Learn How to Visit the Rainbow Mountain in Peru

There is no shortage of names to name one of the most impressive attractions in Cusco: Colorful Mountain, Rainbow Mountain, Mountain 7 colors or 7 colores, Vinicunca. In other words, they all lead to the same destination, which is the wonderful Colorful Mountain of Peru.

Located 100km from Cusco, the Colorful Mountain has a lot to offer. Even though its altitude is very high, 5,200 meters above the sea. As well as being considered one of the tours that requires the most physical effort, the view is well worth contemplating.

In this post you will find out how to get to Colorful Mountain in Peru, tips on what you need to bring, costs included and interesting facts about the place.

 

 

How to visit Colorful Mountain in Peru

To get to Colorful Mountain, we hired a tour that came out from Cusco very early, around 4:30am and we paid the cost of 110 soles (R$146.48 / US$28.64).

It is normally a full day trip, and before reaching the desired Montaña 7 colores, a stop is made in Kusipata to have breakfast, which was already included in the tour price. At this time, it is recommended to drink coca tea to prepare for high altitude.

 

Entrance to Vinicunca – The Colorful Mountain

After breakfast, there is another hour to travel to the base parking lot, arriving between 8:15am and 8:30am, and this is where all the vans are parked, this is the starting point of the walk.

Entrance to Vinicunca is 10 soles and is also included in the tour, remembering that it is not sold separately or online. In other words, entry is charged directly there.

The starting point to the mountain, which is at the base parking lot, is a 5km route and it took us approximately 1 hour to walk. The guide provides us with a hiking pole that helps support us during our journey.

 

 

Route to Colorful Mountain

At the beginning where the vans are parked, the altitude is 4,480 meters above sea level and the mountain itself is 5,200 meters above sea level. In addition to walking, there is the option of going on horseback, but as we are not a big fan of animal exploration we chose to go walking and we were ready for the adventure.

Therefore, the ride with the horse costs 90 soles, and they leave you at the beginning of the climb, where you need to continue walking up the mountain to see the colors of Vinicunca. We suffer a little but it's worth the walk, the landscape is truly incredible!

And it's also interesting that on the way, when we get off at the parking lot and halfway up the mountain, there's a stopping point. Where it is possible to take a break and buy something to eat or drink and there are chemical toilets with a charge of 1 or 2 soles.

 

 

Arrival at the Colorful Mountain

When you get close to the mountain, the climb is very steep, adding another point to the hardship of reaching the top of the mountain. And this is where I give you a tip for this climb: don't climb too quickly, try to breathe and keep going up. Well, when you get there you won't be so tired and have more breath to appreciate the beauty of the place.

Normally, the arrival time at the top is 10am. Therefore, the time spent up there taking Instagram photos and seeing the beautiful blades depends on 45 minutes to 1 hour and a half.

Up there, as in every tourist attraction, there are places with decorated llamas that offer you to take photos with the animals and the mountain in the background. In addition to seeing a lot of people on the mountain, there were many tourists also wanting to take the best photos and enjoying the place.

Just like this view, you have the option of climbing the other peak where the photo comes out even better and with fewer people, and has the Vinicunca sign. Melina went and highly recommends that you reach this final top for the incredible view around and with greater clarity of the 7-color Mountain.

 

 

Why Are Peru's Mountains Colorful?

Research sources reveal that Peru's colorful mountains were formed due to an accumulation of marine, river and lake sediments millions of years ago, when the entire region was still submerged by the sea. These sediments rested on the land and formed distinct layers with “bands” of different colors.

Therefore, with the movement of the tectonic plates, this region rose in such a way that it built the current “rainbow” mountains in Peru. Furthermore, time and erosion allowed the oxidation of these minerals, thus giving even more clarity and striking colors to the slopes.

• White – sandstone and limestone;
• Pink – mixture of red clay, mud and sand;
• Purple – marl (a mixture of clay with calcium carbonate) and silicates;
• Brown and gold – limonites, sandstone and sulfur minerals;
• Green – clay rich in ferromagnesian minerals and copper oxide.

 

 

Common questions

When is the best time to visit Colorful Mountain?

The best season to visit the mountain is in the dry rather than the wet season. Because in the humid weather there is a high chance of not seeing anything, or seeing a lot of clouds or snow like Dandara saw in what História é essa Porchat?

Therefore, the best months to take this tour are from April to November, as there is plenty of sun, although it is still cold, these are the best times. We went in June 2022 and took very good images, you can check them out here.

Even though it's hot, can I wear summer clothes?

In the dry season, I don't recommend wearing summer clothes. In other words, it is recommended to dress in layers, as it is really cold and windy in the mountains.

Is there any public transport to get there?

Unfortunately not. At the moment, access is only possible by car or by hiring a guided tour, as we did.

 

 

Tips to Avoid Suffering from Altitude Sickness (Sorroche)

There is no specific rule and each body reacts in a different way, but some ways to avoid suffering from altitude sickness are how to get to Cusco, don't take the tour right away.

In other words, on the first day, enjoy the city to adapt to the climate there and get used to the difference. Cusco is 3,399 meters high, so get used to the difference in altitude first.

Even more, when you are on the way to the Colorful mountain, take plenty of water, you will hydrate yourself, to keep your body in balance and prepared for the journey ahead.

Another important tip is not to run, walk calmly, to get used to the place and not get tired so quickly.

Extra Tip

The ancients recommend it to this day and what helped a lot to continue the walk is drinking tea or chewing coca leaves. This helps a lot to open your lungs and withstand the high altitude. I confess that the taste of the tea is not the best, but it will definitely prepare you for the journey.

Likewise, another thing that helped us a lot was that the guide gave us Florida Water, which is similar to a perfume but natural that you inhale before starting the walk. And to clarify, this isn't a drug, locals use it a lot and say it really helps you complete your trip without feeling sick.

In any case, if you feel unwell despite these tips, travel agencies are prepared and travel with oxygen bottles for first aid. And just like in the Siloli Desert in Bolivia, the tour is not recommended for those with respiratory problems.

 

 

Tips on What to Bring for the Hike

Take note of these important tips for your trip to Peru's Colorful Mountain. Therefore, in a small backpack with padded straps, carry only what you need, such as:

• Bottle of water;
• Sunglasses;
• Hat;
• Windbreaker style jacket: when you get to the top, this is where you will feel the coldest, it is really very cold;
• Glove, I felt my hands cut from the cold, remembering that we went in June 2022;
• Trekking boots, we wore sneakers and it worked, but for better grip I recommend trekking boots, get a really good one so you don't suffer with your feet after the trip;
• Snacks such as: fruit, cereal bars, chocolate;
• Walking stick which is normally provided by the guides;
• And the last item is to go with your chest open to enjoy the experience and the magic of the place.

 

 

Curiosities of Vinicunca Mountain

In addition to the incredible experience of experiencing and admiring the Colorful Mountain of Peru, you will be able to enjoy some nearby landscapes such as the Andes subcordillera.

In other words, when you are at the base parking lot on the route, you can see Ausangate, which is the peak of the Vilcanota Range. Likewise, its altitude is very high, it is 6,394 meters above sea level, making it one of the most difficult trails to reach these snowy mountains.

Another interesting fact is that when you reach the top of Colorful Mountain, you also have the option of continuing the trail through Red Valley. Or rather, the red mountain, where it is described as if you were in the United States or on Google Photos on a mountain all red with a wonderful and vivid color.

 

 

Conclusion

In addition to the beautiful landscape of the Colorful Mountain, you will also enjoy the local Peruvian fauna. That is, llamas, vicugnas, alpacas, although they are quite similar, the guide will explain the difference between the 3 types.

Vizcacha, condors, you will have a vivid experience of the lifestyle of the communities they inhabit, of the locals who live in the Andes Mountains. Finally, you will experience and take photos in Vinicunca, which is one of the 100 places you need to see before dying for National Geographic.

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