Mary S
October 11, 2026
A day of excitement
A very exciting day filled with adventure. Max was an amazing guide and managed to take care of everyone’s needs and always had time to answer questions.
Tripadvisor rating4.9
Google rating4.8
Peru's rainbow mountains
Rainbow Mountain Peru Tours from Cusco
Vinicunca, the Red Valley and Pallay Punchu. On foot, by ATV or by motorcycle.
FromUSD $35USD $29.00per person
Free cancellation · Local guides · Real reviews
Hotel pickup
Buffet breakfast
Buffet lunch
First-aid kit & oxygen*
1-day tour
*Portable oxygen is carried on selected departures. Each tour page lists exactly what is included.
Verified Reviews
Rainbow Mountain Reviews from Real Travelers
Verified reviews from travelers on Tripadvisor and Google.
Average Rating
4.9
Excellent
4.9142 reviews
Cosmopolitan711025
October 9, 2026
Muy recomendable para cuzco
Muy buena experiencia, repetiría sin dudar, vistas impresionantes, nuestro guia y conductor espectacular, un 10
Mark Witchell A
October 8, 2026
Rainbow Mountain Tour
A very fun filled and exciting day, very prompt pick up and drop offs. Rogelio was an awesome guide, very knowledgeable and helpful. Friendly staff, overall an awesome experience. Will 10/10 recommend :)
Harsh G
October 8, 2026
Best 1 day spent
We have the best guide lavora! Great experience and lots of information.
Yamila M
October 8, 2026
Buena
Muy cansadora, Rogelio atento y responsable.
Arno G
October 7, 2026
Impressive scenery!
Rojel was a great guide! Fun, safe, and we were early are mountain without all the tourists!
Aoife M
October 3, 2026
Stone forrest & rainbow mountain
Rafael was a very kind and enthusiastic guide. He was so helpful. The scenery was absolutely beautiful and the food for breakfast and lunch was lovely. definietly recommend to anyone staying in cusco and looking for a more peaceful rainbow mountain experience
Kathleen Bradshaw
September 28, 2026
Best day!
Our guide was amazing and the trip was one to remember for the rest of my life! I enjoyed our trip immensely!
Dani C
September 24, 2026
Montaña de 7 colores
Excelente tour, Rogelio muy buen guía y atento. Súper divertida experiencia, y el buffet muy completo.
Sthéfanie P
September 23, 2026
Excelente tour
Nos encantó visitar la montaña de 7 colores y el valle rojo! Muchas gracias a nuestro guía Rogelio, un genio total, súper atento y a disposición de todo el grupo. El desayuno y el almuerzo estuvo excelente, súper completo y rico. Alquilamos los cuatriciclos y tuvieron mucha paciencia para explicarnos cómo manejar. Los volvería a elegir y recomiendo totalmente. Muchas gracias nuevamente a Rogelio 🙌🏼
Crystal W
September 22, 2026
Exceeded my expectations
We had a wonderful trip up Rainbow mountain! The wheather was great and the Red Valley was stunning. Views of snowcapped Andes in the back, very beautiful. I loved taking the ATV to have a shorter hike. Rogelio was the best guid we have had the whole trip! He is very funny. The only downside is getting up so dang early. There are no less tourists, I wish there was an option to go later in the day
May H
September 19, 2026
Amazing Experience well worth the early wake up
We had an amazing experience on The Ultimate: Red Valley + Rainbow Mountain by ATV — no hiking, and a huge part of that was thanks to our wonderful guide, Rojher. From the very beginning, Rojher was incredibly patient, kind, and helpful. I accidentally left my phone in the taxi that picked us up from our hotel, and Rojher went above and beyond to help me get it back. He made multiple phone calls and sent messages to the taxi driver, patiently waited with me until the driver returned, and made sure I was able to check the car and recover my phone. Since the group had already left for breakfast, Rojher even arranged a taxi for my partner and me so we could catch up with the rest of the group. His kindness and willingness to help turned what could have been a very stressful situation into something much easier to handle. Once we arrived for the ATV ride, Rojher continued to be attentive every step of the way. Our group was small, and he made sure everyone was safe, comfortable, and enjoying the experience. He led us to both Rainbow Mountain and Red Valley and was always there to guide and assist us along the way. The scenery was incredible, and riding the ATVs made the experience even more memorable. But honestly, what made the day truly special was having a guide like Rojher. His patience, kindness, and genuine care for his guests really stood out. Thank you, Rojher, for making our experience so wonderful! We highly recommend this tour, and especially Rojher as a guide.
MACARENA P
September 17, 2026
Valle Rojo y Montaña 7 colores en cuatrimotos
Fue una hermosa experiencia, desde el principio, nos recogió en la puerta del hotel, desayuno y almuerzo maravilloso, acompañando en todo momento, Rogelio además hace unas fotos hermosas, el mejor guía. Recomiendo 100%
Nicola D
September 17, 2026
Beautiful views and great trip.
We really enjoyed the trip. The food was excellent - fresh and lots of choice. The trip was fab but we underestimated how cold it would be! Our guide Rogelio was also helpful, answering any of our questions.
Paola L
September 17, 2026
Gran experiencia desafiante
Excelente experiencia. Una gran aventura. Y el guía espectacular Rogelio
Patricia M
September 16, 2026
Experiência fantástica!
O guia Rogelio foi super atencioso, o passeio maravilhoso, o café da manhã e almoço muito bons. Foi tudo ótimo
MONICA_CORSINO
September 16, 2026
Uma experiência surreal
Experiência incrível, passeio de quadriculo surreal. Montanha ARCO Iris é um espetáculo à parte! Rogelio um guia super simpático, competente! Café da manhã e almoço oferecidos deliciosos!
Ashley Anderson
September 2026
Rent ATVs to go to rainbow mtn. Great experience.
Alex M
September 15, 2026
RAIMBOW MOUNTAIN Experience
Puntual, helpful and great actitude.
ILIE S
September 14, 2026
Rainbow tour
Very good experience and Rogelio was an amazing guide We enjoyed the tour very much
suzannegeraldine
September 14, 2026
Excellent Experience
We had an amazing experience on the Rainbow Mountain and Red Valley tour! The views were absolutely breathtaking, and our tour guide, Rogelio, was incredibly kind, attentive, and helpful throughout the entire trip. He made sure we were comfortable and even took so many great pictures for us! We truly enjoyed the experience and would definitely recommend this tour, especially with Rogelio as your guide!
Ramil T
September 14, 2026
10/10
Rainbow Mountain + Red Valley with Rogelio — 10/10, would do again. The climb is no joke (altitude hits different up there 😅) but Rogelio kept everyone laughing and moving at a good pace. He clearly knows and loves this place — shared so many cool stories about the mountains and local culture along the way. Rainbow Mountain is unreal in person, colors you just can't fully capture in photos. Red Valley was an awesome bonus stop too, way less crowded and just as gorgeous. Rogelio even grabbed some great summit pics for us. If you're heading to Rainbow Mountain, book with Rogelio. Total legend, made the whole trip 🙌
Eva D
September 13, 2026
Excellent
Très belle expérience. La vue est magnifique, il y a peu de monde, c'est un très bon moyen de profiter des montagnes arc en ciel loin de la foule et à notre rythme. Notre guide, Rafael, s'est montré présent lorsqu'il le fallait mais nous a aussi laissé monter à notre rythme.
tarajoeob
September 13, 2026
Wonderful tour - highly recommend
We had an amazing day with our guide Rogelio. Fun ATV ride and stunning scenery. Thanks again Rogelio :)
Bejul Shah
August 2026
We did the Rainbow Valley day tour with MC Peru Expeditions, and it was superbly organised and our guide Rogelio was amazing and knowledgeable. Had an early start at 3.45pm, however the advantage being that you are on of the first to get toVinicunca Mountain (avoiding traffic, also on the return). Also lucked out as it was a beautiful sunny day. Breakfast and lunch at same place, had vegetarian options. Were a group of 12, and Rogelio made sure wartime was included and speaking in both Spanish and English. He made the journey enjoyable and big kudos to the driver too. Highly recommend using these guys, and ask for Rogelio!
Carmen Herrera
August 2026
Excellent personalized service; they're always available to answer your questions. Very professional and attentive. 100% recommended. I congratulate and thank them for the service provided in Cusco. They were a huge help and support to my aunt, an elderly woman over 80 years old.
Matthew Torio
July 2026
Amazing experience! The ATV's were very user friendly. It was so gorgeous for travel through the Andean country side. I took a tour to Ausangate glacier, where I was able to hike part of the mountain and I personally took a quick swim in one of the 7 glacial lakes. Jorge was an amazing guide who was very friendly and welcoming. He spoke good English and made sure I was comfortable throughout the trip and made sure to take amazing photos. Aside from a few caretakers, Jorge and I seemed to be the only people in the entire national park. This was truly one of the best things I did while I was in Peru. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants a more unique experience while in Peru!
Robert Wilson
March 2026
Our trip to Pallay Poncho was amazing and our tour guide was excellent! The stops for breakfast and lunch during the drive were great and the weather was beautiful.
cinnia yang
March 2026
A fantastic tour guide，a fantastic experience. A Very considerate tour leader. Although the journey was long,We were lucky enough to see Rainbow Mountain under the sunlight. Encouraged by the guide, we also climbed to the top and saw the most beautiful scenery.Riding an ATV on the winding mountain road was a new ecperience and felt very exciting. Breakfast amd Lunch on this trip were both excellent 。
Travelloef Ibrahim & Laura
October 2025
We did the Red Valley and Rainbow Mountain tour. We did it by ATV and it was amazing. The guide was great! Explained everything and made sure we were very safe. The lunch and breakfast were incredibly delicious. You could eat as much as you wanted. It was also super healthy. Truly a top-notch tour, especially if you have already done a lot of hikes in Peru; this is a wonderfully different way to do things!
Choose Your Way Up
Rainbow Mountain Peru Day Tours from Cusco
Five ways to Vinicunca and one to Pallay Punchu, its quieter neighbor. Every tour includes hotel pick-up, breakfast and lunch.
Options
6
Not sure which one fits? Compare all 6 tours side by side
Beyond the Six Tours
Private Days and Other Rainbow Mountains
Want the day for your group alone, or a mountain we don't list online? Message us on WhatsApp and we'll put it together.
Andes · 5,036 m
The Rainbow Mountains of Peru, Up Close
Three striped landscapes in the Andes south of Cusco, each a full day trip from the city.
Viewpoint Altitude
5,036m
5,036 m
Vinicunca, the Rainbow Mountain
The famous one. Bands of iron, copper and clay, laid down flat and tilted upright as the Andes rose, then uncovered when the ice retreated: Vinicunca only reached the guidebooks around 2015. From the viewpoint you look straight at Ausangate's glacier.
- Iron, copper & clay
- On the map since ~2015
- Ausangate views
Beside Vinicunca
The Red Valley
A whole valley of rust-red hills, where the iron in the rock has oxidized. It's a completely different photograph from Vinicunca, and two of our tours add it to the same day by ATV.
- Rust-red hills
- Same day as Vinicunca
- By ATV
About 4,780 m
Pallay Punchu
A sharp striped ridge above Lake Langui-Layo, near Layo. Lower than Vinicunca, with far fewer people and under an hour's walk to the top.
- Lake views
- Under 1 h up
- Far fewer people
Rated 4.9 by travelers
Verified reviews on Tripadvisor and Google
Why Book With Us
Why Travelers Book Rainbow Mountain Here
Easy to book, safe on the day.
Pay securely online
Book in a few clicks with Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Google Pay or Apple Pay, through our secure checkout.
Free cancellation
Plans change. Cancel up to 48 hours before your tour and get a full refund.
Emergency oxygen on most tours
Five of our six tours carry an oxygen tank and a first-aid kit, for peace of mind at altitude.
A local team
Your day is run by guides and drivers from the Cusco region, who know the mountain and the altitude.
From the Trail
Rainbow Mountain, Photographed
Vinicunca, the Red Valley and Pallay Punchu, from the trail, the ATV and the viewpoint.
Photos
74
Frequently Asked Questions
Rainbow Mountain, Peru: Questions and Answers
What travelers ask most about Peru's rainbow mountains before they book.
In the Andes south of Cusco. Vinicunca, the famous Rainbow Mountain, and the Red Valley beside it are about 3 hours from the city by road; Pallay Punchu, near Layo, is about 4.
• Vinicunca: in the Pitumarca district of the Cusco region, beside Ausangate (6,384 m), the region's highest peak • The Red Valley: right next to Vinicunca, reached on the same day • Pallay Punchu: near Layo, above Lake Langui-Layo, a different mountain with far fewer visitors • Palccoyo: another striped area near Vinicunca All are day trips from Cusco, leaving before dawn.
It's real: the stripes are layers of colored minerals, not paint. Many photos online are edited to look brighter, though. In person the colors are softer, and strongest on a clear morning.
• The colors are natural, and you'll see them with your own eyes • Saturated photos make them look neon. Expect earthy reds, ochres, greens and lavenders instead • Clouds flatten the colors, and snow can cover them completely, most often from December to March • Nobody can promise the weather, but the dry season, May to September, gives the best odds
Each stripe is a different layer of mineral-rich sediment, laid down flat over millions of years and tilted upright as the Andes rose. Ice covered it until recent warming exposed the colors.
• Reds and pinks: iron oxide, the same as rust • Yellows and ochres: sulfur-rich minerals • Greens, lavenders and whites: clays and other minerals Glacial ice hid the ridge until the ice retreated, which is why Vinicunca only reached the guidebooks around 2015.
Vinicunca's viewpoint sits at 5,036 m (16,522 ft), the official figure. Pallay Punchu tops out at about 4,780 m (15,682 ft). Cusco, where every tour starts, is at 3,399 m (11,152 ft).
• Vinicunca: the walk starts at about 4,600 m (15,090 ft) and ends at the 5,036 m viewpoint • Pallay Punchu: about 4,580 m at the start of the trail and 4,780 m at the top • Spend at least two full days in Cusco before going up, whichever mountain you choose
By road, about 3 hours south of Cusco, then on foot, by ATV or by motorcycle. The easiest way is a day tour with hotel pick-up, which leaves between 3:00 and 4:00 AM.
• The road runs through the Vilcanota valley to Cusipata, where tours stop for breakfast, then climbs to the trailhead • From there: about 3.5 km on foot each way, about 25 minutes by ATV, or about 8 minutes by motorcycle with a local driver, plus a short final walk • The early start avoids the midday weather and gets you back in Cusco by mid-afternoon • A tour takes care of transport, breakfast, lunch and a guide. The S/ 30 entrance is paid in cash on the day
Choose Vinicunca for the famous view and the most ways up. Choose Pallay Punchu for far fewer people and a shorter hike. Palccoyo offers several striped ridges with a gentler walk, on request.
• Vinicunca: 5,036 m, the iconic stripes and Ausangate behind. Hike, ATV or motorcycle, with the Red Valley as an add-on on some tours. The busiest of the three • Pallay Punchu: about 4,780 m, a sharp striped ridge above a lake, under an hour's walk to the top • Palccoyo: three striped ridges near Vinicunca, with a gentler walk. Ask us on WhatsApp at +51 926 445 634
Yes, on different days: both are trips from Cusco. Most travelers see Machu Picchu first, since it's lower than Cusco, and leave Rainbow Mountain for later in the trip, once they've acclimatized.
• Rainbow Mountain takes a full day: a pre-dawn pick-up and back in Cusco by mid to late afternoon • Machu Picchu usually takes one or two days, with the train from Cusco or the Sacred Valley • Leave at least two days in Cusco or the Sacred Valley before going to 5,036 m • Plan a rest day after Rainbow Mountain if your schedule allows
A group tour is the most affordable way to go and runs daily. A private tour gives your group its own guide and van, a flexible start time and hotel drop-off. Ask us for a private quote.
• Group tour: shared van and guide, fixed pick-up time, book online in a few clicks • Private tour: any of our six tours, just for your group, on the date you choose • Private tours can start later, if booked at least 2 days ahead • Ask for a private price on WhatsApp at +51 926 445 634
It can be, for children used to the outdoors who have acclimatized in Cusco. Each tour sets its own minimum age, and the gentler tours, by ATV or motorcycle, suit families best.
• By motorcycle with a local driver: children from 6 • By ATV to Vinicunca alone: from 5, riding as passengers. Only adults 18 and over drive • Altitude affects children too. Watch for headache, nausea or tiredness, and tell the guide • Pregnant travelers and anyone with a heart condition should not go Check each tour's "Not suitable for" before booking.
Look for a company in Peru's official MINCETUR directory, with recent reviews and prices that say what you'll pay on the day. Our local team checks all three, and lets you cancel free up to 48 hours before.
• Registration: the company should be listed in MINCETUR's official directory of travel agencies and tour operators. Our local team is • Reviews: read recent ones for the specific tour. This site shows them from Tripadvisor, Google and GetYourGuide • Clear prices: the entrance fee (S/ 30 at Vinicunca, S/ 25 at Pallay Punchu) is paid in cash on the day, and a good agency tells you before you book • Paying and cancelling: book online with Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Google Pay or Apple Pay, and cancel up to 48 hours ahead for a full refund We sell these tours, so read this with that in mind. Questions? Message us on WhatsApp at +51 926 445 634.
Your Rainbow Mountain Photo Awaits
Book Your Rainbow Mountain Day from Cusco
Pick a tour and a date. Hotel pick-up, breakfast, lunch and a local guide are included, and you can cancel free up to 48 hours before.
Secure online payment · Free cancellation · Local guides
FromUSD $35USD $29.00
See Options