Rainbow Mountain Hike Palcoyo Full Day
Dificulty
Moderate
Duration
1 Day
Group Size
14 a 19 People
Max Altitude
4,650 msnm
Description
Palcoyo Mountain is an alternative hike to the famous Vinicunca Rainbow Mountain. This tour will take you to one of the lesser-known destinations.
The highlight of this tour is Palcoyo Mountain, a place of unparalleled natural beauty. As you progress through the tour, you will be greeted by a vibrantly colored mountain range, formed over millennia by the accumulation of minerals and sediments. This geological phenomenon creates a surreal landscape that seems straight out of a dream.
The hike takes place on well-maintained trails, allowing you to explore and admire this natural wonder up close with less effort compared to Vinicunca. As you ascend, you will be surrounded by nature.
From the top of Palccoyo, you will enjoy stunning panoramic views of the surrounding area, including the majestic Apu Ausangate, the sacred mountain of the Incas. In addition, you will have the opportunity to capture unforgettable photographs of this incredible color spectacle.
This full-day tour is a perfect opportunity to experience the beauty and uniqueness of the Peruvian Andes in an environment less crowded than other tourist attractions. Don’t miss the chance to discover Palccoyo Mountain and live an unforgettable adventure.
Cusco | Cusipata - Checacupe - Palcoyo Rainbow Mountain - The Rock Forest - Cusco
We start our day with a hotel pickup at 4:00 a.m. Then, we head towards the trailhead of Palcoyo Rainbow Mountain. Located south of Cusco, we drive for approximately 4 hours in our tourist transport until we reach the trail, where we will provide breakfast.
Along the way, we see beautiful Andean mountains, lush green valleys, local people working on their land, and hundreds of alpacas and llamas. If we are lucky, we may spot vicuñas in their natural habitat. When we arrive at Apacheta, the hiking starting point, we begin our hike to Palcoyo Mountain. After walking for 20 minutes, we reach the first viewpoint, where we can admire the first small Rainbow Mountain and take pictures.
We continue exploring, and after another 20 minutes, we arrive at the second viewpoint, where we capture the second mountain. Then, we walk another 20 minutes to the third viewpoint, where you will be amazed by the third mountain. This is the classic photo spot for the iconic Palcoyo postcard picture.
If you feel good once you reach the third viewpoint, we can walk an additional 10 minutes to the Stone Forest. You will see stunning rock formations, and once at the top of the trail, the view from above is incredible. You will be able to see Ausangate Mountain in the distance along with the three Rainbow Mountains.
After enjoying the breathtaking colorful mountains, we hike back to the trailhead. Then, we take our tourist transport for approximately 2 hours to the lunch spot. After enjoying our delicious meal, we drive for another hour and a half to Cusco, where we will drop you off near the main square at approximately 6:00 p.m.
- MEALS: Breakfast, buffet lunch.
- TOTAL WALKING DISTANCE: 3 km / 1.86 miles.
- TOTAL HIKING TIME: 2 hours.
- DIFFICULTY LEVEL: Moderate – easy.
- MINIMUM ALTITUDE: 4,770 m / 15,649 ft.
- MAXIMUM ALTITUDE: 4,900 m / 16,070 ft.
Incluye
✓ PRE-DEPARTURE INFORMATION MEETING
✓ ENTRY TICKET TO PALCOYO RAINBOW MOUNTAIN
✓ FIELD STAFF
- Professional Guides:
Our guides specialize in trekking and are selected from accredited universities. They are fluent in English and have between three to ten years of experience in various hikes across the region. They are experts in group management under pressure, first aid, and rescue techniques. Most of them come from different Andean communities, bringing their cultural heritage with them. Alongside the rest of the field team, our guides will make your journey a unique experience.
✓ MEALS
- Food:
1 breakfast, 1 buffet lunch. - Our chef prepares the best dishes in the middle of the mountains, providing a unique gastronomic experience. Our team of adventurers and explorers loves our food, and we ensure that each meal is delicious and nutritious. We respect all diets and offer options for vegetarians, vegans, or any special requirements at no additional cost. If you have any allergies or dietary restrictions, please inform us in advance so our guide can take them into account during the briefing session.
✓ TRANSPORTATION
- Day 1: You will be picked up from your hotel in the morning and travel in private transportation with the group to the hiking point.
- Day 1: Return transportation to Cusco.
✓ EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT AND REMOTE MEDICAL ASSISTANCE
-
Radios:
Our radios have a 10 km range and 8 frequencies, allowing our guides, cooks, and porters to communicate with each other. Additionally, they can be used to contact park rangers in case of an emergency. -
First Aid Kit:
We carry alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, iodine tincture, germicidal soap, cotton, gauze, bandages, medical adhesive tape, surgical gloves, pain relievers for muscle and stomach pain, and fever reducers. If you take prescription medication, you may bring your own. -
Portable Oxygen Tank.
✓ IMPORTANT
- Please note that only a medical professional can issue a prescription. Our guides DO NOT have the authority to prescribe treatment to clients during the hike, and all medications will be administered with your consent and at your own responsibility. If you have a medical prescription, we recommend bringing your own medication.
No Incluye
× DINNER IN CUSCO
× OPTIONAL HORSE RENTAL
× PERSONAL HIKING CLOTHING AND GEAR
× TRAVEL INSURANCE
- This is not a requirement, but we always recommend that our clients purchase travel insurance in case of flight issues or unexpected health problems. Please check if your travel insurance policy has altitude restrictions, as some policies become void above 4,000 m / 13,123 ft.
× ADDITIONAL COSTS
- Delays beyond the administration’s control (landscape changes, bad weather, itinerary modifications due to safety concerns, illness, government policy changes, political instability/strikes, etc.).
✓ TIPS FOR YOUR CREW
- Tipping is customary in tourism and any excursion. Although we pay fair wages to our entire team, an extra tip is always appreciated, especially considering the hard work they do. Typically, group participants collect and distribute the tips.
- Original ID or Passport.
- Sun hat and wool hat for different temperatures.
- Warm clothing (jacket, scarf, gloves, hats).
- Short-sleeved T-shirt.
- Trekking shoes or waterproof boots for your comfort, if they are sneakers with rubber or thick soles it is an excellent option.
- Rain gear: A good raincoat, rain pants (only for the rainy season).
- Long pants.
- Sunglasses.
- Small backpack to carry water, snacks, camera, etc.
- 2 liters of water (there are options to buy along the route).
- Snacks such as apple, cereal bar, candy and chocolates.
- Personal medical kit.
- Sunscreen.
- Cash in soles for personal expenses.
✓ PRICE PER PERSON:
- $40 USD – Adults
✓ PRICE GUARANTEE
- Once your reservation is confirmed, we guarantee that the price will not increase under any circumstances. Therefore, before booking, please make sure to read all the important information about the tour.
✓ HOW TO BOOK
- You can book your spot online through our website, where our booking platform will guide you step by step. The tour payment can be made using any credit or debit card, and you can also pay in your home currency for added convenience.
Please note that IZIPAY charges a 5% fee, which we ask the client to cover, as it is due to the use of their service. This fee applies only to online deposits.
✓ CANCELLATION POLICY
- Partial Refund: If you cancel within 24 hours, but before 5:00 p.m. the day before the tour, you will receive a 50% refund.
- No Refund: Cancellations made after 5:00 p.m. on the day before the tour are not eligible for a refund.
✓ RECOMMENDATIONS
- We strongly recommend that you fully understand all booking and cancellation policies before making your payment to ensure that your investment is protected and that you have a smooth booking experience for your adventure.
For the Rainbow Mountain Palcoyo excursion, you will only need a small, light, and comfortable backpack. A 20-liter backpack will be sufficient. If you decide to bring a larger one, keep in mind that you will have to carry it throughout the journey.
Palcoyo Mountain is located at 4,900 meters above sea level (16,070 feet), 300 meters lower than Vinicunca, which is located at 5,200 meters above sea level (16,732 feet).
Palcoyo offers a more tranquil and personal experience, away from the crowds of Vinicunca. The path to the Palcoyo Rainbow Mountain is less physically demanding, making it a more accessible option for visitors.
Vinicunca is a three-hour, quite challenging hike, not ideal for inexperienced hikers unless done with the support of a horse, which is highly recommended. On the other hand, the Palcoyo excursion is only a 45-minute to one-hour walk, rated as “easy”.
The weather at high altitudes and mountains can be unpredictable. However, the dry season, from April to mid-October, is very popular among travelers, as the days tend to be sunny. Still, Rainbow Mountain is accessible year-round. During the rainy season, while the weather may be more unstable, there will be fewer visitors, making the experience more unique.
It’s important to be well-acclimatized before hiking. It’s recommended to arrive in Cusco at least 2 days before your hike to help with adaptation and avoid altitude sickness. If you’ve already been in another high-altitude area of Peru, we recommend resting one day in Cusco to recover.
The tour is available year-round, subject to weather conditions.
It’s recommended to book the tour in advance due to the high and low seasons, which affect the number of tourists. Booking early will help avoid issues related to tour availability.
Although specific training is not required for the hikes in Cusco, we suggest exercising on an incline treadmill, as well as going up and down stairs or using a stair climber. Keep in mind that you’ll need at least 2 days in Cusco before your trek to acclimate.
We recommend wearing lightweight trekking shoes that provide ankle support, especially for inexperienced hikers, as you will be climbing and descending many Inca stairs.
Any luggage that is not needed for the trek should be left in Cusco. All hotels are accustomed to storing luggage. If you have nowhere to store it, you can leave it in our offices until your adventure ends.
We offer local superfoods and traditional Peruvian dishes such as rice, chicken, beef, salads, potatoes, vegetables, and fruits, freshly prepared by our local chef. We also have excellent vegetarian and vegan options and can accommodate specific dietary requirements with proper preparation.
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