Full day · 3:30 am to 6:00 pm
3:30 amHotel pickup.
Drive towards Pitumarca with a breakfast stop.
About 2 hours' hike up to the Vinicunca viewpoint. Time for photos.
Descent and buffet lunch.
Return to Cusco in the afternoon.
BreakfastLunch
Mountains and lakes1 day
Rainbow Mountain (Vinicunca)
High-altitude hike with Ausangate in the background
- Duration1 day
- DifficultyChallenging
- GroupUp to 16
- Max. altitude5,200 m
- PickupAt your hotel
About the tour
About 2 hours uphill to a viewpoint above 5,000 m. Breakfast and buffet lunch included. From US$30.
Vinicunca's red, ochre, green and purple stripes are minerals exposed by erosion. It's the most demanding day tour from Cusco, not because of the distance but because of the altitude: the viewpoint is above 5,000 metres.
What to expect
- Departure at 3:30 am, back in Cusco around 6:00 pm.
- Breakfast on the way to Pitumarca.
- About 2 hours uphill across the puna, among alpacas, to the viewpoint. Ausangate's snow peak is right in front of you.
- Descent and buffet lunch before heading back.
How to prepare
- Do it after at least two days in Cusco. Without acclimatising, the tour becomes very hard.
- Short steps, steady pace and drink water even if you're not thirsty.
- Dress in layers: it's cold and windy at the top even in sunshine.
- If the climb gets hard, horses can be hired along the trail (paid separately).
Highlights
- Viewpoint above 5,000 m
- View of Ausangate snow peak
- Breakfast and buffet lunch
- Horse option on the trail
Itinerary
What's included
Included
- Hotel pickup (Cusco historic centre)
- Return transport
- Breakfast
- Buffet lunch
- Professional guide
Not included
- Vinicunca entrance (foreigners S/25)
- Horse (optional, about US$20)
- Trekking poles
- Dinner
Frequently asked questions
The hike is short, but the altitude makes it demanding. With two days acclimatising in Cusco and a slow pace, most travellers reach the viewpoint.
Yes, horses are hired on the trail and paid separately (about US$20). The final stretch to the viewpoint is on foot.
At dawn and at the top, yes. Bring a jacket, hat, gloves and sunscreen: the sun burns at that altitude.
S/25 for foreigners, in cash and in soles. It isn't included in the tour price.
Your opinion
Took this tour? Leave us a review
Real traveler reviews guide others and help us improve. They're published after a quick review.
From
USD 30 per person