While the Rainbow Mountain Vinicunca boils with thousands of tourists every day, just 20 kilometers to the south lies not one, but three colorfully striped mountains resting in complete solitude. With ochre and red hues, adorned with green, blue, and white stripes, the dazzling Palcoyo Colorful Mountain Range is visited by only a few travelers per day. Reaching it requires just an easy, one-hour, and level walk, making it a less demanding alternative than the lengthy trek to Vinicunca.
The adventure begins with hotel pickup between 6:30 to 7:00 am, then we head in our tourist transport towards Checacupe (2-hour journey), a hanging bridge built by the Quechuas to facilitate connections in the Inca Empire. After admiring and taking photographs, we head towards Palcoyo. From the parking lot, the colorful mountains can already be appreciated, but for a better view, a slow-paced 45-minute walk takes you to the Palcoyo Colorful Mountain Range viewpoint.
Similar to Rainbow Mountain Vinicunca, an extraordinary geological process aligned the different earth strata into layers of multicolored bands, creating a unique effect. From the Palcoyo viewpoint, the three colorful mountains can be observed in all their magnitude and solitary vastness. In the same place, there’s a curious stone forest, which, as its name suggests, consists of rock peaks reaching the height of trees, resembling a true geological maze.
The physical effort and time required to reach Palcoyo are much less compared to Vinicunca, the latter of which receives a large influx of tourists that diminishes the natural landscape’s beauty. This doesn’t mean that the trek to Rainbow Mountain Vinicunca isn’t worth it; in fact, if you’re seeking a physical challenge, perhaps visiting Vinicunca makes more sense for you. The beauty of Palcoyo Colorful Mountain Range lies in it being an excellent alternative
for those who cannot or do not want to exert themselves physically to witness the same landscape as Vinicunca.
After appreciating and enjoying the beautiful landscape and majesty of the colorful mountain range, we’ll have a rich and exquisite varied lunch before finally returning to the city of Cusco, arriving between 5:00 to 5:30 pm.
INCLUDES:
• Hotel pickup
• Round-trip transportation
• 01 lunch and hot beverages
• Bilingual English/Spanish guide
• First aid kit
• Oxygen
• Entrance to the colorful mountain range
DOES NOT INCLUDE:
• Mineral water
• Backpacks
• Tips
• Entrance fee
WHAT TO BRING?
• Trekking shoes
• Warm clothing
• Windbreaker
• Sunscreen
• Sunglasses
• Hat
• Extra money
