From being on literally nobody’s radar to near the very top of everyone’s must-sees in Peru in that brief time scale points to a worrying trend for the sustainability of this and many other tourism attractions around the world. *We run our trips daily with a 2 person minimum (8 max). We were blessed with pretty perfect weather for our visit in Peru’s rainy season (which runs from November - April), but speaking to others at our hostel in Cusco and on our route through South America confirmed that it can be a bloody miserable and muddy experience - and almost a complete waste of time - to do this walk in the rain and cloud. However, if you’re in Cusco on limited time and the region has seen a lot of rain - or rain is predicted - it’s probably best not to waste a day driving six hours to disappointment. The sun can get intense in the afternoon and we highly recommend bringing sun protection. Our treks take place anywhere from 10,000 feet up to 17,000 feet. Travel Insurance – you are strongly recommended to take out travel insurance for the duration of your Rainbow Mountain trek. The relative newness of this enterprise and 2. Due to Auzangate zone is part of the Peruvian Andes the weather conditions are very unpredictable. Rainbow Mountain Peru, also known as Vinicunca is an undiscovered land full of wild desert landscapes, snow capped glaciated peaks, herds of alpaca, and pristine beauty. The hike to the rainbow mountain will take around 2 hours and is a distance of 4 kilometers (2.5 miles). These realities won’t come as a surprise to many of you, but it’s something many articles promoting Rainbow Mountain completely neglect to mention. © COPYRIGHT ALONG DUSTY ROADS LTD 2014 -2020, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED - PHOTOGRAPHY CANNOT BE USED WITHOUT OUR PERMISSION, 11 Things To Know Before You Visit Rainbow Mountain in Peru, the local Pampachiri indigenous community, 18 Really Useful Things to Know Before You Visit Cusco, What You Need to Know To Visit Machu Picchu in 2020, Everything You Need To Know About Cusco's Boleto Turistico, How To Avoid Altitude Sickness in South America, A Complete Guide to Exploring Cusco's Ruins (Without a Tour). There are also two good alternative options - this one is slightly cheaper whilst this full-day tour has great reviews. The dirtpath trail to the top is flat for about 75% or so, with a gradual ascent for 15%, and then quite a tough steep ascent for the last 10% or 200-300 metres. Peru's Red Valley and Rainbow Mountain offer beautiful wilderness and spectacular scenery, but reaching the heights without transport or local knowledge makes for a tough challenge. Due to its popularity, Rainbow Mountain may actually be the only ‘hike’ that some people do in Peru; this is why you’ll see many people walking it in trainers and (we kid you not) flip-flops. As part of your planning, we suggest you to check out the weather forecast, before the Rainbow Mountain trek. To travel to the Rainbow Mountains of Peru. The trail is easy to follow and most guides will simply leave their tour members to walk alone at their own pace. The reason? We first travelled in Peru back in 2015, and were shocked only a few months after returning home to the UK when images of this spellbinding multi-coloured mountain started popping up everywhere. Where is the Rainbow Mountain Peru Location?
The mountain, unsurprisingly, just doesn’t look as good when everything (and everyone) is grey, wet, and miserable. We recommend staying well hydrated while you are in elevation and to get plenty of rest prior to your trek. They are still a little more expensive than what you can find in person in Cusco, but convenience, higher standards, and dependability also have to be factored in to that price difference.
Both are stunning and unique treks with mind-blowing scenery. There’s definitely a pot of gold at the end of Rainbow Mountain for somebody, but much of its treasure is already tarnished. Depending on the season you plan to visit the colored mountains. To give you an indication of times, we walked to the top (with a few breaks along the way) in approx. So, if you do need to use a horse as a last resort because you are struggling, please please please make sure that it is a healthy and well-treated one, suitable for carrying your weight.
The dry time is from May to October, with very minimum chance for showers. Trekking in the Andes and in high altitude can be dangerous and because of this our staff always carries a proper first aid kit along with emergency oxygen for our guests to use if they are feeling ill. All accommodation on multi-day treks is tent camping. We take pride in preparing a wonderful variety of food throughout your trek. Please consult your doctor is you are concerned with the altitude. This insurance must cover personal accident, medical expenses, air ambulance, loss of effects, repatriation costs and all other expenses which may arise as a result of loss, damage, injury, delay or inconvenience during your trip. Emergency medical transport and air ambulances in remote locations can be extremely expensive and will probably not be covered by your medical health plan so it is compulsory that you purchase personal adequate travel insurance which is appropriate for your trip. If you’re in Peru for a short time, then booking one of the highly-rated and fairly-priced tours ahead of your arrival makes total sense, but we would just hate to see one of you pay nearly ten times more online for the same tour that somebody else on your bus paid the right price for. Weather in the Andes can be unpredictable ranging from hot and sunny to rain, wind and cold. The entire walk to Rainbow Mountain’s main summit viewpoint takes place at high altitude (starting at around 4,600 metres) and its summit is at 5,200 metres above sea level - this level of altitude is no joke, is significantly higher than the highest altitude we experienced on our four-day Inca Trail hike, and is the main reason that you’re only allowed to hang out at the summit for 10-20 minutes. We know that a number of locals now depend on this tourism economically (both in the restaurants tours stop at and via the horse rental) so we hope a sustainable balance can be found.
Small changes in the itinerary are a possibility as well as trip cancellations due to bad weather. And if you’re reading this and think that for weight or health reasons that the only way you can physically make it up Rainbow Mountain is with a horse, then we’d strongly encourage you to consider whether it’s safe or wise for you to be doing this tour in the first place. Something went wrong while submitting the form. Throughout your journey you will pass through a vibrant green valley with the impressive Ausangate mountain towering in the distance, on the final stretch of the you will trek through the amazing red mountain valley, where you feel as though you are on another planet. So if you want to know what exactly a Rainbow Mountain day trip from Cusco involves (and whether it’s actually worth it), learn why the mountain has become so crowded, save a lot of money, and understand how to prepare for the insane Vinicunca altitude - plus appreciate some of the new realities of day tours to Rainbow Mountain in 2020 - this is the only post you need to read. Our treks depart everyday with a minimum of 2 guests and a maximum of 8 guests. Learn more about altitude sickness, and how to avoid it, in this short guide. So you can choose a good time to arrive to the colorful mountains, according to the weather of the season. However, from experience, we know that the use of animals in or to support large-scale tourism always leads to certain negative practices and outcomes for the animals involved. A must visit place for people traveling to Cusco. How to get to rainbow mountain from cusco.
The mountain had, of course, always existed but its most famous feature was hidden for centuries under thick layers of Andean snow and ice. Rainbow Mountain Peru TREKKING MAP Vinicunca is a mountain pass located about four hours by car southeast of the city of Cusco, in the opposite direction to Machu Picchu, the Inca Trail and the famous Humantay Lake. In the afternoon after a delicious lunch, you will drive back to Cusco the same way you came, arriving to your hotel around 4pm.
You will enjoy unparalleled landscape of the Peruvian Andes throughout your journey and get a true taste of the local culture. The only tours available on trusted providers like GetYourGuide and Viator charge between $40 - $100 USD / £45 - £78 per person for a full-day Rainbow Mountain tour - much more than the rates available in Cusco for the exact same tour. Your day starts in Cusco where you are picked up from your hotel at 2:15am for a 3.5 hour drive to the start of the trail. On the way to the Peru colored mountains, you will get some spectacular views of the glaciers. Here's what it really looks like Published Mon, Oct 28 2019 5:14 AM EDT Updated Fri, Apr 17 2020 4:06 AM EDT So you should get acclimated to the altitude before to travel to Winicunca Peru. Instagrammers rave about Peru's 'Rainbow Mountain.' In our two day service of Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley, we combine the most special Incan ruins the surrounding area has to offer. An eight-day, 69 km trek that runs through one of the most beautiful landscapes in the Andes. There are several insurance companies offering travel protection plans available for purchase online.â, Thank you for contacting FlashpackerConnect Adventure Travel, we will respond to you within 24 hours, Oops! The journey to get to the trail-head takes almost 3 hours starting from Cusco. This hike gets you to experience summiting a mountain over 16,000ft! Sometimes you can expect snowy and cloudy mornings and thunderstorms in the afternoon. This recently discovered Vinicunca Mountain Peru is the perfect place to taste the real country life on the Andes.
Unfortunately however, the early morning bus ride remains! It’s going to be early morning because it’s about a 3.5-hour drive southeast to the Rainbow Mountain trailhead from Cusco. We reserve the right to cancel a trip prior to departing Cusco if we feel conditions are unsafe. The elevation change is 530 m / 1700 ft from the start point at Llaqto all the way to the top of Mt Winicunca. You will have seen countless pictures of Rainbow Mountain on Instagram and, if you’re already in Cusco, its unmistakable seams of red, yellow, and orange will now be a common sight all over the city’s hostels and tour agencies. When obtaining travel insurance, you must inform the insurer of the type of travel to be undertaken, especially when "adventure activities" are included in your trip. Remember Cusco has an elevation of 3400 m / 11010 ft. Its famous striped colours, vibrant in the sunshine, are largely due to weathering and mineral deposits.
The hiking time to arrive to the famous Winicunca Mountains is approx. 80 (£19 / $24) - in addition to your tour price - and you will have no shortage of offers all along the trail if you look like you’re struggling. We will have snacks on top and take a relaxing break to soak up the vistas, where you can enjoy the beauty that surrounds you.
You will see hundreds of roaming alpaca, and have the chance to truly see how Quechua people live. If you do plan on doing a number of hikes in Peru, including the Inca Trail, then we highly recommend reading 12 Essential Tips for Hiking in Peru. Trekking Options for Rainbow Mountains Peru, Home » Vinicunca Mountains » Rainbow Mountain Trek, Full Day, Chinchero, Moray, Salt mine Machupicchu, 2D, Rainbow Mountain Peru, Altitude & Location, Peru Rainbow Mountain day hike recommendations.
Our treks depart everyday upon request with a minimum of 2 guests (Solo travelers can be matched up with existing groups). Rainbow Mountain is located 5,200 m above sea level. If we are not informed during your booking we cannot guarantee that we will be able to accommodate. Thank you!
Don't miss your chance to explore the Rainbow Mountain with us and beat the crowds! Hikers should be prepared with proper gear and be ready for variable weather conditions throughout the day.