Palccoyo Mountain
1 Day Tour

At Vidal Expeditions, we try to make the booking system as easy as possible for you. Once you decide to do some of our day tours, we will send you a booking form where you need to complete all the required details that we need to book your tickets. We also need a previous deposit of 50% of the price per person. As soon as you pay it, we immediately book a spot for this tour. Once we are done with it, we will send you your invoice and a confirmation form that all the booking processes have been satisfactorily set up.

This Palccoyo Rainbow Mountain is one of the best alternative day tours to the classic, crowded Vinicunka Mountain. Located on the same mountain range, it has the same seven colors formed by the natural sediments of thousands of years. However, this mountain is located at a lower altitude, and not many people visit it, making it a perfect destination for those who want to avoid large groups.

Actually, Cusco has three rainbow mountains; the last one was discovered during the COVID-19 pandemic. These three rainbow mountains are: Vinikunca, the classic and most visited; Palccoyo, which is a great alternative for those who do not like the crowded areas; and Pallay Punchu, which also offers stunning views. If you want a challenging trek with breathtaking views, then the Vinicunka Rainbow Mountain is what you are looking for.

The big difference between Vinicunka and Palccoyo Rainbow Mountain are:

• Altitude: Vinicunka: 5,036 meters, Palccoyo: 4,900 meters
• Landscapes: Vinicunka: Rainbow Mountain & Red Valley. Palccoyo: Three Rainbow mountains & Rock forest
• Difficulty: Vinicunka: Moredate-Challenging. Palccoyo: Easy - Maderate
• Walking time: Vinicunka: 2,30 hours round trip. Palccoyo: 1,50 hours round trip

The elvation of Palccoyo Rainbow Mountain is 4,900 meters (16,076 feet) above sea level

Yes, at the beginning of the hike, you will find some basic cabins that are used as toilets, so we recommend bringing a roll of toilet paper for this tour.

Well, this is not a very challenging hike; it takes around 30 minutes to reach the view point where you can see Palccoyo Rainbow Mountain. Keep in mind that the hike starts at 4,780 meters and the viewpoint is at 4,900 meters, only 120 meters from hiking through a gentle path. However, it is always recommended to have a few days of acclimatization.

No worries; all our trekking team and guides are well prepared to assist in any emergency that can happen during this tour. Altitude sickness is very common at this altitude, and our guides will always carry an oxygen tank in case someone in the group needs it. We also don't rush anyone, so if you take your time to hike slowly and steadily, you will make it.

Actually, it is better to join a guided tour from Cusco; many travel companies offer daily departures for this mountain because there is no local transport that goes to this Palccoyo mountain. The other way is to take a local taxi from different places in Cusco.

Definitely, if you are looking for a wonderful place away from the crowds where you can still see a colored mountain, this Palccoyo Mountain is a great alternative for you.

We usually pick up our customers at 4:00 a.m. from their hotels, and it can vary according to the weather predictions, hotel location, and size of the group.

Definitely, it is always recommended to wear light hiking boots if possible. However, for our traditional day tours, where you do not need to hike for hours, you can go with sneakers. On the Rainbow Mountain and Humantay Lake tours, you need ones with ankle support, which are extra helpful, especially for the inexperienced hiker. Because you will be climbing and going down slippery stairs, some of which could be muddy, uneven, and at varying heights, the extra support helps prevent twisting your ankles.

During our Palccoyo Rainbow Mountain Tour, we include: pick-up, transportation, meals (breakfast and lunch), entrance fees, a tour guide, and walking poles.

The weather in Cusco and parts of the Andes is unpredictable, even if the weather forecast says it’s sunny. We can’t trust it. It is an impossible question for us to answer. Historically, April through September is the dry season; November through February is the rainy season; and March and October are bridge months—a mixture of both. But the clouds have not followed these rules in the last few years. Prepare for sun and rain, no matter when you come. As far as temperatures go, that is consistent throughout the year. Mornings and evenings are always cold. Make sure to bring a fleece jacket for the mornings and a down jacket for the afternoon.