour for weather related issues.

13. Why book with FindLocalTrips.com?

    Apart from our low-price guarantee, with us, you are 100% assured that your booking is made. We provide an instant email confirmation and have live spaces and availability for each tour. If you have any queries, you are in the hands of our team of 20 local experts here on the ground, who speak perfect Spanish and English. We guarantee quick responses to any questions or queries. Tour operators are experts at operating their tours... We are the experts at reservations, organisation and assistance with your plans for these tours.