Palcoyo Rainbow Mountain Tour 1 day

Group service for up to 15 visitors to the Palcoyo Rainbow Mountain with all-inclusive for 1 day (12 hours).

  • Start of the tour: From the tourist’s hotel in the city of Cusco at 5 am.
  • Tourist transportation: Modern minivan throughout the tour..
  • Type of service: Group service for a maximum of 15 visitors.
  • Tour guide: Professional guide in Spanish and English.
  • Food: Buffet breakfast and lunch at a local tourist restaurant in Cusipata.
  • End of the tour: In a central square or at the tourist’s hotel in the city of Cusco (5 pm on average).
  • Additional: Trekking poles and first aid kit.

This is the tour to the Palcoyo Rainbow Mountain in Cusco

The tour to the Palcoyo Rainbow Mountain is an all-inclusive service. Unlike the visit to Vinicunca, the hike is much simpler, suitable for tourists of all ages. Learn how the tour is done step by step through this educational video.


Palcoyo Rainbow Mountain 1-Day Tour Itinerary

This is the itinerary

The tour to the Rainbow Mountain of Palcoyo begins with the pick-up of the tourist from the door of his hotel in the historic center of Cusco. The pick-up is at 5 in the morning on average.
During the trip, visitors can take the opportunity to rest. Aboard a modern tourist transport, they travel for almost 2 hours to the town of Cusipata in the Southern Valley of Cusco. There, they stop to enjoy a buffet breakfast at the La Montana restaurant, one of the best on the route to the colorful mountains.
Breakfast is buffet style including eggs, breads, butter, jam, avocado, yogurt, cereals, fruits, juices, coffee, pancakes and more.
After a delicious breakfast, the group will be able to use the restrooms. After that, they must board the tourist transport to continue the journey by dirt road until arriving, about forty-five minutes later, at the rural community of Palcoyo, located at an average of 4,600 meters above sea level. There, the group will get ready to begin a very simple walk, which does not require horseback riding. The walk lasts only 20 minutes and the visitor will be able to take beautiful photographs at one of the viewpoints of the Palcoyo mountain.
The tour to the Palcoyo Rainbow Mountain, unlike the tour to the Rainbow Mountain, is simple and does not require great physical effort. This visit is suitable for people of any age.
However, the visitor will be accompanied at all times by a professional tour guide. The guide is responsible for providing all the information to the visitor. In addition, he helps with photographs and offers the greatest security with his first aid knowledge.
Palcoyo is famous for its mountain slopes with landscapes of various colors, especially red. The colors are formed by the great variety of minerals in the place, formed millions of years ago. It is not necessary to reach the main viewpoint to obtain beautiful photographs of this tourist attraction. On the route, visitors can also take photos with alpacas from the local community.
After getting the best photos in Palcoyo, the guide will tell the group to return to the tourist transport. This route is on foot, along the same path taken to get there. Likewise, this route is very simple. In less than 30 minutes the visitor will be in the tourist transport ready to return to Cusipata and enjoy a delicious lunch.
On the way back, at the suggestion of the tour guide, the tourist transport can stop to enjoy the beautiful landscapes of the valley. The tourist can also visit the Checacupe bridge.
After almost an hour of travel, you arrive back at the town of Cusipata. There you will stop again to enjoy a delicious buffet lunch at the La Montana restaurant. Lunch offers rice, pasta, stews, chicken, fish, trout, beef, stews, ceviche, corn, potatoes, salads, desserts, infusions and much more. Alcoholic beverages are not included.
Finally, the tourist transport is re-boarded for the return trip to the city of Cusco. The tour ends in a central square (such as in Limacpampa or near the Plaza de Armas). Another option, at the visitor’s request, is to be driven to the door of the tourist’s hotel at approximately 5 pm.


Where does the tour take place?

The tour takes place at the rainbow mountain of Palcoyo, located about 90 kilometers from the city of Cusco. Unlike the rainbow mountain, Palcoyo is located at a lower altitude, about 4,900 meters above sea level on average (Vinicunca is at 5,200 meters above sea level).

What services are included?

The Palcoyo tour is an all-inclusive service that has everything you need for a comfortable and safe visit. The tour includes hotel pick-up, full transportation, entrance fees, a professional guide, breakfast, lunch, and supplies such as trekking poles or a first aid kit. Horseback riding to Palcoyo is not necessary since the walk is short.

What should I bring?

For a comfortable and safe trip, it is recommended to bring leggings, trousers, a polo shirt, and a windbreaker. Due to the cold mountain wind, it is also recommended to bring a cap, gloves, a jacket, thick socks, neck warmers, etc. In addition, it is recommended to bring cash to buy souvenirs.

Why choose this tour?

The Palcoyo Rainbow Mountain Tour is organized by the Machupicchu Terra team, an operating company with more than 10 years of experience making safe and well-organized trips. The tour includes additional equipment such as trekking poles or a first aid kit. It also has the best tour guides in Cusco.


What landscapes will I see on the Palcoyo Rainbow Mountain tour?


What services does the tour include?

I pick up

Pick up of tourists from the door of their hotel and return transfer also to the door of their hotel in the city of Cusco.

Transport

Fully equipped tourist minivan with capacity for a maximum of 15 visitors.

Guide

Professional tour guide in Spanish or English (guides have first aid knowledge).

Feeding

Buffet breakfast and lunch at La Montana tourist restaurant in Cusipata (local restaurant).

Tickets

All entrance tickets are already included in the price of the tour (visitors will not have to wait in lines).

Kit

First aid kit and trekking poles included in the tour for visitor safety (tour at 4,900 meters above sea level).


Route map: Palcoyo rainbow mountain tour 1 day

The tour follows the route: Cusco – Cusipata – Palcoyo – Palcoyo Rainbow Mountain. Learn step by step how to do this route with the educational map.

  • 1) From Cusco to Cusipata – After being picked up in the city of Cusco, you will travel by tourist minivan to the town of Cusipata (breakfast).
  • 2) From Cusipata to Palcoyo – After breakfast, the trip continues by dirt road towards the community of Palcoyo (at 4,700 meters above sea level).
  • 3) From Palcoyo to the Palcoyo rainbow mountain – From Palcoyo, the 1-kilometer walk begins, enjoying the viewpoints of the Palcoyo rainbow mountain.


What else you should know about the tour

Palcoyo Rainbow Mountain Tour Important information about the service
Tourist attractions Palcoyo Rainbow Mountain in group service.
Start time and arrival time In the city of Cusco (at 5 am) / Arrival in the same city of Cusco (at 5 pm on average).
Recommended tour for some visitors Tour recommended for visitors of all ages.
Rules during the visit Access to the slopes of the Palcoyo rainbow mountain is not permitted (only access to the viewing points is permitted).
Safety during the visit It is recommended to take the tour during the last days of your visit to Cusco, to achieve better acclimatization.
Change of date or tour holders Changes to the tour are allowed up to 5 days before (under penalty of 10% of the tour value).
Tour Cancellations Cancellations of the tour are allowed up to 5 days before (under penalty of 25% of the tour value).



Questions and answers about the Palcoyo Rainbow Mountain Tour – Group Service

The tour to Palcoyo does not require as difficult a hike as the route to Vinicunca. Palcoyo is at 4,900 meters above sea level, while Vinicunca is at 5,200 meters above sea level.
The tour to Palcoyo is carried out in a group service of fifteen visitors maximum. The tour is usually carried out in groups of 10 visitors.
The tour to the rainbow mountain of Palcoyo can be done any day of the year. For most tourists, the most recommended date is between April and November because there is less chance of rain. On some days in January, February or March, the mountain may be covered in snow. It is recommended to choose the date of the tour during the last days of your visit in Cusco (to achieve better acclimatization).
No, the route to the Palcoyo rainbow mountain is only 1 kilometer long. It is suitable for visitors of all ages.
The summit of the Palcoyo rainbow mountain is located at 4,900 meters above sea level.
Yes, the tour is suitable for visitors of all ages (not recommended for tourists with heart problems).
No, unlike the tour to the Rainbow Mountain, the visit to Palcoyo does not require renting a horse because the walk is very short. There are viewpoints at the beginning of the route to appreciate the landscape.
No, the hike to the Palcoyo rainbow mountain is only 1 kilometer long. It is suitable for tourists of any age.
The hike to the 7-color mountain (Vinicunca) is definitely more challenging than the route to Palcoyo. The hike to Vinicunca is more than 3 kilometers, while the route to Palcoyo is only 1 kilometer.
Yes, Palcoyo can be visited every day of the year.