Ausangate and Rainbow Mountain 4 days: the complete guide
Most people see Rainbow Mountain on a crowded day trip. This four-day trek reaches it the way it deserves to be reached — on foot, across the wild Ausangate range, with glaciers, mineral lagoons and high passes, arriving at Vinicunca with hardly anyone else around.
Rainbow Mountain, earned on foot
You trek the flanks of Ausangate through glacial valleys and past coloured lakes, crossing high passes before reaching the famous striped ridge of Rainbow Mountain (5,020 m) — far from the day-trip crowds that arrive by bus.
The route, day by day
| Day | Route | High point |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cusco → Tinki → Upis | Hot springs, 4,400 m |
| 2 | Upis → Arapa Pass → Pucacocha | 4,850 m |
| 3 | Ausangate Pass → Surine Cocha | Rainbow Mountains 5,020 m |
| 4 | Rainbow Mountain → Cusco | Vinicunca |
See the full itinerary
Day-by-day plan, inclusions and dates.
Difficulty and altitude
A challenging high-altitude trek with several passes near 5,000 m. Acclimatize well in Cusco first. If you want the colours without the trek, compare the day options in our Palcoyo vs Vinicunca guide.
Frequently asked questions
If you want quiet, scenery and a real sense of achievement, yes. The trek reaches Vinicunca away from the bus crowds, across spectacular Ausangate terrain.
Several passes approach 5,000 m and Rainbow Mountain itself is about 5,020 m, so thorough acclimatization is essential.