Rainbow Mountain Tour from Cusco The Vinicunca Hike and the Red Valley in One Day
Walk up to Vinicunca (5,030 m), the mountain of seven colours, and look over the Red Valley. Hotel pickup, breakfast, buffet lunch and entrance included — from $40 per person.
Our Rainbow Mountain tour is the classic full-day trip to Vinicunca, the mountain whose red, ochre, yellow and turquoise stripes have become one of the icons of Peru. We pick you up at 4:00 AM, stop for breakfast in Cusipata and start walking at about 4,400 m. A gradual climb of around three hours takes you to the viewpoint at 5,030 m, with the snow peaks of the Ausangate range on the horizon.
From the top, a short extra walk leads to the Red Valley, a quieter landscape of deep red hills (local entrance about S/10). The descent takes about an hour and a half, followed by a buffet lunch. Small groups of up to 14, a certified guide carrying oxygen, breakfast, lunch and the Rainbow Mountain entrance are included for US $40. Want to walk less? Choose our ATV tour with the Red Valley or Palcoyo, the gentler alternative.
Mineral stripes of red, ochre, yellow and green, best seen in the morning light of the dry season.
The Red Valley
A short walk beyond the viewpoint opens onto deep red hills that most visitors never see.
Ausangate on the horizon
The glaciers of Ausangate (6,384 m), the sacred mountain of Cusco, rise behind the trail.
Llamas and alpacas
Herds graze along the path, watched by the Quechua families who manage the trail.
Horses for the climb
Local families rent horses for most of the way up (about US $20 round trip, paid locally).
Tour at a glance
Duration
Full Day · 12 h
Price
From US $40 per person
Hotel pickup
4:00 AM
Back in Cusco
5:00–6:00 PM
Max altitude
5,030 m
Walking
≈3 h up + 1.5 h down
Difficulty
Moderate
Drive from Cusco
about 3 h
Meals
Breakfast + buffet lunch
Entrance fees
Rainbow Mountain included (Red Valley ~S/10 extra)
Group size
Small group, max 14 travelers
Last-minute booking
Until 11:00 PM the night before
Book today, travel tomorrow
Online booking stays open until 5 hours before hotel pickup (Cusco time). With a 4:00 AM pickup you can book until 11:00 PM the night before — the calendar updates by itself. You receive your confirmation by email as soon as you pay. Need a seat even sooner? Message us on WhatsApp and we will check availability for you.
A long, high day: early drive along the Vilcanota valley, breakfast in Cusipata, the hike to 5,030 m and back to Cusco in the late afternoon.
DAY 1
Full Day · Rainbow Mountain & Red Valley
4:00 AMPickup in Cusco. We collect you from your hotel and drive south-east along the Vilcanota valley.
6:00 AMBreakfast in Cusipata. A warm breakfast before the last hour of road up to the trailhead at about 4,400 m.
8:00 AMThe hike. A gradual climb of about three hours, at your own pace, past llama herds and with views of Ausangate, to the viewpoint at 5,030 m.
11:00 AMRainbow Mountain and the Red Valley. Time for photos at the top and, if you wish, the short walk to the Red Valley viewpoint (local entrance about S/10).
12:00 PMDescent and lunch. About an hour and a half back down to the trailhead, then the drive to Cusipata for a buffet lunch.
5:30 PMBack in Cusco. We arrive in Cusco in the late afternoon, between 5:00 and 6:00 PM.
Altitude note: The hiking path goes from 4,400 to 5,030 m above sea level. You may experience some symptoms of altitude sickness — soroche or headaches. That's why we bring oxygen along to help participants if any trouble arises.
Inclusions & exclusions
A transparent breakdown of what's covered in the tour price & what to budget separately.
What's Included
Tasty Breakfast & Buffet Lunch — delectable breakfast before departure plus hearty buffet lunch on the way back.
Entrance ticket to Rainbow Mountain.
Comfortable transport — private tourist van, door-to-door from your hotel.
Trekking equipment — poles, oxygen canister and emergency kit at all times.
Certified bilingual guide — knowledgeable in local culture, geology & natural habitat.
First aid kit & emergency oxygen on board at all times.
Not Included
Tips for guides & drivers (always optional, appreciated).
Red Valley entrance — payable locally (~ S/. 10 per person · approx. US $3).
Travel insurance — strongly recommended; we can suggest providers.
Horse rental at the trailhead — optional, paid to the community (~ US $20 round trip).
Before you go
A few essentials we strongly recommend to make your Rainbow Mountain day the most rewarding possible.
Acclimatize first
Spend at least 2 full days in Cusco (3,400 m) before this tour. The summit reaches 5,030 m — higher than the Everest base camp. Hydrate constantly, drink coca tea, avoid alcohol, eat light meals, walk gently.
Physical fitness
The hike is rated moderate: about 3 hours uphill (4,400 → 5,030 m) and 1.5 hours down. The challenge is the altitude, not the trail. Horses can be rented at the trailhead (~US $20), or choose our ATV Express with only a 5-minute walk.
Best time to go
Dry season: April to October. Skies are clearer, trails firm, colors most vibrant. Avoid the rainy season (Dec–Mar), when colors mute under cloud cover. We run tours year-round but recommend the dry months.
Sun & weather
The Andean sun is intense at 5,030 m. Bring sunscreen SPF 50+, a wide-brim hat, sunglasses and lip balm with SPF, and dress in layers: early morning is close to freezing, midday can feel warm in the sun.
Cancellations & weather
You can cancel up to 24 hours before the tour if a verifiable emergency keeps you from joining — an illness, an accident or a cancelled flight, for example, with a document that shows it. If weather or road conditions make the trip unsafe, we will offer you a new date or a full refund. See our refund policy.
What to pack
Travel light but smart. Here's exactly what we recommend bringing for a comfortable, safe day at altitude.
Essentials
Passport — required for the entrance ticket.
Hiking boots (broken in) — terrain is rocky & uneven.
Transparent pricing — no hidden fees. The more travelers in your group, the lower the price per person.
Group Type
Group Size
Price / Person
What's Different
Shared Group Most popular
2 – 14 travelers
US $40 / pp
Mixed international group, set departure (4 AM)
Private Group ★ Best experience
2 – 6 travelers
US $140 / pp
Your group only · flexible departure · personalized pace
Family Package
4+ adults & kids
US $38 / pp
5% discount for adolescents & children
Group of 8+
8 or more travelers
From US $36 / pp
Automatic group discount at checkout
Group discounts apply automatically. Book 4+ travelers and we'll send a custom quote within 2 hours. Larger groups (10+) qualify for additional savings — message us on WhatsApp.
Payment & refund highlights
Secure online payment
Pay with Visa, MasterCard, American Express. All transactions SSL-encrypted via Izipay.
Cancellation policy
We accept cancellations up to 24 hours before the tour when a verifiable emergency prevents you from attending. Refunds go back to your original payment method and are processed by your bank, not by us: any bank fees are applied by the bank, and the money can take up to 30 business days to reach your account. Thank you for your patience. Read the full policy.
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers to the 6 questions we hear most often. More? See the full FAQ page or reach us on WhatsApp.
About 3 hours up from the trailhead (about 4,400 m) to the viewpoint at 5,030 m, and 1.5 hours down. The whole day from Cusco takes about 13 hours.
It is moderate: the path is gradual, but the altitude makes every step slow. Spend at least two days in Cusco first. Horses can be rented for most of the climb.
Hotel pickup, transport, breakfast, buffet lunch, the Rainbow Mountain entrance, a certified guide, poles, first aid and oxygen. Not included: the Red Valley entrance (about S/10), horses and tips.
The dry season, April to October, for clear skies and bright colours. From December to March, snow or cloud can cover the stripes. Read our Rainbow Mountain guide.
Yes. Online booking stays open until 11:00 PM the night before (5 hours before the 4:00 AM pickup).
Vinicunca is the famous one, with a longer and higher hike. Palcoyo has three coloured mountains, a shorter walk and far fewer visitors. Compare them in Palcoyo or Vinicunca.
