How to Get to Rainbow Mountain in Peru!
I originally visited Rainbow Mountain back in February 2016….WAY before it became truly “Instagram-famous.” I was absolutely compelled to see it before I left Peru: no matter what. A random photo I’d seen on Instagram turned into an obsession. It was the first time that social media had actually inspired a trip for me. I had to know: how to get to Rainbow Mountain in Peru?! In this post, I’ll take you inside the journey to Rainbow Mountain ~ giving you my best tips for enjoying this very difficult hike!
No place has ever reminded me more of Dr. Seuss’ classic book, “Oh, The Places You’ll Go!” than Rainbow Mountain…
Author’s Note: Since I’ve written this article, they’ve created easier treks to Rainbow Mountain ~ where you might hike for 30 minutes, vs. the 17 miles that we hiked! Ask local guides about different options.
Map of Rainbow Mountain
Rainbow Mountain (also known as “Vinicunca”) is located near Mount Ausangate, about three hours east of Cusco ~ on winding mountain roads.
Rainbow Mountain
Cusco
Rainbow Mountain Hike Info
- Location: Three hours east of Cusco by car, by Ausangate Mountain, in the greater Andes.
- Starting Altitude: 4,450 meters (14,600 feet)
- Ending Altitude: 5,035 meters (16,520 feet)
- Elevation Gain: 1,500 meters (2,000 feet)
- Tour Start Time (for the longer tour): 2:15AM-4PM (or 7PM)
- Tour Cost: $20-150+ US (based on tour size & amenities)
- Best Season to Visit: Dry season (May-September); or shoulder season (April & October).
- Hike Options: One-day trek (ranging between 12-27 km (7-17 miles), multi-day treks, or the newer & quickest option: which only involves about 30 minutes of actual hiking. When I hiked to Rainbow Mountain, the 17-mile trek was the only option. Make sure to ask tour guides how far you’ll be hiking.
- Which Tour Operator to Use? Here, you’re talking about price vs. quality. Two years ago, we were the ONLY group on the trail. This is no longer the case, as the masses have “discovered” Rainbow Mountain. Your main choice is to book ahead (with operators like Flashpacker Connect, who I used), or wait until you get to Cusco, & choose an operator there. Booking ahead costs around $150 ~ but you’ll have a smaller group, an English-speaking guide, oxygen, & meals. Booking a tour in Cusco can be dramatically cheaper ~ like around 100 soles ($30 US). But you’ll likely be on a bus with 20+ people, & may not have a guide. Decide what works best for you ~ but whichever you choose, make sure you can change the date of your tour! Weather in Peru is notoriously unpredictable, & your guide will know best the night before what the weather will be like. If rainstorms are predicted, hike on a different day.
- How to Make the Hike Easier: Rent a horse for part or ALL of the hike. Or take the newer, easier tour. Also ask your operator if they are bringing oxygen with you on the hike, in case there are any problms. And most important: DON’T do this hike when you first arrive in Peru!!!! You NEED to acclimate to these high altitudes before hiking at this high of an elevation. Spend at least 2-3 days in Cusco, Pisac, or even Machu Picchu BEFORE hiking Rainbow Mountain (which is a higher altitude than all these places).
- Are There Toilets? There are squat toilets set up along the way, near small farming communities. BYO-TP!!
- Where to Stay in Cusco: Stay at a NICE hotel after your hike!!! Trust me on this one. A hot shower, warm bath, sauna ~ or ALL of the above will be heaven after a difficult (& possibly COLD) hike like this. My top choices: Palacio del Inka or the JW Marriott El Convento ~ two of the top luxury hotels in town, with great central locations.
Get Prepared for Rainbow Mountain
Pack a small backpack the night before. If your tour guide gives you specific instructions or items to pack: FOLLOW THEIR INSTRUCTIONS implicitly!!!
They do this hike all the time. They know best.
Here’s what I brought: 2 liters of water, nuts & snacks (breakfast was served on the trail, but we didn’t eat lunch until 6PM ~ I was STARVING), extra layers, warm gloves, an alpaca wool beanie, sunblock, & of course: a camera. I wore leggings, a tank top, fleece, AND a warm, winter jacket.
And I was STILL cold!! But at other times, warm. Be ready for anything.
Warm Winter Jacket
Good Action Camera
Collapsible Walking Sticks
Guidebook
The Drive to Rainbow Mountain…
The six people in our group were picked up around 2:30AM in Cusco, then most of us fell right back asleep in the van. I woke up two hours into the drive: we’d started to climb, & the road was getting more narrow. The first light of morning was coming over the mountains, & the scenery was stunning, with high mountain walls dropping into impossibly steep valleys.
About an hour of dirt roads later, the van stopped next to an empty, green field. There were no houses ~ nothing.
Apparently, this was where our journey began. We climbed out of the van, & our guides started whipping up a hearty, roadside breakfast.
The start of our journey, with Ausangate in the distance, over 20,000 feet tall, covered by clouds.
We ate a quick breakfast, drank some coffee, then quickly packed up. Our guides said we needed to get moving in case the weather turned (which it most definitely did).
And so, we set off.
How to Get to Rainbow Mountain in Peru
For the one-day, 17-mile trek (24-km): we started out by crossing a bridge, then climbing UP & around a waterfall! Things got steep & slippery quickly. And at over 14,000 feet, it felt like someone was pressing down on my chest. I’d been in Cusco for over a month at this point, & was acclimated to the altitude. But the difference between Cusco’s 11,000 feet & our current 14,000 feet was VERY noticeable.
One girl threw up just after climbing the waterfall, not even a mile into the hike (she had just arrived in Cusco two days prior).
Moral of the Story: Get acclimated for at least 2-3 days before climbing Rainbow Mountain!!
After the initial steepness, the hike turns mainly flat for awhile ~ which was a huge relief. The sun was out on this part of our hike, so I took off some layers, thoroughly enjoying the sun, scenery, & alpacas.
How to get to Rainbow Mountain in Peru…?? Just follow the alpacas!
A herd of alpacas in the distance.
A few miles in, it becomes necessary to climb again. It’s pretty steep & rocky, so sturdy shoes are a must. This section lasts much longer than the initial climb. It’s very challenging, & I found it necessary to stop for breaks along the way.
We’re starting to climb a bit here…
The goal you’re trying to reach, way in the distance, is a “V” shape between two mountains. To me, this was the most difficult part of the hike. And the very last bit: the steep, sandy slog leading up to the “V” itself was the absolute hardest.
My legs felt like molasses in the sand, & my lungs were imploding.
Expectation vs. Reality…
BUT – then you’re at the top of Rainbow Mountain!!! I expected to see the most colorful, rainbow striped mountain….just like the original picture that had inspired me.
Instead: I saw nothing but fog.
The weather had changed, & a thick, dense layer of fog had rolled in. To be honest, I didn’t even realize I was standing on Rainbow Mountain. And so we waited. And waited. And it started to get colder & colder. And then it began to hail. In total, we waited over an HOUR ~ & I can’t express how FREEZING I was!!
Make sure you bring LAYERS of clothing to Rainbow Mountain, especially during rainy season.
FINALLY, after an hour of waiting ~ for one, TINY moment: the fog semi-lifted, & I got ONE shot of Rainbow Mountain. ONE!!?!! You can’t see the entire mountain range, but frankly, I was happy to see anything!
For ONE moment, we saw Rainbow Mountain. And then it vanished into the fog again..
And then I was sooo ready to leave!
Bone-cold, I couldn’t wait to get moving. It felt amazing to walk & get some warmth back into my bones. Which we most definitely needed, because then it hailed like HELL on us.
HAIL!!
Are you beginning to get the picture?? This hike is no picnic!
If you aren’t a serious hiker, beware…
Best Tips for Rainbow Mountain:
- Don’t skip the pre-meeting with your tour guide! I almost did, & if so, would’ve missed the tour entirely ~ he changed our start time due to weather. He also gave valuable packing advice. Don’t skip this meeting!
- Don’t hike to Rainbow Mountain during your first few days in Cusco ~ you need to acclimate! Visit Machu Picchu first (8,000 feet), sight-see in Cusco, hike up to Sacsayhuaman…& then decide if you’re ready to visit Rainbow Mountain.
- Bring extra layers, a very warm hat (alpaca wool is sold all over Cusco), & gloves. Be prepared for extremely cold conditions, especially between November-March.
Goodbye…Rainbow Mountain!
Looking back on this hike, I realize that I loved the journey to Rainbow Mountain more than the actual mountain itself. Back in 2016, there were so few people on the hike, & the scenery so majestic: I simply loved the journey. What I didn’t expect was how COLD I’d be, or that I might not get to see the mountain due to fog.
These are all things to consider as you figure out if you’d like to visit Rainbow Mountain or not.
But still, I say: GO. Go sooner rather than later. Because I only see this place becoming more & more popular. I hope it stays beautiful, & that people respect the fragile environment surrounding the mountain, as well as the people & animals who call this area home.
xoxo Noelia
Read Next: Top 5 Best Hotels in Cusco, Peru
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Thank you so much for this thoughtful, well-written article about Rainbow Mountain in Peru! We´ve been trying to decide if we should go or not, and this article really gives us an overview of the whole situation, so we can make the best decision. Really appreciate it! P.S. Did you get a really bad sunburn because of the high altitudes on the hike?
Hi Ingrid! Thanks so much for your comment ~ I love hearing that I’m helping people make better, more informed decisions! And to answer your question, no ~ i luckily did not get a bad sunburn that day! I used sunscreen & wore a hat for most of the hike, so that helped. And it hailed on us at the end, so sun was less an issue than terrible weather! Have fun whatever you decide to do : ) xoxo Noelia
Hey! i like your sites apparel, really found your post very interesting and informative for me and your tips four trip are awesome…..
Thanks for sharing these information with us.
vinicunca peru
Absolutely, Rashmi! I’m glad you found the info useful : ) xoxo Noelia
Thank you so much for this comprehensive article! There is a lot of information about Rainbow Mountain in Peru online, but we have found that much of it isn´t always reliable. Do you think it is worth it to pay for the more expensive tours vs. buying a tour for $30 US in the Plaza de Armas? If you could let us know your thoughts, we would appreciate it!
Great question, Maria! The main thing to consider when choosing tours is, how many people will be in your tour? I personally like smaller tours (rather than a bus full), particularly on difficult hikes. More people means more waiting, & the likelihood that not everyone has the same hiking ability. Also, make sure whichever tour operator you choose will actually be walking with you & have access to oxygen, etc. It’s very high-altitude, & you never know what could happen out there! Good luck, hope that helps : )
Hey Noelle!
Thanks for this well-articulated post… very useful!
Thank you, Jenny! I hope it helps you plan a safe trip to Rainbow Mountain : ) xoxo Noelia
Hola, Cuando planifiqué mi viaje a Cusco, lo primero que quería hacer era conocer MachuPicchu, haciendo un sueño realidad. Sin saber que también en Cusco existía una montaña de Colores y decidí hacer una visita al rainbow mountain que lo encontré en este sitio web: y no fue muy difícil, pero una cosa que hay que considerar es la gran altitud y el poco oxigeno. Es un lugar que te deja sin aliento en todos los sentidos, tanto por el esfuerzo que hay que hacer para llegar allí como por la belleza del mismo. Como si no fuera suficiente con la belleza de los 7 colores se pueden ver 2 picos nevados muy cercanos, casi al alcance de la mano. Realmente visitar la Montaña Vinicunca es una excelente experiencia que todo viajer@ debe de hacer.
Saludos Miguel.
Gracias, Miguel! Yo no comprendo todos, pero comprendo mucho. Hablas ingles? Gracias, Noelia
Thank you for the great post!! I cannot wait to go. I know that travel insurance is recommended, but is it required for this hike and do most operators require it to book and go with them?
Thank you!
Hey Lauren! My operator (Flashpacker Connect) did NOT require travel insurance ~ but it may be different now (I was there 2 years ago). But I was traveling solo at the time, & DEFinitely had travel insurance! In Peru, I was mainly concerned about the high-altitude hikes & ability to be evacuated. World Nomads has always been my choice, because they cover “high-risk” activities & emergency evacuation. Hope that helps…& enjoy the RAINBOW!! xoxo Noelia
This article helped us SO much!! Gives the pros and cons of visiting Rainbow Mountain very well, and very thorough. We did end up visiting, and I think you’re lucky you went when you did – there were SOO many people on the trail! Most tourists. I’m sure it would have felt different being the only tour group up there. But we still thought it was worth it. I guess this is the price we pay for making places so popular on Instagram and such!
I know, right? I suppose i was VERY lucky to travel there when I did, when it was just being discovered. It is indeed a blessing & a curse to make certain places so popular, because we end up loving them to death. I hope that does NOT happen at Rainbow Mountain!! Thanks for writing with your observations : ) xoxo Noelia