High-Altitude Journeys · Route 5 · Day Trip

Rainbow Mountains

We’re Heading to the Red Valley, and Entering the Rainbow Mountains Through the Back Door

Because this route suddenly became “a thing” in recent years, I refused to include it for a long time—I assumed it was simply a marketing miracle. And to be fair, I’ve seen many colorful mountains in this region. But when two beautiful souls insisted on going with me and I finally gave in, I realized: it truly is worth it. So we added this classic spot to our routes—for those who want to see Ausangate up close, reach high altitudes without pushing too hard, and witness a landscape so vividly colored it feels painted.

Most travel agencies leaving Cusco depart at the same hour. Since we design our day outside those peak times, we don’t find ourselves swallowed by the crowds. In fact—hard as it is to believe—we’ve gone to this beautiful place many times with not a single local person or tourist in sight.

Because tourist minibuses struggle on rough roads, we take the side that fewer agencies choose. When you approach popular places this way, you can actually feel their beauty—without losing it inside a sea of people.

Note: Sometimes, due to disagreements between communities—or if you prefer—we can also reach the Rainbow Mountains via Checacupe (Pumamarca) and include the Red Valley as part of the route.

The Route

Summary

Details

Sacred Valley- Cusipata- Rainbow Mountains Road:

I set off from Vamoss Experience (San Salvador). I meet you in Pisac (or wherever you prefer), we chew coca, load your bags into the car, and we begin.

We travel through the valley—not toward Machu Picchu, but in the other direction—and reach Urcos. After breakfast by Urcos Lake, we continue along the main road all the way to Cusipata Village.

This entire road is asphalt; we cover the 90 km in about 1.5 hours (not including stops).

From Cusipata, we begin our ascent [3,330m- 4,650m]. From this point on, the road is rocky. Even if we drove the 25 km without stopping (and there are many places that make you want to stop), it still takes more than an hour. The point we reach is right behind Ausangate Mountain: the Rainbow Mountains.

Trekking: Rainbow Mountains + a very beautiful lake:

This is the Rainbow Mountains—newly “discovered” in recent years, with mountains painted in natural color. From where we leave the car to the viewpoint [4,650–5,000m], there is a trekking trail that is not steep. The distance is a little over 3 km, and the ascent takes up to 1.5 hours.

From the viewpoint we watch the glaciers right in front of us, the clouds hovering close above, and the rainbow-colored mountains spreading out like a living painting. Then, with an easy 2 km walk, we reach one of Ausangate’s beautiful lakes [4,900m]. Ausangate and the Rainbow Mountains are almost like neighbors—side by side. And since the tourist crowds that flood the Rainbow Mountains do not come to this lake, we can often be there—just us.

Return Route:

We return the same way.

Sample Program

Our program isn’t fixed—it shapes itself on the road. To help you sense the flow, here is an example:

06:00
Depart from the Sacred Valley
07:00
A beautiful breakfast by Urcos Lake
09:00
Cusipata Market + final small shopping
11:00
End of the road / we leave the car
Trekking
Rainbow Mountains viewpoint
12:30
We’re with the view
14:00
Walk to the lake
15:00
Silence at the lake
17:00
Meal by our car
17:30
Begin the return
20:30
Back in our beds

What to Bring
  • Sunglasses (polarized if you have them), sunscreen
  • 2 warm layers, beanie, warm socks
  • Walking shoes, windbreaker/rain jacket, warm/thick pants, plastic poncho for rain
  • Spare: socks, pants
  • Towel and swimsuit (for those who want to enter the ice-cold lake)
  • Water bottle, snacks
  • Small gifts for children and people we meet (coca leaves, pens, fruit, toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, notebook, hair clips, small toys, etc.)
  • A musical instrument (if you’d like)

If you don’t have some of the items above, let us know—we can usually lend them.

If we are more than 5 people, we place suitcases and backpacks on the roof of the vehicle. In that case, please bring only essential items inside the car.

Food

We want to note that preparing for your dietary needs (if you have any) is truly a pleasure for us—please keep us informed.

Throughout the trip, we bring plenty of coca leaves, cacao beans, maca, tea varieties, coffee, fruit, peanuts, and raisins for everyone.

Urcos Lake breakfast — contents:

Homemade muesli (oats, pumpkin seeds, coconut oil, chia seeds, walnuts), homemade yogurt or almond milk, fruit, gluten-free or sourdough bread, avocado, Peru’s surprisingly lovely green olives, Peru’s beautiful olive oil, village eggs from a farm in the valley, goat cheese, butter, honey from a community we know, tea varieties, coffee, hot chocolate.

Lunch:

Since we are ascending, we chew coca leaves and eat the fruit and nuts we bring with us—it’s enough.

Dinner:

Vegetable quinoa soup, salad.

Participation Fee
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