Itinerary

1. Transfer from Cusco - Vinicunca (Rainbow mountain)

   • Depart Cusco hotel at around 3:30 am,  for a 3-hour drive to the trailhead at Ccayrabiry (4,500 m / 14,763 ft) in our spacious van that will allow you to sleep in a bit until we reach the head trail.

   • Trek along the meandering path of a beautiful stream. As dawn continues to break around us, the surrounding herds of Alpacas and Llamas will be waking too, and our paths will often cross as we continue our hike. The distant majesty of Ausangate Mountain will be our backdrop as we leave the stream to wander through the rustic villages that make up the remote communities of this area. You may even want to practice your Quechua with the local residents who will be going about their daily business! Our early start means we are not rushing, and so we will have plenty of opportunities to stop for rest or snacks to keep our energy levels up.

2. Cover the trail to the Rainbow Mountain

   • Back on the trail, encounter even more of the traditional elements of this trail. The area is home to many Fincas (farms), and we will pass by fields of potatoes and other vegetables which are the lifeblood of the farming community. We will also see some unique fauna, perhaps Chinchillas or even Vicunas. Vicunas are the only non-domesticated animal of the llama family found in Peru, so make sure you have your cameras ready. If that wasn’t enough, the vibrant colours of the red mountains around us are also a highlight of this portion of the hike.

   • After hiking for around 2 hours, finally reach our destination, the magnificent Rainbow Mountains (5,020 m / 16,466 ft). No photoshop or Instagram filters here, this awesome display of colour is 100% natural, and completely breathtaking. 

   • Take our time at the summit so that you can take pictures, explore the area or take in the spectacular views.

   • Go for a short 20-minute walk into the Red Valley itself, a tranquil and beautiful hike amongst the crimson rocks that leads us to a spectacular view across the valley.

3. Head back to Cusco

   • Your guide will let you know when it is time to return, and we hike downhill the way we came. In a sense, though this is almost a different hike, we will take in as much of the views behind us as we began our ascent. The hike down will take around 2 hours, and our chef will be waiting for us with an incredible lunch when we return.

   • Embark on a 3-hour drive back to Cusco. We will drop you off at your Cusco hotel at around 7 pm, no doubt exhausted but with incredible memories of a unique day.