Called Las Montanas de Las Siete Colores in Spanish or Vinicunca in local languages, the Rainbow Mountain is situated in the Ausangate region, 3.5 hours drive from Cusco, Peru. That is why, together with my partner Nico, we created this blog to share with you the most beautiful beaches and stunning holiday destinations which we visited during our travels.

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We are totally jelly , Your email address will not be published. It was the most amazing experience to discover them on my own. Due to climate change, the snow covers the peaks for shorter periods of time and thus allows tours to come up more often.

© 2020 Atlas Obscura. Once you arrive in Cusco do not go to Rainbow Mountain right on the next day. During our time of the visit, we noticed that horses were not mistreated but rather treated with care and love. Found our article helpful? Driving through Andes of Peru, you will probably encounter many cute locals on the way to Rainbow Mountain. Sure, it existed on a unique lodge to lodge trek (see Lodge to Lodge Trekking In Peru) but the vast majority of the world was unlikely to visit it. Vinicunca, or Winikunka, also called Montaña de Siete Colores, Montaña de Colores or Rainbow Mountain, is a mountain in the Andes of Peru with an altitude of 5,200 meters above sea level. Atlas Obscura and our trusted partners use technology such as cookies on our website to personalise ads, support social media features, and analyse our traffic. An alternative route is via Cusipata. I know many people think they can do anything, but hiking in altitude over 4.500 is no joke.

It stands at more than 5,000 meter above sea level, making the visit quite challenging for those who are not used to high altitudes or who have not acclimatised properly. The hike continues with a gentle incline to the elevation of 5.200 meters.

I had to take local buses until I went to the town Chillca and then found a potato farmer to show me the way to the mounatin. Follow us on social media to add even more wonder to your day. Similar to our hike to Laguna Paron and Laguna 69 in the northern part of Peru, doing such a hard hike to Vinicunca is exhausting and takes a lot of energy.
There is now a road leading to the mountain.

Sign up for our newsletter and enter to win the second edition of our book. Naturally, we were the first ones picked up and had a long “bus tour” through Cusco until everyone was collected. Like this, locals protect their horses and we hope that it is still like this.

A horse and guide can be rented for around 50 to 100 soles. Of course, you cannot predict the weather and the weather in the mountains does change rapidly. If you are looking for another adventure, check out perfect day trips from Lima. Keshwa chaca, among the last handwoven Incan bridges, crosses Apurimac Canyon in Peru. 4 Weeks Itinerary in Peru with all highlights you must see, a few tours which you can book online for less than 28€, 2 Days In Munich – Exciting 2 Days Munich Itinerary By A Local, Where to stay in Cusco, Peru: The best areas and places to stay in Cusco. Travelers are advised to try to avoid days following significant rainfall (in December, January and February), more so after snow has fallen. Peruvian hikers atop Vinicunca, or Rainbow Mountain.

There are bathrooms at the parking lot where the tour operators park their busses and vans. Travelers to Peru and locals generally agree that the best time of the year to visit the colorful site is in August, since it is dry season and provides a beautiful view, maximizing the vivid colors of the mountains. Thus, make sure to check the weather forecast before you book a tour. Death can occur if these symptoms are ignored. The terrain of the trek is in general not very hard.

While the hike is not long, the altitude can cause problems for those not used to it.

No purchase necessary. Your email address will not be published. Half of our group didn’t even make it to the summit. The mountain itself can only be accessed by foot or horse. Maryland: Tracing the Steps of Tubman & Douglass, Private Trip: Tracing the Steps of Tubman & Douglass, Atlas Obscura Trivia: A Night with Waldorf Astoria New York. A steep and winding road in the Yorkshire Dales passes by these deep natural potholes. Winner will be selected at random on 11/01/2020.

Did Early Humans Invent Hot Pot in Geothermal Pools? On our tour, we had 1 person who needed oxygen after the hike. (17,060 feet). 042-2018-INGEMMET / PCD / PM INGEMMET, the title of metallic mining concession was granted. Walking up a trail to the Rainbow Mountains in Peru.
All Rights Reserved - Photography, Videography and Content Cannot Be Used Without Our Permission. Hence, make sure to not make any plans after. Once you arrive in Cusco you will see many shops offering a variety of tours for Vinicunca.

Some of the most incredible, beautiful, and strange places in the Atlas. But none are quite so marvelous as Vinicunca, also known as Rainbow Mountain, Winikunka, Montaña de Colores, and Montaña de Siete Colores. People with low blood pressure tend to get altitude sickness more easily. But every body is different. There were a few parts where you will need to get off your horse and walk on our own due to the rough terrain. You will start at around 4.600 meters above sea level and for most people (including us) it’s the highest they’ve ever been. We were so lucky to have clear skies which made our day incredible. There are hot springs, local villages and vendors, stunning views of the Ausangate Glacier, and llamas and alpacas along the way. Honestly speaking, without hiring a horse, I wouldn’t be able to make it. You need to acclimate your body to the altitude. IS THE HIKE TO THE RAINBOW MOUNTAIN HARD? In the past, it took about six days of hiking to reach its peak. If you are not sure whether to take a horse or not, start on our own and see how you feel first.

This quiet park's strange sedimentary spires were named after Kodak's color film. If you are traveling to the north of Peru, head to a town Trujillo, where you can visit Chan Chan, the largest adobe town in the world. Every weekday we compile our most wondrous stories and deliver them straight to you.

You might also hear the name Mountain of 7 Colours or a bit more poetic Montaña de Siete Colores in Spanish. Vinicunca Mountain, the Rainbow Mountain, was virtually unknown in 2015.