THE BEST ROUTE TO THE FAMOUS
RAINBOW MOUNTAINS OF PERU
Peru has some of the most incredible landscapes on our glorious planet, and
some of the most impressive are the rainbow mountains in
Cusco.
The first to be ‘discovered’
was Vinicunca, also known as Rainbow Mountain,
whose iconic image is spread all over the internet and attracts thousands of
tourists each year. It wasn’t alone, though.
Since then, two other
mountains have come to the attention of locals and then the rest of the world.
These are the rainbow mountains in Palccoyo and another named Pallay Punchu.
Each mountain is just as
impressive as the other and they all offer a little something different. In
this article, we’ll provide you with a description of each and tell you the
best route to take to the rainbow mountains of Peru.
You can use the information to help you decide which to visit or plan how
you’ll get to them.
VINICUNCA
HIGHLIGHTS
· See the most famous rainbow mountain in Peru.
· Observe the stunning landscapes.
· Witness unique Andean wildlife.
· Visit the Red Valley, which is like stepping foot on Mars.
OVERVIEW
This is the most popular of
all the rainbow mountains and is the most impressive. It
towers over you when you get up close and is truly stunning. The hike is tough
as there’s a steep ascent up to 5,200 masl, so the altitude will also have a
big effect.
You’ll see wildlife along the
way, like llamas and alpacas, and also the
astounding rolling hills. When you visit Vinicunca, you
also get the chance to add on a trip to the Mars-like Red Valley, which is an excellent sight to see
indeed.
THE BEST ROUTE TO VINICUNCA
You can visit this mountain
with a tour group or alone. You need to wake up around 3 am if you want to beat
the big crowds. You need to begin by making your way from Cusco to a small village called Cusipata, which takes around 2 hours.
From here, you need to get to
Pampachiri. If you go with a tour group all transport will be included, but by
yourself, you’ll need to find separate vehicles to each place.
At the community, you’ll need
to buy your ticket if you haven’t already, and will then start the three and a
half hour round trip to Vinicunca and back.
You should only spend around 30-45 minutes at the top to make sure you get back
down to the vehicles before it’s too late.
Extra Note: You can also visit the Vinicunca rainbow
mountain on one of the Ausangate trek routes.
When you do this, you arrive before all the other tourists and get a fantastic
private view.
PALCCOYO
HIGHLIGHTS
· Get to see more than one outstanding rainbow mountain.
· Visit the Checacupe bridge.
· Enjoy an off-the-beaten-path route.
· Take a more relaxing hike along a flat route that a person of any
fitness level can complete.
· Observe flora and fauna only found in the Andean mountains.
OVERVIEW
This is a far
less-visited rainbow mountain and you’ll likely
only see 20 or 30 other people all day. If you like to avoid crowds, this is an
excellent option. You’ll also get a fantastic view of not one, but various
rainbow-colored mountains.
Along the hike, you’ll see
small villages, Andean wildlife, and some incredible
scenery. The hike itself is relatively easy to complete as most of the trail is
flat. You’ll be heading up to 4,900 masl and the duration of the walk there and
back is an hour and a half.
THE BEST ROUTE TO PALCCOYO
You can also visit this
mountain by yourself or with a tour. Whichever way you do it, you’ll likely
follow the most common and best route. After getting up early, you’ll need to
board transport that takes you to the district of Combapata. Before you get to
the village, you have to turn left at the Checacupe bridge.
The same car will then take
you another hour and a half to a car park from where you’ll start the 40-50
minute walk to the mountain. People of any fitness level can enjoy this hike as
it’s short and flat. Once you’ve spent all the time you want at the top, it’s
time to head back to the vehicle.
PALLAY PUNCHU
HIGHLIGHTS
· Head away from the crowds on this virgin route in the Andes.
· See a stunning mountain in the form of a colorful poncho.
· Take a route that’s unseen by many tourists.
· Capture incredible photos of this unique landscape.
OVERVIEW
This wonderful mountain is
visited by very few tourists and is truly breathtaking. It really looks like
one of the beautiful ponchos that the Andean people are often seen wearing,
which is why it also has this intriguing name.
On this hike, you’ll reach
4,700 masl and there are a few difficult stretches. You’ll get to see some
stunning parts of the Andes, including the mysterious Langui-Layo Lagoon, sharp
mountains, and valleys of red earth. Once again, you can go by yourself or with
a tour operator.
THE BEST ROUTE TO PALLAY
PUNCHU
From the city of Cusco, you’ll need to make your way to the town
of Sicuani. Then, you’ll need to catch a car to Layo. Once you
get to this small town, there are a few ways you can get to Pallay Punchu.
Some of the routes are extreme
and can be a little dangerous. For this particular mountain, we highly
recommend going with a guide who’s an expert on the trails. You’ll be able to
spend some time at the top and around the lagoon before you head back down.
RAINBOW MOUNTAINS OF PERU
TRAVEL TIPS
To maximize your experience
and ensure a great day, we recommend taking these tips into consideration
before and during your day out.
TAKE PRECAUTIONS REGARDING THE
ALTITUDE
Remember that you’ll be
heading up to a high altitude on any of these hikes. For this reason, you need
to take lots of care before and during the trip to avoid feeling ill or finding
things too challenging.
When you book your tour or
plan the route you’re going to take, make sure you make time to spend at least
2-3 days in the city of Cusco beforehand. This way, your body will have time to
acclimate properly and you’re much less likely to experience symptoms of
altitude sickness. Unfortunately, when people don’t acclimate as they should,
they sometimes need to cancel their trip to the mountains.
GET SOME PRACTICE IN
Before you come to Peru, we highly recommend partaking in other one day hikes
to get your body prepared. You can also spend some time exploring Cusco by foot before you head on one of the more
difficult hikes to help your body become accustomed to exertion at this
altitude.
DRINK PLENTY OF WATER
At high altitudes, it’s much
easier to become dehydrated. Your body is working harder and you’re also much
closer to the sun, which can also make you need to drink more water. Keeping
your body hydrated is essential up in the mountains.
PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THE SUN
You are much closer to the sun up here, and you can get
sunburnt in minutes, even if the sun is behind the clouds. Make sure you
protect your skin from the UV rays by using a sun hat and wearing factor 50 or
more sunscreen. You also need to make sure your eyes are protected with
sunglasses.
PLAN AHEAD
We highly recommend planning
your trip in advance. With this guide, you should be able to get a good idea of
which mountain you prefer to visit. Book in advance to avoid disappointment at
the last minute, which can happen, particularly in high season.
If you’re going to do one of
the routes by yourself, make sure you’ve worked out exactly how you’re going to
get from one place to another and plan your timing. You need to make sure you
leave early for any of the mountains because it can be very hard to find
transport back later in the day.
RAINBOW MOUNTAINS FAQS
WHEN’S THE BEST TIME OF YEAR
TO VISIT THE RAINBOW MOUNTAINS?
The best time of year to visit
any one of these mountains is in April and May or September and October. During
these months, there are fewer tourists in Cusco, so this means
there’ll be fewer at the sites, especially Vinicunca.
June, July, and August are
very busy regarding visitors, however, Palccoyo and Pallay Punchu will still be relatively quiet so these
are also good months to go to either of those.
From November to March,
there’s rain most days and this can make the trails slippery. February is
particularly wet and you need to have lots of waterproof gear and boots or
shoes with very good grip.
WHAT’S THE TEMPERATURE LIKE AT
THE RAINBOW MOUNTAINS?
At the top of the mountains,
the temperatures can get very chilly, especially if it’s windy. When you’re
walking you’ll get warm but will soon cool down once you’re standing still.
It’s best to wear plenty of layers to take off and put on when needed and take
a woolly hat, scarf, and gloves.
Vinicunca gets the closest because it’s at a higher altitude and close to the
snowy mountain Ausangate.
WHICH RAINBOW MOUNTAIN IS BEST
TO VISIT?
There’s no one mountain better
than the rest; it all depends on your personal preferences and the kind of
experience you want. If you like to visit popular sites that are perfect for an
iconic photo or to tick off an item on your bucket list, we suggest you head
to Vinicunca.
Perhaps you want something off
the beaten path and that’s easier to hike; in this case, you should visit Palccoyo. If you want a more challenging hike, go
to Pallay Punchu. They’re all different and uniquely amazing!
Ausangate Trek
