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Palccoyo Rainbow Mountain Day Trip from Cusco

Cusco, Peru · 14h · 1–19 people

Runs in Spanish English

  • Easy
  • From age 5

Your guide

Machupicchu Luna Tours

Cusco, Peru · Agency

My name is Carlos Luna. I hold a degree in Tourism with more than 15 years of experience in Peru's tourism and inbound travel …

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An easy 25-minute walk to palcoyo mountain, the Stone Forest and views of Ausangate, with hotel pickup, breakfast and buffet lunch included.

Highlights

  • Three rainbow mountains seen in one circuit, without exhausting climbs
  • Gentle, mostly flat 45-minute walk suitable for families and older travelers
  • Stone Forest viewpoint with panoramic views of the Ausangate Glacier
  • Crowd-free setting with llamas, alpacas and Quechua herding communities
  • Breakfast and buffet lunch included
Palccoyo is a quieter, gentler alternative to Vinicunca, set in the Vilcanota range south of Cusco. The walk takes about 45 minutes on a well-defined path, with none of the steep climbing you get on other high-altitude treks. Along the way you'll see three rainbow-striped mountains in natural shades of red, ochre, turquoise and gold. From there we continue a little higher to the Stone Forest (Bosque de Piedras) viewpoint, at nearly 5,000 m, for 360-degree views of the snow-capped Apu Ausangate. You'll have plenty of free time for photos, and I'll explain the geology behind the colours. We leave early with pickup from your hotel in Cusco's historic center. The drive passes Andean valleys, Quechua communities, terraced hillsides and herds of alpacas and llamas. Breakfast and a buffet lunch are both included, in Cusipata, and we're back in Cusco in the late afternoon.

What's included

  • Hotel pickup in Cusco (historic center area)
  • Round-trip tourist transportation with a professional driver
  • Certified bilingual guide (English / Spanish)
  • 1 breakfast and 1 buffet lunch (vegetarian and dietary options on request)
  • First-aid kit and emergency oxygen tank on board

Not included

  • Entrance ticket to Palccoyo Rainbow Mountain: S/ 20.00 PEN per person, paid in cash at the community checkpoint
  • Personal travel or medical insurance
  • Extra beverages, bottled water or trail snacks
  • Voluntary tips for the guide and driver

What to bring

  • Layers: thermal base layer, warm fleece or down jacket, windproof/waterproof outer jacket
  • Rain poncho or rain jacket, especially in the rainy season (November to April)
  • Comfortable hiking shoes or sturdy sneakers with good traction
  • SPF 50+ sunscreen, UV-protection sunglasses, sun hat, warm beanie (chullo), thermal gloves and lip balm
  • Peruvian Soles in small bills for the S/ 20.00 entrance fee, restrooms and local crafts
  • Small daypack (10–20 L), reusable water bottle, high-energy snacks and coca candies

Know before you go

  • Spending 1 to 2 days in Cusco before the tour is recommended to acclimatize to the altitude
  • Not recommended for travelers with severe cardiac or respiratory conditions
  • The trailhead is at about 4,900 m and the Stone Forest viewpoint at nearly 5,000 m
  • Pickup starts early, between 4:00 and 4:30 a.m.

Pickup: Anywhere within 900 m of Cusco. You agree the place with your guide after booking.

Meeting point: Pickup at your hotel in Cusco's historic center; drop-off near the Plaza de Armas / historic center

Drop-off: plaza regocijo.

Cancellation policy: Free until 24 hours before: Full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start. After that, no refund.

Cancel within that window and you get your full deposit back. After it, you do not get your deposit back. If the guide cancels, you always get your deposit back.

What you'll do

  1. 1
    Hotel pickup in Cusco
    Private vehicle transfer (30min)
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    We collect you from your hotel in the historic center and drive south along the Cusco–Puno corridor, past Andean valleys and villages.

  2. 2
    Breakfast in Cusipata
    Food tasting (45min)
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    Breakfast at a cozy local restaurant at 3,300 m, with hot drinks, fresh bread, eggs and fruit to warm up and prepare for the altitude.

  3. 3
    Scenic drive to Palccoyo
    Photo stop, Scenic drive (90min)
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    The road climbs through Quechua communities and terraced hillsides, with alpacas and llamas grazing. We pass briefly through Checacupe, known for its Inca, colonial and republican bridges, before reaching the trailhead at about 4,900 m.

  4. 4
    Guided hike to the Rainbow Mountains and Stone Forest
    Hiking, Guided tour, Photo stop (135min)
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    Palccoyo Rainbow Mountain Day Trip from Cusco

    An easy-paced walk of about 45 minutes to views of three rainbow mountains, then a little higher to the Stone Forest viewpoint and the Ausangate views. Plenty of time for photos and geology explanations.

  5. 5
    Descent and drive back to Cusipata
    Transportation (90min)
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    We walk back down to the vehicle and drive down the valley.

  6. 6
    Buffet lunch in Cusipata
    Food tasting (60min)
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    A hearty buffet at our partner restaurant with traditional Peruvian dishes, soups, salads and international options, including vegetarian and special dietary alternatives.

  7. 7
    Return to Cusco
    Transportation (60min)
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    A relaxing drive back, arriving in the late afternoon with drop-off near the Plaza de Armas / historic center.

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35 USD / person
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