Palccoyo Mountain Tour from Cusco is a flexible and tailor-made private day trip with an English speaking tour guide, private transport, tickets and lunches.
If you’re planning a hike at the Rainbow Mountain of Peru but you are not prepared for a hard hike then our Palccoyo Rainbow Mountain day trip is perfect alternative hike that lets you enjoy views of the glacial Ausangate peak and the three Rainbow Mountains with spectacular and remote scenery.
You’ll explore Palccoyo Rainbow Mountain with your private local English speaking tour guide a new route that includes relatively a short walk and gentle to reach to the spectacular natural wonder and enjoy the hidden landscapes of traditional living within the Ausangate region, and admire Peru’s natural wonders without having to jostle for the best vantage point and with no crowds battling for a picture.
Your Tour Features
Tour Type Private
Tour Duration 11 Hours
Pick-up time 6:00 AM
Drop-off time 7:00 PM
Pickup at Hotel
Entry tickets Included
Guide English speaker
Transport Private
What You’ll Do
The trip begins with a quick pick-up at your hotel in Cusco by your private vehicle and a direct scenic drive through diverse landscapes to the hike’s start trailhead.
There is a less challenging hike that will reward you with stunning panoramic views and following that you’ll have lunch on the way back to Cusco.
Your Tour Itinerary
6:00 am – Cusco to Palccoyo
During Palcoyo Day Hike or Palccoyo Mountain Tour, you’ll see a truly magical landscape of painted colored mountains, sweeping red valleys, amazing rock formations, and terraces in the mountains.
Besides, this beautiful Palcoyo Rainbow Mountain Tour offers a more leisurely, shorter, and mostly flat option, and is the best option for those who don’t want to hike for 4 hours round-trip or more, as in the standard one-day tour to Vinicunca Rainbow Mountain, which has a very challenging uphill ascent.
If you’re short on time and want to tick-off impressive landscapes without committing too much hiking, then Palcoyo or “alternative Rainbow Mountain tour” is a very interesting option as a day trip from Cusco, also, if you are not good at walking, you have problems with the high altitude, or you don´t like overcrowded attractions, then Palccoyo Rainbow Mountain Tour from Cusco is for you.
6:00 am – Cusco to Checacupe Palccoyo Rainbow Mountain
This morning of your incredible Palccoyo Mountain Hike, your guide and driver will pick you up very early from your Cusco hotel. You then set out on a beautiful journey in your private transport through the Cusco’s South Valley, along the Cusco to Puno highway, passing through many picturesque Andean towns and colorful colonial towns.
You’ll reach the quaint village of Checacupe, where you’ll stop to visit its iconic bridges that were built in three different eras: one Inca, another colonial, and a third republican. After admiring three bridges over the Pitumarca River, you’ll drive to the small town of Combapata.
From Combapata town, you take a detour onto a dirt road, where you will ride for 1 hour in your private transport until you reach the trailhead for our 1 day trek to Palccoyo (4,900 meters). Along the way, you’ll see beautiful Andes Mountains as well as lush green valleys, local people working on their land, and hundreds of alpacas and llamas.
Start hiking the Palccoyo Rainbow Mountain trailhead
On arrival at the small village of Palccoyo, you begin your gentle ascent towards the first lookout point. After about 15 or 20 minutes, you’ll have your first glimpse of Peru’s incredible Red Valley, and several smaller colored Mountains. The Red Valley area is a stunning feature of the Peruvian Andes. Rich in mineral deposits, these mountains are simply a wonder to behold.
After admiring the breathtaking views and getting that perfect shot, your guide leads you until you reach the principal Palccoyo Rainbow Mountain lookout (15 – 20 minutes walking). At a whopping 5,040meter (16,534 feet), you’ll feel on top of the world!
Upon reaching the viewpoint, you will have gorgeous views of the three Rainbow Mountain Palccoyo peaks laying across one another parading, and appreciate the full splendor of what’s become known as the “alternative rainbow mountain,” as well as Ausangate Mountain (6370m) in the distance, the highest snow-capped Mountain of the Cusco region.
At the Palccoyo Pass, you’ll take your time to contemplate all the magnificent views of this impressive natural formation, appreciate some alpacas grazing in the distance, witness this display of natural beauty in all its glory, as well as part of the Red Valley, whose sediments form the Blood River.
Then you will explore the surrounding a little and take in the stunning landscape while your guide explains the theories that exist regarding the origin of this mountain, about geography, ecosystem, and color of the mountain that seems like it’s been taken from a colorful dream. Use this opportunity to take some incredible photos or simply immerse yourself in the landscape.
You’ll spend around 30 minutes to an hour, depending on how fast you hike and the weather conditions (if you wish to spend more time there, let your guide know). Once you’ve had time to take in all the magnificent sights, and feel the thrill of witnessing an unforgettable spectacle of the Palccoyo Rainbow Mountain. You’ll set off on your return walk down along the same path to the trailhead, where your private vehicle is waiting.
Afterwards, you’ll drive for two-hour to the same restaurant for a comforting traditional Andean lunch. After enjoying our delicious meal, you drive back along the same road for about 1 hour and 30 minutes to Cusco, and drop you off at your respective hotel in Cusco.
Hiking through Palccoyo Rock Forest
If you feel comfortable with the altitude and you are in good physical condition, and want to explore the hidden gem that Palccoyo Rainbow Mountain in Peru offers and the surrounding areas – valleys, mountains, and discover its stunning landscapes, tranquility and unique charms, then you have the option to continue on a bit further to the Rock Forest. It’s about a 20-minute uphill hike to reach this fascinating geological feature, a stunning outcropping of jagged rocks. This is a great sport to get more of those classic Palccoyo shots, and take in all that Mother Nature has to offer.
The trail to the stone forest is swift and steep but the view from the top is amazing. After exploring the enigmatic Stone Forest and getting incredible photos of the geological sample product of millions of years of thawing, and enjoying the scenery and the amazing painted landscapes of the Palcoyo Rainbow Mountains in the Peruvian Andes.
You’ll return in your private transport to the Cusipata village to enjoy the exquisite Peruvian food. After a rewarding rest, you’ll drive back to your hotel in Cusco.
Included:
- Pick-up at your hotel in Cusco
- Round trip private transport
- English speaking tour guide
- Entry tickets to Palccoyo
- Lunches
- Drop-off at your hotel
Excluded:
- Extra expenses
- Breakfast
- Alcoholic drinks, soda
- Bottled water
- Gratuities
What to bring:
- Water and snacks
- Take a pillow for the car ride
- Coca leaves, candies or Oxishot for altitude
- Bring your camera
- A light weight, waterproof day pack
- Waterproof jacket
- Warm clothes and hiking pants, not jeans
- Sturdy hiking boots
- Sun protection: sunscreen, sunhat, sunglasses
- Thermals, wool socks, gloves, scarf, wool hat
- Extra plastic bags, especially in the wet season
- Water proof clothing and or a rain poncho
- Personal medical kit with a simple whistle
- Extra money for souvenirs, drinks, tips
- Trekking poles (optional)
- Coca leaves or candies for altitude sickness
- Toilet paper and hand sanitizer
Get more. Do more.
Hey! I’m Fredy, the guy responsible of answering your emails and inquiries at headquarter.
If you have questions about Palccoyo Mountain Tour from Cusco, or need help making your booking, feel free to text me the number below and reference the name of the tour (or send the link). I’d be happy to help.
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+51 965154772
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