How to get to Vinicunca or Rainbow Mountain?

How do you get to Vinicunca or Rainbow Mountain?

Vinincunca, or Vinicunca, is a beautiful, colorful mountain known as Rainbow Mountain. It is currently one of Cusco’s most popular tourist attractions, and this blog will teach you how to get to Vinicunca.

LOCATION OF THE RAINBOW MOUNTAIN

Vinicunca, or Mountain of Colors, is a 1-hour walk from the Community of Llacto in the district of Cusipata in the province of Quispicanchi in Cusco, at 5,200 meters above sea level.

HOW DID THE RAINBOW MOUNTAIN COME TO BE?

Vinicunca, or Rainbow Mountain, has been open to the public since 2016. According to research, the mountain’s appearance results from a complex geological history of marine, lacustrine, and fluvial sediments. At some point, these sediments were transported by the water that covered the area 65 to 2 million years ago.

As time went by, it seemed that the sediments were forming layers of different sizes, which can currently be seen as stripes that are usually attractive to every visitor’s eye.

According to research, each of these strips acquired colors because of the oxidation of minerals. This is why in Vinicunca, you can see strips of different colors. According to the tourist theme, these were the same people from the area who began to call the attraction Rainbow Mountain. So, people worldwide know and visit this beautiful place through social networks.

COMPOSITION OF THE COLORS IN THE STRIPES OF THE VINICUNCA OR RAINBOW MOUNTAIN:

• Pink or fuchsia: a mixture of red clay, fangolites (mud), and sand.
• Whitish: sandstone (quartz sand) and limestone.
• Purple or lavender: marl (mixture of clay and calcium carbonate) and silicates.
• Red: argillites and clays
• Green: clays rich in ferromagnesian (combination of iron and magnesium) and copper oxide.
• Yellowish brown, mustard, or golden: limonites, calcareous sandstones rich in sulfide minerals (combined with sulfur).

How do I get to Vinicuna?

There are two ways to get to Vinicunca: on your own or with the help of a tourist agency.

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HOW DO YOU GET TO VINICUNCA OR RAINBOW MOUNTAIN ON YOUR OWN?

Travel to Rainbow Mountain on your own; there are two routes:

1ST ROUTE: PITUMARCA

Pitumarca is one of the routes to the Mountain of Seven Colors; you will leave from Cusco, taking public transportation from Huayruropata (near the Coliseo Cerrado del Cusco). The ticket will cost you S/5.00, and it will take you to Checacupe. You will pass Andahuayllillas and Quiquijana, and finally, you will arrive at Cusipata.

It should be noted that this route is quite demanding, and one must be physically prepared for it.

The ATVs are a good option for some people who reach Seven Colors Mountain by the Pitumaca route. The rent for the ATVs is approximately 100 dollars; it is optional and will depend on the company that rents them.

2ND ROUTE: CUSIPATA

This route is less demanding for visitors to the Mountain of Seven Colors. In the Pitumarca route, you will leave Cusco and head to Cusipata until you reach Phuluwasipata, where you will start the hike; the cost of passage here will also be S / 20.00.

Remember that to get to Rainbow Mountain, you will ascend approximately 100 kilometers from Cusco and climb 5,200 meters above sea level (m.a.s.l.). The Cusipata route is an option for visitors who cannot continue the hike.

If you find the hike on the Cusipata Route quite tiring, we remind you that you can rent horses to help you travel more easily. You decide whether to rent for just the ascent, the descent, or both; the idea is to ensure a comfortable hike. The cost of renting a horse is approximately 30 dollars.

These are the two different ways to get to Vinicunca, the incredible Mountain of Seven Colors, on your own. You choose when to travel, at what time, which route to take, when to buy the entrance tickets, and the cost. In short, you will have the opportunity to put together your itinerary.

If you go alone, it’s better to arrive with someone who can avoid trip-related incidents.

HOW TO GET TO VINICUNCA OR RAINBOW MOUNTAIN BY AGENCY?

One significant advantage of traveling with a tourist agency is that you will not have to worry about purchasing tickets, the cost of keys, or other such matters because the agency guarantees you an excellent adventure without worries and offers the best at comfortable prices.

You should ensure that the agency you choose has the respective operating license and a certificate issued by the Regional Management of Foreign Trade, Tourism, and Handicrafts Cusco (GERCETUR) to ensure its safety.

Traveling alone is almost always economical and full of adventures. However, it is better to use the services of an authorized tourist agency.