Rainbow Mountain, Peru: a complete guide

Peru is a country full of natural wonders. Among its hidden treasures, the Rainbow Mountain stands out as a true masterpiece of nature. Located in the Cusco region, it is also known as Vinicunca or Mountain of 7 Colors and provides a visual spectacle that surpasses our imagination.

Despite being a very touristy destination, travelers often have many questions about it. For instance, what’s the best way to get to the Rainbow Mountain in Peru? How difficult is the hike and where does it start?

Don’t worry: I wrote a guide with all this information and other tips to help you plan your trip to the Rainbow Mountain in Peru. Check it out!

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Why visit the Rainbow Mountain in Peru?

What makes the Rainbow Mountain so extraordinary is its color palette, which ranges from reds and oranges to greens and blues. This natural phenomenon is a result of the presence of different minerals in the geological layers, creating a spectacle of colors that seems almost surreal.

In addition to seeing this natural wonder up close, a journey to the Rainbow Mountain is also a chance to connect with the rich Peruvian culture. Along the way that leads to it, you pass through local communities and can get to know their traditions and lifestyle.

Furthermore, during the hike to the famous mountains you’ll get to admire beautiful Andean landscapes, including snow-capped peaks, valleys and lakes of different colors. Every step is an opportunity to appreciate nature and be enchanted by the diversity of ecosystems that characterizes this region.

Curiosities about the Rainbow Mountain

Nowadays, a trip to the Rainbow Mountain in Peru is quite common among travelers. However, it was not always like this. Up to a few years ago, the mountains were covered in snow, making it impossible to see them.

Due to global warming and ice melting in the 2010s, that changed, and adventurers climbing the Nevado Auzangate peak discovered the Rainbow Mountain. This is how tourism began in the area. Initially, it was an expensive tour and practically exclusive to mountaineers.

Over the years, local communities saw an opportunity to generate income and made the hike to the Rainbow Mountain much easier. Between 2016 and 2017, tourism agencies began offering the tour, and now it is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Peru.

How can you visit the Rainbow Mountain?

Getting to the Rainbow Mountain is now relatively easy. This is due to the fact that the place is just over 140 kilometers from Cusco, and there are round-trip tours that leave in the morning and return at the end of the day.

Around Plaza de Armas, in Cusco, there are many travel agencies offering tours to the Rainbow Mountain. Most of them include breakfast, lunch and transportation from your accommodation to the trailhead.

I advise you to take a snack to eat during the hike and on the return trip, as well as plenty of water. And if you're planning to go to the Rainbow Mountain in high season (from June to August), book the tour in advance.

If you're wondering whether it is possible to climb the Rainbow Mountain on your own, you should know that it is, but you need to take three buses and walk to the start of the hike. I like doing most tours independently, but in this case I don’t think it’s financially worth it, in addition to being much more tiring.

Getting to the Rainbow Mountain

If you choose to go on your own, you will need to take a bus from Cusco to the community of Checacupe, another one to Pitumarca and then a third bus to the town of Chilca. Afterwards, you will need to walk to the beginning of the trail.

Tours ran by tourism agencies generally leave Cusco at around 5 am, starting the hike at 9 am at the latest. Before we begin the hike, there is a stop for breakfast in the village, and lunch usually takes place in Pitumarca, after the hike. You’ll likely return to Cusco around 7 pm.

How is the hike to the Rainbow Mountain?

The hike to the Rainbow Mountain is challenging, mainly due to the altitude.

In total, the walk has a length of approximately 15 kilometers round trip, and an elevation of 700 meters to the highest part, reaching 5200 meters above sea level. The duration of the walk depends on each person's physical fitness, generally taking around two to three hours to reach the top. The descent is a little faster.

The hardest part, without a doubt, is hiking at high altitude. Therefore, it is interesting to take the trip to the Rainbow Mountain after spending a few days in Cusco, to give your body enough time to acclimatize.

If you don't want to do the walk on your own, it is possible to climb the mountains on horseback. However, this does not prevent you from suffering some symptoms due to the altitude.

You need to buy a ticket to climb the Rainbow Mountain right at the beginning of the trail. If you want to go to the Red Valley, you need to purchase another ticket. If you choose to go with a travel agency, they will take care of these details.

The weather is unpredictable in this region and can change quickly from sunny to snowy and rainy. So, it’s advisable to dress in layers so you don't get caught off guard. The wind is intense at the top of the Rainbow Mountain, so it's important to take a scarf, hat and gloves.

Volunteering in Peru

Did you know that you can get free accommodation in Peru and visit the Rainbow Mountain and other amazing places while volunteering with local hosts? Besides being a low budget travel choice, volunteer work is the best way to immerse yourself in other cultures, make friends and live like a local. And depending on the experience you choose, you can also develop new skills and even learn another language.

In Peru, there are almost 200 volunteer opportunities available at the collaborative travel platform Worldpackers, spread across every corner of the country.

The exchange is quite simple: you help the host with a few hours of work per week and get free accommodation and other benefits that can range from meals to classes and tours.

Once you enter the website or download the app, use the filters to choose the place you want to visit and search for a host that best suits your preferences. There are volunteer opportunities in hostels, inns, sustainable communities, NGOs, homestays, surf camps, boats, castles and even wineries.

Dozens of projects join Worldpackers every month. All hosts are individually verified and monitored by the platform’s team to ensure positive experiences for travelers.

Before confirming your volunteering experience, you can also get in touch with other travelers who have already helped that host to ask questions and find out more about the experience. Additionally, there are over 80,000 public reviews left by travelers.

Do you feel like volunteering in Peru? Take a peek at all the opportunities available there and read the article "How I lived, traveled, and worked in Peru through a Worldpackers exchange", written by Gabby, from the US.

If you want to go to the Rainbow Mountain in Peru, you can volunteer in Cusco, which is the gateway city to visit this amazing destination. 

Check out some of the cool opportunities currently available in Cusco:

Murillo Colonial Farm

The Hacienda Colonial Murillo is an ecovillage just over 70 kilometers from the start of the Peru Rainbow Mountain trail. This sustainable community welcomes volunteers of all nationalities to help maintain it.

You can contribute in different ways, such as with cleaning, household chores, creating content, organizing events, gardening, harvesting, or making small repairs.

In this experience you help the host for 20 hours per week and get accommodation, lunch, free laundry and bicycles to use as you please.

“My stay at Hacienda Murillo was great. The dogs, the house, the people who pass by... I would definitely repeat the experience. I leave very happy, with new memories and learnings. I recommend this volunteer experience to connect with nature, local people, other travelers and above all, with the house's dogs”, said Carolina, a former Worldpackers volunteer, on her review at the platform.

Want to know more about the opportunity? Check out all the details here!

Multilingual School in Cusco

Another very interesting volunteering opportunity in Cusco is supporting a school by helping to look after children and teaching languages. 

In this opportunity the volunteers are required to contribute for 25 hours per week. In return, the host provides accommodation, breakfast, lunch and free laundry.

The school values quality education and believes this is the key to improving the world. The aim of the space is to nurture children to make the most of this crucial phase of life, allowing their emotional and physical development to fully support their intellectual capabilities.

“Boris and Rosa are very kind and helpful people. I felt very comfortable and welcome during my time there. The accommodation is comfortable, the people are friendly, the food is delicious, and the tasks are simple. Mrs. Charito cooks very delicious food, Maritza and Eliana are very helpful. Multilingual school is a family! I wish you all the best. Thank you for the opportunity.”, said Nasherin, from the Dominican Republic.

Have you ever thought about doing social work in Cusco? See more information about the project here.

Guest House and Travel Agency

If you are a content creator and passionate about marketing, this volunteer position is perfect for you. Grupo Andean Top travel agency welcomes volunteers to create content for their social media profiles and develop digital marketing strategies.

The hosts ask for 20 hours of work per week and offers accommodation in a private room, access to a fully equipped kitchen and discounts on sightseeing tours.

“I had the privilege of staying with an incredibly kind and enthusiastic host! From the moment I arrived, Susana and her team made me feel completely at home with their warm and welcoming demeanor. Susana's enthusiasm about ensuring that my stay was comfortable and enjoyable was truly heartening. She was always ready to help with recommendations and went out of her way to make sure I had everything I needed. I highly recommend her to anyone looking for a genuine and delightful hosting experience. Truly a five-star experience thanks to their amazing hospitality!” said Omar, from Mexico.

Do you like the idea? Keep reading about this opportunity here.

In addition to these volunteering positions, there are other projects in Cusco that may interest you. See all volunteer work positions in Cusco.

Do you have any questions about the Rainbow Mountain in Peru? Ask us in the comments section!

In addition to this incredible destination, there are several other cool places for you to visit while volunteering in Peru. Check out our guide on What to do in Peru: 20 must-see attractions and these 16 photos to inspire you to visit Peru.

Want to learn more about planning your trip? By subscribing to the WP pack plan you have unlimited access to +120 courses at the Worldpackers Academy, the largest school by travelers for travelers.