OVERVIEW
RAINBOW MOUNTAIN + RED VALLEY
To visit the Rainbow Mountain and Red Valley we will pass at 4:00 am by your hotel to board our tourist transport and go south of the city of Cusco to Quiquijana, where we will taste a delicious buffet breakfast in our LA MONTANA restaurant.
After breakfast, we will continue our tour for a few more minutes and we will take a detour that takes us to the Chillihuani community and the checkpoint. After a few more minutes in the transport, we will arrive at Phulawasipata (vehicle parking), from where we will start our excursion. Here you will have the option of renting horses to go up the mountain.
Before starting the walk, our guide will give us some recommendations to start our adventure to La Montaña de Colores. On the way, we will have the opportunity to observe magical landscapes, flora, and fauna such as llamas alpacas, vizcachas vicuñas, and even condors.
Our great walk will be approximately 2 hours to the Rainbow Mountain or Mountain of 7 Colors, located at 5,082 m.a.s.l. approximately. From the highest part of the mountain, we will enjoy a panoramic view of the Vinicunca mountain with its resplendent colors. We will also have the opportunity to see the Ausangate mountain (the fifth highest mountain in Peru, whose maximum altitude is 6372 meters above sea level). If you choose the option to visit the red valley, we will tour through the beautiful red mountains.
RETURN TRIP THROUGH THE RED VALLEY
After appreciating the mountain of 7 colors or Vinicunca, we will start the walk to the Red Valley for approximately 20 or 30 minutes. We will arrive at the Red Valley viewpoint located at 5,038 meters above sea level. where we will have between 10 to 15 minutes to enjoy this beautiful landscape and appreciate the presence of vicuñas (a wild camelid that produces one of the best animal fibers and is a symbol of the Peruvian animal kingdom).
After the visit to the red valley, we will return walking to the parking lot, where our driver will wait for us (the same transport that will take us to the mountain will return us to the city of Cusco).
After approximately 1 hour 30 minutes we will arrive at the restaurant in Quiquijana where we will taste a delicious buffet lunch. We will get on our transport and return to the city of Cusco, end of the service.
Our guide will give you reasonable time in the right places so that you can take the best possible photos and take home a good memory of the place.
Maximum altitude: 5,038 meters / 16,528.87 feet
Minimum Altitude: 3,310 meters / 10,859.58 feet
Duration of the walk: 3:30 hours
Hiking distance: 5 km / 3.10686 miles
Difficulty: moderate / difficult
Climate: Cold – rain
ITINERARY
TOUR ITINERARY TO THE RAINBOW MOUNTAIN
CUSCO – CUSIPATA – RAINBOW MOUNTAIN VINICUNCA – RED VALLEY – CUSCO
- 4:00 a.m. At 5:00 I pick them up from their respective hotels in the tourist transport.
- We head south of Cusco until we reach Quiquijana, the place of breakfast.
- Arrive in the town of Quiquijana, where we will taste the delicious buffet breakfast in our restaurant “LA MONTANA”.
- After breakfast, we will continue our tour for a few more minutes and take a detour to the left; Thus passing the community of Chillihuani, the control point and after a few more minutes in the transport we will arrive at Phulawasipata (vehicle parking) for approximately 1 hour, the place from where we will start our walk.
- Beginning of the walk to the Vinicunca mountain (5,082 m.a.s.l.), before starting the walk, our guide will give us some necessary instructions to enjoy this tour.
- We will observe the snow-capped mountains of Salkantay, Ausangate (the fifth highest mountain in Peru, its maximum altitude is 6372 m.a.s.l.), the snow-capped mountain, and the Surini lagoon.
- Arrival at the mountain of colors, in the highest part of the mountain we will enjoy a panoramic view of Vinicunca or a Rainbow Mountain.
- Continuing with the tour, we will start the walk to the Red Valley for 20 or 30 minutes to reach the Red Valley viewpoint located at 5,038 m.a.s.l. (optional).
- Then we will return walking to the car park, where our driver will wait for us.
- Return in our tourist transport to Quiquijana.
- Arrive in Quiquijana where we will taste our delicious buffet lunch in our restaurant “LA MONTANA”.
- Finally, after lunch, we return to the city of Cusco.
- 6:00 pm. approximately arrival in the city of Cusco.
- Finally, end of service.
INCLUDED
WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE RAINBOW MOUNTAIN AND RED VALLEY TOUR
IT INCLUDES
- Biosafety protocols.
- Round trip tourist transport.
- Pick up from your hotel.
- Buffet breakfast and lunch.
- Professional guide in English, Spanish, and others.
- Trekking poles and blankets.
- Oxygen.
- First aid box.
- Assistance throughout the tour.
- Groups maximum 8 passengers per transport.
NOT INCLUDED
NOT INCLUDED IN THE RAINBOW MOUNTAIN AND RED VALLEY TOUR
DOES NOT INCLUDE
- Tickets to the mountain of colors and the red valley.
- Horses.
- Tips.
- Any flight.
- Accommodation.
- Dinner.
- Extra drinks.
RECOMMENDATIONS
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE TRIP TO THE RAINBOW MOUNTAIN VINICUNCA + VALLE ROJO
- Bring Mask and face shield (Mandatory in times of Pandemic).
- A small backpack.
- Thermal clothing for the cold.
- Trekking/walking shoes.
- Rain poncho.
- Hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen.
- Personal medications (if necessary).
- Photographic camera.
- Extra money in soles.
Avoid leaving trash and/or destroying this wonderful place.
USEFUL INFORMATION
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION TO VISIT RAINBOW MOUNTAIN
RAINBOW MOUNTAIN OR VINICUNCA
It attracts a large number of visitors, undoubtedly some for its variety of colors and for being in the Andes at a height of more than 5,000 meters above sea level, for many visitors this place is a great challenge and enjoying the wonderful landscape is even more so.
RED VALLEY
After having completed the observation of the beautiful mountain of colors, we will take the return route through a beautiful Red Valley, where this color predominates most of this path. Therefore, the place is much more interesting since most of the travelers or visitors compare it and have the feeling of walking on the red planet Mars.
Important data
Within the level of hiking, the level of the trek to the mountain of 7 colors is considered at level 2 that demands a moderate-high physical effort, on flat terrain and few slopes.
Levels
1: Simple on flat terrain, without much difficulty.
2: Between flat terrain and few slopes.
3: Few flat land and steeper slopes.
4: Outstanding and rugged terrain.
Maximum altitude: Approximately 5,082 m.a.s.l.
Cold weather.
Walking time: 4 hours approx. (round trip).
Another important fact is, at this point, there is no way to grow food products, due to the cold. However, the community members manage to grow native potatoes (“Solanum Tuberosun”) in areas such as ravines, where the wind does not blow to do this, and it can be said that it is the only domesticated plant in these areas.
PRICE
The price depends on the number of participants, travel dates, accommodation options and other preferences. Please inquire about a personalized price.