Cusco: Rainbow Mountain & Red Valley Premium Day Trip with Meals

Highlights

Inclusions

Itinerary

1. Your day trip begins bright and early, with hotel pickups between 3:00 a.m. and 3:30 a.m. in Cusco. By setting off before sunrise, you'll arrive at Rainbow Mountain (Mt. Vinicunca) ahead of the crowds and enjoy the stunning scenery in peace - perfect for photos and a more serene experience. The first leg of the journey takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes as we drive to Cusipata, where your high-altitude adventure begins.

   Passes by

2. Our first stop is in the town of Cusipata, where you'll enjoy a warm, traditional Andean breakfast to energize you for the day ahead. This 30-minute pause is the perfect opportunity to relax, acclimate, and savor local flavors before the adventure continues. After breakfast, we drive for about 1 hour through scenic highland landscapes and the village of Pitumarca, arriving at Hanchipata–Llama Chimpana, the starting point of the hike to Rainbow Mountain.

   30 min

3. Set off on your trek at the foot of the Ausangate mountain range, starting a 1-hour and 45-minute ascent to the summit of Rainbow Mountain. Along the way, you may spot various South American camelids, such as llamas and alpacas. Upon reaching the red hill, you'll be greeted by breathtaking views of the vibrant landscape.

   2 hAdmission included

4. After reaching Rainbow Mountain (Mt. Vinicunca), adventurers have the option to continue with a 1 hour hike to the breathtaking Red Valley. Far less crowded than Rainbow Mountain, this hidden gem offers otherworldly red and copper landscapes that look like they've been painted by nature itself. No worries about the altitude? We've got you covered. Oxygen tanks and essential safety equipment are always on hand, and our experienced guides are trained to assist at every step!

   1 h

5. After completing the hike, enjoy a scenic 1 hour descent back to the trailhead, where your driver will be waiting. From there, we return to the District of Cusipata to reward your efforts with a well-deserved, one-hour buffet lunch. Savor a variety of traditional Andean dishes made with fresh, local ingredients. After lunch, we begin the drive back to Cusco, with an estimated arrival around 3:30 p.m. - plenty of time to relax and relive the highlights of your Rainbow Mountain journey. Drop off will be at Avenida El Sol, in front of Qorikancha temple, around 4:30 pm

   1 h

Cancellation

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.

Reviews

Ratings come from 2,415 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.

Showing reviews written in English.

• 5Unforgettable Experience – First on the Mountain!

  Our trip to Rainbow Mountain and Red Valley was an absolute highlight! Getting there early made all the difference—we were the very first people on the mountain, which allowed us to enjoy the stunning views and take incredible photos before the huge crowds of tourists arrived. Our guides (both named Edgar!) and our driver (whose name escapes me, sorry!) were fantastic. They were incredibly attentive to all our needs throughout the day and helped us capture the best photos. To top it off, both the buffet breakfast and lunch provided were great. Outstanding service from start to finish—highly recommended!

  lucamW3250NESeptember 2026via Tripadvisor

• 5Beautiful scenery

  Being lucky to see the clear skies on the peak! Nicely organized tour. Highly recommended. Waking up before 3 to beat the crowds was worth it!

  838yzlSeptember 2026via Tripadvisor

• 4Great views of rainbow mountain and red valley

  Experience was great, beautiful site and got there early before the crowd. In the morning the trail to rainbow mountain was icy and I wish the guides were closer in distance to help walk through icy areas. Also, the good was not great

  kingcarmSeptember 2026via Tripadvisor

• 3Experience was good but logistics could be planned better

  Over all it was a good experience, everyone was friendly and we got great photos. My guides were Carlos and Felipe. My biggest complaint is that I wasn’t picked up/dropped off at the agreed meeting point. At 3am after already arriving to the meeting point I was asked to walk and meet somewhere else… Then when we were dropped off after the tour they left us in a completely different location 20mins from my hotel which wasn’t ideal after such a long day of hiking.

  213taylorvSeptember 2026via Tripadvisor

• 510/10 experience

  A definite highlight of our two qeek Peru trip! The guides were organized and energetic, which made for a really fun day. Definitely don't skip the Red Valley addition as part of the excursion as it is breathtaking.

  heyvanessaleighSeptember 2026via Tripadvisor

• 5Great tour with awesome guides

  Great experience ascending Rainbow Mountain with Flor and Shirley as our guides. The van picked me up from my hostel with clear communication. The breakfast and lunch were great. The guides were very friendly and helpful, helping everyone deal with the +5000m elevation. I can definitely recommend this company for your tour.

  paulfQ3587OUSeptember 2026via Tripadvisor

Know before you go

How it compares in Cusco

• Its from-price is 46% below the median of the 1358 day trips we list in Cusco.
• Its length is typical for the group.
• By number of reviews it ranks 4 of 1358.
• The operator lists free cancellation on it.

About Cusco

Cusco, the old Inca capital high in the Peruvian Andes, blends massive stone walls with colonial churches and is the gateway to Machu Picchu.

The Plaza de Armas is the heart of the city, framed by the cathedral and the Jesuit church of La Compañía. Inca stonework survives throughout the centre, most famously at the Qorikancha, the sun temple on which the Spanish built a monastery, and in the twelve-angled stone on Hatun Rumiyoc street. San Blas, the artisans' quarter, climbs steeply with workshops and cafés.

Top-ranked sights in Cusco: Aguas Calientes, Machu Picchu, Ollantaytambo Ruins.

See all 4460 experiences in Cusco