Cusco · RAINBOW MOUNTAIN TOURS

Rainbow Mountain from Cusco: The 15 Best Day Trips

81 tours  ·  from $22 a head

Vinicunca is a long day: a pickup around 4am, a climb to above 5,000 metres and a bumpy road home. These 15 are compared on pickup time, group size, the Red Valley add-on and whether a horse is on hand for the steep part.

Cusco: Rainbow Mountain Tour and Red Valley Hike (Optional) - The Dirt Road and High-Andes Views
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Cusco: Rainbow Mountain Tour and Red Valley Hike (Optional)

1.Rainbow Mountain Tour and Red Valley Hike (Optional)

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 149 reviews · from $29Our pick

Leave Cusco before dawn for Vinicunca, a high-altitude hike to the mountain’s colored slopes, with breakfast, buffet lunch, transport and a Spanish- and English-speaking guide included. The ascent takes about 1.5 hours at your own pace. David, Fredy, Joel, Edgar and Gorky have guided groups here, though your assigned guide may differ. Check current access before booking: visits are temporarily limited.

“The mountain trip was amazing. Despite our initial concerns about the walk being challenging, it turned out to be surprisingly easy and enjoyable. Our guide was great, and the agency provided excellent attention and care.”

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Private Rainbow Mountain Full Day Tour from Cusco - The Climb Begins at Hanchipata-Llama Chimpana
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Private Rainbow Mountain Full Day Tour from Cusco

2.Private Rainbow Mountain Full Day Tour from Cusco

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 129 reviews · 12 hours (approx.) · from $119Top rated

Set out from Cusco before dawn for a private hike to Vinicunca, with breakfast and lunch in Cusipata and a local English- or Spanish-speaking guide. The route climbs for about 1 hour and 45 minutes to the mountain’s high point, with views of Ausangate and South American camelids. You can add the Red Valley area for 30 soles.

“This was a very exciting and well planed out trip! I would highly recommend using their service for rainbow mountain. Thank you so much”

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Cusco: Full-Day Rainbow Mountain & Red Valley Trekking Tour - The climb from Phulawasipata
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Cusco: Full-Day Rainbow Mountain & Red Valley Trekking Tour

3.Full-Day Rainbow Mountain & Red Valley Trekking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 121 reviews · 1 day · from $145

Leave Cusco early for Rainbow Mountain at 5,036 meters, then continue toward the Red Valley, where the red slopes and Ausangate views reward the extra effort. The small-group tour includes transport, breakfast, lunch, oxygen, and an English- or Spanish-speaking guide. Red Valley and Rainbow Mountain entrance fees cost extra.

“Escursione? Sostanzialmente è stato un servizio di transfer. Nessuna spiegazione dalla guida che non ci ha seguiti durante il tragitto. Inoltre, si è persa un turista causando un ora di ritardo a tutto il gruppo. Infine, non è stato dato il tempo per visitare la red valley.”

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From cusco: Rainbow Mountain ATV Tour with meals - The ride from Qosqopata to the mountain
Cusco ATV Tours, Cusco Tours, Rainbow Mountain Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

From cusco: Rainbow Mountain ATV Tour with meals

4.Rainbow Mountain ATV Tour with meals

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 121 reviews · 10 - 12 hours · from $65

Ride an ATV from Qosqopata to Rainbow Mountain on a 10 to 12-hour Cusco day trip. The tour includes hotel pickup, breakfast, lunch in Cusipata, a bilingual guide, and about an hour at the mountain. Guides Angie and Edgar have led recent departures. Bring warm layers, and budget 25 soles for the community entrance fee.

“ABSOLUTAMENTE AMAZING. Highly skilled drivers, ATV in great condition and the director of the day was very professional and informative. Loved the trip, the trip up the mountain via the motor bikes and than the views were stunning. The ride back down and the easy drop off near our accommodations. Will do again simply to see it all over again.”

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Rainbow Mountain & Red Valley Premium Tour with picnic - Vinicunca: a steady climb to the painted hills
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Rainbow Mountain & Red Valley Premium Tour with picnic

5.Rainbow Mountain & Red Valley Premium Tour with picnic

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 102 reviews · 12 hours (approx.) · from $190

Leave Cusco before dawn for Vinicunca, or Rainbow Mountain, with a local guide and a chef-prepared breakfast at the trailhead. Hike for about two hours, then add a 30-minute walk to Red Valley before lunch and the ride back. Transport, meals, water, and admission are included; the group is capped at 15.

“Our guide, Jose, our meals and the staff who helped prep everything — our entire experience was AMAZING. This was the best time we had during our trip. It could not have been better.”

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From Cusco: Rainbow Mountain Trek - From Quesiuno into high country
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From Cusco: Rainbow Mountain Trek

6.Rainbow Mountain Trek

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 98 reviews · 16 hours · from $61

Leave Cusco around 4:00 AM for a small-group trek to Rainbow Mountain at 5,020 meters. Walk past alpacas, llamas, red hills and Ausangate views, with an English- or Spanish-speaking guide. Breakfast and lunch are included; bring warm clothes, and allow time to adjust to the altitude.

“Es war ein guter Ausflug, allerdings habe ich die Beschreibung missverstanden, ich dachten wandert ca.3 h hin un 2 h zurück, es waren aber nur 3h insgesamt zum Wandern. Außerdem hat mir die Information gefehlt, dass man zum red valley auch noch gehen kann für 30 Soles zusätzlich. Hätte gerne mehr Zeit gehabt am Vinicunca und Red Valley. Ansonsten hat aber alles gepasst.”

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Full Day Rainbow Mountain & Red Valley View Point Tour from Cusco - Meals and what your fare covers
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Full Day Rainbow Mountain & Red Valley View Point Tour from Cusco

7.Full Day Rainbow Mountain & Red Valley View Point Tour from Cusco

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 75 reviews · 14 hours (approx.) · from $98

Travel from Cusco by air-conditioned minivan, then hike to Vinicunca and, if you have the stamina, continue for about two extra hours to Red Valley. Breakfast, lunch, a guide, and hotel pickup are included; both entrance fees and hotel drop-off are not. Groups are capped at 15, and the minimum age is 18.

“This was such a cool tour! The sites were amazing and the guides knew all the best spots for photos. Both guides had great personalities that made the tour a lot of fun. We especially had fun with Stephen, since we ended up hiking with him to the red valley. That was worth the extra hike. It was not as crowded as the rainbow mountain hike but still an awesome view. The buffet breakfasts and lunches had good food as well!”

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Rainbow Mountain Full-Day Tour from Cusco + Small Group! - Reaching Vinicunca and Making Time for the View
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Rainbow Mountain Full-Day Tour from Cusco + Small Group!

8.Rainbow Mountain Full-Day Tour from Cusco + Small Group!

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 73 reviews · 13 hours (approx.) · from $116

Leave Cusco at 4 a.m. for Vinicunca, the Rainbow Mountain, with an English- and Spanish-speaking guide and a group of no more than 18. The day includes breakfast in Cusipata, a 3.5-kilometer uphill hike from Phulawasipata, time at the mountain, and lunch on the return. Expect a long drive and demanding altitude.

“Excellent preparation and well delivered tour. As expected very popular and can get tricky physically for some at 5200m above sea level. Breathtaking views - probably the best after Machu Picchu.”

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Rainbow Mountain Tour - At 5,036 meters: color, clouds, and Ausangate
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Rainbow Mountain Tour

9.Rainbow Mountain Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 72 reviews · 1 day (approx.) · from $90

Start before dawn in Cusco and ride to Llactoc, where a guide leads a high-altitude hike to Rainbow Mountain at 5,036 meters. The shared tour includes hotel transfers, breakfast, lunch, and an entrance fee. You can add the Red Valley hike for $7. Guides such as Chino are noted for checking on hikers and helping with photos.

“Chino was the best guide! We had a group of 5 and he was so encouraging and kind. While the initial part of the journey would be totally unremarkable at a lower altitude, we really appreciated the frequent stops and Chino checking in with how we were feeling. He also gave great advice for taking deep breaths and had other tricks to help us deal with the altitude. And once we made it to the top, he was endlessly patient with waiting for the clouds to pass through. And he was the best photographer EVER! I remember seeing many, many tour companies offering this hike, and I am so glad…”

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From Cusco: Mountain of colors and red valley on ATVs - Learning the ATV before riding Red Valley
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From Cusco: Mountain of colors and red valley on ATVs

10.Mountain of colors and red valley on ATVs

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 66 reviews · 11 hours · from $68

Leave Cusco before dawn for an ATV ride through the Red Valley and a walk to Rainbow Mountain, with views of Ausangate and Andean villages along the way. Breakfast and lunch are included, as are transport, a guide, helmet, fuel, and oxygen. Guide names have included Dani, Samuel, Edgar, Beto, and Juan Carlos, though your guide will depend on the departure.

“The guides were amazing, very knowledgeable and helpful in every way. Tougher than anticipated. Make sure you’re acclimated to the elevation before going. Beautiful views and the ATV’s were a lot of fun. Great way to see the valley. Pictures don’t do justice - it’s gorgeous. So worth it.”

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Vinicunca Rainbow Mountain Full-Day Tour from Cusco - Breakfast in Cusipata, then higher ground
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Vinicunca Rainbow Mountain Full-Day Tour from Cusco

11.Vinicunca Rainbow Mountain Full-Day Tour from Cusco

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 66 reviews · 16 hours (approx.) · from $99

Leave Cusco at 4 a.m. for Vinicunca, the Rainbow Mountain, with a local multilingual guide. The day includes breakfast in Cusipata, transport to the trail area, a four-kilometer hike to a viewpoint near 5,000 meters, lunch, and the return drive. The guide sets the pace, but you’ll need good fitness and warm, waterproof clothing.

“This was an incredible experience! The hike is challenging, but totally doable, you just have to take your time - our guide was extremely patient with us, and allowed each person in the group to move at their own pace. She even walked my wife down to the basecamp when she was not feeling well, and then made her way back up to meet us as we were making our descent. Totally worth the trip!”

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PRIVATE Palccoyo Rainbow Mountain tour - The uphill walk at 5,000 meters
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PRIVATE Palccoyo Rainbow Mountain tour

12.PRIVATE Palccoyo Rainbow Mountain tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 65 reviews · 11 hours (approx.) · from $225

Leave Cusco early for Palccoyo, a quieter Rainbow Mountain area with three colorful peaks and views of Ausangate. A private guide and driver, hotel transport, a local-ingredient lunch, and a stop at Checacupe’s colonial bridge are included. The walk takes about 40 to 50 minutes uphill at roughly 5,000 meters. Jenny and Luis have handled one guide-and-driver team, though assignments may vary.

“This mountain area is spectacular. It perhaps should be known as Rainbow Mountain 2 as it is not the one of instagram fame but I believe this experience far surpasses that one from what I’ve heard. This is a an amazing area with terraced mountains, free Alpaca roaming and painted mountains. It surpasses my expectation. I would recommend this trip to anyone if nature is what you’re after and not a tourist nightmare;) Be aware that It is remote and gravel road for a large part of it. A shout out to Jenny our guide and Luis our driver. They were both charming, easygoing and excellent.”

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Cusco 7 days Tour in Machu Picchu, Humantay Lake and Vinicunca - Sacred Valley, then the train to Aguas Calientes
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Cusco 7 days Tour in Machu Picchu, Humantay Lake and Vinicunca

13.Cusco 7 days Tour in Machu Picchu, Humantay Lake and Vinicunca

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 64 reviews · 7 days (approx.) · from $945

Spend seven days based in Cusco, with a night in Aguas Calientes, a guided visit to Machu Picchu, Sacred Valley ruins, Maras and Moray, Humantay Lake and Vinicunca. Expect early starts, high-altitude walks and a mix of group transport and guided visits. Trip accounts name coordinators including Kilma, Andy and Flor, though your assigned team may differ.

“It was such a wonderful experience and I took it to my country. Thank you Magic Experence Peru for making an unforgettable trip 😃😃😃Auto-translated”

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From Cusco: Rainbow Mountain in ATV Quad Bikes + meals - Breakfast in Cusipata, then the ATV changeover
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From Cusco: Rainbow Mountain in ATV Quad Bikes + meals

14.Rainbow Mountain in ATV Quad Bikes + meals

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 60 reviews · 12h 30m · from $77

Travel from Cusco to Pitumarca, then ride an ATV toward Vinicunca, the Rainbow Mountain, and walk the final few minutes to its viewpoint. The 12.5-hour outing includes a bilingual guide, breakfast and lunch; the S/25 mountain ticket costs extra. Guide Raphael has led some departures, but guides may vary.

“La organización, la amabilidad y cortesía del guía, adicional se cumplió con el horario establecido, 100 porciento recomendado”

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Rainbow Mountain Cusco Full Day - Breakfast in Cusipata, then a high-Andean walk
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Rainbow Mountain Cusco Full Day

15.Rainbow Mountain Cusco Full Day

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 57 reviews · 10 hours (approx.) · from $85

Set out from central Cusco around 4 a.m. for Vinicunca, the striped mountain known as Rainbow Mountain. This 10-hour tour includes transport, breakfast and lunch in Cusipata, an English- and Spanish-speaking guide, and entrance. Expect a gradual hike of about two hours. Guides named in past accounts include Johans and Arturo, though your guide may differ.

“Rainbow Mountain is astonishing and the hike is a good training for a hike yo Machupicchu.”

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New in Rainbow Mountain Tours

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