Rainbow Mountain Tour: 2024 Updated information about Rainbow Mountain in Cusco, Peru from how to get there, itineraries, prices, and FAQs.

Rainbow Mountain Brief Summary:

  • Discovered after the snow melted in 2013, Rainbow Mountain Tours have become one of the best things to do in Peru.
  • Tours start in Cusco (fly there with Latam Airlines or take Peru Hop bus). Impossible to enter the Mountain without being part of an official Rainbow Mountain Tour.
  • Do NOT travel with informal companies, often with prices too cheap to be true…you will ruin your once-in-a-lifetime trip.
  • Rainbow Mountain Travels is our recommended tour operator. Alpaca Expeditions is another good operator although quite expensive.
  • Visit the Official Rainbow Mountain Peru website for information about tours, things to know before you go, and how to get there.

Below we have created our extensive guide to Rainbow Mountain based on our expert local knowledge having helped to transport over 250,000 travelers here since our formation in 2013.

Rainbow Mountain Guide Contents:

  1. Rainbow Mountain Tour Information – Check time, prices, and more.
  2. How to get to Rainbow Mountain – Compare transportation options.
  3. What to bring to Rainbow Mountain? – Be prepared for your tour.
  4. Rainbow Mountain FAQs – We answer your frequently asked questions.
  5. Did you know? – Rainbow Mountain fun facts.
  6. Photo Gallery – A few of the best photos of the Rainbow Mountain.

Rainbow Mountain Tour


Want to discover the colored mountain?

Book a Rainbow Mountain Tour now!

Rainbow Mountain Tour Information

Peru Hop does not operate any tours to Rainbow Mountain. To see Peru Hop’s recommended operators for this tour read below.

Rainbow Mountain Tour with Rainbow Mountain Travels

Price: $49 USD

Duration: Approximately 12 hours

Pick-ups: Hotels and hostels in Cusco, Airbnbs can get picked up at a hotel close by

Important Note: See Rainbow Mountain Travels website HERE for much more info about the tour


Itinerary

03:00am – 03:30am

Pick-ups from hotels and hostels

06:00am – 07:00am

Arrive to Cusipata and have breakfast

08:15am – 10:00am

Trek to the peak of Rainbow Mountain walking through stunning and colorful scenery.

10:00am – 10:30am

Reach the peak of the mountain. Once at the top, enjoy the view of the majestic mountains surrounding the area.

11:00am – 12:30pm

Return to the starting point where the transportation awaits

1:30pm – 2:30pm

Lunch before heading back to Cusco

3:30pm

Arrive back at Cusco


Included

  • Pick-up from your hotel/hostel in the center of Cusco
  • Tourist bus transportation during the tour
  • Professional bilingual guide (Engish & Spanish)
  • 1 simple breakfast / 1 buffet lunch
  • Entrance to the park
  • First aid kit
  • Oxygen tanks for emergencies

Not included:

  • Entrance to Red Valley – 20 soles (optional)

If doing a tour of Rainbow Mountain we recommend you use Rainbow Mountain Travels for the highest quality tour at an affordable price!

BOOK A RAINBOW MOUNTAIN TOUR NOW

How to get to the Rainbow Mountain

Rainbow Mountain is located in Cusco, just 3 hours away from the main city. The best way is to get a tour or trek that includes transportation from and to Cusco city.

If you are looking for information on the best buses to take to Cusco, visit our passes page. Just browse our passes and find the perfect one for you.

What to bring and wear to Rainbow Mountain?

  • Small backpack
  • Extra water
  • Sunscreen
  • Personal medication
  • Warm layers
  • Comfortable sneakers or trekking shoes
  • Sunglasses and a hat
  • Rain jacket or poncho

Rainbow Mountain FAQs

Are there chances of suffering altitude sickness during the trek?

Altitude sickness can catch many travellers a little bit off guard. Not everyone gets sick at high altitudes, and it is difficult to predict who is likely to be badly affected by it. For most people, it is nothing more than a headache and a dizzy sensation that diminishes over a short period of time (1-2 days).

We strongly recommend acclimatizing to the altitude before partaking in the trek. If short on time, consult your doctor on taking altitude sickness (acetazolamide/Diamox) or go for the natural remedy of locals, chewing coca leaves.

Rainbow Mountain Travels counts with a first-aid kit and oxygen tank as well as trained and professional guides prepared for any type of emergency that can occur during the trek.

What do I do if I get tired/exhausted during the trek?

There are horses available throughout the whole trek which you can ride for however long you want. NOTE no tour operator offers this, it’s run the by locals that live in the surrounding communities.

Like mentioned in the previous Q&A, Rainbow Mountain Travels counts with a first-aid kit and oxygen tank as well as trained and professional guides prepared for any type of emergency that can occur during the trek.

Does it actually look like the pictures?

Yes! And it’s definitely what makes the trek much more gratifying. There are unlucky days where the weather does ruin a little bit of the beauty, but it adds a mystical effect.

Did you know?

  • It was only recently discovered due to the ice melting on top of the mountains.
  • Its base altitude is 4,326 meters (14,189 feet), and its peak altitude is 5,200 meters (17,060 feet).
  • The local Ausangate community is one of the only shepherding (raising llamas and alpacas) communities left in the world.

Gallery

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