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Tour Summary to Rainbow Mountain
Located 100 kilometers southeast of Cusco, there exists a rainbow made mountain. This is Rainbow Mountain, also known as Vinicunca, Montaña de 7 Colores, or Montaña Arcoiris. It is one of the most visited natural attractions south of Cusco, situated at 5,200 meters above sea level in the Vilcanota Mountain Range.
Its slopes and summits are streaked with bands of fuchsia, turquoise, lavender, and gold. It presents a beautiful and fascinating landscape.
Upon reaching the summit, you’ll feel as if you’re close to the sun and celestial gods, in addition to being near the most important Inca Apu – the Ausangate snow-capped mountain. This is an adventure you must not miss.
This day starts with an early pick-up from your hotel between 4:30 to 5:00 am. We’ll head south on a 2-hour journey to the town of Cusipata, where we’ll enjoy a nutritious and energizing breakfast. Afterward, we continue east to the starting point of the hike to Vinicunca Mountain, which takes about 1 hour.
During the hike, lasting 1 hour and 30 minutes at a leisurely pace, you’ll enjoy the beautiful landscape of the mountains, some still capped with perpetual snow, ensuring we don’t strain too much at the altitude.
The final 30 minutes involve a steeper ascent to reach an altitude of 5,200 meters above sea level. From here, you’ll witness the stunning colors of Rainbow Mountain and directly opposite, the highest snow-capped peak in Cusco – Ausangate, revered as a sacred protector (Apu) with a height of 6,800 meters above sea level.
The rainbow-like appearance of Vinicunca is due to “a complex geological history of marine, lacustrine, and fluvial sediments.” These sediments, carried by water that once covered the area, date back to the Tertiary and Quaternary periods. The tectonic movements in the area uplifted these sediments into mountains. Over time, oxidation of minerals due to the area’s moisture and erosion gave them their vibrant colors.
After resting, enjoying the scenery, and capturing memorable photographs of this beautiful and magical place, we begin our descent back to the transport unit that will take us to Cusipata for an Andean buffet lunch. We then return to the city of Cusco.
Approximate arrival in Cusco is around 4:00 pm.
The Rainbow Mountain Tour includes:
OPTIONAL: Bring trekking poles (if you don’t have them, you can ask us about renting).
