Rainbow Mountain and Red Valley Full-Day Trip from Cusco
Overview
This full-day shared trip takes you from Cusco to Rainbow Mountain, also called Vinicunca, and the nearby Red Valley in the high Andes. You leave before dawn with a bilingual guide, stop for breakfast in Cusipata, walk to the viewpoint at around 5,000 metres and return for a buffet lunch. The default option includes pickup from your hotel or hostel in the historic centre of Cusco. It suits fit, well-acclimatised travellers who want striped mountain scenery and alpaca country in a single long day.
Highlights
- Reach the Rainbow Mountain viewpoint at around 5,000 metres above sea level
- See the mineral-striped slopes of Vinicunca in red, gold, green and turquoise
- Admire the Red Valley and the wide Andean landscape around it
- Meet alpacas, llamas and, with luck, wild vicuñas along the trail
- Start with breakfast and finish with a buffet lunch, with vegetarian options
- Travel with a bilingual guide and an oxygen bottle carried for emergencies
- Hotel or hostel pickup from the historic centre of Cusco in the default option
Full Description
Rainbow Mountain (Vinicunca) in the Andes
Rainbow Mountain, known in Quechua as Vinicunca, is a ridge whose slopes are striped in red, ochre, yellow, green and turquoise. The colours come from different minerals in the sediment layers, which were folded and later uncovered as the ice that covered the ridge melted. It became famous over the last decade, and today the viewpoint at about 5,000 metres is one of the highest places you can reach on foot in Peru.
Most people who ask about a Rainbow Mountain tour from Cusco want a photograph of the striped ridge under a blue sky, so start early, when the light is clearest and the path is quieter. The walk is around 3.5 kilometres each way over flat ground and then a steady climb. Go slowly, drink water and use the free time at the top to catch your breath.
The Red Valley beside Rainbow Mountain
The Red Valley lies close to Rainbow Mountain, and its rust-coloured hills are stained by iron-rich rock in a landscape of open highland. Seen from above it is like a second view in a single day, and it is popular with photographers because the deep red contrasts with green pastures and a wide sky. Entry to the Red Valley viewpoint is optional and paid in cash on site.
If you are choosing between Vinicunca and other coloured mountains near Cusco, this tour is a good way to see the best known one and its quieter neighbour together. The Red Valley adds a change of scene without a big extra climb, and it makes the day feel more complete, so search for a Red Valley tour from Cusco if you want this add-on.
Altitude, weather and what the hike is like
Cusco itself sits at around 3,400 metres, and this trip climbs about 1,600 metres higher. That is why we advise spending a day or two in Cusco first, so your body can adjust. Altitude sickness can cause headaches, tiredness and nausea, and you should tell your guide early if you feel unwell. An oxygen bottle is carried on the trip for emergencies.
Weather changes fast at this height. Expect cold mornings, strong sun and sometimes snow or hail, so wear layers, gloves and a hat, and carry sunglasses, sun cream and water. The best time to visit Rainbow Mountain is the dry season from May to September, and mornings usually give the clearest sky. The colours are strongest in sun and dull in cloud.
The road from Cusco through Cusipata
The trip begins before dawn with hotel or hostel pickup in the historic centre of Cusco, and pickup can take a while when the group is collected. The drive to Cusipata takes about two hours, where you have breakfast and can buy snacks or water, and another hour on a rough road brings you to the start of the hike.
After the hike you return to Cusipata for a buffet lunch, with vegetarian options, and then drive back to Cusco, arriving in the late afternoon. Horse rental for the climb is available on site, and all extra fees are paid in cash, so bring small notes. The full day lasts around 12 hours, which is long but well organised for a shared group.
Itinerary
- Hotel or hostel pickup in CuscoYour guide collects you from the historic centre before dawn, at a time confirmed the day before.
- Drive to Cusipata and breakfastAbout two hours by road, then breakfast and a stop to buy water and snacks.
- Drive to the trailheadAnother hour along a rough road to the start of the walk.
- Hike to Rainbow MountainWalk about 3.5 kilometres to the viewpoint at around 5,000 metres, with time to rest and take photos.
- Red ValleyTake in the red hills nearby; entry to the viewpoint is optional and paid in cash.
- Buffet lunch and return to CuscoEat in Cusipata and drive back, arriving in downtown Cusco in the late afternoon.
What's included
- Transportation from the meeting point
- Drop-off in downtown Cusco
- Bilingual tour guide
- Breakfast and buffet lunch (vegetarian options available)
- Oxygen bottle for emergencies
- Optional wooden walking stick
- First-aid kit
Not included
- Hotel pickup
- Horse rental (paid in cash)
- Entrance fee to Rainbow Mountain (paid in cash)
- Optional entrance to the Red Valley (paid in cash)
- Tips
Not suitable for
- Pregnant women
- People with heart or respiratory problems
- People over 65 or with a low level of fitness
- Travellers who have not acclimatised to altitude
Meeting point
In the default option we collect you from your hotel or hostel in the historic centre of Cusco, and the pickup time is confirmed the day before. If you choose the fixed meeting point option, the location in central Cusco is given in your booking confirmation.
Important information
- Spend at least one or two days in Cusco to acclimatise before the trip
- Wear hiking shoes, warm layers, gloves, a hat and sunglasses
- Bring sunscreen, water, snacks, rain gear and any altitude medicine you use
- Entrance fees, horse rental and the Red Valley entry are paid in cash on site and are not included
- Large bags and luggage are not allowed
- Pickup can take up to about 30 minutes while the group is collected
- Travel insurance is recommended
Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
Straight answers to what travellers ask us most, before they book.
How much does the Rainbow Mountain and Red Valley trip cost?
The price depends on the option you choose, hotel pickup or fixed meeting point. The booking panel on this page shows the current price for each option.
Is hotel pickup included?
In the default option, yes, from hotels and hostels in the historic centre of Cusco. The other option uses a fixed meeting point instead.
How long is the tour?
The trip takes about 12 hours, from the pre-dawn pickup to the return to central Cusco in the late afternoon.
Is Rainbow Mountain suitable for children?
It is a demanding high-altitude hike, so it is best for older, active children. Please contact us before booking for young children.
What should I wear and bring?
Wear hiking shoes and warm layers, and bring gloves, a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, water, snacks and rain gear.
Can I book for today or tomorrow?
Often yes, depending on availability. Choose your date in the booking panel and it shows the earliest departure still open.
What is the difference between the options?
The default option includes pickup from your hotel or hostel. The second option starts from a fixed meeting point, so you make your own way there.
Are the entrance fees included?
No. The entrance fee to Rainbow Mountain, horse rental and the optional Red Valley entry are paid in cash on site.
How hard is the Rainbow Mountain hike?
It is about 3.5 kilometres each way, flat at first and then uphill, at very high altitude. Go slowly and use the guide's pace.
Is Rainbow Mountain worth visiting?
Yes, if you are fit and acclimatised. The striped colours, the mountain scenery and the alpacas make it a highlight of a Cusco stay, especially on a clear morning.
