TourismCusco

Tours & experiences

Palccoyo Rainbow Mountain – Exclusive Private Tour, Easier Hike

About this experience

The Cordillera Rainbow of Palccoyo is the first sister of the famous mountain of the seven colors "Vinicunca" but with better accessibility. Its more than nine thousand natural hectares have a color similar to the rainbow, which gives it a cheerful and at the same time mystical atmosphere. In addition, in this tour in addition to appreciating this geological beauty we will visit other sites that will make this trip an unforgettable experience.

At a glance

  • Duration: 11 hr
  • Private experience

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Palccoyo Rainbow Mountain – Exclusive Private Tour, Easier Hike
Pickup included

Plan your experience

Time on the tour11 hr
Getting therePickup offeredSee pickup details
Guide languagesEnglish (live guide), Spanish (live guide)
Tour arrangementPrivate experience

Set aside 11 hr for the experience itself, with additional time to reach your meeting or pickup point.

Before you go

  • Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness

Local guides to help you plan

What is included

  • Transport
  • First Aid Kit
  • Hotel Pickup with in the historical center of Cusco
  • 1 Brekfast 1 Buffet Lunch
  • Professional bi-lingual guide

Not included

  • Entrance to Palccoyo

Itinerary and highlights

Once again the nature of the city of Cusco shows us another impressive natural attraction "The rainbow mountain range of Palccoyo" where we will enjoy the beauty and colour of the region, likewise we can appreciate the variety of flora and fauna that shows us this beautiful place.
This attraction is relatively new and many people of the region did not know about this Palccoyo Rainbow Mountain Range, since before it was covered by snow, which did not allow to see its coloration; However, due to global warming, the snow has disappeared and now with our new excursion it is possible to visit the Palccoyo Rainbow Range (Combapata).
Cusco - Checacupe - Raqchi - Rainbow Archipelago of Palccoyo - Cuatro Lagunas - Cusco
Our company Machu Picchu Peru Tours will pick you up at your different hotels from 06:30 a.m. to 07:00 a.m., then head for two hours south of Cusco to the town of Checacupe arriving at approximately 09:00 a.m.
Upon arrival to Checacupe we will observe the evolutionary process of the road system through three colonial bridges located in the same town of Checacupe: Incan bridge, Colonial Bridge and the Republican Bridge, you can also see a colonial temple with fine carving works in wood, gold leaf and that houses the paintings of the Cusco school (Diego Quispe).
Once the visit of this archaeological centre is finished, we will depart to the Rainbow Mountain Range of Palccoyo, located at 4,900 meters above sea level.
Once arrived at this point we will begin our walk of 40 minutes approx. Where we will appreciate the valleys of eroded glaciers and the Permian formations of brilliant colours that stand out among the others and that is inhabited by alpacas and llamas.
We can also appreciate some communities and farmers that live in the low areas of the Rainbow Mountain Range of Palccoyo. We will also appreciate the Ccacca Loma stone forest and the red mountain.
After having visited the Rainbow Mountain Range of Palccoyo, we will continue with our circuit and we will go to Raqchi (Palace of God Wiracocha), in this place we will appreciate more than 151 colcas (QULLQAS) or granaries that were used to store grains like corn and quinoa, potato, chuño, dried fish brought from the coast, dried alpaca meat, brought from the Collao plateau, which were used for ceremonial purposes.
The most important structure of Raqchi is the Temple of God (wiracocha), a huge rectangular structure of two floors that measures 92 meters long by 25.5 wide. The structure is composed of a central adobe wall between 18 and 20 meters high, with an andesite stone base. It has windows and doors, flanked on both sides by a row of 11 circular columns with the lower part in stone and the upper one in mud.
Continuing our tour of the Rainbow Mountain Range of Palccoyo, we will go to San Pedro to enjoy a delicious buffet lunch.
After having enjoyed our lunch we will go to the circuit of the four lagoons, where we will observe the different lakes (Acopia, Pomacanchis, posposqo cocha, misky cocha), here we will have enough time to observe the variety of birds and the landscape that surrounds us.
After all this beautiful tour and having visited the Rainbow Mountain Range of Palccoyo, we will return to the city of Cusco arriving at approximately 6:30 p.m.

IMPORTANT: Our tours to the Rainbow mountain range of Palccoyo are suitable for travellers to enjoy these landscapes as all operators arrive early until 11:00 am; while we will be after them and with the ideal daylight to make excellent photographs.

Meeting and pickup information

  • We will be picking you up from your hostel or hotel within the historic centre of Cusco. If you are doing Airbnb or are doing a homestay we will communicate the easiest pickup point and will meet you there.

Languages and tickets

  • English — Guide
  • Spanish — Guide
  • Mobile Only

Tour operator

  • Minka Peru Expeditions

Accessibility and practical details

  • Not recommended for pregnant travelers
  • Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
  • Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness

Cancellation policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Questions about this experience

How long is this experience?
The supplier lists a duration of 11 hr.
What are the pickup arrangements?
We will be picking you up from your hostel or hotel within the historic centre of Cusco. If you are doing Airbnb or are doing a homestay we will communicate the easiest pickup point and will meet you there.
Which guide languages are listed?
English (live guide), Spanish (live guide).
What ticket format is listed?
Mobile ticket.
What ticket age bands are listed?
Adult tickets: age 4+. Check the practical details for participation requirements.
What is the cancellation policy?
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

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