Rainbow Mountain Tour The tour to Rainbow Mountain is almost a full day trip from Cusco. Begin with pickup from your hotel around 4am. After a couple of hours on the bus (during which you can still sleep to recharge your batteries), you will stop for breakfast in Cusipata, which usually consists of toast with jam and butter, coffee/tea/coca infusion.

Afterwards, you will continue along a dirt track for another hour in the bus or minivan. When you get off the vehicle, you will have to pay the entrance fee to Rainbow Mountain and the hike will begin. The round trip is about 7.5 kilometers, but you have to take into account that you start at almost 4,600 meters above sea level and that the difference in altitude is about 400 meters, so you need to take it very easy so that altitude sickness does not affect you. Do not forget to ask the agency for trekking poles, as they will be very helpful during the hike to Rainbow Mountain.

During the first stage (about 1,500 meters), the path is flat, but then it starts to get steep until it becomes quite a challenging climb in the final part to reach the last viewpoint. It is normal for the outward journey to take between 90 and 120 minutes, depending on your physical condition and how altitude affects you. It is common for the group to spread out, but the guide must be attentive in case anyone needs emergency oxygen or a first-aid kit. Therefore, it is very important to go with a trusted agency.

Along the route, you will encounter people offering water and snacks such as coca candies. You may also come across llamas or other animals that you can take photos of. Please be a responsible traveler and avoid encouraging the use of animals for these purposes. Additionally, you may see horses being offered for hire (70-100 soles) to reach a certain point on the trail. Since their condition may not be the best, we would ask that you only use them in emergencies.

Once you have reached the viewpoints and enjoyed the views, you will have to follow the same path back. This time it will be easier as you will be going downhill. When you board the bus again, you will head back to Cusco. For most tours, there will be a stop for a buffet lunch to recharge. You will arrive back in Cusco around 5 or 6 pm.

If you want to make the ride lighter, you can also opt for the quad excursion. However, keep in mind that you will still have to walk part of the trail.

Finally, if you are looking for a more comprehensive trip and don’t want to plan separately, you can also consider these excursions that include the Rainbow Mountain tour: