What to Expect on a Rainbow Mountain Tour
I was inspired to visit Rainbow Mountain, also known as Vinicunca, a year and a half ago when I found its beauty in an Instagram post. I’ve done numerous hikes on my travels but have never seen a multi-colored mountain before. I knew I had to see it in person sooner than later. I finally made this dream a reality during my recent trip to Peru! But, like anything worth having, hiking Vinicunca was not easy! Here’s everything you need to know on what to expect on a Rainbow Mountain tour.
What is Rainbow Mountain?
Located in the Peruvian Andes, Rainbow Mountain is a colorful mountain range near the Ausangate Mountain. The multi-colored beauty sits at 17,060 feet (more than half the height of Mt. Everest). Rainbow Mountain gets its rich colors from sedimentary mineral layers uncovered by erosion. Despite being discovered two years ago, Rainbow Mountain is quickly becoming a must-visit place in South America.
When is the Best Time to Visit?
Peru has a wet and dry season. Ideally, it would be best to visit during the dry season, which takes place from March to November. Specifically, the months of June to September are the recommended time. However, this is winter in Peru, so snow is possible during that time frame. You can expect more sunny days from June to September, but it is also high season, so expect more crowds.
Our Rainbow Mountain hike happened towards the end of our trip to Peru to give our bodies time to acclimate to the high elevations. Days leading up to the hike, I was constantly checking IG for Rainbow Mountain weather updates (at times, it seems more accurate than the weather report). I wanted to view weather conditions in the mountains in real time. There were pictures of people in full-on blizzard attire just 3 days before our planned hike. I was nervous because while I was prepared for a cold hike, I wasn’t ready for a snowy hike! I was conflicted; what’s the point of going to Rainbow Mountain if we weren’t going to see a Rainbow? But on the other hand, I planned my Peru trip for this moment. Fortunately, the day before our hike, weather conditions improved.
How to Get There?
Beyond taking a day trip tour from Cusco, a more adventurous and time-consuming route to Rainbow Mountain includes a 6-day Ausangate trek.
Booking a Rainbow Mountain Tour Online Vs. Booking in Cusco
As a travel planner, nothing brings me more joy than being able to pre-book my excursions in advance, so I don’t have to worry about logistics while on vacation. However, sometimes, as it is with Rainbow Mountain, this isn’t the best option because you can get overcharged. Instead of pre-booking online, I strongly recommend waiting and purchasing at Cusco. You can save up to $100 by booking in person directly. Whether you book online or in person, make sure you have the flexibility to change the tour date at the last minute. As mentioned, the weather on Rainbow Mountain is volatile; one day, it’s clear views, and another day, it could be a snowstorm. We booked our tour in person a day in advance (weather can’t be accurately predicted more than this). After days of snow, I was happy that the Rainbow Mountain would be sunny during our trip. Also, a lot of the snow had already melted on the trail.
Tour hunting in Plaza de Armas
What to look for in a good package?
While in Cusco, Plaza de Armas is where you can inquire about booking a day trip tour. There are a lot of vendors in Plaza de Armas selling a variety of excursions. A friend recently visited Rainbow Mountain, spoke to multiple vendors, and finally settled on one that cost 80 soles (25 USD), which she said was the cheapest she got asking around. We didn’t have the time to shop around for tours, but we serendipitously found Wayna Peru Expeditions. Their Rainbow Mountain day trip was 90 soles ($27) and included the following:
- Minibus with 12 other passengers- The size of the bus is something you should inquire about. The road to Rainbow Mountain is very bumpy and narrow. It’s not the road you want to travel in a big bus.
Hotel pick-up/ drop-off in Plaza de Armas
English-speaking guide
Blankets for the bus
Breakfast & lunch- Lunch may not be included in the cheaper packages
Emergency medical kit
What wasn’t included in the package was the ten soles (3 USD) admission to Rainbow Mountain.
What to pack for Rainbow Mountain?
Packing for Rainbow Mountain is challenging because you can experience all sorts of weather conditions in one day! Here are my recommendations to keep you comfortable during the trek:
- Layered clothing- I’m the friend who is always cold, so I played no games with my layers. On my bottom, I wore Uniqlo’s Heat tech leggings, another pair for extra warmth, and my alpaca wool socks. On top, I wore a Uniqlo Heat tech top, a fleece sweater, and a poncho. During the hike, the temperature got progressively warmer, so I took off a few layers, however once we were on top of mountain it was windy so I put them back on.
- Waterproof jacket or rain jacket- And if all of the above wasn’t enough, I wore my Uniqlo Light-Down jacket. A waterproof jacket is essential if traveling during the wet season (December to February).
- Hat, scarf, and gloves- I intended to bring a hat, blanket scarf, and gloves. However, when we got to Vinicunca, it was much warmer than I expected, so I left my hat and scarf behind (with confirmation from the guide that I would be comfortable with what I had on).
- Athletic shoes- I wore the sneakers I typically wear on my hikes; however, I recommend hiking shoes. It was icy and slippery at the top of the mountain, and my sneakers didn’t provide enough traction to climb to the summit safely.
- Extra clothing- We were advised to bring extra clothing if we got caught in a snowstorm on the mountain. Luckily, we had a beautiful sunny day and didn’t need to change.
Backpack- To hold all of your belongings
Sunglasses- The sun is incredibly bright there.
Sunscreen- We are more prone to sunburn at higher altitudes.
Lip balm with SPF
Snacks- Although meals were included in the tour, packing snacks is always a good idea. There are also locals selling snacks along the trail.
Coca leaves/ Coca candy- chewing coca leaves and/or having a coca candy while you hike can also help mitigate any altitude-related sickness you may feel.
Toilet paper- There are plenty of squat toilets along the route
however, you will need to bring your toilet paper.
Pro-Tip: If you find that you didn’t pack appropriately for Rainbow Mountain and need some essential items but don’t want to buy something you already have at home, renting is an option at some tour companies. Wayna Peru Expeditions offered rentals for winter coats (25 soles and 50 soles safety deposit) and walking sticks for one sole per stick (it’s cheaper to rent here than near Rainbow Mountain #supplyanddemand).
Shop my Peru Packing List here
What is the journey to Rainbow Mountain like?
Our journey to Rainbow Mountain started rough; we were told to be picked up anytime between 3:30-4 am from our hotel lobby. The guide was late, so we left our hotel a little past 4, but we didn’t leave Cusco until after 5 am because our guide was waiting for two guests. The 12 other uncaffeinated, aggravated passengers complained that waiting so long for two people was ridiculous when most were here on time.
Beyond that moment, our journey went smoothly. The ride from Cusco to Rainbow Mountain is about 3.5 hours long. We stopped for breakfast in a town an hour outside of Rainbow Mountain. The last leg of the bus ride was a bit terrifying. The roads were a lot less paved and narrow. I made the “mistake” of looking out the window to soak in the glorious view only to find us on the brink of the edge of a cliff thousands of feet high! I got through that moment with a couple of prayers and deep breaths.
How Long is the Excursion/Hike?
The excursion is practically all day; you typically begin at 3:30 am and arrive back in Cusco around 6:30 pm.
Locals can easily hike Rainbow Mountain in about 1-2 hours. However, it took us beginners about 3-4 hours to arrive at the top and 1-2 hours to get back down. Due to the cold temperatures on top of the mountain, our guide gave us only 30 minutes to enjoy the view and take pictures safely. The time it takes you to hike varies widely based on your hiking ability and adjustment to the Rainbow Mountain altitude.
What is the Trail Like?
The trail begins with a level-footed trek of about 20-40 minutes. During this time, you will see many horses and their owners available to rent up to Rainbow Mountain and back. You should be able to haggle the cost to 90 soles (about 30 USD) roundtrip and 60 soles for one way. I could trek for about an hour before my body said, “Girl, you better get us up on a horse before we collapse.” Ok, maybe that was a bit dramatic, I probably could have made it without the horse, but as the trail started to incline every step I took became harder and harder, and I was feeling more and more winded. I realized I didn’t have to prove anything to anyone, and I happily got on my horse one-way for 40 soles (about 12 USD).
Being on the horse was the greatest decision; instead of worrying about passing out, I could truly live in the moment and enjoy the fantastic views of the significant snow-capped mountains and hundreds of llamas and alpacas. The Ausangate local community is one of the only remaining shepherding communities in the world. The second half of the trek was more difficult because the incline was steeper, and the terrain was messier. The last 30 minutes (the final incline up Rainbow Mountain) is so steep you can’t take a horse up. I took my time going up it as it was slippery from the snow.
Despite being unable to reach the final viewing point because of my sneakers, the views were still mind-blowing! The colors weren’t as vibrant as the heavily filtered pictures on IG, but I still found it magnificent. After our 30 minutes was up, we headed back down. I felt symptoms of altitude sickness going down more so than coming up. I had a terrible headache and felt light-headed. Unfortunately, there weren’t many available horses, so I walked the entire way back. If you think you may need a horse, ask your horse to wait for you to return. Our guide provided me with some floral drops to inhale that offered temporary relief. I’m 100% certain that my symptoms were caused by my not drinking enough water. I took ibuprofen, drank water, and napped on the ride back to the restaurant. I still felt sick and could barely eat lunch, but I forced myself to eat soup and a lot of bread. I slept most of the ride back to Cusco and felt much better.
Overall, my journey to Rainbow Mountain, one of the most fascinating geologic wonders of the world, was well worth all the effort it took to get there.
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