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Want to do the Rainbow Mountain hike in Peru but not sure what to expect? We are here to help!
Rainbow Mountain, also known as Vinicunca, is located about 3 hours away from Cusco and is one of the most popular day trips in the area.
It offers breathtaking views of the colourful mountain which draws many hikers looking to take on the challenging hike.
LOOKING FOR THE BEST TOUR OF RAINBOW MOUNTAIN?
This tour from Cusco is perfect. The guides are great, it’s amazing value for money and available as a shared trip or private.
With its rugged terrain and steep climbs, it can be difficult for some but with proper preparation and knowledge of what to expect, you will have an enjoyable experience.
This is a pretty recent attraction in Peru since it was only discovered in the early 2010s and started getting momentum as a tourist spot in 2015.
In this article, we tell you everything you need to know about the Rainbow Mountain trek and how to fully prepare for it.
Preparation for the Rainbow Mountain Hike
The first thing you need to know is to plan your day trip and get ready for it. Here is everything you need to do before starting the actual hike.
1. Booking a Rainbow Mountain tour
The best way to do the Rainbow Mountain hike is by booking a day tour online.
There are two tours that we particularly recommend:
- Rainbow Mountain Tour with Meals is available as a shared or private tour and is very good value for money. Prices here.
- Premium Rainbow Mountain and Red Valley Tour. This tour is a bit more expensive than the other but will give you the possibility to go to the Red Valley which is absolutely stunning. Prices here.
Technically speaking, it’s not impossible to go to Rainbow Mountain without a guide but it’s quite complicated and often works out more expensive anyway.
With a tour, you won’t have to worry about a thing and it includes transport, breakfast, lunch and the services of the guide.
It’s also important to mention that the guide will carry oxygen with him at all time and can use it in case of emergency.
READ MORE: 16 Best Rainbow Mountain Tours from Cusco
Should I book a shared or private tour?
This is a question that only you can answer since it really depends on your budget but if you can afford it, booking a private tour is well worth it.
Firstly, you won’t have to pick up other people in Cusco which will save you time and mean that you will start your hike before the crowds.
Therefore, you will also get to the viewpoints before the crowds and enjoy a not-too-busy Vinicunca.
Secondly, you will have more flexibility in your schedule and can include extras such as the Red Valley.
Finally, since you will be spending 6 hours in the minivan, it will be much better if it’s private since it will be more comfortable and give you a real chance to sleep.
2. Acclimatization to high altitude
The second thing to consider is acclimatizing to the high altitude. As Rainbow Mountain is located at 5,200 meters above sea level, it can be very difficult for some people and so you need to make sure you are properly prepared.
The best way to ensure that your body is ready for the hike is by spending a few in Cusco before your hike.
Cusco is nowhere near as high as Rainbow Mountain but it’s still about 3,400 metres high and it can be a bit of a shock to the system for people who are not used to this kind of altitude.
Spending a couple of days in Cusco before heading to Vinicunca will allow your body to get used to the altitude, the lower level of oxygen and make it much easier for you when you start hiking.
It is also important that you drink plenty of water throughout the day and stay hydrated as this will help prevent altitude sickness.
3. Packing essentials
The third thing you will need to do is make sure you have all the essential items for your hike.
Ultimately, you don’t need any specific equipment (or at least nothing you don’t already own) but you need to be dressed properly and according to the weather conditions.
Since the weather can be quite unpredictable in that area and it could change from one moment to another, we recommend using layers of clothing so that you can easily add or remove them depending on the temperature.
A windbreaker / waterproof jacket is also essential as it will protect you from the wind and rain if needed.
It usually isn’t that cold but it can get very windy, especially at the top so you will truly appreciate having the jacket.
We also recommend wearing good, comfortable shoes with thick soles that will provide enough grip and support your feet while walking on rocky terrain.
Finally, don’t forget to bring a hat, sunscreen and sunglasses as protection from the sun. It may not seem like it but you can get pretty bad sunburns up there.
It’s also essential that you carry enough water with you as it’s super important to stay hydrated to avoid altitude sickness.
Finally, bringing some snacks is also a good idea as they will give you more energy and keep you going during your hike.
Rainbow Mountain Hike Information and details
If you’ve opted for a tour, the hike to Rainbow Mountain will be 4km long (2.5 miles) and take around 2 hours (one way).
You will start at the car park where the tour buses stay. Here you will find toilet blocks and various stalls with agua florida, coca leaves and sweets.
As you start going up a bit, you will find the horses within 5 to 10 minutes. If you are not feeling up for the challenge and wish to take a horse, you have to do it then since they won’t be available after that.
A horse to go up costs around 60 soles (one way).
Please note that it won’t go all the way up to the mountain but will drop you before it starts being steep.
In other words, the horses only go on the flat part of the hike but since the flat part represents around 75% of the hike, it will still bring you quite far.
Please make sure you pick a horse that can carry your weight and are respectful with both the horse and its owner.
You may be surprised to discover that for the most part, the hike is pretty much flat.
You go through the valley and can admire the stunning views over the green valley, the glacier, some lakes and the red mountains (on the other side, you can find the Red Valley which is well worth your time!).
You will also see a lot of alpacas along the way.
There are several toilet blocks along the way (every 45 minutes more or less) but they all charge an entrance fee between 1 and 3 soles.
Eventually, you will get to the part where the horses stop and can start the steeper way to the mountain. These are stairs so you might need to stop more often.
It’s harder to catch your breath here since you’re almost at 5,000 metres of altitude and stairs always make it harder to breathe.
You will then get to a first viewpoint at 5,036 metres. This one is great because you are very close to the mountain and can see the minerals very well.
There are also a few stalls around where you can get a tea or a snack.
PHOTO TIP: There is a walking path that goes behind the mountain. It’s mostly flat and will lead you to a statue of a hand where you can get super Instagrammable photos of Rainbow Mountain.
But the best part is not here, it’s at the highest viewpoint, at the top of Vinicunca.
To get there, you’ll need to climb the mountain behind you. There are some stairs but not always and you need to be extra careful as it’s steep and the ground can be muddy here.
Once you get to the top, you will be at a 5,200 metres high and that’s where you can truly enjoy the views over the Rainbow Mountain but also the 360 views over the valley.
It is also the best spot to take beautiful photos!
You can then start making your way back. Be super careful when you go down the mountain since the muddy ground is very slippery.
You will take the exact same Rainbow Mountain walking trail to get back to the carpark but since it’s going down, it will take much less time (around 1 hour).
Bonus: The Red Valley
Most people only go to the Rainbow Mountain viewpoint and head back but this is a bit of a mistake because this area is also home to one of the most beautiful hidden gems in Peru: the Red Valley.
As the name suggests, it’s a valley that is entirely red. It’s huge and absolutely stunning. It’s located on the other side of Rainbow Mountain and you can get there on foot. Here is how to do that.
When you walk back down from the viewpoint, you will see that the path splits into two, the one on the left goes to the Red Valley.
This is a much easier hike since it only takes an hour to get there and it’s mostly flat.
You will need to pay for 2 extra entrances to the local communities but it only works out being 20 soles extra.
Once you pass the second checkpoint, you will uncover the most amazing mirador (viewpoint) over the Red Valley.
It’s absolutely stunning and if you are lucky, you may also see some vicuñas running around.
Besides the fact that this landscape is breathtaking (pun intended), it’s also completely off-the-beaten track and most of the time you will get to enjoy it completely by yourself.
If that’s something you are interested in, make sure to book a tour that includes the Red Valley otherwise you won’t get to go.
FAQs about Rainbow Mountain hike
Here are some answers to the most frequently asked questions about the Rainbow Mountain hike.
How long is the trek to Rainbow Mountain?
The Rainbow Mountain hike is 4km long (one way). It takes about 2 hours to get to the top.
Altogether, you will need around 5 hours to do the Rainbow Mountain trek (8km return).
It highly depends on how well you cope with the altitude. Some people go faster than others but it’s very important that you take a lot of breaks and don’t push yourself too much.
Is Rainbow Mountain easy to hike?
The Rainbow Mountain hike is a pretty challenging hike because it’s at high altitude (up to 5,200 metres).
Most of the hike is actually flat and it’s only the last stretch that is steeper. The hike in itself is that hard compared to some we can find in other places in the world but the altitude is what makes it challenging.
How hard is Rainbow Mountain hike?
The Rainbow Mountain hike is not that difficult in terms of terrain but it’s the altitude that makes this challenging.
You need to pace yourself and take a lot of breaks. It also helps if you stay hydrated (bring a water bottle) and eat snacks for energy during the hike.
We all react differently to the altitude so it’s impossible to say how hard it will be for you personally but you should be prepared for a challenging hike.
At this altitude, there is less oxygen and it gets harder to breathe. You will be out of breath much quicker than usual and since your muscles don’t get the usual amount, it makes it more tiring.
In that having been said, most of the hike is actually flat so it’s definitely something that most people can do.
How much of a climb is Rainbow Mountain?
The Rainbow Mountain trek has a total ascent of around 400 metres from the beginning to the top. It’s very gradual for 80% of the walk and gets much steeper at the end to get to the viewpoint.
Can you hike Rainbow Mountain without a guide?
Technically speaking yes but you will need your own vehicle and have to go to a different car park. The most common car park is only accessible to tours.
Booking a tour is recommended for Rainbow Mountain since it’s a tiring day and the guide will be there to keep you safe (as well as telling you more about the area).
The tours are very affordable and include meals, transport and the service of the guide so it’s a great option.
In that having been said, it is also possible to do the hike by yourself, just make sure to take the necessary precautions and not to push yourself too much.
Can kids do Rainbow Mountain?
Kids are allowed on the Rainbow Mountain trek but you may want to avoid taking children under 10 or who are not used to walking since you may end up having to carry them.
The hike is already hard enough because of the altitude so make sure not to make it even harder for yourself.
We hope this article about the Rainbow Mountain walk has helped you. You will have an amazing, we have no doubt about that! Have fun!
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