The Truth About Visiting Rainbow Mountain

By now, you’ve probably seen countless Instagram pictures of the vibrant, colorfully striped Rainbow Mountain. If you’re like me, you probably found yourself not only blown away by the images but also full of questions. Where is this surreal place? Why does it look like that? How do you get there? Are the colors actually that bright in real life? Eventually, my curiosity got the best of me, and I decided to see for myself. I’ll answer all of those questions and more as I break down what it is really like to visit Rainbow Mountain.

When I arrived in Peru, Instagram pics were the extent of my knowledge about this new mountain attraction. When planning my visit to Machu Picchu, I gave myself a few extra days in Cusco before starting the 5-day trek. The additional days would allow me to explore the city and adjust to the extreme altitude. As I sat in the dining area at my hotel, my first day in Peru, I pulled out my phone and did a quick search for the top things to do in Cusco. Every website I visited listed a day trip to Rainbow Mountain as one of its top-rated offerings. So I booked a tour for the following day.

A Little Background

Known also as Vinicunca, Winikunka, or Montana de Siete Colores, Rainbow Mountain is a relatively new attraction in Peru. Its rise in popularity, however, has been nothing short of meteoric. For centuries, snow and ice kept the uniquely striped mountain hidden away from human eyes. Around 2015, the snow and ice cover melted away, most likely due to global climate change, revealing the mountain’s brilliant colorful striations.

The surreal multi-colored stripes of Rainbow Mountain are caused by its mineralogical composition. Centuries of tectonic shifts and erosion have exposed various sands, clays, minerals, and stones, leaving Rainbow Mountain with beautifully colored striations. All of a sudden, stunning images of the mountain began to explode all over the internet. The Peruvians immediately recognized they had something special. So, in no time, the secret was out, and tourists began to flock to South America’s new “it” attraction.

How To Book Your Visit

Getting to Rainbow Mountain on your own would be extremely difficult, even with your own car. An organized tour is your best option here. You will find plenty of companies offering tours throughout Cusco, or you can easily book online. Different companies offered slight variations of the same trip from Cusco, but they are generally the same itinerary and cost $30-$50 USD. Within a few minutes, I found an availability with a tour on the Get Your Guide website and booked to depart early the next morning.  

A confirmation email promptly arrived and was just as quickly ignored. I noted the 4:30 am departure but wasn’t concerned about getting up early and making the most of my time in Cusco. The tour company picked me up from the front door of my hotel around 4:20 the next morning. From there, all I needed to do was sit back and enjoy a leisurely ride through the scenic Peruvian countryside. I figured this would be a nice way to spend my first full day in Peru. Weather permitting, I assumed the day would be easy, and I would get to snap one of those fantastic Instagram photos for myself. Man, was I wrong!  

While, in the end, the day ended up being a success, it could easily have turned into an absolute disaster. Not reading through the information in the confirmation email was my biggest mistake and entirely my fault. The email included everything I needed to know for the day. So, the blame falls squarely on me and not the tour company at all. If you are considering a visit to Rainbow Mountain, please allow me to pass on a few helpful tips and things to consider before making your final decision. You’ll need to know the details about the drive, the weather, the crowds, the extreme altitude, and whether or not it’s even worth the effort. Like most things on social media, the reality can be a far stretch from the photos. Here is my honest review of taking a day trip to Rainbow Mountain.  

Tour Itinerary

Plan on your tour to Rainbow Mountain taking a full 12-13 hours. That is if everything goes according to plan. The typical itinerary looks like this:

• 4:00 am – Picked up from your hotel and drive for 3 hours.

• Stop for breakfast in Cusipata. (30-45 minutes)

•  Drive another 1 hour to the starting point of the Rainbow Mountain hike. Gather your gear and hike up to the viewpoint. (1-2 hours)

•  Reach the summit of Rainbow Mountain Viewpoint. Spend 10-20 minutes at the viewpoint.  

• Begin descent down the mountain and back to the van. (1 hr)

• Drive 2 hours, stop for lunch.

•  Drive 3 hours back to Cusco for drop offs. 

• 4:00-5:00 pm – Arrive back at your hotel.

Getting There

As I mentioned earlier, I did virtually zero research into this outing, and the first thing that caught me by surprise was the drive. Yes, it was longer than I had expected it to be, but it was also insanely dangerous! The first few hours, I stared out the window, marveling at the Peruvian Andes’ gorgeous scenery.  

After breakfast, as we started got closer to Rainbow Mountain and really started gaining elevation, the muddy roads were precarious, at best. As I mentioned earlier, this relatively new attraction has exploded in popularity. The adequate infrastructure needed to support current levels of (over)tourism isn’t yet in place. The packed sprinter van, carrying the driver, our guide, and 11 other guests, groaned its way up a wet, muddy mountain road, barely wider than the van itself. At one point, I pressed my face against the window and looked straight down, hoping to see a few spare feet of room between the front tire and the edge of the road. No such luck. Instead, all I saw was a several-hundred-foot drop to the valley floor. I took a deep breath and gave myself a quick mental pep-talk. 

“We’re fine. I bet the driver does this every day. There’s nothing you can do about it now anyway, so just relax and enjoy the adventure!”   

Luckily, though, we bumped, slid, and slipped to our destination safely and almost without incident. On the way to the mountain, a vehicle ahead of us became stuck in the mud, causing a 30-minute delay. Eventually, the driver found an alternate route, and we continued on our way. Aside from that, we had no real trouble to speak of. 

What is worth speaking about, though, is the fantastic views during the drive. Once you get outside of Cusco, the remainder of the drive is through the lush Peruvian countryside. You pass through rural farmland and villages as you weave your way past rivers and through the mountains and valleys. In November, when much of the vegetation had turned and died for the season, the scenery was still stunning. Other than the one vehicle stuck in the mud, the only traffic we encountered was a small herd of alpaca that strolled past our van, seemingly without a care in the world.  

The Altitude Is Extreme

 Hands down, the most crucial piece of information I skipped over in the confirmation email was the altitude of Rainbow Mountain. When you finally reach the viewpoint’s summit, you find yourself standing at over 17,000ft (5,200m) above sea level! This is some serious altitude, especially if your body has little or no experience at such high elevation. Less than 24 hours earlier, I set off for Peru from an elevation of only 1,050 ft above sea level.  

This decision was neither smart nor safe, as high altitudes can have effects on the body ranging from uncomfortable to fatal. Luckily, I have spent a fair amount of time at high elevations during ski trips and other mountain hikes. I first experienced elevations greater than the 17,000ft at Rainbow Mountain during my 12-day trek to Everest Base Camp in Nepal. I climbed to 18,000 feet during that trip, which helped prepare me for what to expect at extreme altitudes. My prior experiences helped mitigate the potential consequences of my ignorance. I could have easily ended up getting very sick and ruining my entire trip. Don’t make this mistake when you visit Rainbow mountain.  

Simple tips to help prevent altitude sickness.

The Hike To The Viewpoint

The hike is very manageable, but be honest with yourself about any physical limitations you may have. The extreme altitude makes a normally simple hike a far more difficult undertaking.  

The trek up to the viewpoint typically takes 1-2 hours, depending on your fitness level and experience with altitude. The trail starts mostly flat and eases steadily more of an incline after the halfway point. The trek is only steep for the last 200-300 yards. Overall it is not a particularly difficult hike. However, the altitude, potentially inclement weather, and the final 300-yard push to the top can be quite strenuous if you arrive unprepared.   

If you arrive at the mountain and don’t feel you have the strength to make it on your own, there is another option. Independent of the tour operators, there is an option to ride a horse up the trail. Locals looking to make some cash of the recent tourism boom stand by with horses ready to carry you most of the way. The horses won’t bring you to the very top, but they can get you up to the final 300-yard stretch for a fee. One girl in our group took advantage of this option and paid 80 PEN (~$20) for the ride. 

Once you make it to the top, you spend roughly 20 minutes admiring the views and getting as many pictures as you can. Again, the dangers posed by extreme altitudes mean your time at the summit is strictly limited. 

Should You Opt For The Horseback Ride Up The Mountain?

I am always a proponent of helping out the local population in the places I visit. However, I am also typically a little weary about animals getting involved in mass tourism. If you think you need a horse to carry you up the hill, ensure that the animal appears healthy and not over-worked. I’m not going to discourage anyone from attempting the journey. If you know in advance that you might need to be carried up the trail on horseback, though, you may want to consider whether or not this excursion is right for you.

The Weather Is Unpredictable 

The weather at high altitudes in any mountainous region is always unpredictable. Rainbow Mountain and the Peruvian Andes are no different. Be sure you come prepared for any possible conditions.

During most of the 4-hour drive to the mountain, I experienced clear, sunny skies and warm temperatures. As soon as we pulled into the parking lot at the mountain’s base, clouds rolled in, and the sun disappeared. Before I could get my jacket out of my pack, it started snowing! The snowfall lasted about 30 minutes, then the clouds parted, and the sun shined once again. 

As I neared the summit, more clouds were approaching from the distance. I snapped a few pics while I could, then made the final push to the top. Just after reaching the summit and pausing to take it all in, high winds rushed in, bringing heavy grey clouds with them. Within seconds, the stunning views vanished. Visibility dropped to about 30 feet, and the temperature dropped substantially.  

I crouched down behind a small boulder with two friendly German girls from my group. We huddled together, attempting to shield ourselves from the wind as best we could. It was cold and wet, and we were trapped! Any attempt at a descent was too dangerous due to the lack of visibility and high wind speeds. We had no choice but to bear down, wait it out, and hope the storm passed quickly. After 20 minutes of punishment, the winds eased slightly, and our guide finally located us.

He helped us make our escape as we scrambled down the hill as quickly as we could. Half-frozen and deprived of precious oxygen, we were more than willing to take the risk and lose some altitude as quickly as possible. After we made it down the steep 300-yard section near the mountain’s peak, we were finally below the thick clouds and heavy winds, making the descent much more enjoyable. By the halfway mark, the storm had passed. We all relaxed and could enjoy the incredible views again!

What To Bring

When visiting a place with such unpredictable weather, it’s always crucial to pack appropriately for all possibilities. Be sure to bring a day pack and dress in layers. When visiting Rainbow Mountain, you might experience all four seasons over the course of a single afternoon. So, regardless of the weather forecast, a jacket, gloves, warm hat, and rain gear are all items you’ll be glad to have if the weather turns on you. 

 The high-altitude hike can be strenuous, so please be sure to pack plenty of water. Staying hydrated not only keeps your muscles feeling strong during the hike, but it’s also critical in fighting against the effects of altitude on the body. Drink up!

Don’t forget to bring your camera gear for some breathtaking photos!

The Views Are Stunning 

The views along the drive from Cusco to Rainbow Mountain are phenomenal. They get even better once you actually arrive. Rainbow Mountain is not a stand-alone site in the middle of nowhere. The entire valley and surrounding mountains are absolutely gorgeous. The unique coloration isn’t limited to just a single peak either. When you find yourself pausing for a rest along the hike, or once you reach the summit, you can look around in all directions and be blown away by the scenery. Possibly the wind, too!

What The Colors Are Really Like  

The short answer is no. It doesn’t. However, it is still stunning and an unbelievable sight to see. The weather, time of day, and resulting light during your visit will significantly impact how the colors appear, especially in your photographs. To give you an idea of my experience, though, I’m going to show you what Vinicunca truly looks like. Use the slider on the picture below to see what Rainbow Mountain looks like with and without digital editing.  

*I think the “before” picture may be slightly misleading as well. With heavy clouds rolling in, the lighting was poor, so the picture’s colors actually look a little more flat than they are in real life.

Taking Pictures With A Llama

Among the thousands of social media pics of Rainbow Mountain, you’ve undoubtedly seen some with a happy visitor posing with a llama. Maybe that llama is even wearing sunglasses! How do they do it?!

As a source of income, locals have taken advantage of the recent boom in tourism. They will hike up the mountain with a few of their llamas and sit there all day. One after another, tourists will hand over a few Sols to get the perfect Instagram pic.  

Again, I’m always a little hesitant when it comes to exploiting animals for tourism. I passed on this one. However, taking pictures with the llamas is an easy way to help the locals by pumping extra cash into their economy. So, no judgments here. Just know what to expect and make the decision that feels right for you. If you want that snap the pic that’s sure to break your “likes” record, bring some cash in the local currency. These sweet Peruvian entrepreneurs don’t take credit cards at 17,000ft!

The Immense Crowds 

Even though Rainbow Mountain has only been drawing visitors since 2015, expect a large crowd during your visit. Thanks to social media, this new attraction is drawing in hoards of tourists every year. Tour operators have two options as to where to begin your hike. There are now starting points on either side of the mountain. This helps disperse some of the crowd during your trek up the mountain. Once you get to the climb’s final steep section, though, visitors from both sides converge, and traffic jams form.

A small number of tour operators are starting to offer tours that depart between 2:30-3:30 am to avoid peak crowds. If you want a nice, clean photograph of only you and the stunning Rainbow Mountain, this might be an option worth exploring.

It’s Worth it

Absolutely! Well, for me, it was, anyway. Despite the early start, dangerous drive, and extreme weather, it was an incredible day overall. 

 The drive through the Peruvian countryside gave me a glimpse into the local people’s lives that I otherwise would have never seen.

The challenge of hiking up to the viewpoint in the sun, snow, and gusts of freezing winds only added to the experience. Once you’re at the top, Rainbow Mountain and surrounding areas reward you with 360 degrees of jaw-dropping views. I will hold on to memories of the postcard-worthy scenery forever. 

An Alternative To Rainbow Mountain

Not convinced that Rainbow Mountain is the right choice for you? Don’t worry. You have another option. Palccoyo, another colorfully striped mountain, is a fantastic alternative option for several reasons. 

 It is accessible on a day trip from Cusco.

At 16,076 feet (4,900m) above sea level, it rests at a significantly lower altitude than Rainbow Mountain. 

The walking distance is half that of the Rainbow Mountain hike and is relatively flat throughout.

What are you waiting for? Start planning your trip now!