A traveler’s guide to the Rainbow Mountain in Peru with all you need to know
Rainbow Mountain, also known as Vinicunca, Winikunka, Montaña de Siete Colores (Mountain of Seven Colors), or Montaña de Colores, has seen a massive growth in tourist visits since 2015 and has quickly become one of the must-see attractions in Peru. It was even listed in National Geographic’s “Top 100 Places To Visit Before You Die”. It is now the second most requested tour in the Cusco region (after Machu Picchu). An estimated 1,500 people a day made the trek in 2019, that’s one third of the daily visitors in Machu Picchu. It’s easy to see why it has attracted so much attention, just check the many impressive Instagram posts, but let’s dive into some frequently asked questions and how you can add a checkmark next to this new bucket list destination in Peru.
For real, is it really that colorful?
Yes, Rainbow Mountain is really that colorful! Of course, you will also find many images online that have filters applied to it, or that are otherwise manipulated, but it really is an impressively colorful mountain range. We’ve added a picture of our founder Mike visiting the mountains on one of his tours, no filters, no edits! Anyone can see the colors on the mountain, and the fact that they all stand out so distinctly. Weather conditions can however hugely impact visibility and how much the colors appear to stand out, more on that a little bit further down below.
Our founder Mike at Rainbow Mountain #nofilter
Why is the rainbow mountain in Peru colorful?
Basically, the colors come from the different minerals inside the mountain range, and the region’s historic volcanic activity due to the shifts of the tectonic plates underneath.
The giant Andes mountains along the west side of the South American continent form the longest continental mountain range in the world with heights up to 22,800 feet (7,000 meter) above sea level. Underneath is where two tectonic plates meet: the Nazca plate and the South American plate. This process started about 25 million years ago and continues to this day! All this movement produced significant volcanic activity and exposed the varied minerals (14 different types of minerals in total) to natural elements of the Pachamama (wind, rain, snow,…), creating a marbling effect with layered hues of gold, lavender, red and turquoise. These layers of different colors are of course why it is now known as the Rainbow Mountain. The original name Vinicunca translates to “colored mountain”.
These are the colors you will recognize in the landscape, and the elements that created them:
Pink: red clay, mud, and sand
White: substances rich in calcium carbonates such as quartzose, sandstone, and marls
Red: clays and claystones
Green and Blue: compound of phyllites and more clays that are rich in ferromagnesian
Earthy Brown: rock and magnesium
Yellow: layers of iron sulphide
Why has the Rainbow Mountain only become known and popular in recent years?
For many, many years the mountain and all its colors were completely hidden under snow and glaciers. It is only since 2015 that they have become clearer when the snow started melting, revealing the natural beauty of the rock underneath.
How can we preserve this natural phenomenon as best as possible?
With so many visitors and so many footsteps every day, it is important to make sure the ground doesn’t get worn away, and that the colors are preserved and not merged into one. Moreover, the mountains are home to a lot of alpaca and llama. Maintaining and cleaning the trail is also a priority to protect their natural habitat. Local communities are still thriving there in their traditional way of life.
That’s the reason why there is a specific designated path to follow, and why it is not allowed to touch the mountain when you visit. It doesn’t take away at all from the experience or from the magnificent views and makes sure that we protect our earth, traditions, beautiful colorful mountains, and animals.
How do you get there from Cusco? What does a day tour to the Rainbow Mountain look like?
Tours to the Rainbow Mountain leave from Cusco, catch a bus or fly from Lima to the ancient capital of the Incas (be sure to take some time to adjust to the altitude). Getting to the Rainbow Mountain from Cusco is a wonderful day tour and trek, it is located about 62 miles (100 km) from the city. You have the option to hike or ride a horse through the beautiful Andean valley to the top viewpoint. Along the way you will see snowcapped peaks, herds of alpaca or llama, glaciers, and birds of prey, all set within this incredibly stunning mountain range at 17,000ft / 5,200m above sea level.
Travelers should be prepared to start their day in the very early hours with a winding, bumpy drive from the city. The advantage of traveling with a local operator and a smaller group is that you tend to leave even earlier than most big groups do, so you avoid the crowds as much as possible. At Papi’s Treks, for our full day tour to the Rainbow Mountain we aim to pick you up around 4AM and return to Cusco (either to the city center or your hotel) between 5PM and 7PM.
After a 3-hour drive, you will arrive at the base camp where breakfast will be provided for you while the crew prepares for the trek. In total, it takes about 2 to 3 hours to hike to the top viewpoint. Take your time to enjoy the journey and various landscapes, and we’re sure to encounter some llamas and alpacas! At the top viewpoint, we take in the wonderful view of the 7 colored mountains for a while and take pictures. Your guide will also explain some of the history and geography of this area. After about half an hour, we trek back to our starting point. Enjoy your lunch there at around 1PM. Our private transport will be waiting to take us back to Cusco.
When comparing prices, be aware that there is an entry fee of 25 soles (PEN) and sometimes this is not included in what you see advertised. Our full day tour to the Rainbow Mountain does include the fee as well as of course the services of your private, expert, English-speaking guide.
If hours of hiking is not your thing there are some alternatives. Renting a horse does cost a little bit extra (80 soles) but it is possible to rent one beforehand or at several points along the trek if walking becomes too difficult. However, be aware that horses cannot go with you on the steepest part at the very top, this is about a 30 minute slightly more challenging climb but well worth it for the view! For thrill seekers, instead of a horse it is also possible to rent mountain bikes.
Planning a trip? What should you be aware of, and how should you prepare?
Altitude
Be prepared to climb to high altitudes — Vinicunca stands more than 17,000 feet (5,200 meter) above sea level (this is more than half of Mount Everest). It is highly advisable to spend a few days in the Cusco region to acclimatize to high altitudes before attempting to hike the Rainbow Mountain. Altitude sickness can catch many travelers off guard and has nothing to do with age or level of fitness. Going with a local, responsible operator like Papi’s Treks means the guide will be equipped with an oxygen tank as a safety precaution. Most of the path isn’t too challenging even at those altitudes, although the final part of the hike is a more difficult, steeper incline. As already mentioned, you can rent a horse at any point along the way to take you closer to the summit if you are struggling.
Weather changes and visibility
In cloudy or rainy weather, the colors of the mountains do not stand out as much (or not at all in very poor conditions) and so there have been travelers leaving a little disappointed due to the low visibility. If there are extremely poor conditions, authorities might even close the treks altogether. See below section on our recommendations for best times to visit (basically the dry season) to get the greatest chance of seeing the Rainbow Mountain at its most spectacular. Be aware that weather over the mountain can change in seconds. It’s not uncommon to see snow, rain and blistering sun within the space of one hour!
What to bring
Because of unpredictable, fast changing weather conditions and high altitude, we recommend bringing several layers to prepare for swings between wind, rain, sunshine and a very noticeably dropping temperature at the top of the mountain (temperatures drop below freezing point at night). A rain jacket, sunglasses, sunscreen, good trekking shoes, and plenty of water are absolute essentials. Keep in mind that solar radiation is much more intense at higher altitudes, and the snow can reflect it. Hiking poles are handy, especially for the last 30 minutes of the hike, and you can rent these from us if needed. Don’t forget your camera!
How to evaluate different operators
There are many tour operators and many tours being offered and marketed out there. Ask about these important things:
Safety: Ask if they have the right equipment for the trek, including an oxygen tank in case someone is struggling with the altitude - that is something nobody will know until you get there so better to be safe than sorry. Equally, the guide should be trained in first aid and have a first aid kit with them as a precaution.
Qualified guides and customer experience: You’ll want a memorable trip, not just because of the beautiful pictures you took but because you enjoyed the journey along the way. Good guides will be able to explain the area and its history to you, and speak good English.
As mentioned, there are several advantages to traveling with a local but reliable small group tour operator like Papi’s Treks - we can be more flexible, will leave earlier to avoid crowds, and have the right local expertise.
When is the best time to visit the Rainbow Mountain?
To get straight to the point, based on our experience and advice from local authorities, we recommend to book the Rainbow Mountain day tour between March and November, with the best visibility chances between June and August (which is also high tourist season, so you will see the most people then). While you could definitely visit the Rainbow Mountain at any time during the year, you will want to avoid rainy season (November - April) when your chances of the best visibility of the colors are much lower (though never zero). Shoulder seasons like April, May, June, or September, October and November are also still great options with fewer crowds. Try and be a little flexible with your booking (and make sure your tour operator is too) and keep an eye on the daily weather forecast when you are in Cusco. Unlike Machu Picchu, there are no permits to get in advance and no limits to the amount of daily visitors.
Are you considering a visit in 2021 or 2022? We have also included some updates on the pandemic situation.
Yes, it is safe to travel in Peru! Peru was the third South American country to obtain the prestigious Safe Travels Stamp by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC - representing the Travel & Tourism sector globally). This is rewarded to destinations around the world which have adopted global standardized protocols. The Safe Travels stamp is the world’s first ever global safety and hygiene stamp for Travel & Tourism, designed specifically to address COVID-19 and similar outbreaks.
If you eventually decide to travel to Peru and hike the Rainbow Mountain with Papi’s Treks, we can assure you that we are continuously making sure we are up to date and comply with the latest guidelines issued by the local and national health authorities, the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), and the World Health Organization (WHO). The health and safety of our customers is of course our highest priority, and you will be in safe hands.
If you have proof of having had the vaccine or a negative test result, the Peruvian government has confirmed that you will not need to quarantine in Peru.
Papi’s Treks has started with in person tours again, and all bookings are completely flexible. Just get in touch with us if you’re interested in reserving for this year or 2022 and beyond.
Not quite ready yet? Consider visiting some of the beautiful sites around Cusco (including Machu Picchu) and other popular destinations in Peru on one of our guided live virtual tours from the comfort of your home!
For more tips on planning your visit to Peru, also check out our FAQ section!
Ready to start planning your in person visit to Peru? We are happy to help! We offer Rainbow Mountain day tour, or other exceptional day tours from Cusco, as well as 7-21 days Peru package tours.