Palccoyo Mountain

The world-famous Vinicunca Rainbow Mountain has garnered plenty of attention over recent years. However, this small site has lost its charm due to the abundance of travelers and overcrowding. Luckily, you can still experience the true beauty of these colorful landscapes on an alternative route to Palyccoyo Mountain. The day begins with early morning pickup at 4 AM from your accommodation in Cusco. Set out on the journey towards the hiking route, stopping by a local restaurant for a hearty breakfast to fill you up for the trip. Arrive at the trail's starting location at 9:30 AM and listen to a briefing to ensure you’re prepared for the 50-minute hike ahead. As you walk to the top of Palyccoyo, admire the incredibly colorful landscapes and meet friendly alpacas that roam the mountains. At the top of Palyccoyo, soak up unspoiled views of your surroundings and marvel at the beauty of nature. You can also opt to continue the hike onto the nearby Stone Forest where another fantastic lookout awaits. After some time to enjoy the view, walk back down the mountain and head to a nearby restaurant for a well-deserved lunch before the return journey to Cusco.

The adventure begins with a transfer from your hotel in Cusco to the starting point of the trek to the impressive Palcoyo mountain range. Alike Vinicunca, the 7-colour mountain, Palcoyo acquires its colouration due to minerals such as iron, magnesium, calcium, among others, accumulated over millions of years, which now offer a visual spectacle. Unlike Vinicunca, the arrival to the Palcoyo mountain range is of a moderate and accessible level since it is a walk without great slopes, reaching a maximum elevation of 4,900 metres above sea level. Upon arrival, enjoy the beautiful view of the mountain range and take a few minutes to appreciate the surroundings calmly thanks to the lower traffic of visitors in the area. After this visit, start the descent and enjoy a picnic-lunch while continuing to enjoy the view. When finished, you are transferred back to your hotel in Cusco.

Enjoy a more leisurely hike and experience the stunning Palccoyo Rainbow Mountain with this full-day hiking excursion from Cusco. After being picked up from your hotel in a private minivan, you will set off from Cusco towards Rainbow Mountain. Drive through quaint traditional villages and take in fantastic views of the Andes as you travel.  Once you've arrived at your drop-off location, you will begin your hike through the stunning landscape surrounding Palccoyo Rainbow Mountain. The route is perfect for families or anyone who enjoys hiking, but who wants to avoid a strenuous 6-hour hike!  After around half an hour of walking you will reach Tres Rainbows, where you can enjoy spectacular views over the entire region and of the Ausangate Glacier. Make the most of some free time to explore the area and take some amazing photographs of the colourful mountains. Following an exhilarating day, sit back and relax as you are transferred back to Cusco.

The adventure begins with your transfer from your hotel to the starting point of the hike to the impressive colored mountain range of Palcoyo. Like the 7-color mountain of Vinicunca, Palcoyo acquires this coloration due to minerals such as iron, magnesium, calcium, among others, accumulated over millions of years and that nowadays offer a visual spectacle. Unlike Vinicunca, getting to the top of the Palcoyo mountain range is of a moderate level and very accessible since it is a walk without significant slopes, reaching a maximum elevation of 4,900 meters above sea level. Upon arrival, enjoy the beautiful view of the mountain range and take some minutes to calmly appreciate the surroundings thanks to the little flow of visitors in the area in comparison with the Vinicunca Mountain. This experience is carried by following the established routes and regulations for its conservation, collaborating with the sustainability of this natural wonder.