Rainbow Mountain — Vinicunca — is a day trip from Cusco for travellers happy to spend a day above 5,000 m. The striped sedimentary layers in red, ochre, green and purple are the main draw.
Peruways runs guided day tours from Cusco with early pick-up, breakfast on the way and a certified guide at the mountain. The hike from the trailhead is 90 minutes to 2 hours each way; horses are available at the start for travellers who’d rather save their legs.
Book through Peruways. Rainbow Mountain’s altitude catches people out — do it after a few days in Cusco, not on day one, and bring layers for the pass. The mountain itself is less than a decade old as a tourist destination (the colours were under glacier until recently) and the trail is now well established.
