They call it "The Rainbow Mountain", "Colored Hill" and sometimes "The Mountain of the 7 colors” because the variety of names originates in the imagination of adventurous travelers, admiring this chain of mountains that radiates indescribable emotion at the moment to visit it.
The plateaus, streams, valleys, mountains and snows just complement the greatness of this, accompanied by animals such as camelids, birds, sheep and of course the local people whose happiness is contagious no matter how strange the visitor. This landscape shows the whole one of the most beautiful geographical features that our nature gives us. For this and many reasons it was included by "National Geographic" as one of the 100 places that one must visit before leaving for the next life
Guardian of the Cusco region, Ausangate is the fifth highest mountain in Peru, with its 6,384 meters of height for centuries it has received many names; "The Roof of the Inca Capital", "Hill of Colors”, etc. Located in the district of Pitumarca, province of Canchis, Cusco region; Ausangate is considered the most important mountain of the Andean cosmovision.
Day 01: Cusco - Quesuno - Anata
Day 02: Anata - Rainbow Mountain - Cusco
Departure Point: Cusco - We pick you up from your hotel.
Departure Time: 04:00
Briefing Point: Our guide will visit your hotel 2 or 1 day before the trek
Briefing Time: Between 17:00 - 18:00
Tour Operator: Salkantay Trek Machu
Service Level: Comfortable Camping equipment, tourist train and private transport.
Physical Rating: 4 - Difficult - Some high-altitude hikes, but accessible to most healthy travelers
Age requirement: 12+ / All travelers under age 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
Crew: A professional Tour Guide, a chef, equestrian and horses for the Rainbow Mountain.
Accommodation: Camping (1 night). Meals: 1x breakfast, 1x lunch, 1x dinner and afternoon tea.
Transportation: Transportation by private van.
On the first day of your Rainbow mountain adventure, we will pick you up at your hotel at 4:00 am and drive 3 hours. While packing up our gear our chef will be preparing a hot breakfast to get you fueled up for the hike ahead of you. The trek begins in a large green valley. You will see hundreds of alpacas, local farmers, and the beautiful Ausangate Mountain looming in the distance- this is only a teaser for what is to come on your journey. As you continue making your way on the trail, you will begin to conquer the first pass of the trek- Puccacocha pass. At around 16,000 feet, the pass sits just above Puccacocha Lake, and the massive Ausangate Mountain is directly in front of you, while a beautiful active glacier crashes into the lake below. After a successful climb, we will stop for lunch and to recharge your body for the remainder of the hike. Our destination for the night is Anata, where we will enjoy a beautiful evening surrounded by jaw dropping landscape in the still of the Andes. As the sun sets we set up the dining tent with chairs for your group to relax and enjoy conversation while dinner is being prepared. This night you will see an unforgettable night sky full of constellations, shooting stars, and keep yourself warm with coca tea.
Distance: 14km/ 8.7 miles
Elevation: 4200m-5000m
Hiking time: 5-6 hours
Today is what you've been waiting for. Your chance to see the beautiful Rainbow Mountain; and the best part, you're almost there. We'll wake you up bright and early (time dependant on weather- usually between 4am and 5am) with coca tea delivered to your tent, and serve you a hearty breakfast to fuel you up for your final climb to Vinicunca (Rainbow Mountain). Upon arrival, you can take all the time you want soaking in the amazing 360-degree vistas of the surrounding lands and explore the mountain itself. Take some time to yourself and really enjoy the beauty of nature around you- it truly is a magical place. The hike down will only take about three hours and here we will celebrate a successful journey, and enjoy lunch before departing back to Cusco (3 hours). Arrival time back in Cusco will depend on how long you want to spend on Rainbow Mountain, but we typically get back around 5pm -6pm and drop you off at your hotel.
Distance: 18km/ 11 miles
Elevation: 5000m-5200m-4200m
Hiking time: 6-7 hours
