Most people visit Rainbow Mountain on a tour, at the busiest time of the day. While there are pros and cons to visiting this popular nature destination with a tour, I am here to share with you how to have the most beautiful, peaceful and immersive experience at Rainbow Mountain without a tour. I will also share some extra tips on visiting the less popular rainbow mountain, Palcoyo.
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commision if you purchase through my link, at no extra cost to you.
Before we get into how amazing these destinations are and my thoughts on the tours to Rainbow Mountain, I want to say that I am not against opting for a tour. There are pros and cons to the tours that I will dive a little deeper into later. Deciding to go privately to Rainbow Mountain is my own preference. And for those of you who like to do adventures on your own time and freedom, there will be helpful information to take from reading this post. And some thoughts from our experiences there that could help you decide whether or not to do a tour if you are still on the fence about it.
2 hours to do it all…
I don’t know about you, but if you are as much of a nature lover like I am, who loves to be able to wander in places and take my sweet time embracing the landscapes, taking photos from all over the place, hiking up to view points and exploring all of the aspects of what a destination has to offer, then seeing that tours only give you 2 hours in literally one of the most beautiful places I have ever laid eyes on is just not enough time.
Especially when one of those hours is spent hiking up to the main view and another hour is spent trying to appreciate the view with thousands of other people there. I forgot to mention that the 2 hours also include rushing to the Red Valley and back which takes 45-60 minutes. This means you actually only have around 30 minutes at Rainbow Mountain view point.
Trust me, Rainbow Mountain and Palcoyo are both worthy of spending the day at to marvel at the colorful valleys and iconic mountains that people travel for hours to reach. Both destinations are even more beautiful than what you think. Because just like people tend to only show the main view of Machu Picchu, you only ever see pictures of the main view of Rainbow Mountain and Palcoyo. But there is so much more to the scenery and the landscapes than that.
Those are just 2 mountains within entire endless valleys of colors, snow mountains and unbelievable viewpoints that you will want to explore once you there. And this just isn’t possible on a tour. So, let’s take a look at all of the options when visiting both bucket list destinations…
RAINBOW MOUNTAIN – vinicunca
Being a mountain woman at heart and a full-time traveler, I have visited many, many mountains throughout the years. To this day, Rainbow Mountain and the Pitumarca & Chillihuani Valleys that surrounds it is in the top 5 most remarkable natural landscapes I have ever laid eyes on.
Please don’t let the “instagram vs. reality:” reels fool you into thinking that the colors are so unnaturally saturated… or that the mountain isn’t cool enough because it isn’t as fake as advertised. Rainbow Mountain does not need to be made out to be any more colorful than it truly is. Because it is already so unbelievable to think that nature has painted such a perfect picture and how all the colors formed so perfectly to create a literal mountain of rainbows in an already colorful valley.
PS: The colors look even brighter when the sun is shining!
Vinicunca (Rainbow Mountain) is part of the Vilcanota Mountains within the Andes. All of the colors you see on the mountain and throughout the valley is completely natural. The colors are as a result of the tectonic activity lifting up mineral-rich soil and sediment to the surface of the land.
Each color is created by a different mineral:
* Reds and pinks – iron
* Whites, sandy, beiges – sandstone and quartz
* Greens – iron & magnesium
* Yellows and golds – rich sulfur sediment
Vinicunca is between 5,036m and 5,200m, depending on the view point you walk up to. This is one of the highest altitudes you can reach in a day in Peru. And of course makes the trail challenging in the high altitude. It is always best to give yourself a few days of acclimatisation in Cusco before coming to Rainbow Mountain to lower your risk of altitude sickness. If you go on a tour, they usually have oxygen tanks available if necessary. You can also buy a small over-the-counter tank at pharmacies in Cusco beforehand.
From Rainbow Mountain, you will be able to visit the exquisite Red Valley: Valle de Rojo. So many people say that this is their favorite part of the whole experience and you can definitely see why!
Whether you are going on a tour or visiting independently, seeing the Red Valley is a must! Even the walk to and from the Red Valley is spectacular.
PALCOYO MOUNTAIN
Palcoyo Mountain is another breathtaking rainbow colored mountain in the high-altitude Andes. This is a less popular rainbow mountain to visit with fewer visitors each day but it is becoming more popular as the years go by. Palcoyo is also an easier and shorter walk up to the view point than Rainbow Mountain.
The view at Palcoyo is so unique in that it has 3 colorful mountain peaks which can be viewed from the main view points at around 4,900m. There is also an amazing rock formation forest up one of the trails that reaches 5,100m elevation. You don’t have to do this trail, it is optional but I highly recommend it because the sharp, jagged stones are really incredible and the view from up there is worth it. On a clear day, you can see the Ausangate Mountain – the highest mountain in the Ausangate range.
The beautiful colors at Palcoyo are formed the same way as Vinicunca. And if you have the time to add both of these magical mountains to your itinerary then I would definitely recommend you to do that! If I was forced to choose, I would have to say that the Rainbow Mountain adventure in its entirety is my favorite . But Palcoyo comes so close that I can genuinely say both are 100% worth the visit.
BEST TIME TO VISIT
The best time to visit this region of the Andes is between May and September to avoid the rainy season and cloudy days. It is still the mountains though and you never know when the weather can suddenly turn but you have a better chance of it being clear within these months.
Between my partner and I we visited Rainbow Mountain 3 times and Palcoyo once. Two of the Vinicunca visits were in November and December and we had a perfect experience seeing over the entire valley as far as our eyes could see. There was a 30 minute lightning storm that happened on one of the days but we just took shelter to not get hit by the lightning and after 30 minutes it was clear as day right until we left at sunset. So if you find yourself there in the off-season, you might just get lucky with good weather too!
SAFETY TIP:
Please do not take chances staying in the Red Valley or on any of the mountains or view points if you hear or see thunder and lightning rolling into the area. It is really dangerous to be up there because the lightning is attracted to the rich minerals in the land. There is a high risk of being struck in this area and there have been fatalities because of this. We immediately descended down the mountain when the lightning came in and took shelter until it was completely done and we could hike back up again without any risks.
HOW TO VISIT EITHER ONE WITH A TOUR
All of the tours to Rainbow Mountain and Palcoyo typically follow the same itinerary, just with slightly varying times. They mostly always leave from Cusco city and very early in the morning because the drive from Cusco is around 3 hours excluding the breakfast stop along the way.
More expensive tours can be anywhere between 6 and 15 people. Budget tours can be really large groups from 20 to 40 or more people. And just remember that your tour isn’t the only one at the mountain. There will be multiple big groups there at the same time as you.
It is important to check if your tour includes both the Rainbow Mountain (1 hour) and Red Valley view points (2 hours). Most tours charge between $20 and $45 depending on varying factors.
Rainbow mountain tour:
A TYPICAL ITINERARY:
(this is not specific to every tour, please read the itinerary of the tour you book carefully).
- Between 3:30-5:30am – pick up from your hotel in Cusco.
- Around 2 hours into the drive you will stop for breakfast (30 mins).
- Between 7am and 8am another 1 hour drive to the trailhead (this drive is so scenic, so try to sit at a window seat if you can).
- Once you arrive (typically around 8am-10am) you will do the 1 to 2 hour hike to the Rainbow Mountain view point depending on your pace. Just remember that the longer you take to get up, the less time you have at the viewpoints.
- Depending on the tour you booked, either you have anywhere between 30 mins and 1 hour at the Rainbow Mountain view point, or you have 2 hours to include walking to the Red Valley (30 to 60 mins depending on your pace, remember you have to walk back).
- Descend from Rainbow Mountain view point to the car – around 1 hour/1.5 hours.
- 1 hour drive to the lunch stop.
- 1 hour for lunch.
- 2 hour drive back to Cusco. Tours typically arrive back between 4pm and 6pm.
Personal Feedback: My partner did the Rainbow Mountain tour once and his feedback was that it just was not enough time to really enjoy the scenery without crowds of people swarming the view points. And he didn’t realize that it was such a short time to include the Red Valley view point as well.
RECOMMENDED TOURS:
Cusco: Rainbow Mountain and Red Valley Day Trip with Meals.
From Cusco: Rainbow Mountain and Red Valley ATV Tour.
Palcoyo tour:
A TYPICAL ITINERARY:
(this is not specific to every tour, please read the itinerary of the tour you book carefully).
- 4am – 5am departure from Cusco.
- 6:30 – 7am/7:30am stop for breakfast along the way.
- Around 9am you will arrive at the Palcoyo trailhead.
- 30 mins to 60 mins walking to the different viewpoints.
- You can continue on for another 20 minute walk up to the stone forest.
- 30 minute walk back down to the trailhead (mostly downhill).
- You will leave from the trailhead around midday and drive 3 hours back to Cusco with a lunch stop in between.
- Usually arriving back to Cusco at about 5:30pm.
Even though I would opt for visiting both destinations without a tour, the Palcoyo Mountain tour is better than the Rainbow Mountain tour because you spend the entire time at the actual Palcoyo site walking the trails and seeing the viewpoints as you walk. It is also an easier, gradual steepness so it doesn’t take as long to reach all of the viewpoints in the time allocated by the tour.
RECOMMENDED TOURS:
From Cusco: Palccoyo Rainbow Mountain 1-Day Trekking Trip
PROS TO VISITING WITH A TOUR
- The tour agency takes care of everything. You don’t need to figure out any of the logistics.
- You have guides who take care of you and share knowledge about the destinations.
- First-aid kits and oxygen tanks.
- Meals are typically included.
- More affordable than without a tour.
- Meet other travelers.
CONS TO VISITING WITH A TOUR
- Pick-ups are typically from Cusco only.
- Follow a fixed schedule so there isn’t a lot of time or space to enjoy for longer if you wanted to.
- You are at the viewpoints at the same time as hundreds to thousands of other people who are also there on a tour.
- Very limited time at the view points.
- Not everyone hikes at the same pace so reaching all of the view points AND enjoying isn’t always possible within the tour time allocation.
- Not enough time if you are photographer.
- Most of the tour is spent in the car – with too little time at the mountains.
- You can’t wait out the clouds or bad weather if you arrive there and the mountains are covered.
HOW TO VISIT RAINBOW MOUNTAIN & PALCOYO WITHOUT A TOUR
The easiest way to visit either spots are with a private taxi. A private taxi is so convenient because they can fetch you from where ever you are within the Sacred Valley region. For example, our first visit to Rainbow Mountain we got picked up from Maras Village instead of traveling to Cusco first. And the second time we took a private taxi it was from Pisac. You can learn more about these villages from my Sacred Valley blog here.
PRIVATE TAXI:
Isaacc was our go-to private taxi for our adventures. He was always on time, fetched us from which ever village we were in and he was so patient waiting for us at the destinations for our full-day adventures. He is also a licensed taxi driver for tourists. Of course, we communicated our entire day plan with him before the time. Just make sure you share your expectations with him so he knows how long he will be waiting for you and to charge you accordingly. In 2022, we paid $140 total to Rainbow Mountain and back (excluding an extra tip we gave). But please remember that each year fuel prices, tourism costs and living expenses rise. So you can expect to pay a bit more at the time of reading this blog post.
You can contact him through this WhatsApp number: +51 943 388 685
Choosing a private taxi from your destination in Sacred Valley is the most expensive option. But it allows you the most freedom and the most time at the mountains. And honestly, if you are more than one person and you share the cost of the private taxi with either one or 2 other people, then paying just a few extra dollars for the ultimate rainbow mountains experience is so worth it! And it is not even that much more than booking a big group tour. You will be able to enjoy these epic destinations after all of the tour groups have left. To be in one of the most popular destinations in all of South America without anyone else around is an amazing feeling and you can take your time exploring all of the trails.
WITHOUT A TOUR USING A MIXTURE OF PUBLIC & PRIVATE TRANSPORT:
If you want to visit Rainbow Mountain without a tour but in a more affordable way than a private taxi from Sacred Valley, then this itinerary is for you. This option is a mix of public and private transport. This is a great way to save some money on transport and still have the freedom to explore both destinations on your own time.
Itinerary:
- Take a bus from Cusco to Checacupe – you will take a collectivo from Avenida Tomasa Tito Condemayla to Ocongate. You can just tell the driver that you want to be dropped off in Checacupe (about 2 hours). It costs around 8-10 Soles for the colectivo and they generally leave every hour from about 5am in the morning.
- The collectivo will drop you off in the main road of Checacupe where you can find a private taxi to take you to either Rainbow Mountain or Palcoyo. Typically a private taxi from here to Rainbow Mountain is anywhere between $27 to $45. And to Palcoyo is $40 to $55. This price includes the driver waiting for you for about 3 hours (but you can pay a little extra for him to wait longer for you) and the return trip to Checacupe.
- The tour groups leave between 12pm and 1pm, so you can either be there from the early morning and wait out the tours/explore the valley, our time your day to be there midday when the tours start to leave.
- You can head back to the trailhead to take the taxi back to Checacupe. Make sure you give yourself enough time to get back down the mountain and drive back to Checacupe to catch a collectivo back to Cusco.
- It is best to ask the collectivo driver in the morning what time the latest collectivo stops in Checacupe to make sure you time up your day perfectly to get back to Cusco without a hitch.
PROS TO VISITING WITHOUT A TOUR
- Flexible times – start and end your trip at the time that suits you.
- More time at the viewpoints and to do all the trails.
- Freedom to stop along the way to and from the mountains.
- You can avoid the crowds – be there long after all of the tours have left.
- Hike at your own pace.
- Better option for photographers and the best lighting.
- Wait out the clouds/bad weather.
CONS TO VISITING WITHOUT A TOUR
- It is more expensive than doing a tour.
- You have to personally arrange all the logistics.
- Pack your own breakfast/lunch/snacks.
- No guide to share knowledge about the region/culture.
Entrance cost to Vinicuna: 25 Soles for foreigners, 15 Soles for Peruvian nationals.
Entrance cost to Palcoyo: 15-20 Soles for foreigners, 10 Soles for Peruvian nationals.
PRO-TIP: THE TRAIL AT RAINBOW MOUNTAIN THAT MOST PEOPLE SKIP
When you reach the main Rainbow Mountain view point, you will see another trail to the left of the mountain. This was low-key my favorite view! You follow the trail all the way up to another viewpoint that overlooks a 360 degree panorama of the surrounding valleys.
You have never seen such an array of colors in nature in one eye shot as up here. It is absolutely unreal to see how the colors sweep down the mountains, the view of the snowy Ausangate Mountain is spectacular and on a clear day you can really see how infinite these valleys are. You also get an insane view of the Red Valley with the bright green colors. This spot is perfection for photographers.
None of the tours include walking this trail in the time-frame given to explore Rainbow Mountain.
IS VISITING RAINBOW MOUNTAIN AND PALCOYO WORTH IT?
100% YES YES YES! This region of Peru is unmatched. It is truly in the category of most unique and awe-spiring landscapes on Earth. I loved it so much that I visited more than once and just couldn’t get enough of what I was seeing. To see such beauty in nature, and to realize that this is what our planet creates, is a feeling that I can’t explain. It is a feeling that can only really ever be felt when you are standing there yourself. And as beautiful as the pictures are that I’ve shared here, it is SO much more beautiful in person.
Rainbow Mountain and Palcoyo are both bucket-list destinations in Peru (and the world) that shouldn’t be missed.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
IS RAINBOW MOUNTAIN A DIFFICULT HIKE?
The actual trail up to Rainbow Mountain is not considered a difficult hike. But what makes it difficult is the high-altitude of 5,200m.
DO YOU NEED AN OXYGEN TANK TO HIKE RAINBOW MOUNTAIN?
This is a personal preference/necessity. If you are okay with high-altitude then it is not necessary. But if you struggle with high elevations or you are prone to altitude sickness then an oxygen tank is necessary. Most tour operators supply this. You can also buy a small oxygen tank at pharmacies in Cusco if you are visiting independently.
IS THERE AN AGE LIMIT FOR VINICUNCA OR PALCOYO?
No, there is no age limit for visiting either of the mountains. BUT – it is not recommended to take young children in such high altitudes or children with any kind of respiratory or heart conditions.
HOW DO I TAKE PRECAUTIONS AGAINST ALTITUDE SICKNESS?
It is always best to acclimitise in Cusco or in the areas of Sacred Valley before going to places like Rainbow Mountain and Palcoyo. Usually 2 to 3 days is a good amount of time to acclimate. You can also get altitude sickness pills from your doctor before traveling or from Cusco. In Peru, the locals recommend drinking the local coca tea to help with dealing with altitude. Drinking lots of water is also necessary.
IS THE PALCOYO HIKE DIFFICULT?
It is easier than the Rainbow Mountain hike because it is more gradual and a shorter hike. The altitude here is a little less than Rainbow Mountain, 4,900m. But it still makes walking more difficult than in lower elevation.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE:
- SACRED VALLEY, PERU: AMAZING THINGS TO DO IN THE VALLEY OF THE INCAS
- 5 EPIC MOUNTAIN ADVENTURES TO DO IN HUARAZ, PERU (2024)
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