Palcoyo Rainbow Mountain Day Trip from Cusco – Easy Hike
Description
Like the more famous Rainbow Mountain, Palccoyo Rainbows Mountain in Peru is a stunning example of naturally colorful geology, but Rainbows Mountains can be reached with just 30 minutes of walking. Enjoy the mountain's natural beauty, and take plenty of pictures of this Rainbow Mountain alternative, which requires no strenuous activity. Distance: 15-30 min walk Altitude: 16,000ft/4880m Rating: easy Pick up from hotel in Cusco: 5:00 am Drop off at hotel in Cusco: 3 pm Much of this journey is done by Car/Van, as you will travel 3.5 hours from Cusco to reach to the Valley of Rainbows near the town of Palccoyo. This recently discovered group of rainbow-colored mountains is a stunning option away from the crowds. This option is great for those wanting to experience high mountain culture and some remote beauty, without the strenuous hiking. This is also a great option for families with children. we will spend 1-2 hours exploring the area, taking photographs,
Tour Options
Itinerary
We will pick you up very early from your Cusco hotel (5:00am) (time is very flexible) and set out on a beautiful drive through the South Valley. The drive to the trailhead at Palcoyo is about 3.5 hours where we will have a time to enjoy your snacks. After it, we will take a short, gradual uphill walk (20-30 minutes) to the Palcoyo Pass (5000m/16,400ft). Here you will have spectacular panoramic views of three Rainbow Mountain Palcoyo peaks as well as the highest mountain in the Cusco region (Ausangate Glacier). We will spend 1 hour at the pass taking pictures, having a snack, and enjoying the spectacular view & visiting the rocks valley in between. Once we are done enjoying the scenery we walk back down the way we came. We now take our private transport to the village called Checacupe where we will enjoy a break time for drinks around the magic of the willcamayu River shores. After taking some time, we will take our private transport back to your hotel in Cusco (about a 2 hour drive).
Like the more famous Rainbow Mountain, Palccoyo Rainbows Mountain in Peru is a stunning example of naturally colorful geology, but Tres Rainbows can be reached with just 30 minutes of walking (approximately). During this full-day tour from Cusco, enjoy the mountain's natural beauty, and take plenty of pictures of this Rainbow Mountain alternative, which requires no strenuous activity.
Distance: 35 min walk Altitude: 16,000ft/4880m Rating: easy Pick up from hotel in Cusco: 5:00 am Drop off at hotel in Cusco: 3 pm Much of this journey is done by Car/Van, as you will travel 3.5 hours from Cusco to reach to the Valley of Rainbows near the town of Palccoyo. This recently discovered group of rainbow-colored mountains is a stunning option away from the crowds. This option is great for those wanting to experience high mountain culture and some remote beauty, without the strenuous hiking. This is also a great option for families with children. Given good weather, we will spend 1-2 hours exploring the area, taking photographs, and enjoying a snacks and soft drinks. Rainbow Mountain Palcoyo, full day is ideal for anyone hoping to see the famous rainbow colored mountains, but not wanting to take the 6-hour trek. This tour is perfect for families and available for any level of hiker. Enjoy the amazing views of 3 different colored mountains at the same time! Along the way, you will also see many alpacas and llamas which are very common in that part of Peru.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
"What to bring: Weather-appropriate clothing and your passport (required). We recommend comfortable walking shoes and layers for changing mountain weather." You might also want to add: • "Sunscreen and hat recommended for high altitude" • "Small backpack for personal items" • "Camera for stunning photo opportunities"
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- walking sticks are included in the hike in case you need them, let us know in time to separate
- balon of oxigene is provided during the excursion
- first aid box is carried
- requires no strenuous activity.
Reviews(4)
Palcoyo Mountains is part of the Rainbow Mountains it a 3:30 hours drive from Cusco, but it is somewhat easier, marked trails, shorter, less crowded, and lower altitude. Our guide, driver, and hiking guide for this hike was Ricardo. We are still somewhat acclimating to the altitude so we are not the fastest hikers and he was patient with us and matched our slow pace. We didn’t feel rushed at any point during our hike. He kept asking us if we are okay and how we are feeling. He even lent us his walking sticks for each of during the hike and he was our translator when we interact with the locals to get some pictures with Alpacas and Llamas. As our driver going to and from the hike, we felt very safe too and his car is cleaned and well kemp. He arrived in our hotel on time and he was able to drop off us at our hotel on time as well. Overall it’s a fun experience but it’s not for everyone since it’s a high altitude hike it can be risky especially to those who have heart problems.
The location was amazing. The driver was very good. However our guide Richard was not the best. He spoke very little with very little info about place. He also walked 50 yards ahead of us at most times. We told him to slow down several times as we could not keep up. We figured we could have done it on our own.
We Appreciate your Review very Much, we will consider it fot oour next experiences.
There were more llamas than people on this lesser used entrance to rainbow mountain. The setting is surreally beautiful. You see striped areas, red areas, and very high peaks. This tour is very well organized and thought out.
It is very important for us to have your opinion, which reflects our vocation of service to our customers. In the same way it helps us to strengthen our service, which will lead us to improve and provide a better service every day. At the same time it fills us with happiness that our Local company can achieve thanks to its opinion to promote our tourist attractions.
Richard was our guide, and he gave the choice of the Palcoyo Trek and the actual Rainbow Mountain....we chose the real deal, and it was a great choice. He showed pictures, but we decided to go to the actual Rainbow Mountain. To make it a "little" less strenuous, we booked horses up and back to the base of the hiking mountain.....it is still a 40-50 minute hike up from there. The horseback ride was about 45 minutes to the base, then you hike up the mountain, with lots of breaks. Once you step over the rock wall at the top of the mountain, whew, it is lovely. You take a break, and then climb to the second crest for incredible pictures and views of the rainbow mountain and the glacier mountain. Then reverse, careful down the mountain, horses back to the parking areas. I will tell you the car ride up was car cliff driving.......if you get car sick easily, perhaps there are other ways to see the beautiful Rainbow mountain range........internet is good. But, if you are adventuresome and get to Peru, this is a MUST tour.
It is very important for us to have your opinion, which reflects our vocation of service to our customers. In the same way it helps us to strengthen our service, which will lead us to improve and provide a better service every day. At the same time it fills us with happiness that our Local company can achieve thanks to its opinion to promote our tourist attractions.
