Palcoyo Rainbow Mountain day hike

Discover the magical scenery offered by the Rainbow Mountain of Palcoyo, a good alternative, where you can find three mountains that are dyed by nature with the shades of the rainbow. The hike to this place has it all, snow-capped mountains, stone forests, picturesque landscapes and wildlife. Therefore, we recommend that you enjoy this adventure without worries and leave everything in our hands!

• Departures: Every day.
• Duration: One day (4:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.).
• Maximum altitude: 7 Colors Mountain of Palccoyo (4,900 masl).
• Distance of the hike: 4 km.
• Hiking time: 2 hours.
• Difficulty level: Easy.
• Type of tour: Hiking/Trekking.
• Group size: Less than 18 people per group.

SHORT ITINERARY

Cusco - Cusipata - 7 Colors Mountain of Palccoyo- Cusco

• Pick up from your hotel.
• Transfer in tourist transport to Cusipata town. Duration: 2 hours.
• Breakfast in Cusipata.
• Transfer to the starting point of the trek. Duration: 2 hours.
• Beginning of the trek from this point to the 7 Colors Mountain of Palccoyo. Duration: 1 hour.
• Return from the 7 Colors Mountain of Palccoyo to the starting point of the trek. Duration: 1 hour.
• Transfer in tourist transport to Cusipata.
• Lunch in Cusipata.
• Return to Cusco in tourist transport.

Note: The times indicated are only for reference

Day 1: Cusco - Cusipata – Rainbow  Mountain of Palccoyo- Cusco

We will start the trip very early in the morning, picking you up from your hotel at the agreed time, to go in our transport to the South Valley of Cusco. In this journey of almost two hours we will be able to enjoy the first views of the Andean landscapes and the small villages along the way. We will arrive to Cusipata town (3,310 meters above sea level), to have an energizing breakfast that will allow us to have the strength to make the trek.

We will continue the trip in our transport for two more hours until we reach the area where the trek begins (4,700 masl). We will begin our adventure by taking a natural path, and as we advance the first colors appear. Although the trail is short, we will be accompanied by the attraction of the mountains and the charming llamas and alpacas that are always on the trail feeding.

After a hike of almost an hour, through flat areas, we will arrive at the goal of our trip,  Palcoyo the Other Rainbow Mountain (4,900 masl). We will see three mountains that have the intensity of rainbow hues, but what makes it stand out among all the nature is the surrounding valley that has a reddish color, accompanied by large grasslands that can be green or yellow, depending on the time of year. A scenery that will leave you speechless. On our return hike we will also find another attraction, a Forest of Stones that will allow us to observe in a panoramic way all these natural sceneries and at the same time take very nice pictures.

After having enjoyed all these wonders, we will continue with our return hike which will last less than an hour to the place of our transportation to return to Cusipata town. Here we will enjoy a delicious lunch and take a short rest. Then we will board our transport to return to Cusco. 

Note: The times indicated are only for reference

OPTIONAL-HISTORIC BRIDGES

We leave you this option that you can add to the tour of the Rainbow Mountain of Palccoyo:

PRIVATE SERVICE:

• On the outbound route you can make a stop in the Checacupe town to visit 3 historical bridges of great antiquity: Inca Bridge, Colonial Bridge and Republican Bridge.

For more information about this alternative, please contact us. We will be happy to customize your trip: 

Note: To visit these bridges you must pay the entrance ticket.

HIGHLIGHTS

Stone forest

Surrounded by rocks of great dimension, this is perhaps one of the most unusual sceneries that can be seen in the tour. They have various shapes and sizes, they look like something out of a science fiction movie. Throughout the Peruvian territory we can find many of these forests.

Palcoyo the Other Rainbow Mountain 

This chain of colorful mountains has gone through a complex process of mineralization over thousands of years to become the beautiful scenery that can be seen today. Its natural colors include: purple, red, pink, mustard, green and more.

Fauna

The most curious and adorable companions of this trip are the alpacas and llamas. You will be able to see many of them along the way, even in large groups, which will allow you to appreciate the variety of colors in their fur.

INCLUDED:

• Pick up service from your hotel.
• Transfer in tourist transport Cusco - Palccoyo - Cusco.
• Professional bilingual guide (Spanish and English).
• 1 breakfast.
• 1 lunch.
• First aid kit, including oxygen.
• Walking stick for the hike.

NOT INCLUDED:

• Entrance fee to the Rainbow Mountain of Palccoyo.
• Tips.
• Travel insurance.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

What should we bring for our trip?

In our trek to the Palcoyo Mountain, we can find varied climates for that reason we recommend you to bring:

General:

• Passport or Identification Document.
• Trekking shoes.
• Light backpack to carry personal belongings. Preferably with rain protection.
• Cell phone/camera.
• Portable charger.
• Personal snacks.
• Personal medications.

For the cold or rain:

• Warm clothing: Jacket, thermal underwear, gloves, socks, etc.
• Waterproof clothing/rain poncho.

For sun:

• Sunscreen.
• Sunglasses.
• Hat.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Here are some recommendations to consider before your trip to the Rainbow  Mountain of Palccoyo: 

• This is a good alternative to the traditional Vinicunca Rainbow Mountain. The hike is shorter and the difficulty is lower.

• We recommend you to be acclimatized to the altitude of Cusco before doing this tour. You must be at least two days in the city. You can previously do other tours such as the City tour, Machu Picchu or Sacred Valley.
• Being a simpler hike it is accessible for people of all ages.
• We will pick you up very early in the morning from your hotel and walk for approximately two hours. For that reason, we recommend that the day before the trip you avoid drinking alcoholic beverages or partying.
• This trip is not recommended for people with heart problems or other serious medical conditions.

Private service: the price depend of the number of people.