Rainbow Mountain or Vinicunca is located in Peru, in the Cusco region, province of Canchis in the village of Pitumarka.
This mountain is a natural formation that shows the whim of nature through kilometers of land that are changing their coloring by the richness in minerals and it is from the viewpoint of Vinicunca, from where you will have a spectacular view of the entire Cordillera of the Andes with its whimsical colors that resemble the Rainbow.

The point of maximum height is 5200 meters above sea level; however the tour part of the city of Cusco, passing through towns like Checacupe and Pitumarka until you get to the start point of the walk called Pampachiri to 3800 meters above sea level, from where we will ascend to the observation deck at a height of 5200 meters above sea level.

The Mountain Rainbow is located 138 km from the city of Cusco and takes about 8 hours to get to this place between the trip by car and on foot without counting the stops to feed and rest.

The degree of difficulty of this route is intermediate – easy, so it is recommended for people with an optimal physical state, as the advancement could be a little tiring for people who are not accustomed to these walks in height. However you can rent a horse in the same locality of Pampachiri with the Communards who offer this service just for people who cannot walk or not willing to walk for three hours. You must bear in mind that the horse is guided by a horseman and will leave about 15 minutes from the viewpoint of Vinicunca so if you or if you will have to walk this stretch.

We rate this route as moderate and you’ll be walking along rough terrain. There are some difficult ascents and descents and you’ll be hiking many hours a day until you reach the site of resting place or camp.

You’ll be walking for about 8 or 9 hours approximately on an average day. If you want to get a good idea of how far you walk and for how many hours at a time, check out the our Choquequirao itinerary.

If you feel like you might need to ride a horse sometimes, you can rent an extra one during the briefing or when you book. Otherwise, you can also rent them at certain points along the route.

The clothes with which you feel comfortable and feel capable of going around the world a thousand times, wide or flexible pants, a warm jacket that does not weigh you down and good trekking shoes, of course, a hat to protect us from the sun.

The Rainbow Mountain route doesn’t tend to sell out in advance because not so many people hike it. However, we still recommend booking as far in advance.
If you leave it to the last minute, they may be fully booked on other routes and not have enough staff available to accommodate you on the route.

Yes, But, we recommend that they be at least 10-years-old. Rainbow Mountain Trek is challenging in many parts and it would be too difficult for smaller children—you could end up carrying them a lot of the way. Or I could rent an extra horse for the child who will travel with us.

We like to keep our group sizes small so that you enjoy more quiet and get to spend as much time with your guide as you like to ask questions. You always enjoy front-row spots. The maximum number of people that will be in your group is 8 passengers.

Not. when you’re traveling in another country, you like to keep in contact with friends and family. At the campsites we do not have wifi.

Not. At each campsite, There is no electricity or solar energy. You have to bring a battery to charge your electronic devices..

To avoid altitude sickness, give yourself time in Cuzco to acclimatize to the change in altitude. Two days minimum is recommended!!! Try to avoid alcohol before and during your trek, and make sure you eat lightly and drink plenty of water. Make sure to stay hydrated during the Ausangate Trek, don’t force yourself to walk faster than your body wants to, and take frequent breaks. Drinking coca leaf tea helps a lot, and you may wish to speak with your doctor about Diamox pills.

You can join us if you’re traveling by yourself but it must be on a day when we already have a tour planned. With the costs involved, we can’t start a new group with just one person. As long as two people are already signed up for a specific date, you can join their group.

We recommend to make your reservation in advance and we will guarantee your Spaces for this hike. Each reservation needs 50% of deposit as first payment. The final balance(50%) will be paid in Cusco(Briefing Day). About Payment you must choose where would you like to make the deposit: Payment system online: - Paypal - Western Union - Peruvian Banking Account We use the money from your deposit to make several important purchases, including the entrance fee to Rainbow Mountain Route, Transprt, Guide, etc. In addition, making a deposit assures us that you will be coming on the trek, and are unlikely to cancel at the last minute. This helps us with knowing how much food to buy, how many of our guides to use for the trek, etc. The deposit is non-refundable once we receive it, because we will immediately use in preparation for your walk.

First, we will send you an email to confirm your payment.
Two weeks before your tour date, we will contact you by email to request the final payment. We will also ask you where you will be staying in Cuzco, to be able to pick you up on the day of your hike.
After we receive the final payment, we will send you an email confirming your tour date and informing you of important contact information for our tour agency, as well as some final tips to prepare for the trek.

A lot. The cold can be intense, especially at night. In summer the temperature can drop to -5 or -10 degrees and there is always a chance of snowfall falling on you. It must be taken into account that most of the time you walk above 5,000 meters above sea level.

It is highly recommended. We don't want to be the voice of your conscience, but if anything happens up there and they have to come looking for you, it won't be cheap. We had insurance that covered rescues up to 5,000 meters above sea level.

Yes. It's not that there isn't a marked path, it's that there are many and they intersect with each other, plus you arrive at esplanades where it is very easy to get disoriented. We 100% recommend the use of a GPS that works in the mountains, or failing that, an offline map. We use Maps.me and it worked for us.

We recommend 400 soles or 110 USD dollars. This is because sometimes you can need money for water, snacks, extra drinks, any kind of emergency.

Having a good guide is an essential part of having a good trek. Because of this, CUSCO DESTINATION hires and works with some of the best guides in the business. Our guides are knowledgable in the areas of history, archaeology, ecology, and are natives of the Cuzco area.

Sleeping bags are not included, so we recommend carrying a compact three-season sleeping bag. If you travel between May and October, a 4-station sleeping bag is recommended. These can be rented with us. For approximately $ 20 for the duration of the walk. Foam mats are provided, however, some travelers also bring their own self-inflating mat (ie, a Thermarest).

Our Cook prepare excellent high-energy meals appropriate for a walk of this nature. The menu generally includes pasta, rice, chicken, fresh fruits and vegetables and a variety of oatmeal, eggs and other foods for breakfast. Vegetarian alternatives are available upon request at the time of booking.

Tipping is at your discretion, but is always appreciated. If you enjoyed the service you enjoyed from your guides and support staff