Recomendations to Rainbow Mountain tour

During this time, the Rainbow Mountain Tour has become one of the most visited destinations in Cusco; in addition to the tours to Machu Picchu, its impressive beauty and colors make 3000 travelers worldwide see it daily.

This mountain is located at 5,036 m.a.s.l. To get to it, you must make a beautiful trek, enjoying beautiful mountains, spotless air, and the company of alpacas and llamas.

We will provide all the information you need to make this extraordinary hike and tour this unique natural beauty.

Acclimatization to Rainbow Mountain

The “Rainbow Mountain” is located in Ausangate at 5,036 m.a.s.l. Before making this trek, you must acclimate for two days in Cusco.

The 07 Colors Mountain must have been acclimatized for two days in Cusco, so you should do this tour on the last day of your stay.

Above 2 400 m.a.s.l., the air begins to get scarce as you ascend, so you inhale less oxygen; in addition to staying in Cusco, you must hydrate appropriately and drink delicious Coca-Cola tea.

Before visiting Rainbow Mountain, visit Rainbow Mountain, a city tour of Cusco, the Sacred Valley, or Machu Picchu. It is highly recommended.

Location of the Rainbow Mountain

Rainbow Mountain is located 100 km, 02 hours south of Cusco, in the town of Cusipata; take a detour. After an hour’s drive, you reach the base camp of Phulawasipata at 4,600 m.a.s.l., in front of the great Nevado Ausangate, the highest mountain in Cusco, in the Cordillera de Vilcanota.

How long is the Rainbow Mountain Hike?

It is a 2-hour hike to the Montaña de Colores (Rainbow Mountain).

Remember that reaching it is not a competition; each traveler will hike at their own pace, according to their physical condition and degree of acclimatization.

You can also arrive on horseback; the price of the horse is S/ 100.00 (35.00 USD).

What to bring to the Rainbow Mountain tour

It is a bit of a strenuous hike (just because of the altitude); organizing your backpack is one of the essential aspects. Here is what you need to bring:

• Water
• Snacks
• Coca leaves: helps with headaches (if you don’t like coca leaves too much, you can take coca candy).
• Lemon candy: Helps if you feel nauseous during the hike.
• Chocolate bars: Help with dizziness.
• Hiking shoes
• Medium backpack
• Hiking pants
• Waterproof T-shirt
• Hiking poles
• Cap or hat
• Gloves
• Sunscreen
• Toilet paper

Personal medications: You must carry the medicines you need; there are no pharmacies or drugstores along the way.
Extra money: You can buy food and souvenirs, except for medicine, which will cost a little more than in the city.

An extra change of clothes: If you are traveling in the rainy season, you must bring a spare change of clothes. If you get wet, you must change, although we recommend you bring warm and waterproof clothes to avoid getting soaked. You should also bring hiking shoes.

Best time to go to the Rainbow Mountain tour

Cusco has two distinct seasons: the dry season and the rainy season.

The low rainy season is the best time to visit the Rainbow Mountain Tour. The days are mostly sunny and with very little rain, exceptions.

This season receives the highest number of visitors, 3,000 travelers per day.

Many travelers passionate about hiking new routes usually travel on the Rainbow Mountain tour in the rainy season, when the colors are different. Still, the hiking experience is exceptional; although it becomes a little more complicated, our travelers have chosen these dates to travel to the Mountain of Colors, and all were satisfied.

Routes to the Rainbow Mountain tour

Mountain of 7 Colors To get there, there are two routes:

Pitumarca is the traditional route; initially, the vehicles arrived at Quesiuno, and the walk lasted 5 hours. Later, the vehicle route was extended to Pampachiri, and the hike lasted 3 hours. With the latest route extension, the trip only lasts about 45 minutes. However, vehicular roads are much longer, and it is necessary to pay tolls, so visiting the mountain by this route is more expensive, and very few people use it. Approximately 100 people arrive daily at the peak by this route.

Cusipata: This new route involves a detour through Cusipata, a one-hour trip to the camp in Phulawasipata, and a one- to two-hour hike to the mountain. Approximately 2,500 to 3,000 visitors arrive by this route.