Rainbow Mountain – 4D/3N
Tour Overview
This hike to Rainbow Mountain will leave you with a memorable experience. On the second day of the hike you will observe a wonderful night among some of the bright stars, a colorful milky way and the constellations of the southern hemisphere, you will be amazed. This new trek will constantly enchant you. With a combination of incredible landscapes, snowy. Rushing streams, challenging mountain passes, local shepherds, Andean geese, llamas, alpacas, chinchillas, condors and vicuñas, and of course you will have the opportunity to visit the Colored Mountain, where we will be the first to arrive at this place. so we can have all the majesty of this place just for us. everything seems untouched and undiscovered.
Full Itinerary
Day 1: Cusco ‐ Tinqui - Upis
We depart early from Cusco traveling by private van to the small town of Tinqui to begin our trek through the Rainbow Mountains of Peru. We will see the impressive Vilcanota mountain range and pass through several traditional Andean villages along the way and have time to take some photos. When we arrive in Tinqui, we will have a delicious breakfast prepared by our cook.
Then, our riders will organize all the group’s equipment and packs on the horses and our trek will begin, we will start our tour through the agricultural communities and enjoy the breathtaking views of the mountains. We will hike for about 3 hours and then we will have 1 hour to have lunch, after lunch we continue for 2 hours to reach Upis 4,100 m. / 13,448 ft. There we will have the opportunity to soak in the local hot springs before dinner and camp for the night.
Day 2: Upis ‐ Arapa Pass - Pucacocha
After a great breakfast, we are ready to leave our camp and begin our hike, we will climb to Arapa Pass (4,850 m. / 15,908 ft.). From this point we will enjoy the contrast between the dry desert like hills and the impressive snowy views of Ausangate and Pucaccocha mountain, this area also has three beautiful lakes with shades of reds, greens and turquoises (Pucacocha, Hatun Pucacocha and Qomercocha). Our second camp is near the Ausangate glacier on the rainbow mountain.
Day 3: Pucacocha - Ausangate Pass - Minasniyuq Pass - Surine Cocha
Today, waking up with a cup of coca tea, this will be one of the most beautiful days of the trek and we will see the Rainbow Mountain in the distance. The day begins with a 1:30 minute uphill climb to the Ausangate pass. At this pass we will see red mountains and also have the opportunity to see vicuñas, chinchillas and alpacas. After enjoying the pass, we descend for 1:30 minutes until we reach the village of Alccatauri. During our time in the village we will give offerings of coca leaves, this is extremely valuable because this precious Peruvian treasure cannot be cultivated in this climate.
After this incomparable experience, we will walk 30 minutes uphill to our lunch spot in a rustic lodge. After a satisfying lunch, we will begin our journey uphill to the second pass. After 1 hour, we will follow the trail to Minasniyuq Pass. Here we will have our first views of the colorful mountains. At this pass, we will make offerings to Pacha Mama. The rest of the day’s trek is a 1 hour downhill hike to our campsite, Surine Cocha.
Day 4: Surine Cocha - Rainbow Mountain - Quesiuno Village - Cusco
After breakfast, we will hike gradually uphill for 2 hours until we reach the famous Rainbow Mountain (5,020m. / 16,469 ft.). Your guide will show you the best places to get the perfect pictures of these incredible mountains and the other surrounding mountains.
Your guide will explain what makes these mountains so unique, they are composed of various minerals, which produce different colors of stone striations, this is not only one of the most impressive places in Peru and South America, but this type of mountains are only seen in another country in the world, China. After taking pictures and enjoying the view, we will continue hiking until we reach the village of Quesiuno. This is a 2:30 minute downhill hike and we will have lunch there.
Our private van will be waiting to pick us up in this village after lunch, then we will drive for 3:30 minutes back to Cusco. After one of the most rewarding experiences of your life.
Inclusions
Included
- Professional bilingual guide (spanish – english).
- Pick up from the hotel.
- Transportation (Cusco – Upis and Quesiuno – Cusco).
- Entrance fees to Rainbow Mountain.
- Horsemen and mules to transport equipment, food and personal luggage (7 kilos per person).
- A cook to prepare all meals.
- Meals: 4 breakfasts, 4 lunches and 3 dinners.
- Kitchen equipment: dining tent, kitchen with table and chairs.
- Camping tent.
- Therma-rest air mattress.
- First aid kit.
Not Included
- Last dinner.
- Sleeping bag.
- Trekking sticks.
- Additional horse to ride.
What to bring
- Walking boots (with ankle protectors).
- Waterproof jacket / rain poncho.
- Warm jacket, hat and gloves.
- Comfortable shirts and pants.
- Sun protection cream (factor 35 is recommended).
- Insect repellent minimum 30% DEET.
- Toiletries.
- Personal medications.
- Camera.
- Flashlight with spare batteries.
- Water purification tablets (Micropur recommended).
- Toilet paper.
- Suggested extra contribution.
Pricing & Dates
FAQs
1️⃣ What makes this trek unique?
Walk alongside llamas and alpacas along ancient Inca trails, immerse in local communities, and experience authentic Andean culture.
Packing Guide
Essential Documents
- Original passport (required to enter the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu)
- Valid Inca Trail permit and travel documents (provided by your tour operator)
- Travel insurance information (recommended)
- Student ID (if you booked with a student discount)
Trekking Essentials
- Daypack (20–30L)
- Reusable water bottles or hydration bladder (2–3 liters capacity)
- Comfortable, broken-in hiking boots with good ankle support
- Trekking poles with rubber tips (optional, but highly recommended)
- Waterproof rain jacket or poncho
- Warm thermal base layers
- Fleece or insulated jacket
- Hiking pants and moisture-wicking shirts
- Hat or beanie for cold mornings
- Sun hat or cap for daytime hiking
- Lightweight gloves
Personal Items
- High-SPF sunscreen
- Insect repellent
- Lip balm with SPF
- Sunglasses with UV protection
- Personal toiletries
- Personal medications
- Basic first-aid essentials (blister treatment, pain relief, bandages)
- Hand sanitizer and wet wipes
- Toilet paper or travel tissues
Related Tours
Explore other hand-crafted premium expeditions and hiking journeys curated by our local specialists.
Customer Experiences
Memorable trips generate grateful hearts and we are lucky to have received over 8,000 reviews from satisfied customers telling us about their wonderful experiences in their South America journeys thanks to our advice, support, and services. So, be part of them!
