Trekking through the Mountain of the Seven Colors, also known as the Rainbow Mountain, has become one of the essentials on many routes through Peru. Not surprisingly, it is the most visited place in the country after Machu Picchu and therefore one of the goals of many travelers who come to the country wanting to discover its nature.

If you are thinking of doing the excursion to the Rainbow Mountain, it is convenient that you inform yourself a little before starting out, since it is a high-altitude route and, therefore, requires physical effort. So that nothing goes wrong, we have prepared this guide in which you will find what type of tour to choose, tips for doing it, prices and schedules, among many other aspects. When you are ready, do not miss our post with the main places to visit in Cusco, the starting point of this trekking. Let’s start!

Why do the excursion to the Rainbow Mountain?

We are sure that if you have come this far it is because you have seen one of the photos of the incredible Rainbow Mountain or Vinicunca. Located in the Peruvian Andes, en route to the Ausangate snow-capped mountain, it began to gain fame around 2015 thanks to social networks and the relative ease of visiting it from Cuzco.

It is not for less, we are all fascinated by the different layers of colors that have earned it the nickname of the Rainbow Mountain or Mountain of the 7 colors. According to experts, these are due to their different mineralogical composition. Thus, the pink color is due to red clay, fancolites, mud, and small clays; white for quartz; red for small clays (iron) and clays; brown for magnesium; green for iron with magnesium; and mustard yellow for sulfur.

Although you should keep in mind that a large part of the photos on social networks are retouched so that the colors appear more saturated and that the weather in the area is variable (so it may be that you have a very foggy or cloudy day), trekking to the Mountain of the 7 colors is an experience that you will always remember. The landscapes seem taken from another planet and, although hard, the route is very rewarding.

You should know that there are other mountains of colors in the Cusco area that you can also visit such as Palcoyo, which is the second best known although still far from the almost 3,000 daily tourists that Vinicunca receives and the least visited, Pallay Punchu.

Where is the Mountain of the seven colors located?

The Rainbow Mountain is in the district of Pitumarca, in the province of Sanchís, about 140 kilometers from Cuzco. It belongs to the Andes mountain range and its top is 5,200 meters above sea level. You will contemplate it from a neighboring mountain, having to climb to approximately 5,100 meters of altitude. This is why trekking to the Mountain of the 7 Colors can be quite complicated if you are not in good physical condition and if you do not do it properly and with the proper equipment.

The tours to the Mountain of the 7 colors take you to the beginning of the trail to contemplate it in approximately 3 hours from Cusco. Keep in mind that you will have to do another 3 hours of return.

How to get to the Mountain of 7 colors for free

On the other hand, you can also get to the Mountain of 7 colors for free. It is, of course, the cheapest option and we recommend it if you have more time or want to visit the Rainbow Mountain earlier so there are fewer people. Even so, keep in mind that, although it is almost impossible for you to get lost during the journey, you will not be accompanied by a guide who will carry support material. For this reason, it is a feasible alternative only if you are used to or prepared to do high mountain trekking and as long as you do it with caution.

You will have to take one of the buses that go to Cusipata from the Urubamba – Sicuani Terminal, located in front of the Inca Garcilaso de la Vega stadium in Cuzco. The buses that go to Sicuani leave more or less every 15 minutes. The journey to Cusipata lasts between 2 and 2.5 hours and costs 7 soles per person.

Once in Cusipata, where the bus leaves you, you will see that there are shared taxis that go to Pampachiri, where you will start walking. The trip lasts approximately one hour and costs 10 soles per person.

Finally, you can also choose to rent a car in Cuzco and go to the parking lot from which the trail starts on your own. Just drive carefully and keep in mind that the last part of the road is a sandy track.

In the event that you are thinking of going to the Rainbow Mountain for free so that there are fewer tourists, it is advisable that you spend the night in Cusipata and that you start around 4 or 5 in the morning to arrive before the groups that come from Cuzco.

People selling products on Vinicunca aka Rainbow Mountain in the region of Cusco, Peru

Tour to the Mountain of 7 colors

The tour to the Mountain of Seven Colors is almost a full day from Cuzco. 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.

During the first stage (about 1,500 meters) the path is flat, but then it starts to get steep until it becomes quite a steep 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 high the altitude affects you. It is common for the group to disperse, but the guide must be attentive in case at any time someone needs the support of emergency oxygen or a first-aid kit. Therefore, it is very important to go with a trusted agency.

Along the route you will find people offering water and snacks such as coca candies. Also, some llamas or other animals to take photos. Please be a responsible traveler and avoid encouraging the use of animals for these purposes. In addition, you will also see how the use of horses (70-100 soles) is offered to reach a certain point of the path. Since the state of these is not the best, we would ask that you only mount them in emergencies.

Once you have reached the viewpoints and once you have enjoyed the views, you will have to follow the same path back. This is another difficult part of the trek since the descent can be just as tiring. It is best to take it easy and rest every time you feel tired.

Itinerary

Here’s the itinerary for the Rainbow Mountain tour:

05:00 AM – Departure from Cusco.

08:00 AM – Stop in Cusipata for breakfast.

09:30 AM – Arrival at the Rainbow Mountain trailhead and start of the trek.

12:30 PM – Arrive at the viewpoint for the Mountain of 7 Colors.

01:30 PM – Return trek to the base.

04:00 PM – Arrive back in Cusco.

Note: The times may vary based on the group and weather conditions.