Main Info
Overview and Highlights
Grab your hiking boots and let yourself be carried away by the most beautiful geological formation in Cusco: the Mountain of 7 Colors or Apu Winicunca as the locals call it is located in the Peruvian Andes of Cusco, the Mountain of 7 Colors is just three hours from the historic center.
Due to its spectacular beauty and uniqueness, this place is becoming the main tourist attraction that many choose to visit before or after exploring Machu Picchu.
As you can imagine, the mountain is famous for its natural and multi-colored beauty at an astonishing height of 5,200 m above sea level. This rainbow appearance is due to the mineral sediments found throughout the area that give the mountain its colors. It was recently discovered thanks to melting snow, which revealed the hidden gem that many still consider sacred. Since its discovery, Rainbow Mountain has started to gain popularity and has even been included in National Geographic’s list of the “100 Best Places to Visit Before You Die.”
INCLUDED
- Pre-departure briefing at your hotel.
- Pick up from your hotel and transportation to the beginning of the trek.
- Return transportation to your Cusco hotel.
- Breakfast and Lunch (Local restaurant.)
- Emergency oxygen bottle and medical kit.
- 01 Trekking pole
- * (Vegetarian and Free gluten options available)
NOT INCLUDED
- Personals Snacks.
- Tips – Gratuities.
WHAT TO BRING AND ADVICES
- You can acclimate for the altitude in one or two days this will depend on how your body react; you can take some personal medication.
- If you pay the remaining balance, it is advisable to bring cash. You can get some money from the ATM that are located in the centre of the City of Cusco.
- Rain poncho, rain jacket, proper hiking boots.
- Proper warm clothes, at that altitude is quite cold and windy a bandana will be helpful.
- Sun Glasses.
- Sun block. The sun is really strong You will need to protect your head (with a hat) and skin.
- Extra snacks always recommended.
- A bottle of water.
- Travel insurance this from your site, always recommended.
Itinerary
Download BrochureWe will pick you up early from your Cusco hotel around 04am and set out on a drive through the South Valley. The drive to the trailhead (4,326 m / 14,189 ft) is 2 hours long. On the way we will provide you Breakfast in a local restaurant (at the hotel you may not have the option to get breakfast). We then start off on our hike, following a lovely stream. Literally herds of alpacas and llamas will immediately surprise you. We will have consistent views of the Ausangate Mountain. We will hike through villages and interact with the local residents. Back on the trail, we encounter more of the traditional elements of this trek. This includes potato fields and unique fauna. We have the prospect of seeing chinchillas and vicunas. Vicunas are the only non-domesticated animal of the llama family in Peru. Many red mountains are also a highlight of this portion of the hike. After a total hike of approximately 2 hours, we finally reach our destination, what we came to see, the Rainbow Mountains (5,036 m / 16,466 ft). After getting over the shock of their beauty, you will have time to explore the area. You will have time to take pictures and soak in the environment. We will spend approximately 30 minutes at the top. At this point, it is time to go back down. We hike downhill the way we came. The hike will take 1 hour and a half. Our transportation will be waiting for us when we return. We will stop for lunch in the same restaurant before we head to Cusco. We will embark on the 3-hour drive back to Cusco and drop you off at your Cusco hotel. Approximate arrival time is between 5:00 pm.
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
Night: Not included
ACTIVITY LEVEL: moderate to hard.
WALKING DISTANCE: 7 km
WALKING TIME: 3&4 hours
HIKING STARTING POINT: 4630m / 15190 ft
MINIMUM ELEVATION: 4795m/ 15371ft
MAXIMUM ELEVATION: 5036m/16732 ft
