Rainbow Mountain Tour from Cusco (Vinicunca) - Full Day Trek

TOUR RAINBOW MOUNTAIN

This natural attraction, also known as Apu Vinicunca, is a visual spectacle for all travelers who have the joy of reaching its peaks. On its slopes and peaks you can appreciate intense ocher, yellow, green, pink, gold, purple, blue tones. and the shades of these colors. The visual spectacle offered by this site has attracted numerous travelers since 2016.

Tour Vinicunca or the Mountain of Seven Colors, is a beautiful destination that is part of the Vilcanota Mountain Range. It is part of the Peruvian Andes and is located at 5,200 meters above sea level, in the district of Pitumarca. It is an arid hill that is characterized by its slopes and summits that are dyed by strips of intense fuchsia, turquoise, lavender and gold. Greenish tones indicate the presence of iron, magnesium, and copper oxide; yellows highlight sulfur; the whites are created thanks to quartz sand and limestone, and the reds are due to clay and argillites (mica and quartz rocks).

BEFORE VISITING THE MOUNTAIN OF COLORS

Before taking a tour to the mountain of colors you have to be there a few days before to acclimatize your body and the changes are not so sudden, also this way you will be preventing the possible symptoms of altitude sickness, the recommendation to acclimatize the body, minimum is a day in the city of Cusco, take some pills for altitude sickness or simply upon arrival at the hotel rest a bit before starting your visit.

Itinerary

TOUR RAINBOW MOUNTAIN

Our mobility will come very early to pick you up from your hotel, to go to the Cusipata district, which is approximately 77 kilometers away. This trip is for 2 hours, to the community of Cusipata, here you can enjoy a delicious breakfast for a time of 30 minutes,
to then continue driving for approximately one more hour in our mobility until we reach the beginning of the adventure. From this point we will start our walk to the Mountain of 7 colors – Vinicunca. The walk will take approximately 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours as we climb up to 5100 meters.

Already being at the top of the mountain, our guide will give a brief explanation about this beautiful natural formation.

According to some geologists from the society of geology of Peru, the mountain of Vinicunca, alongside many other mountains of the huge Cordillera of the Andes have formed from the movement of the tectonic plates which have elevated the marine sediments to the point of being converted into impressive mountains.

On the other hand, the color presented by Vinicunca is the result of the oxidation of some minerals due to erosion, humidity and other geological factors.

At some point in our history, the mountain was covered with blocks of ice: it was snowy. However, due to global warming and climate change, the ice disappeared and left in its place this magical landscape that demonstrates the beauty and ecological fragility of planet Earth.

The coloring of the 7-color hill, according to the studies of the Deconcentrated Directorate of Culture of Cusco, is due to the following mineralogical composition:

The pink color is the red clay, fangolites (mud) and arilites (sand).
The Blanquecino is by quartz sandstone and marls, rich in calcium carbonate.
Red is composed of clays (iron) and clays belonging to the upper tertiary.
The green is due to the compound of phyllites and clays rich in magnesium ferro.
The earthy brown is a product of fanglomerate composed of rock with magnesium belonging to the Quaternary era.
And the mustard yellow color is due to the presence of calcareous sandstones rich in sulphured minerals.

After receiving our information and photo free time.

We will return to the same starting point to take our transport back to the town of CUSIPATA to enjoy our rich buffet lunch.
14:00 pm we begin the return to the city of Cusco arriving at 16:30 pm. about.

Along the way we will be able to appreciate some South American camelids, residents with their typical costumes and the change of color of the mountains until we reach Vinicunca.

Inclusions

WHAT INCLUDED?

Information day before
Pick up from hotel
Profetional Tour guide English and Spanish
Private minivan transport
Buffet lunch
American breakfast
Hiking poles
First aid kit
Oxygen ballon for the walk
Oxygen ballon in the car.
Portable radio for emergency

Not Include

NOT INCLUDED

Entrance to the Rainbow Mountain 25 soles
Optional Horse rental: one way 70 soles and round trip 100 soles
Water bottle.
Food not mentione.
Personal expenses and Tips: How to buy handicrafts, clothes, drinks, etc. Tips are not included either, these are voluntary according to the service received.
Travel insurance: It is a very important requirement in the event of any unforeseen event that may occur during a trip: Such as medical assistance during your trip, Stay due to illness or accident, Loss of luggage, Forced cancellation of travel due to protests or natural disasters.

Packing List

PACKING LIST

Passport
Small backpack (For your water, camera, snacks etc.)
Light clothing, and jacket (As the weather can vary a lot and there is a lot of wind)
Hat for both the sun and the cold
Sunscreen
Extra money for extra expenses
Personal expenses and Tips: How to buy handicrafts, clothes, drinks, etc. Tips are not included either, these are voluntary according to the service received.
Travel insurance: It is a very important requirement in the event of any unforeseen event that may occur during a trip: Such as medical assistance during your trip, Stay due to illness or accident, Loss of luggage, Forced cancellation of the trip due to protests or natural disasters.