Rainbow mountain full day

This may just be a day trip to Rainbow Mountain, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy. In fact, we rate this trek as moderate. There are two factors that affect the difficulty of this day hike: the altitude and the steep uphill climb. Your Rainbow Mountain 1 day trek starts at an altitude of 4650m (15,255 ft). That’s already very high up and you must be well acclimatized before beginning the hike. From there, you will hike for 1.5h to 2h up to Vinicunca Pass, the classic viewpoint for Rainbow Mountain. While Rainbow Mountain itself has an altitude of 5200m (17,060 ft), Vinicunca Pass is located at 5040m (16, 535 ft), the highest point you will reach on this hike. That’s enough to take your breath away – literally!

While the hike is only a couple of hours, it is a very steep, uphill climb, with an elevation gain of nearly 400m (1312 ft). This can be very strenuous for most people. Of course, others will find the return trip down even harder! Steep inclines can be very hard on the knees. Make sure you are prepared for the strain on your lungs and your knees for this trek, and that you know your body can handle it. We recommend walking sticks!

Physical fitness is highly individual and any formal training you undertake for your trek should be done in consultation with a medical professional or fitness expert.

The fitter you are, the easier and more enjoyable the hike is going to be for you. Obviously, you want to have fun while on holiday so taking the time to get fit is in your best interest!

If you are someone who regularly works out, you’ve got a great HeadStart and will probably find the Rainbow Mountain 1 day trek tough but achievable. If you’re maybe a little older, or don’t have a regular fitness routine, we recommend you start one!

Doing some day hikes at home before heading to Peru – especially ones that involve climbing or mountain terrain – is a great way to prepare. If you don’t live near any mountains, go for extended walks in your city, or else, head to the gym for some good cardiovascular training.

Rainbow Mountain altitude is very high – you will reach OVER 5000m (16,404 ft) on this hike. Altitude sickness is serious business, so to avoid getting sick on the trail, it’s important to acclimatize. How can you acclimatize to the altitude before hiking to Rainbow Mountain? It’s very easy: spend time at a high-altitude place like Cusco! Altitude is something that your body needs to adjust to so all it really needs is time. The more time you can spend at altitude before starting any hike, the better. Because of the very high altitude of Rainbow Mountain, we think 3 days is the minimum acclimatization period for this day trip.

In addition, being kind to your body helps your body deal with the extra pressures that altitude creates. This means eating healthy, light meals; staying away from alcohol; resting; and drinking lots of water.

The best time of the year to do a Rainbow Mountain Day trip is during the dry season, from May to September. These months are winter in the Andes so it can feel quite cold, but it usually means there is little to no rain. Clear sunny days and dry trail conditions are perfect for hiking!

December through March is the rainy season in the Andes and hiking to the Rainbow Mountain is not recommended. Sustained, heavy rains can make the trail unsafe. Rain quite often means snow at higher elevations, too, which is not only unpleasant to hike through, but could dramatically affect your views the striped mountains!

Exact walking times depend on the relative fitness and speed of everyone in your group. On average, the hike to Vinicunca Pass (the Rainbow Mountain viewpoint) takes 1.5 to 2 hours. Total round-trip walking time (up and back down) is approximately 2.5 to 3 hours.

No. As this is a one-day hike to Rainbow Mountain, it is assumed that your devices will be sufficiently well charged for a day’s excursion. Bring along extra batteries as a back-up!

Our Rainbow Mountain Day trip includes a delicious breakfast and lunch. It includes bottled water. Vegetarian and gluten-free options are available upon request!

You do not need to purchase any additional permits to do this day trip. The local community around Rainbow Mountain charges an entrance fee to access the mountain, but this fee is included in the cost of your trek.

All you need to take with you is a day pack. In your day pack, you should carry things like your water bottle, some extra layers, camera, sun hat, gloves, beanie, sunscreen, and sunglasses.

The Rainbow Mountain Day trip begins and ends in Cusco. International travel to/from Cusco is not included in the price of your tour.

By Plane. Most international flights land in Lima, Peru’s capital. From here, you can take a domestic flight to Cusco. Some international flights go through other South American capitals, like Bogotá, Colombia, which also has connecting flights to Cusco