Rainbow Mountain Tour

1. 03:00am - 03:30am

   Hotel/hostels pickups for transport towards Rainbow Mountain

2. 03:30am – 05:00am

   Departure from Cusco city takes approximately 1.5 hours to get to Cusipata

3. 05:00am – 06:00am

   Arrival and Breakfast in the district of Cusipata

4. 06:00am – 07:15am

   Start the uphill trek to Rainbow Mountain

5. 09:00am – 09:30am

   Arrival to the Rainbow Mountain. Spend some time at the top of the mountain taking in the view of the beautiful surrounding scenery

6. 09:30am – 10:00am

   OPTIONAL – Visit the Red Valley (does not include entrance)

7. 10:00am – 11:30am

   Return to the starting point where transportation awaits us

8. 11:30am – 12:30pm

   Return in transport to Cusipata district

9. 12:30pm – 1:30pm

   Stop at a lovely, local restaurant for delicious buffet lunch before hitting the road back to Cusco

10. 1:30pm – 3:00pm

    Takes about 1.5 hours to get back to Plaza Regocijo in Cusco 2 blocks from Plaza de Armas

YOUR ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME EXPERIENCE AWAITS

• Passport
• Comfortable trainers/shoes for walking in
• Water
• Small backpack
• Waterproof jacket or rain poncho

• It is recommended to not take part in the Rainbow Mountain trek if over 60 years of age or in poor physical conditions. Due to the high altitude and steep climbing, it can be dangerous for your health. Other tour operators won’t tell you this, so be very careful.
• The tour operates as normal during December, January, and February, however occasionally visibility may be limited due to the changeable weather.
• Minimum age: 10 years old – must have parents’ permission

Rainbow Mountain Travels try to be as flexible as possible when it comes to changes or cancellations

CHANGES ARE FREE:Any changes to the tour date need to be done before 6:00 pm the day before the tour begins

NO SHOWS OR CANCELLATIONS:If you cancel the day prior to the tour before 6:00 pm Lima time or earlier, a 20% administration fee (+ the card fee) will apply. After this time, you are considered a no-show and there are no refunds as unfortunately its too late for us to sell your seat on the bus.

WARNING – Informal Cusco Operators: When being picked up, check with the guide to ensure your name is on their list. Many local companies go to hostels and try to persuade you to go on their tour even though you have booked with Rainbow Mountain Travels, and then charge you later in the day. Rainbow Mountain Travels is the best rated company for a reason!

Should I book the Rainbow Mountain tour in advance?

Yes! Rainbow Mountain Travels’ excellent reputation has meant that we many travelers book with us. However, we do try to keep groups small, so to ensure your seat on the day you want to travel, it is recommended to book in advance.

Is the Rainbow Mountain trek difficult?

The Rainbow Mountain trek is moderately difficult, mainly because of the high altitude, which can make the hike more challenging. The trail itself isn’t overly steep, but acclimatization and a basic level of fitness are essential for a comfortable experience.

I have not yet booked my accommodation… what pick up location should I select when booking my tour?

For now, select Pariwana Hostel, and then when you finally know where you are staying, email us 24hrs before your tour starts and we can get it updated on our system.

I cannot find my accommodation listed in the operator pick up locations when making my booking. What should I do?

Rainbow Mountain Travels pick you up from the hotel and hostel accommodation listed at the time of booking. This covers over 90% of the accommodation providers in the area. If you are staying somewhere that is not listed, or an Airbnb for example, look on google maps and try to see a hotel/hostel close to you and then see if that’s on our list. If you are still not sure, then drop us an email and we can recommend what pickup location you choose.

Can I rent a horse during this trek?

Yes, you can rent a horse for 90 soles approx for approximately 3 hours, but there are some parts that you will need to walk (approx. 20 to 40 minutes). If you want to hire a horse, you will need to inform the guide at the beginning of the tour and it is subject to availability. It is not possible to reserve a horse in advance, it must be done the day of the tour.

Will I have problems with altitude sickness on this tour?

Not everyone gets sick in high altitudes, and it is difficult to predict who is likely to be badly affected by it. For most people, it is nothing more than a headache and a dizzy sensation that diminishes in 1 to 2 days after arriving to Cusco.

If you want to limit your chances of getting altitude sicknes, there are a few things you can do. Firstly, do not fly directly into high altitude – proceed slowly, allowing your body time to acclimatize as you ascend gradually. However, for many that is not possible, so it’s important to drink lots of water, and to slow down! This sounds simple, but both of these things are very important. Your body is struggling because you don’t have enough oxygen, so avoiding any strenuous activity is a good idea. Chew some coca leaves – the local communities have been chewing coca for centuries, thanks to its ability to alleviate mild altitude sickness symptoms. Coca leaves can be bought in any supermarket, and even souvenir shops or street stalls. Take altitude sickness pills (Soroche) which are sold over the counter all over Peru and are just a few dollars.