Palcoyo Rainbow Mountain tour: Join our best alternative experience, a 100% alternative route compared to the classic Vinicunca peak. This experience contains an unmissable natural beauty, what´s more, you will not only see one rainbow mountain but many of them, you will also explore the Forest of Colourful Stones and perhaps the Red River; so even if the day was rainy, this tour offers you a win-win option, the good experience is guaranteed.
HIGHLIGHTS
Meeting Place — at about 04:30
We will pick you up by bus from your Hotel — as long as you stay in the historic center, otherwise we will coordinate another meeting place according to your convenience.
Cusco to Checacupe by bus
We will go by bus to Checacupe town, the bus ride will take approximately 2 hours — Checacupe is a district located at 3,400 m a.s.l.
Checacupe to Palcoyo community by bus
We will continue driving for about 2.5 hours, until we arrive at the indigenous community of Palcoyo.
Palccoyo community to Palcoyo Mountain on foot
We will walk for approximately 40 minutes until we reach the Palccoyo mountains.
On the mountain of Palcoyo
Unlike the classic mountain of Vinicunca, in Palccoyo you will see many colored mountains that will be described by our guide — Palccoyo Mountain is located at 4,800 m.a.s.l.
Heading to the Forest of Colorful Stones
After having visited Palcoyo, we will walk for about 10 minutes, until we reach the Forest of Colorful Stones located at 4,900 m.a.s.l.
Return to Cusipata
We will return from the Stone Forest to the community of Palcoyo on foot, then we will take the bus to the district of Cusipata.
Lunch in Cusipata — at about 13:00
We will have local semi-buffet lunch.
Cusipata to Cusco by bus
Tour Ending Place — at about 17:30
We finish this tour two blocks away from the Plaza de Armas — this tour doesn’t end at your hotel.
PRICE
The prices shown in the table are:
- Per person in US dollars ($).
- Pple. = people.
- Group = group service, shared.
| Pple. | Type of tour | |
|---|---|---|
| Group | Private | |
| 1 | $30 | $220 |
| 2 | $30 | $110 |
| 3 | $30 | $75 |
| 4 | $30 | $65 |
| 5 | $30 | $60 |
DETAILS
| Details | Type of tour | |
|---|---|---|
| Group | Private | |
| Schedule | 04:30 to 17:30 | You decide |
| Days | Every day | Every day |
| Language | es/en simultaneously | en or es |
| Size | 15 to 20 pax. | You and your friends |
| Included | Type of tour | |
|---|---|---|
| Group | Private | |
| Pick up from your hotel | ✅ | ✅ |
| Guide | ✅ | ✅ |
| Driver | ✅ | ✅ |
| Tourist vehicle | ✅ | ✅ |
| Buffet breakfast and lunch | ✅ | ✅ |
| First aid kit | ✅ | ✅ |
| Oxygen tank | ✅ | ✅ |
| Walking stick (on request) | ✅ | ✅ |
| Personalized service | ❌ | ✅ |
| Ticket for Palccoyo: 15 soles pp | ❌ | ❌ |
| Tickets for the Inca Bridge (optional): 10 soles pp | ❌ | ❌ |
| Drop off at your hotel | ❌ | ✅ |
Restrictions:
- People with reduced mobility.
- People without acclimatization to altitude.
- People without good physical condition.
- People with any respiratory or heart problems.
- Babies under 3 years old.
What do I bring?
- Sweaters or jackets.
- Anti-slip shoes.
- Raincoats.
- Caps or hats.
- Sunscreen.
- Sunglasses.
- A bottle of water.
- Drones (optional): Pay directly to the community 50 soles approx.
- Local currency for your entrance tickets.
WhatsApp:
NOTES
Pick-ups and timings
Group tours:
- All pick-ups and tour ending times are approximate.
- Pick-ups apply only for hotels located in the historic center.
- Your pick-up time will depend on your hotel location.
- If you are out of the historic center, we’ll arrange a meeting point.
- If it’s hard for the vehicle to make it to your hotel, we’ll arrange a meeting point.
- We don’t do pick-ups if there are festivals, strikes and car trafic.
- We’ll arrange all pick-ups and meeting points one day prior your tour.
Private tours:
- Pick-ups are sharp on time.
- Pick-ups apply for all Cusco city.
- We’ll arrange all pick-ups one day prior your tour.
- The tour ending time is still aprox; but, we’ll do our best to finish the tour as scheduled.
Meal
- Breakfast and lunch are simple and delicious.
- There are not many restaurants.
- There are vegetarian options.
Acclimatization
You should be acclimatized with at least two days of stay at altitude.
Vehicle type and seats
Vehicles:
- Authorized by the Ministry of Transportation of Peru.
- Clean and modern ones.
- Sedan looking auto, 4×4, H1, Van, Renault and Mercedez Benz (it will depend on the group size).
Seats – group tours:
- You reserve a seat in the bus, not a specific number of seat.
- If you get picked-up first, then you can choose some seats (your pick-up time will depend on your hotel location).
- Couples seat together to 95%; however, we can’t warranty this will happen to 100%.
Road
- Paved track.
- The last part of the road is compacted dirt.
- The road is bumpy sometimes.
- Dust sometimes enters vehicles.
Guide
Authorized by the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism. This tour is focused on trekking, not history.
Group tours:
- He goes as a companion to show the way.
- Intermediate English.
- There is not much explanation during the tour.
Private tours:
- He will always be at your disposal.
- Intermediate-advanced English.
- There is plenty of explanation during the tour.
Driver
- The driver sometimes drives fast due to distance and time constraints.
- If you book a private tour, the driver will drive at a normal speed.
- The driver sometimes listens to music to stay awake.
Entrance ticket discounts
Kids, minors, students and Peruvians may have discounts but an official ID is required to show:
- Kids and minors: Bring their official passaports to prove their age.
- Students: Bring your offficial passport and goverment issued ID.
- Peruvians: Bring your oficial ID.
Operability and itinerary
This tour is subject to variation without any prior notice, due to weather conditions, strikes and any other event that doesn’t allow the normal tour operation. See also our terms.
CANCELLATIONS
Cancellation of the tour is free as long as you do so at least 48 hours in advance, otherwise we will charge 100% of the tour price. See also our terms.
REVIEWS
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REVIEWS
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