Vinicunca, the Rainbow Mountain, is one of Peru’s newer landmarks — the striped ridge was buried under glacial ice until the mid-2010s and only became a day trip from Cusco once the ice retreated.
The colours — red, ochre, turquoise, yellow — come from iron oxide, copper sulphide and sulphur in sedimentary layers tilted up during Andean uplift. At 5,200 metres, the viewpoint is high enough that most visitors feel the altitude; horses are available on the final push.
Day trips from Cusco start around 03:00 for the three-hour drive to the Pitumarca trailhead in Cusipata district. The hike up is 1.5-2 hours each way, moderate grade.
For booking, Peruways runs the day with Quechua-speaking local guides, breakfast and lunch at a community kitchen, horse support and transfers.
Visit Peruways to lock in your Vinicunca day once you’ve got two acclimatisation days in Cusco behind you.
