This blog post is about my experience going to the Rainbow Mountains in a tour from Cusco. This will give you an idea of what to expect and how to prepare if you too want to experience this unique sight.
The Early Start
I only had one week in Peru so I booked a tour to take me directly to the Rainbow Mountains to save time. The annoying part was that the tour picked us up super early (4 am) and I was still half asleep. We then drove around Cusco for an hour 1/2 picking up about 12 other people. Only now is when I find out I could’ve paid a cab to take me and bring me back for about 90 soles ($27). I would’ve taken that option if I knew before hand.
After driving for an hour we stopped in the middle of nowhere to get breakfast. The food was not good at all and the place was freezing. I was just glad to get out the car and stretch out my legs for a bit.
The Drive from Cusco to the Rainbow Mountains
The drive to the Rainbow Mountains was about 3.5 hours in total each way. We got to see the sunrise on the scenic countryside. We drove pass many mountains and valleys. Occasionally I got to see some llamas and alpacas living their best lives. The closer we got to the Rainbow Mountains the curvier and higher the roads got. It got pretty scary at some point because we were at the edge of a cliff driving fast on a 2 way road. I was glad we had a good driver. The video below is a clip of the drive.
The Walk to the top of the Rainbow Mountain
The driver left us in the parking lot. That area was packed of people, vendors and horses. There were restrooms too. The tour guide informed us that we had to walk the rest of the way to the top. I expected to do some walking but when I saw the trail I was surprised how long it was.
I’m not sure if you can see but the parking lot is at the far end of the picture above where the road ends. The walk takes about 20 to 30 minutes depending on your speed.
Luckily there is another option then walking, you can rent a horse. It cost 80 soles round trip and it takes you MOST of the way. The horse leaves you at the steepest part of the walk and you have to climb the rest. The horses do take you a great deal of the way and you dont have to necessarily climb the rest of the way if u dont want to. You will be able to see the mountain (it leaves you around the end of the road on the right side in the picture above). You just wont get that epic picture everyone takes. Like the selfie I took below.
I choose option #2. The tour guide arranged a horse to take me. The guy who was taking me was a bit rude and I felt like he was rushing to drop me off. The path where the horses walk through is dangerous because is very narrow and again is at the edge of a cliff. The walking path is much safer. The tour guide felt concerned about my safety so he switched the person to take me back.
The Weather in the Rainbow Mountain
The Rainbow Mountain were discovered because the snow that covered them melted off due to global warming. The melt off exposed the beautiful colors of the mountains. With that being said the Rainbow Mountain is cold. Like really cold. The surrounding mountains are still covered in snow. I didn’t dress properly so I had to buy an extra sweater, leg warmers and gloves but I was still freezing. The good news is that there are vendors at the entrance of the mountain selling all kinds of warm clothing in case you feel cold. FYI the clothing is not good quality but it serves it’s purpose.
The Altitude
Walking to the top of the Rainbow Mountain is not for everyone. The altitude there is 17,060 feet above sea level. I was lucky not to feel altitude sickness but many people did and it seam to hit specially hard there. I remember seeing people having to use oxygen tanks and even saw someone pass out on my way to the top. The good news is that there were medical professionals nearby to help. That also got me wondering how often does this happen that they have medical professionals near by?
Places to Buy
There are are a few places where you can buy in the Rainbow Mountain. Like I mentioned before in the parking lot you can find many vendors selling clothing. The second place is at the steepest part of the trail where the horse leaves you. There you can find a few stands selling coca leaves, water and some snacks. The third place is right at the top of the hike. They have similar items like the second place. They also have dressed up alpacas that you can take a picture with for a donation. Of course I couldn’t resist taking a picture with them. They were so cute.
Toilets
There are two places where you can use the restroom. One in the parking lot and one at the beginning of the steepest part of the trail. The only problem is that is no western toilet, instead is a squatty potty. So keep in mind to bring toilet paper and hand sanitizer.
Is it Sand or Dirt?
In case you were wondering the mountain is just different colored dirt. The minerals in the dirt give it the different colors. There are only 3 other Rainbow Mountains in the world that’s been discovered and they all look different. I think it would be interesting to see them all and compare them. In the picture below you can see a close up of the mountain.
The End.
Overall it was an amazing experience and a beautiful place to see. I hope my experience has given you light on what to expect and how to prepare if you want to go. Until next time!!
Travel Addict 