Rainbow Mountain 1 Day Full Tour

Day 1: Cusco – Checacupe – Pitumarca- Pampachiri – mountain of seven colors- Cusco

Early, at 03:40 am you will be picked up from your hotel in Cusco, to make our beautiful trip to the Qollasuyo, located on the southern part of the ancient capital of the Inkas (Cusco), which was an important part of the Tawantinsuyo ( 4 ancient regions of the Incas) the trip will be 3 hours, our first stop will be in the beautiful village of Pitumarka where we will have a short break to buy water or energy drinks, snack, cereals, etc. After the break we will arrive to Pampachiri, a perfect place to enjoy our breakfast and after a brief talk, start our trek towards the mountain vinicunca or mountain of seven colors.

We will start with our walk at the foot of the Ausangate, an approximately 3 hour climb, during this trip we will have the opportunity to see the different varieties of South American camelids and the beautiful reflection of the landscape is impressive.

When we get to the mountain of colors we will have enough time to take pictures of this enigmatic and amazing place, later we will return with our 3 hour descent walk and with some flat parts until we reach Pampachiri, where we will take our transport to go to Pitumarca and enjoy of our delicious lunch. Upon return we will make a stop to visit the beautiful colonial bridge of Checacupe. Finally between 18:00 hours we will be in the imperial city, where we will leave you at your hotel.

A little more info about Montaña de Colores. For curious people.

Montaña de Colores is the fifth highest mountain in Peru, with 6,384 meters high. At the moment it is called the Ausangate mountain, but throughout the time it has received several names like “The Roof of the Inca Capital” or “Vinicunca” which means Hill of Colors.

Mountain of colors or Ausangate, is considered the most important mountain of the Andean cosmovision.

When to plan your visit to mountain of colors?

Of the days that you are going to be in Cuzco, the ideal is that you plan your visit to mountain of colors, the last days, since your body will have accustomed itself to the evil of height. Mountain of colors is in the 5009 meters of height, being its highest point 6384metros.

The interior day tries not to plan any strong excursion or many hours, since they pick you up at the hotel around 4:30 and it is a strong route. You will be back at 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

At what time of the year is it better to visit mountain of colors?

I visited it in August, dry season and it is one of the best times to visit it. You see the colors super well. You have to try to avoid days in which it has rained or times in which a snowfall has fallen.

Clothing for Rainbow Mountains.

• Small backpack. Take just enough in the backpack to not carry much weight.
• Rain jacket if you have rain forecast. But if there is rain forecast, hire the excursion for another day.
• Bottle of water and a snack I had 2 energetic bars, some choco cookies and some bananas.
• Wool hat or cap. This is important. At this point the sun hits hard even though the breeze that you feel is cool. It is important to protect yourself from the sun. I wore a wool cap because up there it is quite airy. If you doubt between wool cap or hat, better wool cap, really at the top makes cool.
• Sunscreen.
• Sunglasses.
• Comfortable clothes for walking and something warm. Mountain pants or tracksuit, short t-shirt, sweater. Windbreaker jacket.
• Good footwear, ideal trekking or sports shoes with good sole.
• Sunblock you can put it early morning.