The most famous Rainbow Mountain in Peru is visited by more affluent people every year. Trekking is an adventure surrounded by unique landscapes and local fauna in their maximum splendor, and the tiny houses reflect the daily life in the surrounding communities. Take into account the height of Vinicunca to choose the best time to see the mountain’s seven colors.
Travelers often wonder which season is best for visiting the mountain of seven colors. Vinicunca is 5,200 meters above sea level and has a markedly changeable climate.
To choose the best time to enjoy and see the mountain of colors, we must consider the location, the altitude of Vinicunca, and, of course, the weather.
The best time to hike Rainbow Mountain in Peru is from April to November, as this is the dry season in the Andes. Blue skies, incredible views, and sunshine make hiking the most comfortable.
However, some months are better than others. We recommend the low season, just before and after the rains, i.e., late April, May, September, October, and early November.
During those months, the weather remains dry, temperatures are pleasant, and the trail is less crowded.
Note: there is always the possibility that the weather can change drastically, regardless of the season.
The worst month to hike Rainbow Mountain Peru is January, specifically late January. At this time of year, the rain is heavy. Landslides block the trail. Snow covers the mountain, and you can see 10 meters in front of you because the fog is thick in the Mountains.
The rainy season begins in mid-December and usually lasts until March. During this time of year, the trail is wet and muddy. Fog covering the mountains can make visibility poor, so you cannot see the scenic views or take good photos.
The weather pattern in the rainy season in the Rainbow Mountains is as follows: sometimes, in the morning, it is good weather, and in the afternoon, it starts raining, or the other way around, bad weather in the morning and good weather in the afternoon.
The answer is between 07 and 09 am or anytime after 2 pm. Few people are at the viewpoint early in the morning; all the people are gone by afternoon.
If you want to be before the Rainbow Mountain crowds, you must leave Cusco at 05 am.
June, July, and August are the busiest months to visit Rainbow Mountain. These months coincide with the dry season in the Andes and summer in the northern hemisphere.
Cusqueños and Peruvians take advantage of the weekend to hike Rainbow Mountain, so it is busier than other days of the week.
Visiting Rainbow Mountain, Palccoyo, and Red Valley
One of the things you can do in these months that are the best to visit Vinicunca is:
Palccoyo is a new option for seeing the mountain of seven colors. This place is less crowded with tourists, making it preferred by many. It also offers more options, such as seeing the stone forest, red valley, and part of the seven-color mountain.
The Red Valley is a chain of reddish-colored mountains. Some tours to Rainbow Mountain include a visit to this area.