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PALCCOYO RAINBOW MOUNTAIN 1 - DAY TOUR

Palccoyo: a striking adventure to the alternative Rainbow Mountain!What’s better than just a rainbow mountain? The three rainbow mountains of Palccoyo. This new alternative route is lighter, less strenuous, and with no crowds battling for a…

5.0 (12 agency reviews) Cusco, Peru Local support
From
US$120 per person
Book Now
Duration FULL DAY TOUR
Group Size Up to 12
Distance 1.86 mi / 3 km
Difficulty Moderate
Departures Daily departures
Ideal For For Everyone
THE EXPERIENCE

PALCCOYO RAINBOW MOUNTAIN 1 - DAY TOUR

CUSCO DAY TRIPS · Cusco, Peru

Palccoyo: a striking adventure to the alternative Rainbow Mountain!

What’s better than just a rainbow mountain? The three rainbow mountains of Palccoyo. This new alternative route is lighter, less strenuous, and with no crowds battling for a picture. If you are hungry for spectacular and remote scenery, come join us on this one-day tour to merge a wide smile with the colors of Palccoyo on a hike that will make you feel like the only one on the planet!

On this guided tour, you will visit Checacupe, known for its emblematic bridges: Inca, colonial and republican. You will hike for only an hour and a half to see not just one but the three colorful mountains of Palccoyo. Then, you will ascend at your own pace up to 4,900 meters to admire the sacred Ausangate, the highest snowcapped mountain in Cusco. In addition, you will feel the indescribable tranquility and unique silence of the Vilcanota mountain range as you walk through the beautiful Rock Forest. Give it a try and get thrilled by the history, culture, and mind-blowing nature.

Itinerary

Day-by-day information for this experience.

Day 01: Cusco - Checacupe - Palccoyo Rainbow Mountains - The Rock Forest

Discover the wonderful rainbow mountain of Palccoyo

You will leave Cusco early in our private transportation to the town of Checacupe to visit its emblematic bridges: Inca, colonial and republican. The trip continues for another hour and a half across the beautiful Andean highlands to Palccoyo and to the starting point of the tour. You’ll walk for 50 minutes to its viewpoint to appreciate the colorful mountain Palccoyo and the snow-capped Ausangate in the distance. Then, you will go to the rock forest where you can take amazing pictures before heading to the lunch spot. End off with a drive back to Cusco taking with you the best memories of the trip!


DAY FACTS

  • MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch, and Snacks
  • DIFFICULTY: Moderate
  • WALKING DISTANCE: 3 km / 1.86 mi
  • WALKING TIME: 1 - 2 hours
  • STARTING ELEVATION: 3,400 m / 11,150 ft
  • MINIMUM ELEVATION: 3,310 m / 10,200 ft
  • HIGHEST ELEVATION: 4,900 m / 16,070 ft 

Inclusions

Services included and excluded from the trip.

What Is Included? 

Permits & Entrance Tickets

Entry Ticket for Palccoyo Rainbow Mountain »High Quality Service & Safety

Pre-departure Briefing

You’ll meet your tour guide and group in our office for an orientation before your trek. The meeting will be at 5:00 pm the evening before the trip begins.

Experienced Tour Guide

English and spanish speaking official tour guide. All our guides are graduates of the professional career of Tourism of the National University San Antonio Abad of Cusco. We choose them for their professionalism, experience, responsibility, seriousness, unbridled passion for exploring, and sincere desire to proudly share in our culture and history. He or she will keep you safe, sound, and comfortable on your trek so that you can enjoy your time worry-free!

Medical Kit or First AID Kit

All Salkantay Trekking guides have received specialized training in first aid. We hold mandatory training sessions with our guides every February. Your guide will always carry a first aid kit to face basic emergencies (altitude sickness, travelers’ diarrhea, cuts, scrapes, etc.) as well as oxygen. If necessary, we’ll evacuate you from the path as quickly as possible and ensure that you arrive at a clinic for treatment.

Extras Included in our Service

We believe that attention to small details is what sets us apart from other local companies. You’ll receive a pair of walking sticks with rubber tips (or trekking poles).

24/7 Customer Service

We have telephone service available 24 hours/day for ease of communication with Salkantay Trekking leading up to your trek.


Meals

Breakfast and Lunch

Snacks and water

Before starting your trekking, your tour guide will provide you a cloth bag with local fruits, cookies, chocolate, caramels, etc. In addition, you’ll receive a bottle of water.

One cloth snack bag per person

To avoid the usage of plastic bags that contaminate our environment, we’ll give you a cloth bag for your snacks.

Hygiene Products

You’ll be provided with a small towel and soap before each meal to clean your hands.


Transportation

Transport

All your transportation is included in this package. We will pick you up from your hotel and take you to the starting point of the hike. Once you complete the tour, we will take you back to the door of your hotel in Cusco.


WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED?

Dinner

Hiking Clothes

Travel Insurance

Tips for our staff

Tipping is the norm on any excursion in Peru. Although we pay good salaries to our entire team, something extra is always welcome, especially considering the hard work they do.

Additional costs or delays beyond our control

Landslides, bad weather conditions, itinerary modifications due to a safety concern, illness, pandemia, government policy changes, political instability, strikes, act of God, etc.

Before You Go

Practical information to help you prepare for the journey.

We want to make your trip to Peru as memorable and as carefree as possible. In this section, you’ll find the answers to all the questions you have about traveling with Salkantay Trekking in one place. Please read the following information carefully – it will help you with any questions about our services. Have another question that we haven’t answered here? Drop us a line and we will get back to you asap!

Briefing or Informative Meeting

All information meetings and briefings are held in our main office in Cusco (or your hotel) at 5:00 pm, one night before the tour begins. These meetings last approximately 30 to 45 minutes. If you’re unable to attend, you must coordinate another time by email, by phone or at the Salkantay Trekking office.

Can I store my luggage at your office?

Of course! During the trip, your main luggage can be stored at our office (you can organize it with us on the briefing day or by email) or at your hotel, both free of charge.

Any equipment that you won’t need on the trek can be stored safely in your hotel. Nearly every hotel will provide this service. Don’t leave items of value with your bags; put them in the hotel safe and obtain an itemized receipt (in the unlikely case of theft, many insurance companies require that you have a copy of the receipt itemizing everything). It’s best to put items such as credit cards inside a sealed, signed envelope for extra peace of mind.

Pick up of guests

Salkantay Trekking can pick you up from your hotel, as long as it’s in the Historical Center of Cusco. Your guide will coordinate the pickup time in the briefing session, but please keep in mind that the time may vary between 30 and 45 minutes due to traffic.

Cusco is an old city, meaning it has many narrow cobbled streets. Some hotels and Airbnbs may be located on streets without access to cars or on long, steep slopes, making it difficult to transport luggage. We strongly recommend that you book accommodation with good access.

Group Tours

Group tours are made up of different types of people, then physical conditions and ages can vary. By agreeing to be part of a group tour, you also accept that some people may be faster or slower than you. Therefore, each person can go at their own pace on the route.

It may be the case that a group wishes to modify the tour; however, the guide will be the one who decides, after consulting with all the participants, if such modifications are possible.

Strikes and demonstrations

Strikes and demonstrations are common in Peru, and this may interrupt some of our tours. Roads can be blocked, and train tracks can be taken over. However, we will try to keep your trip as originally planned, even if it means leaving the night before the scheduled date.

Under these circumstances, tours may also be canceled. In case of changes or cancellations, everything will be coordinated with you by our operations department. Your safety is our highest priority, and our decisions will be made to protect it.

Lost objects

Please pay attention to where you leave your things and remember to take everything once you leave our transport or restaurant. You’re the only one responsible for your objects during the tour.

Packing List

Recommended items for a comfortable and well-prepared trip.

  • Valid Passport
  • Extra money (recommended soles)
  • Personal medication
  • Water bottle or CamelBak – (optional water purifying pills)aa
  • Sunblock: factor 70 or more
  • Hiking boots or shoes (preferably waterproof)
  • Trekking pants (*)
  • Trekking socks
  • Pair of thermal pants
  • Warm jacket
  • Waterproof jacket
  • Raincoat or rain poncho
  • Waterproof or wool gloves
  • Sun hat to protect neck and face
  • Wool hat for the cold
  • Neck gaiter or buff
  • Sunglasses with UV protection
  • Camera and charger
  • Power bank

Pricing

Rates and important commercial information for this tour.

Starting From US$ 120

per person

Frequently Asked Questions

General travel information for Inja Expeditions guests.

Booking with Inja Expeditions is simple. First, choose the tour or trekking experience you are interested in and send us your travel details, preferred date and number of passengers. Our team will confirm availability and provide the corresponding booking instructions. Once the required deposit or payment has been received, we will send you a confirmation with the details of your reservation. We recommend checking all passenger information carefully after receiving your confirmation.

For multi-day treks, the briefing allows you to meet your guide and review the most important details before departure. We will explain the itinerary, weather conditions, recommended equipment, pickup time, luggage arrangements and any specific considerations for your route. It is also a good opportunity to ask last-minute questions and make sure you are fully prepared for the experience.

For selected multi-day programs, luggage storage can be coordinated before departure. Travelers normally take only the items required for the trek and leave their main luggage securely stored until they return. Please confirm this service with our team before your departure, as arrangements may vary depending on the itinerary.

Water arrangements depend on the specific itinerary. For many multi-day treks, travelers should begin the first day with their own drinking water and additional safe water is provided or made available during the route. Your trip briefing will explain exactly how water is managed on your chosen trek. We strongly recommend carrying a reusable water bottle or hydration system.

Yes. We recommend carrying some Peruvian soles in cash, especially on trekking routes and in remote areas where cards may not be accepted. You may need cash for snacks, drinks, optional activities, local services, hot springs, tips or unexpected transportation. The amount you need will depend on the length and type of your trip.

Tips are completely optional and should reflect your satisfaction with the service you receive. If you feel your guide, cook, muleteers or support team provided excellent service, a gratuity is always appreciated. There is no mandatory amount, and our team can provide general guidance during the pre-trip briefing if you wish.

Group size depends on the tour, season and number of confirmed travelers. Inja Expeditions aims to keep groups comfortable so guides can provide personal attention and travelers can enjoy the experience without feeling part of an excessively large group. The expected group size can be confirmed before you book.

For trekking programs, you should carry a small daypack with the personal items you need during the day, such as water, sunscreen, rain protection, a warm layer, camera and snacks. Depending on the trek, Inja Expeditions may also provide or coordinate a duffel bag for additional belongings transported by the support team. Weight limits vary by route and will be explained before departure.

Electricity and internet access vary considerably between routes and campsites. Some accommodations or camps may offer charging points and limited Wi-Fi, sometimes for an additional fee, while remote sections may have no connectivity at all. We recommend bringing a fully charged power bank and downloading any important information before leaving Cusco.

A group tour allows you to share the experience with other travelers who have booked the same departure, making it a social and generally more economical option. A private tour is reserved exclusively for you and your companions, allowing greater flexibility with pace, attention from the guide and certain logistical details. Private tours are especially suitable for couples, families and groups of friends looking for a more personalized experience.

Bathroom and shower facilities depend on the route and the type of accommodation used each night. Some campsites provide basic bathroom facilities, while certain locations may offer hot showers for an additional local fee. On routes that include a hotel night, standard bathroom and shower facilities will normally be available. Please review your specific itinerary for exact details.

On certain trekking routes, especially Salkantay and Ausangate, horses may be available for assistance on specific sections of the trail. Availability depends on location, weather and local operators, so this service cannot always be guaranteed at every point of the trek. If you are concerned about your fitness or altitude, please let us know before departure so we can explain the available options.
Why you'll love it

Tour Highlights

Enjoy a private trip to the rainbow mountains of Palccoyo away from the tourist crowds.
Visit the bridges of Checacupe belonging to three great historical eras of Peru.
Feel like an adventurer walking among high Andean mountains with pristine landscapes and views over the Red Valley and herds of alpacas.
Witness the amazing rock forest, and discover its meaning in relationship with the sacred Ausangate snow-capped mountain.
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