Explore the Vinicunca Mountain in the afternoon to avoid the crowds and large groups. This is one of the most famous tourist attractions in Cusco and the 2nd most visited one after Machu Picchu.
This tour gives you the exciting experience of climbing a mountain over 15,000 ft, where you will be able to see colorful landscapes, majestic glaciers, amazing and vibrant green valleys with herds of alpaca, and the impressive Ausangate mountain range. Also, you will experience firsthand how locals live in the mountains and even see them hard at work.
The Red Valley has an incredible red color due to the iron-rich soil that covers almost the whole area. In this natural wonder, you’ll find bright red and green tones throughout the year
The Vinicunca Mountain Tour and Red Valley tour designed by Ausangate Tours offers you the perfect way to explore the incredible Ausangate. When visiting the Rainbow Mountain early in the morning is very busy, we have the best option for you by exploring it during the afternoon once the big groups have left. You also have the option of visiting an amazing landscape known as the Red Valley. This impressive place presents a chain of mountains and streams of a reddish color. It is called a red valley because from the mountain of colors you can see beautiful red mountains belonging to the Vilcanota mountain range. These colors are due to the presence of large amounts of oxidizing iron minerals.
Itinerary
DAY 1, Cusco – Cusipata – LLacto – Vinicunca
The adventure for the Vinicunca Mountain Tour starts at 9:00 am with the pickup from your hotel. According to the location of it we will set up the exact time to pick you up. After, we will drive to Cusipata town for 2 hours; there we will have a stop for our lunch. It will be a buffet lunch where you will enjoy diverse Peruvian dishes.
Then, we continue our drive to the trailhead located in Llacto at 4,660 meters. That is where you’ll start the hike. Our guide will provide you with all the necessary information that you need to know to make it to the top. The hike will take 1 to 1.20 hours roughly, depending on your speed. The path goes gradually ascending; the last part is a very steep climb, and at the top you will get stunning views. The colors are unreal, created by diverse minerals formed in millions of years. Your guide will explain the composition of each of them.
After enjoying the views there, we will make our way to the Red Valley; it takes only 20 minutes walking. Along the way, you will be impressed by the first red mountains. Once you get to the viewpoint, you’ll see the deep red valley surrounded by the huge red mountains; this makes for some of the most spectacular scenery in the Andes of Peru, transporting you to a different landscape that looks like a different planet.
Later, we will make our way back to the bus, walking down for 40 minutes. Along the way you will appreciate some snow peaks, which are part of the Ausangate mountain range. Also some herds of alpacas in their habitat, as well as the same locals dressed in their local clothes. Finally we board our bus and drive back to Cusco. Our arrival time will be around 7 to 8 pm.
Hiking distance: 6 km / 3.7 miles
Rainbow Mountain Altitude: 5,036 masl / 16,522 fasl
Red Valley altitude: 4,980 masl / 16,338fasl
Hiking time: 3 – 5 hours
Inclusions
We are transparent and provide the specific details of what is included and excluded in our tours. We know this is very important so that you know exactly what to bring and you don’t miss anything. We provide this information to ensure that you have an incredible experience during your trek.
Packing List
your personal items. This must include the list below:
important info
On the Rainbow Mountain Tour, don’t forget water! Drinking water will help with the elevation. We advise bringing at least 2 liters per person on the hike with you. Also, you will have a chance to buy water at the beginning of the trek.
We skip the crowds! Everybody else goes on the Rainbow Mountain early in the morning. That means they’ll all be at the same time at the viewpoint. Since we leave from Cusco at 09:00 am. You will get to the viewpoint in the afternoon once the large groups already have left and enjoy this fantastic landscape.
Our guide always brings oxygen tanks, which are important as you get over 4620 meters/15,255 feet above sea level! Not all travel agencies offer this, so this is definitely something to look out for when choosing the best Rainbow Mountain tour operator.
The best time to visit the Vinicunca is going to be from April to October before the rainy season begins
The hike on this tour is very demanding. And the constantly changing weather conditions, combined with high altitude, can be a challenge for experienced hikers. But if done right, it’s manageable even for those who don’t hike much.
Make sure that you have been a few days in Cusco to acclimatize to the elevation before you set off on your hike to Vinicunca Mountain Tour. This is by far the best insurance for a smooth and enjoyable trip.
Go to sleep early and try to avoid drinking or partying the night before, because we will pick you up at 09:00 am, and the physically challenging trek will be much more bearable without a hangover.
If you have altitude sickness symptoms, descend as quickly as you can. It’s nothing to mess around with.
Try to go all the way to the viewpoint. You get a 360° view not just of the Vinicunca Mountain Tour but also of the nearby glacier and a gorgeous valley in the other direction. We think most people didn’t realize what they were missing by not going all the way up.
If you are going to Machu Picchu the day before your trip to Vinicunca Mountain Tour, tell your travel company to book your return train ticket early.
Higher elevation also means colder, nearly freezing temperatures, so be prepared. Whether you decide to take a one-day tour, make sure to wear very warm clothes. Also bring coca leaves to fight off altitude sickness and carry the minimum gear possible to ease the hike.
Prices
To book any tour/trek through Ausangate Tours, we do require a 50% deposit per person. PayPal does charge us a fee of 6% which we ask the client to cover. This tax is just for deposits; the remaining amount you will pay in cash (briefing day) without taxes
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