Hike to the Astounding Multi-colored Mountain
Many people talk about the famous Rainbow Mountain of Peru because this is the most visited mountain in Cusco. However, Cusco has other tourist attractions, such as the Palcoyo Rainbow Mountain, the second colored mountain in Cusco. This incredible mountain was recently discovered by the local people. It is a beautiful place located on the southern side of Cusco, with an altitude of over 4,920 meters (16,141 feet) and surrounded by mountains and glaciers. The trek to rich the seven-color mountain is easy compared to the classic rainbow mountain; however, due to the location, it is less visited and has a smaller crowd, making it perfect for people who want to be away from the crowds and enjoy the marvel in the Andes of Cusco.
- Overview
- Itinerary
- Inclusions
- Recommendations
- Faqs
- Pricing
- Enquire Now
This seven-colored mountain of Palccoyo offers an incredible view proper from the Andes, with local people, lamas, and alpacas. Along the route, you will appreciate the countryside of Peru, with picturesque villages where local people have conserved their traditions for many years. The hike on the path is quite easy, going gradually up to reach the view point where you can appreciate the Palccoyo mountain. It takes about 45 minutes with some viewpoints, and basically you can find three colored mountains surrounding this area.
Highlights: Palccoyo MountainHiking distance: 3km/1.8miles (2 hours hike round trip)
Considerations: Acclimatization is required
Season: March to November
Max. Altitude: 4,960masl/16,272ft
Itinerary at a Glance
- Day01
Cusco - Cusipata - Palccoyo Mountain - Cusco
Cusco - Cusipata - Combapata - Palccoyo Rainbow Mountain , Cusco
Highlight of the day: Arriving at the spectacular Palccoyo Mountain and enjoying the amazing views of the surrounding landscape.
Hike to Palccoyo Mountain of Seven Colors
Our representative will pick you up from your hotel early in the morning at 4:00 a.m. with our van and drive you towards Cusipata town for about 2 hours. Here we will stop for breakfast, and our guide will lead us to the restaurant to enjoy our buffet breakfast. Then, we will continue our journey driving for another hour and half going up to the mountains through the narrow road, on this part of the road you’ll will observe the how quick change the landscapes from the valley to the highlands, picturesque village along the way and the first colored mountains will appear little by little, also you will see some Alpacas and lamas’ farm. Once we reach the head of the trail, we will begin our hike for about 45 minutes with a beautiful colored mountain next to us. The path goes gradually up, ascending to the view point. Once you reach the summit at 4,900 meters (16,141 feet), you will have an incredible view of the three rainbow mountains that surround you. You’ll need some time to explore and capture the best photos with not many people around. From here, you will have the option to hike a little bit up for a better view and visit the stone forest with its many shapes. The path goes down to the bus station, where you’ll board the bus and go back to our restaurant to enjoy the lunch. Afterwards, you drive to Cusco and drop off you at your hotel.
Our representative will pick you up from your hotel early in the morning at 4:00 a.m. with our van and drive you towards Cusipata town for about 2 hours. Here we will stop for breakfast, and our guide will lead us to the restaurant to enjoy our buffet breakfast. Then, we will continue our journey driving for another hour and half going up to the mountains through the narrow road, on this part of the road you’ll will observe the how quick change the landscapes from the valley to the highlands, picturesque village along the way and the first colored mountains will appear little by little, also you will see some Alpacas and lamas’ farm. Once we reach the head of the trail, we will begin our hike for about 45 minutes with a beautiful colored mountain next to us. The path goes gradually up, ascending to the view point. Once you reach the summit at 4,900 meters (16,141 feet), you will have an incredible view of the three rainbow mountains that surround you. You’ll need some time to explore and capture the best photos with not many people around. From here, you will have the option to hike a little bit up for a better view and visit the stone forest with its many shapes. The path goes down to the bus station, where you’ll board the bus and go back to our restaurant to enjoy the lunch. Afterwards, you drive to Cusco and drop off you at your hotel.
At Vidal Expeditions, we are transparent and provide specific details of what is included and excluded in our Palccoyo Rainbow Mountain Tour. We know this is very important so that you know exactly what to bring and don’t miss anything. We provide this information to ensure that you have an incredible experience during your tour.
WE INCLUDE
Vidal Expeditions Team Provide
Pre-departure briefing
Once you book the tour with us, you will get a notification about the pre-departure briefing, where you will meet with your adventure guide and the tour group in our office the night before your Palccoyo Mountain tour departure. During this briefing, you will receive important details about the tour.
Professional Cultural Guide
All our tour guides have a great reputation for customer service and have been leading tours in the area for many years. Our tour guides have graduated with a tourism career from the National University San Antonio Abad of Cusco. They have also studied English at a private language institute. Through their patience, responsibility, knowledge, passion for adventure, and pride in having been born in the land of the Incas, we ensure our tour guides provide an excellent experience for you when you explore the Palccoyo Mountain.
Entrance Fees
Once we receive your details and the deposit for your tour, we will purchase all the necessary tickets for you to explore Cusco. They will be for a specific date.
Transportations
Private Transport
We included all the transportation during your tour. We will pick you up from your hotel in Cusco and take you to the beginning of the trail. The bus returning once you are done with the Palccoyo tour to Cusco will drop you off at your hotel.
Equipment
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Walking Sticks
Hiking with trekking poles has its benefits. They protect your knees while you are hiking downhill, especially in remote areas where there are many ups and downs. Trekking poles also help you during the ascent and provide increased stability. Vidal Expeditions will include a pair of trekking poles.
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Medical First Aid Kit
All tour guides at Vidal Expeditions are very well trained in first aid. They received training courses every six months on how to assist someone who is in an emergency situation. Also, they are trained on how to supply balloon oxygen if someone requires it.
Meals
Meals
At Vidal Expeditions, we know food is such an important part of any vacation, and getting the right fuel on an active holiday is crucial. We include one breakfast and one lunch. And of course, we cater to all dietary restrictions. Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and others—just let us know. Our chefs are well-trained to prepare the best food you've ever had with local and organic ingredients.
WE NOT INCLUDED
Water bottle
Every customer needs water during this tour. We will stop in a shop where you can purchase some water bottles and snacks.
Travel Insurance
We recommend buying travel insurance before leaving your country in case something happens during your visit to Peru.
Tips for our team
Tips are not included. Tipping the team is usual on any excursion in Cusco, although we pay good salaries to our entire team, tips are welcome as a token of your appreciation for the team hard work.
At Vidal Expeditions, we focus on making your trip an unforgettable experience, and we want to provide all the details you need to know before leaving your country and starting your life experience in Peru.
What you need to pack? Important- Passport
- Good daypack (the smaller, the better)
- Water storage: Water reservoir like Camelback is encouraged - but enough for at least 2-3 liters.
- Comfortable hiking pant
- Trekking poles
INSIDE YOUR DAYPACKS:
A daypack can be any size for hiking, but we always say the smaller, the better. If it is larger, try to make it as light as possible.
- Rain gear
- Sun hat
- Sunscreen
- Camera
- Water bottle
- Bug spray
- Hand sanitizer
- Toilet paper and small plastic bag for waste
- Extra Money for Souvenirs, Drinks & Tips
- Personal medication or Own first aid kit
- Snacks (Chocolate, energizing bars, caramels, etc.)
PREPARING FOR YOUR DAY TOUR!
Here some frequently asked question about our day tours in CuscoBOOKING SYSTEM
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.
IS VIDAL EXPEDITIONS TEAM CONTACTING US BEFORE FLYING TO PERU?
Yes, our work policy is to be in contact with our customers as long as necessary to inform them of all the details and changes that could occur after they have confirmed the reservation. Please check your email constantly, and if you have any issues, let us know so we can solve them as soon as possible.
WHERE TO STAY IN CUSCO?
Cusco is a big enough city to find different categories of hotels, from 2 stars to 5 stars. There are also Airbnb places where you can stay without any problem. Cusco streets are narrow, especially near the main square, and some streets are pedestrian with some stairs. We will send you a notification for the pick-up if it is not possible to access them with our car and arrange another place to pick you up and drop you off. Also, a night before your tour, you will meet with your tour guide, who will tell you all the details about the tour. If you want some recommendations, please ask the Vidal Expeditions sales team.
ALONG THE TOUR
IS THERE BATHROOM OR PUBLIC TOILETS ALONG THE TOUR?
Yes, our car will stop in some places where you can use the restroom (toilets) also in the restaurants you will find these, if you will need it as emergency just let your tour guide knows to stop in the nearest bathroom.
HOW CHALLENGING IS THE TOUR?
Well, our day tour is not particularly challenging, but our tours of Palccoyo Mountain, Rainbow Mountain, and Humantay Lake are challenging, especially for people who do not have experience hiking or climbing on the mountains. We recommend training with some exercises a few times per week to avoid problems, and it is also recommended to spend a few days in Cusco to acclimatize to the altitude because part of the segments along this tour are located over 3500 m (10859 ft).
WHAT HAPPEN IF I GOT ALTITUDE SICKNESS?
No worries; our guide and team are professionals, and they know how to solve this kind of problem. Your guide will have a first aid kit with some medications for these and an oxygen balloon in case you need it. Also, during our trips to Palccoyo Mountain, Rainbow Mountain, and Humantay Lake, there will be an extra emergency horse to take you to the best place where you can recover. Our team always has radio.
DO YOU NEED HIKING BOOTS?
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.
SHOULD I USE WALKING STICKS?
Yes. Walking sticks are always helpful to trekkers, especially if is raining along the trek. Using walking sticks can help take the pressure off your knees while doing some portion of the trek. Plus they will help you get up the mountain as well.
WHERE DO I STORE MY LUGGAGE?
In case you have extra luggage that you do not need to bring to the trail, all the hotels in Cusco have storage where you can leave your luggage completely free. If you change hotels after the trek, we have storage available in the Vidal Expeditions office. Get more information from our office team.
WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT AS FAR AS WEATHER
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 evenings. Once the sun is up, you should be comfortable hiking in short sleeves. Long pants (for yoga or hiking) are encouraged to protect against the mosquitoes, which can be a nuisance in some parts of the trail.
From: USD 70.00 per person
USD 65.00: from 4 people to more
Thank you for your interest in having an adventure travel experience in Peru curated by Vidal Expeditions. Please take a moment to complete our short form, so one our friendly Adventure Consultants could provide you all the information for your trip of a lifetime in Peru.
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Palccoyo Rainbow Mountain Tour
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Palccoyo Rainbow Mountain Tour Map
WHAT MAKES US DIFFERENT?
At Vidal Expeditions we offer the best service for all our customers and here is what makes us different than others.
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Small groups: Along our excursion group size is a capped at 8 people. This guarantees that you will enjoy every step of our excursion
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Hotel: During our excursion to Machu Picchu, we offer a 3 stars hotel stay for the last night. This ensures you are well rested and ready to explore Machu Picchu.
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Bus to Machu Picchu: To enjoy Machu Picchu, we provide a round trip ticket on the bus from Aguas Calientes to the main entrance of the archaeological site.
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Local Tour guides: Our team consists of 100% local tour guides, who have expert knowledge in our ancient culture.
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Best Camping Equipment: We have the state-of-the-art camping equipment for our excursion. The equipment is thoroughly cleaned and sanitized before and after every excursion.
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Best Trekking team: At Vidal Expeditions we focus to create the best experience during our excursions. Our team that consists of tour guides, cooks, porters, horse drivers are handpicked. We train our team to offer you the best service. We take care of our team by providing them with good equipment and paying them fairly.
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