The Rainbow Mountain Peru, originally known as Vinicunca, found in the Andes mountains of Peru. Here you’ll find everything you need to know from the history and facts to the must-knows when climbing this increasingly popular travel spot.
Rainbow Mountain Peru Quick Tips 2024:
How to get there: Take a tour from Cusco (not possible to enter the Rainbow Mountain park area without a tour – official tour operator mentioned below)
How to get to Cusco: Fly with LATAM Airlines, or take Peru Hop Bus
Official Tour Operator: Peru Expedition Tours Travels – Click Here
When is Rainbow Mountain Rainy Season: in this área is from November to April
How to get to Rainbow Mountain: Rainbow Mountain Peru is accessible from Cusco, however the only way to access Rainbow Mountain is if you are with an official tour company who have permissions to access the mountain.
Again, be VERY careful with what company you travel with as this is a once in a lifetime experience. Avoid booking on Viator or GetYourGuide as they charge tour operators up to 40% commission and often have higher prices than on the operators own website.
Full Day Trek
This is the most popular option when it comes to trekking up to Rainbow Mountain Peru – particularly if done with an operator.
An early start from Cusco is advised, driving for roughly 3 hours to Pitumarca. Then it is suggested to travel to Qesoyuno for the start of the trek. It takes roughly 3 hours to get to the top and 3 hours back down.
Most operators will have you back in Cusco Plaza by 19:00pm – this is a good guideline for solo travelers also
Getting from Lima to Cusco
To get to Rainbow Mountain, you first need to get to Cusco, the gateway to the colorful hills. There are 2 ways to go from Lima to Cusco: bus or flying. Bus is the preferred choice for travellers due to all the scenery and destinations that you’ll be able to visit along the way, while flying is the best option for those short on time.
Getting from Lima to Cusco
To get to Rainbow Mountain, you first need to get to Cusco, the gateway to the colorful hills. There are 2 ways to go from Lima to Cusco: bus or flying. Bus is the preferred choice for travellers due to all the scenery and destinations that you’ll be able to visit along the way, while flying is the best option for those short on time.
Local buses
The next best option is for travellers to catch a local bus from Lima to Cusco.
These journeys are often direct, so can be very long, sometimes up to 26 hours. Several local companies use shortcuts on roads that go through the Andes to reduce this time. However, These roads can be very, very dangerous and buses sometimes even get hijacked so be extremely careful when choosing a company.
Flying
We would only ever recommend flying from Lima to Cusco if you are incredibly short on time.
Not only do you miss seeing all of the other amazing destinations in Peru, but you are also putting yourself at high risk of Altitude Sickness.
Going from sea level to 3,400m in such a short space of time does not allow your body to adjust – this affects the majority of travellers who decide to fly direct so we strongly advise against it.
ABOUT RAINBOW MOUNTAIN
Rainbow Mountain Peru, also known as Vinicunca, is the fastest-growing tourist attraction in Peru followed by Huacachina Desert Oasis. The mountain is made up of 14 different colorful minerals, and as recently as 2013, the mountain was not visible as it was permanently covered in snow.
It should be noted that the only way to access Rainbow Mountain is if you are with an official tour company who have permission to access it. For that reason, we strongly recommend you only travel with a reputable company. We recommend Peru Expeditions Tours but you can find more tour operators on our Tours page.
Scroll down below for much more info about Rainbow Mountain Peru.
How to visit Rainbow Mountain
- Take a tour from Cusco (most companies pickup at your hotel, hostel, or Airbnb)
- Mountain is around 3 hours from Cusco’s Historical Center
- Go with a company that departs Cusco early (to beat the crowds)
- The trek is moderately difficult…donkeys can be hired along the way
- Ensure you book with a reputable company as many tourists have reported booking with companies who essentially scam them. Peru Expeditions Tours are the top-ranked tour operator
Where is Rainbow Mountain located
Located in the Peruvian Andes in Cusco just 3 hours away from the historical center, Rainbow Mountain is becoming the main attraction to see after or before Machu Picchu. As you could guess, the mountain is famed for its natural, multi-colored beauty at a staggering 5,200m above sea level. This rainbow-like appearance is created by the sediment of minerals throughout the area giving the mountain the turquoise, lavendar, gold and other colors.
It was only recently discovered due to the snow melting revealing the hidden gem that’s still considered holy by many until this day. Since its discovery, Rainbow Mountain as slowly started gaining popularity and has even been listed in National Geographic’s “Top 100 Places To Visit Before You Die”.
How did it become so popular
Once the mountain’s existence was known outside of the local communities, it started attracting locals and travelers alike, first having a couple of dozen of people to now taking in hundreds of visitors a day. The first thing that caught everyone’s attention was, you guessed it again, the colors seen nowhere else. But that wasn’t the only thing. It’s one of those places where the whole journey is as amazing as the destination. Llamas, horses, and alpacas are dispersed all over the range, with local communities still living almost the same life as before but now also helping visitors discover the colored mountain. The scenery along the trek is just like the pictures and even they don’t do it justice sometimes. Add to this the geological and local history and it’s no wonder why it’s gaining popularity!
Top facts
- It is also known as Vinicunca, a word originating from Peru’s native tongue Quechua, which translates to “colored mountain”
- The mountain is made up of 14 different, colorful minerals
- Just 4 years ago it was entirely covered in snow, making it impossibe to fully witness the beauty of the mountain
- Temperatures still drop below 0 at night – good to know for anyone visiting Rainbow Mountain on a multi-day Ausangate trek
- Llamas and alpacas can be seen dotted all along the route to Vinicunca
- Weather can change rapidly from snow to rain to blistering sun in the space of an hour
- You can rent a horse at any point on the way if you begin to find the trek difficult – you do not need to have one hired from the beginning
Weather & best time to go
Weather
The best weather for trekking Vinincunca is between March and November with blue skies from June to August, whereas January and February are considered the wettest months. However, there are days without any rains during these months. Weather can change in seconds though, so always be prepared!
Go now
Unlike with the famous lost city of the Incas, Machu Picchu, there are currently no limits on how many tourists can trek to the stunning spot. It is becoming increasingly popular so we recommend going as soon as you can.
Frequently asked questions
Does it actually look like the pictures?
Yes! And it’s definitely what makes the trek much more gratifying. There are unlucky days where the weather does ruin a little bit of the beauty but it adds a mystical effect.
What should I bring and wear if I were to do the Rainbow Mountain trek?
The most important things you should bring and wear are warm layers of clothes, good trekking shoes, suncream, and water. We go into more detail on our What To Bring page.
Are there chances of suffering altitude sickness during the trek?
Altitude sickness can catch many travellers off guard. Not everyone gets sick at 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 mild headache and a dizzy sensation that diminishes over a short period of time (1-2 days).
We strongly recommend acclimatizing to the altitude before partaking in the trek. It could be done by taking it easy on the first day in Cusco (resting, eating small portions of food, drinking lots of water) or gradually ascending throughout other cities. If short on time, consult your doctor on taking altitude sickness (acetazolamide/Diamox) or go for the natural remedy used by locals, chewing coca leaves.
Check out our Safety Advice page for the best tips on how to not have any problems on the trek!
