Cusco: Rainbow Mountain Full Day Trek
- Duration
- 12.5 Hours
- Prices:
- On request
You will be transferred from your hotel in Cusco in the very early hours at approx. 05:30AM and drive for 3 hours over good roads before reaching Pitumarca from where you hit some dirt roads to the town of Quesiuno at approx. 4,326 mts / 14,189 ft. On arrival into the quaint Andean hillside town, you begin the trek with your first stop being the Inkintuyoc Bridge.
You continue the trek skirting the many Andean fed streams as you climb in altitude passing herds of Andean camelids - the famed llamas and alpacas. The highest Mountain in the region, "Apu Ausangate" - Apu means Mountain in Quechua - dominates the vistas and you will gain an appreciation as to why the indigenous populations did and still do see spiritual powers emanating from the mountain. During the walk, you will see potato fields with its different varieties: more than 4,000 varieties of native potatoes grow in the Andean highlands of Peru; as well as wild fauna such chinchillas, vicunas and possibly also, if you are lucky, the Andean mountain cat. Enjoy your box lunch surrounded by this beautiful scenery.
After approximately 5 hours or trekking you will arrive at 5,020 mts / 16,466 ft. and see firsthand where the Rainbow Mountain (Vinicunca) gets its name. You will then have time to explore the area, take photos and renew your energy levels for your return trek (departure time is based on ensuing you return to the start of the trek in daylight hours).
The trek back will take between 4-5 hours before reaching the Inkintuyoc Bridge from where you will be transferred back to Cusco.
Minimum altitude of the route: 4,326 mts / 14,189 ft.
Maximum altitude of the route: 5,020 mts / 16,466 ft.
Distance of the course: 15 Km / 9.15 miles
Duration: 12.5 Hours
Departs: 5:30 a.m. - Returns: 6 p.m.
From: Cusco
