Visiting Rainbow Mountain was almost at the top of my Peru to-do list ever since coming across it in a Wanderluster’s Instagram post. It wasn’t until I did tons of research, AND went there myself that I felt qualified for sharing some must-know tips before going.
TIPS FOR RAINBOW MOUNTAIN
Tip 1: Wait to get to Cusco to purchase your tour
I almost clicked “buy” on a tour to Rainbow Mountain online – prices ranged from $50-$75 USD. I read somewhere that it’s worth it to wait, and it was SO TRUE. We got a tour for 55 Soles (about $17 USD) that included transportation, breakfast, and lunch. You’ll have people selling tours at various prices and with different packages all over Cusco, so make sure to talk to a few sellers before committing. A couple of good questions:
- Does this price include entrance to Rainbow Mountain & the Red Valley (mountain next door)? Ours we came to find out, did not. So we ended up paying a total of 75 soles for everything.
- What do the meals look like? This is especially important if you have dietary restrictions.
- What is the departure, arrival & return to Cusco time?
Tip 2: Layer, Layer, Layer
The weather can change quickly – when we arrived it was chilly, it proceeded to be extremely warm after an hour, and then on our way back down it started hailing. Be sure to bring:
- Hat
- Gloves
- Scarf
- Coat
- Thick socks
- Hiking boots
Tip 3: The altitude is no joke
Articles recommend that you stay in Cusco 3-4 days before attempting Rainbow Mountain. Why? Because it is about 17,000 FT, a whole 6,000 more than Cusco. And being in Cusco can already take a toll on my body. We went on the hike after about 2 days in Cusco, and while most of our group came out ok, it was a struggle.
Make sure to bring:
- Coca Leaves (and drink lots of coca tea before)
- Coca Candy (for snacking before and during the hike)
- Chocolate & other sugary candy bars (for when you need an energy boost)
- Altitude Pills (to take prior to going and during the trek if necessary)
Also note, each guide has what they call “agua florida” which as I understand it is this homemade all natural, smells like super concentrated Vicks spray which they 100% recommend the second you start feeling sick or headachy on the trail. When we got back to the bottom, I spent about 30 minutes feeling shivery, headachy, and nauseous. Within a minute of inhaling the spray, I was completely back to normal. I’ll just call it magic water.
Tip 4: Don’t forget about the Red Valley
There isn’t a geo-tag on Instagram for this place, and everyone is extremely focused on Rainbow Mountain. But if given the opportunity to visit the Red Valley, I would highly recommend it. It’s breathtaking, and there’s something fun about visiting something that isn’t saturated all over the ‘Gram.
Tip 5: Take the horse!
There is an option to take a horse *most* of the way. The horses, led up the mountain by locals, drop you off right below the short but brutal steep incline up to the top of Rainbow Mountain. This hike can take a toll on even the most prepared and in shape hiker. I knew my limits, and I was happy to pay my roundtrip horse ride. It’s also great if you want to be able to look out at the landscape without huffing and puffing for breath, and making sure you don’t trip over a rock.
- Cost: 60 soles up, and 40 soles down. OR if roundtrip purchased at the beginning, 80 soles. (~$24 USD)
Let me repeat this though as it is super important. If you were like me and thought that the horse would mean doing 0 walking, you’ll be in for a rude surprise. So do make sure to wear hiking boots because I still walked a good 2 miles in that crazy elevation.
The Reality of Visiting Rainbow Mountain
Instagram tends to dramatize photos with filters. A lot of people asked me in my DMs – is Rainbow Mountain really that beautiful? I would answer yes. (With a caveat) 1) it depends on the weather – if it is foggy and raining, you won’t see much of anything. 2) when it is a clear day like what we experienced, it is breathtaking in person. But that doesn’t really transfer to photos. So in my mind, the filter just makes the photo look as beautiful as you felt staring at such a crazy work of nature.
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