Peru – Rainbow Mountains Trek
Peru – Rainbow Mountains Trek
- Duration
- 8 Days
- Group Size
- 10-20
- Location
- Peru

- Physicality
- Intermediate
- £2,185 Per Person
- Enquire Now
The RAINBOW MOUNTAINS TREK is a stunning, remote trek past snow-capped mountains, turquoise lakes, glacial peaks, and colourful striated Rainbow mountains! The Rainbow Trek is a new route located in the high Andes and traverses the incredibly colourful Vinicunca or Rainbow Mountains. This beautiful multi-day hike is tucked away in a well-hidden section of the Vilcanota Mountain range. Surrounded by glacial mountains, this route treks in the shadow of the highest mountain in the Cusco Region, Ausangate (6300m/21,000ft). The route is 52km/32.3 miles long and goes from 3300m/10,827ft to 5050m/16,568ft. This is a true off the beaten path trek; above the tree line with incredible views of the Andes and glacial peaks.
** We also offer payment plan options. Call us or send an e-mail to find out more **
INTERMEDIATE
A good level of fitness, building on prior experience to enhance your ability and keep those challenges going on a journey of progression. Enjoys using clothing and equipment that generally work well but forever prepared to learn and share experiences with others. 6-7hrs of walking each day.
DEPARTURE/RETURN LOCATION
Departure is usually London Heathrow, this may vary and the specific location will be provided upon booking.
All international and connecting return flights are not included in the EDGE Travel Worldwide trip price per person. If you would like EDGE Travel Worldwide to book your flights, please note there will be a £100 administration fee applied.
DAY 1 Welcome to Peru – Lima.
After picking up your luggage and clearing customs you will meet your driver and guide as you walk towards the exit of the international terminal. This will still be inside the building but just beyond the fence/barrier as you walk towards the exit doors. He will be waiting for you on foot with an EDGE Travel Worldwide sign in his hand. He will walk you to the large sprinter van that will take you directly to your hotel in Miraflores (approx. 45 min drive). Settle into your room and rest up after your travels and have dinner at one of the many, delicious restaurants in Miraflores. You have an exciting trip ahead, filled with ancient ruins, local markets and hiking through the beautiful Andean Mountains!
Overnight: San Agustin Hotel, Miraflores
DAY 2 Fly to Cusco
Rest, Relax, Explore Cusco. Wake up early to have breakfast and take private transport back to the airport (approx. 1 hour depending on traffic) to catch your flight to the Inca capital of Cusco where Quechua and Spanish speaking descendants of the Incas hustle back and forth in the busy plazas and markets. Colonial churches sit atop bases of eerily accurate and smooth Inca stonework laid centuries before the arrival of the Conquistadors.
The afternoon is yours to explore Cusco’s narrow streets and bustling markets. Travelers can explore the churches and surrounding ruins, wander through Cusco’s busy center, shop in local markets, see local artisan workshops in the old San Blas neighbourhood, or just people watch in the Plaza de Armas. There are many half day tours that can be arranged on request if desired. The night is yours to explore and discover the many places to enjoy a wide range of food and entertainment. At 7pm your guide will come to your hotel to provide a briefing about the trek and give each guest a dry bag, in which to put your overnight clothes, toiletries, sleeping bag, mattress pad, up to 8kg per person.
Overnight: Three Star Hotel in Cusco, Peru (San Agustin International, Cusco)
(Breakfast)
DAY 3 Cusco
Today is yours to explore Cusco’s narrow streets, little shops and cafes. Travelers can visit churches, museums, wander through Cusco’s busy center, shop the local markets, see local artisan workshops in the old San Blas neighbourhood, enjoy a massage, or just people watch in the Plaza de Armas. This day is essential to help also acclimatise for the trek.
Overnight: Three Star Hotel in Cusco, Peru (San Agustin International, Cusco)
(Breakfast)
DAY 4-7
Four Day Rainbow Mountain Trek
The RAINBOW MOUNTAIN TREK is a stunning, remote trek past snow-capped mountains, turquoise lakes, glacial peaks, and colourful striated Rainbow mountains! The Rainbow Trek is a new route located in the high Andes and traverses the incredibly colourful Vinicunca or Rainbow Mountains. This beautiful multi-day hike is tucked away in a well- hidden section of the Vilcanota Mountain range. Surrounded by glacial mountains, this route treks in the shadow of the highest mountain in the Cusco Region, Ausangate (6300m/21,000ft). The route is 52km/32.3 miles long and goes from 3300m/10,827ft to 5050m/16,568ft. This is a true off the beaten path trek; above the tree line with incredible views of the Andes and glacial peaks.
Overnight: Spacious and comfortable 3-person, 4 season Mountain Hardwear Tents (double occupancy)
(Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)
DAY 4 Cusco – Tinqui Village – Upis
(camping at hot springs) Early transfer from your hotel in Cusco with 6:00 am departure. We drive for 4 hours on a new highway to Tinqui, passing Urcos Pass (4,000 m/13,123 ft) along the way. Tinqui is a village on the high plains “altiplano” east from Cusco and is where we will start our trek. We follow a wide, gently ascending path toward the northwest face of the impressive Ausangate mountain. We will have a small lunch around noon by the side of the trail. We will continue walking through fields and by scattered stone farm houses, and later in the day we will begin to see llamas and alpacas. We ascend gently to the Upis pass (4,435 m/14,107 ft) and camp at Upis Hot Springs (4,250 m/13,779 ft) where we will be surrounded by snow-capped mountains (Ausangate and Maria Huamantilla). Happy hour (tea and snacks) at 4:00pm and dinner at 6:00pm. There are thermal springs at Upis where we can enjoy a soak at the end of the day (10 soles entrance fee).
Trek length: 16 km/9.9 miles (6-hour acclimatizing hike).
Camp elevation: 4100m/13,450ft
(Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)
DAY 5 Upis – Arapa Pass – Pucaccocha
After an early breakfast we begin our second day of the hike. You will hike very close to the Ausangate Glacier Peak and will have incredible views of this mountain as well as beautiful lakes and waterfalls. We may see some llamas, alpacas and wild vicuñas (the undomesticated ancestor of the alpaca) and perhaps a rare condor soaring above. We will have a 3-hour uphill hike to reach the first pass (4800m/15,748ft) where you will have magnificent views of the surrounding area. After taking a few amazing pictures we continue hiking gradually downhill for another 11⁄2 hours to our beautiful lunch spot. After lunch we hike for another 21⁄2 hours to arrive at our campsite at Puca Ccocha (Red Lake). This spot is one of the most beautiful campsites located at the skirt of the Ausangate peak and at the bank of the lake.
Trek length: 12km/7.5 miles (7-8 hours)
Campsite elevation: 4300m/14,100ft
(Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)
DAY 6 Pucaccocha – Puca Pass – Anantapata – Warmisaya – Yanacocha Lake
Wake up early with a hot cup of coca tea to start one of the most beautiful days of the trek, enjoying majestic views of some of the highest peaks in the Andes and depths of the beautiful valleys. This morning we will summit the Puca Pass. After an early breakfast we begin our 2-hour steep climb to the Puca Pass at (5050m/16,568ft). Along the way we have gorgeous views of turquoise lakes and the Ausangate glacier. Once you reach the summit of this mountain, you will be located right in front of the Ausangate Mountain and you can enjoy the views of Chillca Valley, with alpaca grazing along these hills.
Also, from this pass you will see the beginning of the Rainbow Mountain range with their strikingly striated colours. After taking some great pictures we continue gradually downhill for another 2 hours
until we reach our lunch spot located at Anantapata 4400m/14,435ft with amazing views of green hills and snow-capped peaks. After lunch and a little rest and relaxation, we will hike gradually uphill for 11⁄2 hours until we reach the Warmisaya (aka Pitumarca) pass 5050m/16,568ft. After enjoying the views at the top, we descend for 20 minutes to Yanacocha lake where we set up camp for the night. After dropping our bags, we take our gradual 1-hour sunset hike to the Rainbow Mountain Pass and watch as the sun sets over the stunning Rainbow Valley. Once we have finished enjoying the view, we hike 45 minutes back down to camp at Yanacocha to have happy hour (tea and snacks) followed by a hearty dinner.
Trek length: 17.7 km/11 miles (about 7.5-8 hours)
Highest pass on the trek: 5050m/16,568ft
Campsite elevation: 4400m/14,435ft
(Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)
DAY 7 Yanacocha Lake – Rainbow Mountains – Rainbow Valley – Hanchipata – Cusco
After a very early breakfast (5am) we hike 1 hour up to the Rainbow Mountain Pass (Vinicunca Mountains or Montañas de Colores), the highest pass of the trek, again to see the beautiful Rainbow Valley at sunrise (5050m/16,568ft)! Enjoy the view for an hour without the crowds as we are one of the first groups to arrive. Your guide will walk you to the best spots to get the perfect postcard pictures of these incredible mountains and the other surrounding peaks. Your guide will explain what makes these mountains so unique: they are composed of various minerals, which make different colours of stone striations. This is definitely one of the most stunning places in South America and one of the most beautiful natural attractions in Peru. There are Rainbow Mountains in only a few other locations in the world. After enjoying the sunrise view we hike for 4.5 hours further into the Rainbow Valley than any other trekking company. You will be able to walk along the beautiful Rainbow Mountains and hike behind these peaks to experience the Red Mountain Valley with all it’s incredible colours. You will see a small waterfall and some sections of this trail are rocky, narrow and uneven. Enjoy the views as we walk to the small community Hanchipata (3800m/12,467ft) where we will have lunch and end our trek. After lunch our private transport will drive us back to Cusco – about a 3.5 hour drive that provides nice views of the Andes, passing some traditional villages along the way. Once in Cusco we will go to our hotel to freshen up and relax before our celebratory group dinner.
- Trek length: 16 km /9.95 miles (about 5.5 hours)
- Overnight: Three Star Hotel in Cusco, Peru (San Agustin International, Cusco)
(Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)
DAY 8 AM Flight to Lima and Return Home
Private transport will pick you up from the hotel or a pre-determined location to take you to the Cusco airport for your departing flight home:
Transport: Private car or van to the Cusco airport
(Breakfast)
Please Note
Based on 3-star accommodation for the whole itinerary
All accommodation is based on double rooms (sharing)
To confirm the trail, it is necessary to have the full data of all clients at the time of booking:
Full name, passport number, expiration date, date of birth and nationality.
Vaccinations & Protection
Make an appointment with your Doctor to discuss and also gain written confirmation of what is needed by the relevant Consulate of your trip destination. A third source of reference is: www.travelhealthpro.org.uk EDGE Travel Worldwide is not responsible to list or advise; which vaccinations or any other travel medication you may need on your trip. This is your responsibility. Special Note: Visa and vaccination requirements are subject to change and should be confirmed before departure.
Personal Expenses
You will need extra money to cover the cost of drinks, souvenirs, meals (where applicable) airport taxes, etc. It is advisable to change money on arrival at international airports whilst waiting for your luggage, as opportunities for changing money are subsequently few. Credit cards are generally not accepted.
Altitude
The altitude of the Rainbow mountains and Inca Trail makes the trip most suitable for the more serious walker with previous experience of hill walking. Extreme cases of Acute Mountain Sickness are rare, but if it becomes necessary for someone to abandon the trek in the interests of safety, the Tour Leaders decision on this is final.
Experience
Bearing the above in mind, we ask for a synopsis of recent walking experience from people intending to go on the trip.
Medical Examination
You should visit your GP and specifically mention the maximum altitude the trek reaches, i.e. 5,050m.
Personal medication
Please note all illness, injuries and medication need to be disclosed to EDGE Travel Worldwide at time of booking – please seek advice from your Doctor to your suitability of participating on this trip.
Tipping
In this area, tipping is a recognised part of life. Although EDGE Travel Worldwide pays most gratuities for the trip, porters and guides on the trips still look to members of the group for reward. Accordingly, you should allow $100 for tipping. (Please carry low denominations of US Dollar currency.)
Meal Plan
Local food and drink: Meals other than those included in the itinerary are paid for separately by the traveller.
Clothing and equipment required for the trekking part of the trip
A backpack with a change of clothes for the whole period of the trek
Water proofing for the backpack and items in the backpack
Sleeping bag
Walking poles
Sock’s
Underwear
Warm clothing including for head, hands, mouth and neck
Waterproof and breathable jacket and trousers
Gaiters
Walking boots
Sandals
Walking poles
Head torch and batteries
Camera and batteries
Sun hat
Sun block
Sun lotion
After-sun lotion
Insect repellent – minimum recommended 20% DEET – no malaria risk has been reported
Handkerchiefs
oilet paper
Wet wipes
Ear plugs
Eye mask
Small hand towel
Hand sanitizer
Snacks: chocolate, nuts, dried fruit, seeds
Adequate Water containers for the trekking phase. Important notice: disposable water bottles are no longer allowed on the Inca Trail.
Swimsuit (if you wish to go to the hot springs)
Cash in soles and/or US$
Personal first air kit
Toiletries
Essential toiletries for women
Essential toiletries for men
Camera
Diary
Included
- 8 nights at selected hotels and camp sites
- UK experienced Tour Leader throughout the trip
- Airport transfers in Peru
- All Tours & Guides in private/group where mentioned
- All intermediate transfers & Entrance fees
- All domestic ground transportation
- Trekking Permits Trekking Phase
- Transport to the start of the Rainbow Mountain trekking phase and back to Cusco at the end
- Entrance fee to the Rainbow Mountains
- Porters to carry tents and food
- Cook service
- Transfers to and from your hotel
- All applicable taxes
- Bilingual guide
- Camping equipment including tents and air mattresses/kit mat/thermarest
- Kitchen tent and eating tent
- Medical Assistance
- All relevant Bus tickets
- All Meals as indicated in the itinerary
- All meals are provided for the trekking phase
Not Included
- International flights
- Meals in areas not stated
- Domestic flights
- Personal purchases whilst in Peru
- Transfer Airport Taxes in Peru (Approximately £50)
- Personal Travel Insurance
- Tipping