Travel guide
Rainbow Mountain (Vinicunca): altitude, the hike and how to get there from Cusco
Rainbow Mountain, or Vinicunca, is in the Vilcanota mountain range, southeast of Cusco, at 5,036 m above sea level. You visit it in one day from the city: a drive that starts before dawn and an uphill hike of an hour and a half to two hours.
What is Rainbow Mountain and why is it so colorful?
It’s Vinicunca, or Winikunka, also called the Mountain of Seven Colors (Montaña de 7 Colores): a mountain in the Vilcanota range whose slopes are covered in red, pink, green, mustard and white stripes.
The colors come from minerals. The mountain is made of layers of sediment from ancient seas, lakes and rivers that, over millions of years, folded and were pushed up. The oxidation of their minerals and erosion exposed the stripes:
- Red: iron-rich clays.
- Pink: red clay, mud and sand.
- Green: clays with iron and magnesium.
- Mustard: sandstones with sulfur minerals.
- White: quartz sandstone and rocks with calcium carbonate.
Where is it and how do you get there from Cusco?
Southeast of the city of Cusco, between the districts of Cusipata (Quispicanchi province) and Pitumarca (Canchis province), on the way to Ausangate peak. There are two access routes, and on both you finish on foot:
- Via Cusipata: from the Paucarpata turnoff on the highway, about 25 km of dirt road lead to the community of Chillihuani, where a trail of about 3 km begins. It’s the route with the most services: parking, restrooms and viewpoints along the way.
- Via Pitumarca: from the town, about 19 km of gravel road reach the Cayllahuire sector, in the community of Pampachiri. From there you go up on foot or by ATV.
On the Rainbow Mountain tour, round-trip transportation is included: you’re picked up at your hotel at 4:30 a.m., at 7:00 a.m. you have breakfast in Cusipata and at 8:15 a.m. you reach the point where the hike begins.
How high is Rainbow Mountain?
Vinicunca is at 5,036 m above sea level. On the Pitumarca side, the upper part of the viewpoint is above 5,200 m, which is why you’ll see both figures. The city of Cusco is at 3,399 m: on the day of the tour you go more than 1,600 m higher than where you sleep.
What is the Rainbow Mountain hike like?
On the tour you start walking at 8:30 a.m. and reach Vinicunca at 10:00 a.m., after an hour and a half of climbing. Until 10:45 a.m. you have time at the top to take in the view; then you head down to the vehicle, and at 12:00 p.m. you have lunch in Cusipata.
At that altitude there’s less oxygen and any slope is more tiring: the tour calls for a moderate level of fitness. Climb at your own pace and take short breaks.
How do you prepare for the altitude?
Your body needs time to adjust: during your first two or three days above 2,500 m, it’s normal to feel the altitude. That’s why you shouldn’t do the tour on the day you arrive in Cusco. What helps:
- When you arrive, rest for the first few hours and don’t do anything strenuous right away.
- Drink plenty of fluids and eat light.
- Don’t take altitude pills, such as acetazolamide, without a prescription.
- If you have high blood pressure or an arrhythmia, travel with all your medication and a recent medical checkup.
If you feel very sick on the way up and resting doesn’t help, tell your guide and go down: it’s the most effective thing you can do.
What should you bring?
- Layers and a jacket that blocks wind and rain: you leave before dawn and the wind at the top is strong.
- A warm hat and gloves for the cold; sunglasses, a cap and sunscreen for the sun, which is intense at that altitude.
- Sneakers or hiking shoes with good soles.
- Water and something to snack on: snacks and extra drinks aren’t included.
- Money for the entrance fee to the mountain, which is paid separately.
Rainbow Mountain or Humantay Lake: which should you choose?
Both tours leave from Cusco with hotel pickup at 4:30 a.m., include breakfast and a buffet lunch and call for a moderate level of fitness. What changes is the altitude and the scenery:
| Detail | Rainbow Mountain | Humantay Lake |
|---|---|---|
| What you see | Slopes with colored stripes in the Vilcanota range | A turquoise lake at the foot of snowcapped Salkantay |
| Altitude | 5,036 m above sea level | 4,200 m above sea level |
| Climb | From 8:30 to 10:00 a.m. | From 9:00 to 10:30 a.m. |
| At the top | Until 10:45 a.m. | Free time until 11:30 a.m. |
| Meals | In Cusipata | In Mollepata |
Humantay Lake is about 800 m lower and gives you an hour of free time by the water. If you’re going to do both, save Rainbow Mountain for last, with more days of acclimatization behind you.
Pick your date and book the Rainbow Mountain tour.
Frequently asked questions
What does Vinicunca mean?
It comes from the Quechua Winikunka: wini, for some black, rounded and very hard stones that are common in the area, and kunka, neck, because the mountain sits in an abra, a narrow pass in the mountain.
When is the best time to visit Rainbow Mountain?
You can visit all year round, but the most recommended time is the dry season, roughly April to October, when the weather is better and the colors on the slopes show up best. In the rainy months it can snow on the summits and access gets harder.
Can you go up on horseback?
Yes. The local communities rent horses for part of the climb. It’s optional and not included in the tour.
What animals do you see along the way?
Llamas and alpacas, and sometimes vizcachas, eagles or the Andean condor. Vicuñas and Andean foxes also live in the area.
Does Rainbow Mountain get a lot of visitors?
Yes. Through the Cusipata access alone, about 110,000 visitors came in 2025, around 79,000 of them from abroad.
