Rainbow Mountain

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Rainbow Mountain…WOW!  It has been on my bucket list ever since I saw a picture of it on Instagram.  I couldn’t believe it was so close to Cusco, and I didn’t know about it when I hiked to Machu Picchu. 

Well, when I hiked to Machu Picchu fifteen years ago, the Rainbow Mountain was capped in snow, so no one knew of the magnificent colors that lay below.  Now, however, the mountain with 14 different color minerals attracts thousands of tourists.

Thousands of tourists in an awe-inspiring place was not my idea of fun, so I did some research and found a four day backpacking trip to Rainbow Mountain with Salkantay Trekking that allows you to see the sunrise and sunset on the mountain without the masses.

Unfortunately for me, I ended up with Salmonella poisoning in high altitude.  With a bad pancreas to boot, I spent a night in the clinic getting fluids and had to cancel my trek.  Fortunately for me, I at least got to see Rainbow Mountain by joining a dreaded day tour with the masses.  It is amazing how much my perspective changed due to my intense desire to see Rainbow Mountain, as I really enjoyed it, people and all!

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Tours to Rainbow Mountain

Countless tour companies in Cusco offer one day tours to Rainbow Mountain also known as Vinicunca.  I had no trouble making a last minute reservation in July. The basics of all the tours are the same though the pricing varies. In general, the following happens:

1.  Receive a briefing via email on whats app at the time of reservation or the night before the tour.
2. EARLY morning pickup at guest hotels or from their offices
3. A multiple hour drive to Rainbow Mountain with a stop for breakfast
4. A 3.1 miles or 0.31 mile trek to reach the summit depending on the tour company and parking area they go to.  Due to the altitude and the steep terrain, the 0.31 mile takes around one hour to hike. The 3.1 mile trek takes three or more hours to complete.
5. Time for 30 minutes on the summit
6. Return hike and drive back to Cusco

Differences include different parking lots and thus lengths of the hike; amenities such as hiking sticks, oxygen tanks, bottled water; and perhaps a different route down.  I signed on with Machu Picchu Tours which provided a guide and driver and that was it. 

In all, you spend a limited time on the summit and a lot of time in the car when doing the typical day tour to Rainbow Mountain.  But if you have limited time and resources, at least you get to see a very spectacular place.

Other Things to Know About Rainbow Mountain

1. The roads to Rainbow Mountain are asphalt and dirt.  They wind through mountainous terrain of terraces, sheep, cacti, cows, and more.  Bring your Dramamine if you get car sick
2. There is a traffic jam of white vans at the first check point where they count the passengers and sometimes ask for a passport
3. There is a bathroom for a small fee as well as food and water available at the parking lot
4. You may rent a hiking stick or horse to make the trek
5. Cash is king.  Bring soles
6. There are also motorcycle and quad bike tours that go on a different route
7. There is an additional entry fee to descend through Red Valley and it is worth going
8. You will be sharing the summit with hundreds of tourists
9. Locals offer a passport stamp, photos with alpacas, souvenirs, and food and water at the top for a fee
10. There is a rest room near the summit as well
11. If you rent a horse, you still have to hike the last hundred yards
12. Plan for a sunny day
13. Be aware of the altitude and the signs and danger of altitude sickness.  Coca leaves can help.

Renting a Horse

As I mentioned above, generally speaking, joining the masses in a natural place where I would normally seek solitude was not my first choice.  But given my weakened state, I was grateful just to go.

Taking extra precaution, I rented a horse! Our guide, Tito, organized the deal and all I had to do was pay the going rate.  While I am a horse person, normally I would look at this as cheating.  This time, it was one of the best things I have ever done.  Especially since I struggle with altitude sickness anyway.

Moiseis, the horse owner, guided me past the winded hikers to the waiting area.  Refreshed, I only had to expend energy the last 100 yards to get to the top on foot.  This gave me extra time to enjoy the magnificent views and capture photos from every angle!  The only downside is it is hard to pick a favorite!

I got to spend closer to one hour at the top since the horse walked faster, which I really loved.  I could have only taken the horse up like most people do and hiked down through the Red Valley with my group.  But with an unpredictable stomach, I elected the fastest way between bathrooms.

About Rainbow Mountain

While I didn’t get to see Rainbow Mountain at sunrise or sunset, it was still remarkably beautiful in the late morning beneath a bluebird sky.  The mountain, which stands at 15,600 feet above sea level, features a series of colorful stripes created by different mineral deposits.

The breeze on the summit attracts birds that dive bomb the mountain which was fun to watch.  The breeze can be quite cool, so wear layers.  And if you have a camera, bring it along.  It picks up a lot more color than the cell phone.  To the naked eye, the cell phone photos are what it really looks like.

My words really can’t do Rainbow Mountain justice.  In this case, a picture is worth a thousand words. I’m just happy I saw it in person!  ETB

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