Rainbow Mountain, as it’s usually called in marketing, is called Vinicunca by the people who live in the area. Similar to Humantay Lake, this is a 4-hour drive each way and about a 3 hour walk total.

Most tour agencies in Cusco offer trips to Rainbow Mountain. Be aware that it’s an 8 hour round trip drive for about a 3 hour hike.

The hike

The hike itself ascends to 5,200m (17,060ft) which is not a comfortable altitude for most people. It has been heavily marketed as a “must do” in the Cusco area without a lot of education about what it’s like to hike at that altitude. However, it is a beautiful place and if you like high altitude, it’s an option. It’s also a great place to see cara cara falcon (photo below) up close, as they soar the thermals close to the summit.

Tourists

Vinicunca attracts a lot of Peruvian tourists, so it tends to be more crowded on weekends and during Peruvian holidays. The local people rent horses to people who want help getting up or down from the summit. Be aware that the last bit of trail is too steep for the horses, so even if you plan to ride both ways, you’ll still have to walk the last 15 or 20 minutes.

Palcoyo

If the potential crowds at Vinicunca sound unappealing, then consider Palcoyo, now being marketed as the “new Rainbow Mountain” for people who don’t want to go to Vinicunca because of the crowds. The drive time and length of hike is about the same.