Peruways runs day trips from Cusco to Vinicunca — Rainbow Mountain — with a 03:00 start, breakfast at a community kitchen in Cusipata, and a two-hour hike up to the 5,200-metre viewpoint.
The guides are Quechua-speaking locals from the valley communities. Horses are available on the final push. The viewpoint itself is 1.5 km from the trailhead, with the striped ridge of iron, copper and sulphur deposits laid out in the final 20 minutes of the climb.
Visit Peruways to book your Vinicunca day. Acclimatise in Cusco for two days before this one — the altitude will catch anyone who skips that step.
