Pallay Punchu Mountain of Colors Tour 1 day

Group service for up to 15 visitors to the Pallay Punchu Rainbow Mountain with all-inclusive for 1 day (13 hours).

  • Start of the tour: From the tourist’s hotel in the city of Cusco at 4 in the morning.
  • 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.


Pallay Punchu Colored Mountain Tour Itinerary

This is the itinerary

The tour to the Pallay Punchu Rainbow Mountain begins with the visitor being picked up from the door of their hotel in the city of Cusco (at approximately 4 in the morning).
Next, we will travel in a spacious and comfortable minivan along the southern highway to the town of Cusipata. There we will get off to enjoy a delicious buffet breakfast in a tourist restaurant. The breakfast is made with local ingredients including breads, jams, eggs, fresh fruits, roasted corn, pancakes, juices, hot infusions and, of course, the coca leaf.
After breakfast, we will begin a 58-kilometer journey to the city of Sicuani. There we will stop to see the Langui lagoon, with an average diameter of 15 kilometers. Aboard the tourist transport we will cross the edge of the lagoon to the community of Layo. There we will get off and get ready for the exciting hike to the rainbow mountain of Pallay Punchu. There we will be able to use the restrooms and make last-minute purchases such as snacks or rehydration drinks.
The hike to the Pallay Punchu rainbow mountain is challenging. It is a 3-kilometer hiking route on flat and ascending paths, recommended for tourists with a moderate physical condition. Along the way, the tour guide will explain the typical flora and fauna of the place. We will be able to see the famous Andean camelids such as llamas and alpacas that graze along the paths. With luck, we will be able to see the Andean falcon or the Andean condor, two of the species that fly over high-altitude landscapes.
On the way to Pallay Punchu, we will also see different mountain slopes of various colors, especially red due to the large amount of clay in the area. The route is easy in the first kilometers but becomes more intense as we approach this mountain of colors. The last stretch is an ascent until we reach the top of the mountain, located 4,730 meters above sea level.
Pallay Punchu is a Quechua word that, when translated into Spanish, means “sharp mountain of colors.” As its name indicates, it has mountain slopes with a large ravine of different colors on its slopes. Among its colors, red, brown, yellow, green, magenta, ochre and other shades stand out. This mountain is part of the Apu Taqllo, considered sacred in the Andean worldview. This name, translated from the Quechua language, means “woven poncho.” The slopes of this summit resemble the shape of a poncho dyed in beautiful colors.
The colors of the Pallay Punchu mountain were formed thousands of years ago as a result of the presence of minerals in the earth. From there, visitors will also have a better view of the Langui lagoon and the mountain range belonging to Ausangate. The tour guide will offer an appropriate explanation. In addition, he will offer a ceremony of gratitude to the mountains, just as the people of the Andes Mountains did and continue to do.
The advantage of visiting Pallay Punchu is that, unlike Vinicunca, there are not many visitors yet. This offers the opportunity to have a wonderful landscape almost for the tourist alone.
When the tour guide deems it appropriate, we begin the return walk. This is not as hard as the outward walk, as it is mostly downhill. After a 1 hour 45 minute walk, we arrive back at the Layo campsite, where the tourist transport will be waiting for us to make the return trip.
In the town of Cusipata we will stop again to enjoy a buffet lunch at a tourist restaurant. Lunch includes delicious Peruvian dishes such as lomo saltado, ceviche, papa a la huancaína and others. Of course, it offers hot soups, rice, noodles, meats with stews of chicken, beef, pork and more. It includes hot drinks but not alcoholic drinks or soft drinks.
Once again aboard the tourist transport, we will make the final transfer to the city of Cusco. The tour concludes with the transfer of the tourist to the door of their hotel in the city of Cusco at approximately 5 pm.

Where does the tour take place?

The tour takes place at the rainbow mountain of Pallay Punchu, located about 190 kilometers from the city of Cusco. Unlike the rainbow mountain, Pallay Punchu 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 Pallay Punchu 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, professional guide, breakfast, lunch and supplies such as trekking poles or first aid kit.

What should I bring?

For a safe hike, 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 tour to the rainbow mountain of Pallay Punchu is operated by Machupicchu Terra, 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 are the landscapes I will see on the Pallay Punchu Rainbow Mountain Tour?


What tourist services does the Pallay Punchu tour include?

I pick up

Pick up of the visitor from the door of his hotel and return transfer also to the door of his hotel in 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 a tourist restaurant in the village of 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 for visitor safety (tour at 4,900 meters above sea level).


Map of the route to the Pallay Punchu Colored Mountain

  • 1) From Cusco to Cusipata – After being picked up in Cusco, travel by tourist minivan to the town of Cusipata for breakfast.
  • 2) From Cusipata to Layo – After breakfast, the trip continues by road to the community of Layo where the walk begins.
  • 3) From Layo to the Pallay Punchu rainbow mountain – From Layo begins the 3-kilometer walk until reaching the Pallay Punchu rainbow mountain.


What else you should know about the tour

Pallay Punchu colorful mountain tour Important information about the service
Tourist attractions Pallay Punchu Color Mountain (Group Service).
Start time and arrival time In the city of Cusco (at 4 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 in reasonable physical condition.
Rules during the visit It is not permitted to risk your life by approaching the illegal limits on the roads.
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 Pallay Punchu Rainbow Mountain Tour 1 Day

Pallay Punchu is a compound Quechua word which translated means 'sharp mountain of colors'.
Pallay Punchu is approximately 190 kilometers from the city of Cusco.
Pallay Punchu is at 4,900 meters above sea level.
The walk is 3 kilometers on average. It is a route of moderate difficulty.
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.
Yes, this tour is suitable for visitors of all ages (not recommended for tourists with heart problems).
The tour includes pick-up, full tourist transportation, professional guide in Spanish and English, entrance fees, breakfast, lunch, first aid kit and return to the hotel door in Cusco.
Yes, the mountain is at 4,900 meters above sea level. It is recommended to take the tour in the last days of the trip in Cusco for better acclimatization and reduction of symptoms.
Vinicunca is at 5,200 meters above sea level while Pallay Punchu is at 4,900 meters above sea level. The hiking routes are similar. Both routes are of moderate-challenging difficulty.
Yes, this tourist attraction is open to tourists every day.