Vinicunca Rainbow Mountain Trek

Cusco - Pitumarka - Hanchi Pacha - K'aoirahuiri Alto
Your two-day Rainbow Mountain Trek starts early as we travel from Cusco to Rainbow Mountain after breakfast at your hotel. To start, our trip heads towards Puno, and we travel on an asphalt road section of the altiplano through the fertile Vilcanota Valley. We will turn off after 2 hours and 15 minutes onto an unpaved road, stopping at the picturesque village of Checacupe. After a visit to the Colonial Church of the Immaculate Conception, we´ll start ascending the Pitumarka Valley.

We arrive at Pitumarka town for a brief stop - we can buy some basic refreshments here before continuing through to the village at Hanchi Pacha. From here it’s one hour more, travelling through some lovely picturesque valleys and canyons. There are some interesting rock formations on this section of the road and we will definitely allow some time for scenic photos!

We will arrive at the village of Qh'esihuno after approx. a total of 4 hours of travel from Cusco. From here we will hike for approximately 3 hours, climbing steadily until we reach the Ausangate viewpoint at Pucachoca Pass (4950m). Here we'll attain great views of the magnificent valley, colourful lagoons and the magnificent Apu Ausangate itself. We then descend to Anantapata at 4750m where we will camp for the night.

Along the route, there might be the chance to meet one of the local weavers keeping watch over her flocks, while weaving. This part of the Rainbow Mountain region, Quispicanchis, has a wonderful textile tradition!

As this is a high altitude campsite, it is important that you've had at least 3 days of acclimatisation at altitude before starting this hike. It can also get very chilly, so we recommend layers of warm clothing and a -15 degrees celcius sleeping bag!

Total walking distance: 12kms
Total walking time: 5-6 hours
Minimum altitude: 4500m
Maximum altitude 4950m
Altitude of camp: 4750m

Lunch and Dinner included.

Anantapata - Vinicunca - L'airahuiri - Cusco
After another early breakfast we begin to walk about 3 hours, ascending towards Vinicunca Pass, passing over two mountains along the way. After the first 1hour30min, we will reach the Warmisaya Pasws (5020m). Our breathing will become more and more laboured as we gain altitude. Once we arrive at the top of the pass there may be some cold gusts of wind, so please ensure that you are bundled up and that your head is covered with a woolly hat.

From this point we will have a splendid view of the Apu Ausangate and the coloured mountains in the distance. We will descend to a lagoon before continuing to ascend in the direction of the Vinicunca Rainbow Mountain.

You will be rewarded for your efforts on this Raindow Mountain trek when you finally see the amazing Vinicunca, with its colourful layers of rock sediment: turquoise, orange, brown and red! In addition to the great views of the coloured mountain itself, you will have impressive views of hte snow-capped Apu Ausangate, when the day is clear.

After some time to rest and take photos and the chance to observe an impressive sunrise, we'll head back the way we came until we reach K'airahuiri. The return hike downhill will be alot quicker than the ascent, and should take around 2-2.5 hours. There will be plenty of beautiful scenery to feast our eyes upon along the way.

We'll have an early lunch at K'airahuiri, say goodbye to our local crew, and then head back to Cusco in our private transport. We should arrive back in Cusco at approximately 4pm.

Total walking distance: 14kms
Total walking time: 5-6 hours
Minimum altitude: 4700m
Maximum altitude 5040m

Lunch and Dinner included.