During the Palcoyo Mountain Tour, you will discover the second rainbow mountain hidden in Cusco, which stands out for its easy accessibility and beautiful natural landscapes. Have you ever heard about the Vinicunca?, also called the Mountain of the 7 Colors or Rainbow Mountain. This natural attraction is located in Cusco and grows in popularity every day. But know? Today, there is another similar attraction called the Mountain of the Seven Colors of Palcoyo. This is the destination that we will discover during the Palcoyo Mountain Tour in the Andes of Peru and enjoy a unique view of Ausangate Mountain. Beyond the splendid panorama with which one is, on Palcoyo Mountain Tour you will enjoy different activities that you can perform.
In this Palcoyo Mountain Tour, you can also appreciate a forest of stones that gives a mystical attraction to the place and that is perfect for lovers of nature and trekking. On the way to Checacupe, you can visit the colonial temple that has fine works of wood carving, gold leaves, and houses paintings of the Cusco school. In addition, you can learn about the Inca, Colonial, and Republican ancestral bridges. So, are you ready to discover Palcoyo Rainbow Mountain?
Trek’s Difficulty: 2 – moderate; a low-altitude hike, accessible to healthy travelers.
Age Requirement: 4+. Please note: all participants under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
Palcoyo permits: It is included in your trip to Palcoyo.
Crew: A professional Biligual Tour Guide.
Meals: 1x breakfast, 1x lunch.
Transportation: Tourist transportation.
04:30 am: Pick up from your hotel in Cusco
07:00 am: Transportation from Cusco to Checacupe
10:00 am: Visit of the Palcoyo community
10:30 am: Arrival at the parking lot (view of the first mountain of colors) + briefing
11:00 am: Visit of the second mountain of colors “Palcoyo mountain“
10:30 am: Visit the third mountain of colors + pause with coca tea
11:00 am: Hike to the Stone Forest (optional) with a spectacular view
12:30 am: Return to car
01:50 pm: Lunch in a restaurant
05:00 pm: Arrival at Cusco
Note: All times are approximate.
|
Start of the Tour in Cusco |
04:30 am – 05:00 am |
|
Return to Cusco |
from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. |
|
Maximum height |
5040 m.s.n.m. |
|
Total walk distance |
5 km |
| Duration of the trek |
45 – 60 minutes |
|
Difficulty level |
Easy – Moderate |
|
Group size |
2 – 8 passengers |
|
Best time to visit |
May – Nov |
| Duration |
4:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
|
Travellers |
Palcoyo cost |
|
01 Traveler |
U$ 180 |
|
02 – 03 Travelers |
U$ 100 per person |
|
04 – 06 Travelers |
U$ 80 per person |
|
05 – 10 Travelers |
U$ 50 per person |
| 11 – 15 Travelers |
U$ 45 per person |
Note important: In the private service included a profesional English or Spanish speaking tour guide and a pair of the hiking poles.
All travellers ask about “What is the difference between Palcoyo and Rainbow Mountain“. These mountains are similar, only the difference is the distance to visit it. To find a less challenging alternative to Vinicunca Mountain, you can put on your hiking boots and head to Palcoyo Mountain, this mountain is a sister of the Rainbow mountain Peru is ubicated in Ausangate. The Palcoyo tour have a the best scenic trail and a beautifully mountains.
Unlike the Instagram phenomenon that is the Rainbow Mountain, Palcoyo is an insider secret among locals. Thanks to its short and gentle climb, Palcoyo is suitable for everyone. Also, Palcoyo is far less crowded, making it the best place to enjoy the multicolored mountains without waiting for that perfect split second for a photo.
Palcoyo Mountain |
Rainbow Mountain |
|
| Visiting Traveller | 50 – 100 per day | 1000 – 2500 per day |
| Distance to walk | 45 min – 1 hr | 1 hrs 30 min |
| Activity Level | Easy/Moderate | Moderate/ Difficult |
| Distance of the trail | 7 km | 6 Km |
| Altitude | 4971 m | 5102 m |
| Driving to the head trail | 4 hrs 20 min | 4 hrs |
| Rainbow Mountains | 3 | 1 |
| Attractions | Hiking to the red river, Llamas and Alpacas, mountains | Hike with an Alpaca or Llama, local people with traditional clothes, red and rainbow mountain |
If you want to have more experience in your holidays, we recommend you add extra trips to Palcoyo mountain. Trekking & Hiking offer you adventure packages to enjoy the beautiful country of Peru, live the adventure of an incredible trip, and get to know why this style is great for you. As travelers move on foot through rural areas often, trekking gives them an up-close view of incredible scenery. The most popular hike in Peru is Inca Trail, in case it sold out, the alternative hike is best option for you::
If you don’t want to hike to Machu Picchu, we recommend you to take the trip from Cusco to Machu Picchu. in this trip involve the driving to the train station, train and bus up to Machu Picchu, guide tour in the lost city of the Incas or spend a night and wake up early and visit Machu Picchu early morning, see the sunrise and climb up to the Huayna Picchu mountain.
We will pick you up at your hotel around 04.30 am. Then we will left Cusco and start our adventure going to the south of the city. Passing through valleys, rivers, mountains and some smaller communities, we reach our starting point at 4900 meters above sea level. We walk uphill for approximately 45 minutes to the highest point of our excursion that is 5000 meters away, passing through the unique formations of the rainbow mountain range.
The incredible view of the Ausangate mountain covered with snow is really impressive!!! Once we are at the top of our point of view, we will have the Vilcanota Mountain Range in front of us. You will have all the time to rest and take amazing pictures. Then, we will descend for approximately 30 minutes to the starting point to finally take the bus to the place where we will have a delicious lunch and then return to Cusco where we will arrive around 5:30 p.m.
NOTES:
The Mountain of the Seven Colors of Palccoyo is a set of colored peaks similar to Vinicunca (Rainbow Mountain), due to a mineralization process over millions of years.
The Palccoyo Rainbow Mountain Range is located 124 km southeast of Cusco, at an altitude of 4,900 meters above sea level.
In addition to being a natural attraction of incomparable beauty, the Mountain of Seven Colors is the natural habitat of various types of animals such as llamas, alpacas, vizcachas, condors and more.
On the route that connects Cerro Colorado there is a stone forest formed naturally millions of years ago. From there you can closely appreciate the beauty of the Ausangate mountain, the largest in Cusco.
Palccoyo is located at 4,900 meters above sea level (m.a.s.l.), 300 meters at a lower altitude than the Mountain of the 7 Colors Vinicunca (5,200 m.s.n.m.).
As with Vinicunca, the Palccoyo Rainbow Mountain Range has such striking colors due to the minerals found here, such as red clay, sandstone or copper oxide. It is believed that millions of years ago, this area was completely covered with water, which brought all these sediments that give Palccoyo these characteristic colors.
Although the main goal of Palccoyo is to visit the Rainbow Mountain Range, the landscape will surprise you with other wonders of nature. On the one hand, on the way to Palccoyo you will find an impressive stone forest, with truly huge rocks and with striking shapes.
On the other hand, this Rainbow Mountain Range is accompanied by an impressive deep red valley that will make you feel like on Mars.
And as if this were not enough, you will do all the trekking with llamas and vicuñas as traveling companions. Doesn’t sound bad at all, right?
Also, if you want to make the most of your trip to Palccoyo, we recommend taking a walk through the district of Checacupe. Here, you will be able to appreciate in one place three bridges from different eras: Inca, colonial and republican.
As always, we recommend doing this route with an authorized travel agency. The Palccoyo tour takes just one day. Normally, the route departs at eight in the morning from Cusco and returns the same day at seven in the afternoon. In addition, many companies stop at other tourist attractions in the area, such as the Raqchi Archaeological Complex, the Four Lagoons or Checacupe. So you can take advantage of every minute to get to know different places along the way!
IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
The walk to get to Palccoyo requires regular physical effort, so it is necessary that you acclimatize in Cusco for at least two days prior to the excursion. This will help to condition the body for altitude, and avoid acute mountain sickness. The route does not present slopes and passes through terrain without many slopes so the difficulty is less compared to the ascent to Vinicunca.
Do you want a Group Hike? Or do you enjoy more a Solo Hiking: This is the first question that you should think before make a decision beetween Vinicunca or Palcoyo rainbow Mountain visit. Many say that the Vinicunca mountain and the Palcoyo Cusco mountain range are very similar, but one landscape can never be identical to the other, the difference always exists whether in temperature, altitude, landscape beauty or other, because each landscape is made up of a multitude of essential elements without comparing their little details that sometimes tend to be the most significant. Discover Palcoyo Mountain Tour with us and amaze yourself with a unique experience in Peru!!!
Here 3 Facts of Palcoyo vs Vinicunca:
| Vinicunca Mountain | Palcoyo Mountain Range | |
| Height: | 5,200 m.a.s.l | 4,900 m.a.s.l |
| Difficulty: | Moderate Trip | Easy Trip |
| Walk distance: | 5 km | 2 Km |
| Walking Time: | 3 h. at 2 h. | 1 h. |
| Landscape: | Spectacular | Spectacular |
| Visitors: | Many Visitors | Few Visitors |
| Duration of the Trip in Transportation: | 3 Hours | 3 Hours |
| Price: |
Vinicunca tour cheap: USD 40 Vinicunca tour private: USD 200 |
Palcoyo tour cheap: USD 80 Palcoyo tour private: USD 320 |
RELATED: Palcoyo Mountain vs Rainbow Mountain
The best time to visit the Palccoyo Mountains is between April and December, during the dry season. During these months the weather is much more pleasant and sunny unlike the rainy season, which runs between January and March.
The place is characterized by having cold mornings and hot sunsets, so we recommend that you prepare yourself with light and warm clothing. Also, a cap or hat, sunglasses, a waterproof jacket and gloves for the cold are essential. We recommend you take into account the outdoor clothing layering system.
The Palcoyo Rainbow Mountain has a cold climate due to its proximity to the snowy Ausangate. The temperature can drop below 0 ° C. That is why, at certain times of the year, the slopes are covered with snow.
Due to the cold weather, visits to the Palcoyo Cusco are only in the mornings and part of the afternoons. The hours of operation are 8 a.m. at 3 p.m.
The best time to visit the Palcoyo Rainbow Mountain is during the dry season (from April to October). In those months, rains occur much less frequently, making the trip easy.
The tour to Palcoyo Rainbow Mountain costs approximately 70 dollars (USD). The price varies according to each travel agency and the quality of the service they provide.
Visiting Palcoyo Rainbow Mountain is also possible without a tour. To do this, you only have to make the trip on your own to the town of Checacupe. From there, you can purchase the entrance tickets directly. The visit without a tour is without a tour guide.
To visit Palcoyo Rainbow Mountain on your own, you must purchase the entrance ticket in the town of Palccoyo. The cost for foreigners is 10 soles (3 dollars). National tourists pay 5 soles (2 dollars).
Tours to Palcoyo Rainbow Mountain vary according to the tourism agency. In general, tours include the following:
At first glance, this mountain in the Andes of Peru, with stretches of turquoise, lavender, red and golden earth, seems to be an illusion created by tools such as Photoshop.
However, this attraction, at 5200 meters above sea level, is very real. The nearby inhabitants call it Vinicunca, the Rainbow Mountain.
This variegated mountain, which has mineral sediments dating back millions of years, was discovered only about five years ago, according to local inhabitants. Since then it has become an unmissable attraction for many hikers. Vinicunca Rainbow Mountain Tour
Humantay Lake is one of the most spectacular landscapes along the Salkantay Trail, This full-day tour gives you the opportunity to visit this turquoise color lagoon located at the base of the Humantay mountain, which takes 1.5 hours of ascending walk to reach the paradise on the mountains. Humantay is one of the snow-capped mountains in the Vilcabamba mountain range and the glacier melt makes a beautiful lagoon that may be visiting for those you like a little bit of hiking and being in the mountains for hours, this hiking option is perfect for those who want to get out of the routine for a day. During the tour, we will provide you with a professional service supported by our professional guides and transported by modern and safe vehicles and you will try the local dishes since this tour included lunch and breakfast. Humantay Lake Tour from Cusco
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