Rainbow
Mountain in Peru is one of the images we see most often when researching what
to see in Peru. Of course, Machu Picchu is Peru's premier brand image and we can
guarantee that there is much more to see in Peru and that Rainbow Mountain is
undoubtedly one of the attractions you will not want to miss.
Rainbow
Mountain's popularity turns out to be a curious factor and undoubtedly a sign
of modern times and the ease with which the image spreads across the world. It
was only a few years ago that a photograph on Instagram went viral and since
then the desire to know this natural charm has spread throughout the world and
more and more visitors want to know it.
Vinicunca
If it's
known around the world for Rainbow Mountain, this wonder of nature has long
been known to locals, but not as Rainbow Mountain, but as Vinicunca, its real name.
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| Rainbow Mountain |
The
reason for being known as Rainbow Mountain all over the world is due to the
fact that it has 7 colors, which are due to the different mineral constitution
of the mountain and which gives it a unique and magnificent look.
How to visit Rainbow Mountain?
As a
matter of fact, it is not enough to land in Lima and take a bus to visit
Rainbow Mountain. In fact, one thing you will find in Peru is that in order to
visit many of its main attractions, you have to do your planning and organization.
To get
started, to visit Rainbow Mountain, you have to get to Cusco, from where the vast majority of sightseeing tours to Rainbow Mountain depart. Most likely your
entry into Peru will be in Lima via the Lima International Airport and we advise
you to take a few days to see Lima (see here our post on 10 reasons why you should visit Lima).
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| Lima |
Don't
worry, though, you won't have to fly or bus to Cusco just to visit Rainbow
Mountain. Most likely, if you are going on holiday to Peru, the main objective
of your holiday will be to visit Machu Picchu and Cusco will probably be your
point of arrival in the Andes and probably the place where you will make your
base to explore not only Machu Picchu, as well as the entire Sacred Valley,
and also visit Rainbow Mountain. Regarding the location of your base when
landing in Cusco, be sure to read our article Cusco or Ollantaytambo, which is
the best location to make your base before visiting Machu Picchu.
But even
in Cusco, it will not be enough to go to Rainbow Mountain, as it is about 140
kilometers from Cusco, and in the middle of the Andes, this is a trip of more
then three hours in each direction, so be prepared that it will be a very long
day, as more than 7 hours of your day will be spent on the round trip, but
despite being long hours, you will undoubtedly have landscapes that will not
cease to amaze you as you travel the Andes.
The easiest and probably safest way to do this route is by booking a tour with a
tourist agency. You can easily do it online, but what we really advise is to
make this appointment right in Cusco because, believe me, the number of
agencies that provide this tour is vast and you can negotiate the best options
and prices that are easily available. cheaper than the ones you can get online.
You will probably be afraid that you may be out of place on this trip on the day you want, but unlike Machu Picchu, where reservations are important in
advance (learn more on our article - Machu Picchu, 20 things you should know when planning your visit to Machu Picchu)
regarding your visit to the Rainbow, Mountain It is very easy to make your appointment even
at night for the following day.
When
making your appointment, either online or in person, check if there is a
possibility to change the date if there is a need. And we are talking about
the importance of this issue because in the Andes the climate can change
frequently and there are days when it is not at all convenient to make this
climb, as we will explain later, so you may have to change your climate. and
you should have this arranged at the time of booking.
After
making your appointment, get ready, as we mentioned earlier, it will be a very
long, tiring but undoubtedly rewarding day.
When you
make the appointment, you will probably arrange with the agency to pick you up
from your hotel and the departure is usually very early, probably between 3am
and 5am and then you will be traveling for more than 3 hours until the
beginning of your treck.
There are
several factors to keep in mind when booking your sightseeing tour, and with
these factors you will also change the cost of the trip, ranging from about 100
soles (about $ 30 USD) to much higher. high. These factors will be linked to
the number of passengers that will take you on your tour, the meals included,
so you should ask everything before agreeing on the amount to pay.
Some
tours provide the possibility to have your breakfast prepared by locals who
live near Rainbow Mountain, other tours may eat your meal along the way.
When you
get to your starting point, be prepared, that you will have to face a walk of
about 7/8 Kms which will take about 3, 4 hours to climb but less time to
descend, as is naturally understood.
It will
probably be on this visit that you will be at the highest altitude throughout
your trip, and the difference between the start and, if at the beginning of
your route is about 4450 meters above sea level, at the end of your route will
be more than 5030 meters, which will hinder your walk.
The start
of the hike requires a climb that will probably leave you exhausted and scared
that you might not be able to do the whole hike. However, the good news is
that, after the initial climb, there will be times when the route becomes flat,
which makes it much easier.
In case you are in the need for some rest, along most of the route you will have places that offer the possibility to do part of the horse riding course, which can undoubtedly be a great help. The price usually starts at $ 20 but tends to fall as you progress along the route. However, you will not be able to walk on a horse on the entire route, only in the flatter areas.
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| Rainbow Mountain |
In case you are in the need for some rest, along most of the route you will have places that offer the possibility to do part of the horse riding course, which can undoubtedly be a great help. The price usually starts at $ 20 but tends to fall as you progress along the route. However, you will not be able to walk on a horse on the entire route, only in the flatter areas.
What to bring up Rainbow Mountain?
- Well,
as we mentioned, you have to prepare for the route and one of the fundamental
questions are what to wear. And get ready so if there is something you will
probably have to deal with during your hike to get to all of Rainbow Mountain
it will be big changes in temperature.
- The thing we can guarantee is that it will feel cold, as Rainbow Mountain is
undoubtedly a cold place and it can become very cold, so a good coat is crucial
as well as a good waterproof as the possibilities to catch rain are also great.
Do not forget the gloves, parasol, and hat. Although you need to take off your
hat and gloves throughout your trip, the umbrella is always important to wear.
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However, as you walk, you may also feel warm from changes in temperature,
tiredness, and sweat, so we recommend that you wear layers in which it is easy
to take off your clothes when it is hot and you can easily put it back on.
However, make sure that it is light to carry and that you can store it in your
backpack, preferably not too big and heavy.
- Bring
some good hiking boots that should be waterproof as you will probably also walk
on muddy paths, plus the possibility of rain, as we mentioned, and it is not
convenient to slip and fall on the ground, and it is not comfortable to go
hiking with the feet wet. When it comes to wet feet, be sure to note that,
apart from the importance of good walking boots, good walking socks, and taking
an extra pair to change if necessary.
- Also, be
sure to bring a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen and lip balm, as it is essential to
guard against ultraviolet rays.
-
Although you eat breakfast before your walk starts, you will only eat again
after the walk is over, so you should bring snacks for during the walk. Being
in Peru, you will have no difficulty finding top quality chocolate and, it
should be well taken, as they are a delicious source of energy for your walk.
In addition to the snacks (do not overdo the weight), do not forget that you
will need to drink a lot of water, and here you have to bear the weight of at
least 2 liters of water for your walk.
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Something that may also help is the traditional coca leaves, so used by locals
to deal with altitude sickness, can help a lot in this walk (you can learn more
about preventing and dealing with altitude sickness in our post). Something that also helps a lot in
dealing with altitude sickness symptoms is alcohol gel, smelling a little helps
a lot in your walk.
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| Coca leaves |
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Something that does not weigh much but it can be useful is to take toilet
paper, you never know when you will need it.
- Lastly,
don't forget to bring some money. Admission to the natural park costs 10 Soles,
and this price is not usually included in the price you pay when booking the tour,
so you will have to pay at the entrance.
When to visit Rainbow Mountain?
The climate in the area of Cusco is fundamentally divided into two seasons,
namely the dry season and the rainy season. The rainy season, which runs from
mid-October to about mid-April, is not the best time to visit Rainbow Mountain.
From mid-April until about mid-October is probably the best time to visit
Rainbow Mountain. Of course, as during the rainy season you can have dry days
and you can visit Rainbow Mountain, the reverse may occur, that is, in the dry
season, there may be rainy days.
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| Rainbow Mountain |
And if
hiking to the top of Rainbow Mountain can be arduous, making this muddy and the rainy path can be even more difficult, and you can reach the end of your trek
just to find a fog-covered top and, seeing nothing, so always be aware of the
weather forecasts and avoids going on rainy days, the same is true of snow
because yes, it can and it snows on the top of Rainbow Mountain.
What we
advise is, as we mentioned earlier, to mark with the possibility of changing
the day in case the weather conditions are not ideal and, check with your guide
if effectively the day will be ideal for the walk. Unfortunately, not all
companies are 100% correct, and even though they are aware that the weather
conditions will not be ideal and that you can hardly really see Rainbow
Mountain, they tend to go on excursions to earn their money. money.
Cautions to Visit Rainbow Mountain
Climbing
Rainbow Mountain is not easy, even for those who are used to hiking. Walking at
sea level is one thing and at 5000 meters altitude, it is quite another. First and
foremost, it is important to be careful about symptoms linked to Altitude
Sickness (see our article on how to prevent and deal with Altitude Sickness), and you should never book your trip to Rainbow Mountain
shortly after landing in Cusco. We would advise at least 3 days in Cusco before
making your climb to Rainbow Mountain.
- As you
start your march, you may be tempted to climb too fast or go after the pace of
the group with you. Respect your body and go for your pace. If you feel tired,
rest, try to breathe slowly. It is natural for you to struggle, your body will
probably not be used to walking at this point, so you will need your time. If
you feel the need, you already know, there is the possibility of being part of
the horseback course (paid service).
- Go with
a guide. We always recommend that you take this route with the help of a guide,
and preferably an experienced guide, who can carry oxygen cylinders with you,
who can help if you experience difficulties.
- Respect
the walking paths. While it is wonderful to be able to see something as
beautiful as Rainbow Mountain, and because the increase in visitors is a major
factor in the development and financial sustainability of the local population,
as the number of visitors increases, so does the risk of destruction of this
environment, not ready to receive so many visitors. Therefore, we ask you to
simply go through the routes intended for this and never leave any trash on the
route. Whatever you bring should bring with you. There are no dustbins in the
way, so please do not take anything that you cannot bring with you.
- The night before the treck do not drink alcohol, as well as avoid eating heavy
meals. As mentioned above, take some light snacks that give you energy for
walking and drink lots of water. Your day will be very tiring and you will have
to wake up very early, so we recommend you go to bed early and try to sleep as
many hours as possible. If you are one of those who easily fall asleep when
traveling by car, be aware that it may be a good aid to sleep and rest during the trips.
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Finally, as mentioned above, when you are touring Peru, you will need to pay
close attention to the sun. You will be very close to the equator line and although
sometimes the overcast sky may give the feeling of the sun not causing any
danger, this is totally false and there is a need to protect yourself from the
harms of the sun. We recommend that you use and abuse sunscreen, as well as
wearing a hat and sunglasses.
Conclusions
We have to tell you something. On the internet and, all over the touristic posts, you will find pictures of Rainbow Mountain that are adulterated, making the colors more brighter than they really are, just like this one behind.
The truth is that the Rainbow Mountain colors are not so strong but, it is really a beautiful place to visit and if you are lucky to have a good day, that will be an experience that for sure you will love it. More than just the ending, all treck is great and, just for that, you will love the experience and the day, with reaching the end the higher point of a glorious day.
We hope our article can help you organize your trip to Rainbow Mountain. As we have mentioned, the easiest way to get there will be via Cusco, so it is important to go there. But, as Cusco will probably be on your travel plan as a must-stop before you meet Machu Picchu, we suggest you spend at least one-day visiting Rainbow Mountain. Being in the area of Cusco, do not forget that it is “mandatory” to know and explore the area of the Sacred Valley of the Incas (see here our article where you can find out more about the Sacred Valley of the Incas and what you can not miss).
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| Rainbow Mountain not so true colors |
The truth is that the Rainbow Mountain colors are not so strong but, it is really a beautiful place to visit and if you are lucky to have a good day, that will be an experience that for sure you will love it. More than just the ending, all treck is great and, just for that, you will love the experience and the day, with reaching the end the higher point of a glorious day.
We hope our article can help you organize your trip to Rainbow Mountain. As we have mentioned, the easiest way to get there will be via Cusco, so it is important to go there. But, as Cusco will probably be on your travel plan as a must-stop before you meet Machu Picchu, we suggest you spend at least one-day visiting Rainbow Mountain. Being in the area of Cusco, do not forget that it is “mandatory” to know and explore the area of the Sacred Valley of the Incas (see here our article where you can find out more about the Sacred Valley of the Incas and what you can not miss).
We really
hope that our ideas help you to prepare for your visit and if you are planning
your trip to Machu Picchu, we always do our reservations with booking, they are
our partners and its with them we get the best deals. You can look for the best
deals by clicking here, it won't cost you any money and it helps us to support
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We would
also like to invite you to leave your opinion and questions and, in case you
have already visited the Rainbow Mountain, let us know about your experience using our
comments box. If you are planning your trip with kids, we invite you to check our article Rainbow Mountain with kids, Its safe for children's to climb the Rainbow Mountain in Cusco, Peru? Thanks for your visit to our Non Stop Family Travel Blog, come
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