Private Tour: Palcoyo Rainbow Mountain from Cusco: Unforgettable Palcoyo Experience

Discover the hidden gem of Palcoyo Rainbow Mountain on this unforgettable tour in Peru. Book now and experience the breathtaking beauty of the Andes!

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DURATION:
Full Day
MAX ALTITUDE:
5000m (16400ft).
STARTING POINT:
LEVEL:
Moderate

Discover the perfect tour from Cusco with our Private Tour to Palcoyo Rainbow Mountain. Located at 4,900 meters (16,076 feet) above sea level with a distance of 3.5 hours from Cusco, Palcoyo offers an impressive but gentle alternative for everybody. It offers an easy 1-hour hike, this excursion is ideal for all fitness levels. Enjoy the peace of nature without the crowds, privately guided and comfortable. Palcoyo is the ultimate scenic getaway in the high Andes of Peru.

Customizable Itinerary

If you'd like to customize this trip, our travel specialists will create the perfect tour for you.

Overview

Looking for a day hike in the Andes without the crowds? Our private tour to Palcoyo Rainbow Mountain from Cusco offers a quiet, off-the-beaten-path alternative to the popular Vinicunca or Classic Rainbow Mountain hike. With three rainbow-colored mountains, panoramic views of the Ausangate Glacier and a gentle trail for all ages.

Book your private Palcoyo tour now and hike at your own pace!

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Overview

Explore the Stunning Palcoyo – The Best Rainbow Mountain Alternative

Palcoyo Rainbow Mountain Private Tour – Overview

Are you ready for a mind-blowing adventure that will take your breath away? Book your unforgettable experience with us and embark on a day-long journey that will leave an indelible mark on your soul.

The Rainbow Mountain of Palcoyo is a visual masterpiece located at (16,076 ft / 4900 masl.) in the Peruvian Andes. Its distinct geological formations create a unique landscape of layered mountains adorned with streaks of reds, yellows, greens and blues. Unlike the classic Rainbow Mountain, the Palcoyo Rainbow Mountain hike offers a more accessible hiking experience, making it a more accessible hike for a wider range of travelers with a shorter and less demanding hike. Along the way, you will have the chance to immerse yourself into the vibrant local culture.

Our carefully crafted tour offers an opportunity like no other to witness a breathtaking spectacle of colors that will leave you spellbound. Whether you are an experienced trekker or a casual traveler, our Palcoyo Mountain Rainbow hike is for people of all fitness levels. Our day trip to Palcoyo includes comfortable transportation, expert guides and a carefully designed itinerary to optimize your experience.

Palcoyo Rainbow Mountain

Palcoyo Rainbow Mountain Hike

Briefing

Your Palcoyo adventure begins with an early pick-up at the hotel in Cusco. Around 4:00 a.m., you will board our private transportation exclusively for you and your group (family, friends etc). Our team will provide you with a blanket to keep you warm during the drive. Leaving Cusco, we head to our breakfast spot, where a hearty buffet awaits to fuel us for the upcoming trek.

After enjoying a delicious breakfast at a local restaurant, our journey continues as we embark on a scenic drive of approximately 1.5 hours. This scenic drive will take us through the breathtaking landscapes of the Andean highlands, offering beautiful vistas of the red valleys along the way. Upon getting to the starting point of the hike, we will get out of the vehicle and get ready for the real adventure that awaits us.

Why you’ll love this tour

  • Opportunity to explore multiple colorful mountains.
  • Breathtaking views of the Red Valley along the way.
  • No need to walk too far to reach the Palcoyo mountains.
  • Accessibility for all levels of adventurers
  • Exclusive and personalized tailor-made experience

Palcoyo Rainbow Mountain Hike

Palcoyo Difficulty Level:

The Palcoyo hike is generally considered to be of moderate difficulty. Although the trail is relatively well-defined and not overly steep, visitors should be prepared for some uphill sections. The altitude of Palcoyo Rainbow Mountain, sits at about 4,900 meters (16,076 feet) above sea level, this may make things difficult specially for some visitors, who are not acclimated to fully high altitudes. To minimize the risk of altitude sickness, it is essential to pace yourself, hydrate and listen to your body during the hike.

How Long is the Hike at Palcoyo:

This experience is only a 2 hour round trip hike (it covers a distance of approximately 5 kilometers (3.1 miles)) and has multiple overlooks where you can see several rainbow mountains. The elevation goes from 4326m/14,189ft to 5000m/16400ft. The duration of the trek may vary depending on some factors such as the pace, breaks and time spent exploring the area.

Best Time to Visit Palccoyo Mountain:

For the best experience, plan your visit to Palccoyo Mountain during dry season in Cusco, which runs from April to October. Peak tourist activity usually occurs in June, July and August. Therefore, the low seasons of the dry season offer ideal conditions for exploration. Although visiting Palcoyo during the dry season, it is advisable to carry a raincoat due to the unpredictable weather conditions in the high altitude areas in Cusco.

Breathtaking panoramic views of multiple colorful mountains.
Less crowds than on the classic Rainbow Mountain hike
Diverse landscapes with a variety of vibrant colors and geological formations.
The route is accessible for hikers of all levels, with a moderate degree of difficulty.
Enriching cultural experiences, with expert local guides.
Photographic opportunities are abundant, capturing the natural beauty of landscapes.

This day trip to Placoyo’s Rainbow Mountain is an extraordinary opportunity to admire one of nature’s greatest masterpieces. Here is our plan, check it out carefully if you have any doubt please contact us at info@comeseeperutours.com.

Pick-up Location

You will be picked up from your hotel in Cusco at approximately 4 am. You will be further informed about the pick-up time during the briefing the night before the tour.

Breakfast

We begin the day with a delicious breakfast, which will energize us for the exciting journey ahead. From there, we will embark on a scenic drive, passing through Pitumarka, as we make our way to the Palcoyo Rainbow Mountain.

Palcoyo rainbow mountain

Upon arrival at Palcoyo Rainbow Mountain, prepare to be mesmerized by the breathtaking views that await you. This hidden gem offers a magnificent display of natural beauty, with vibrant layers of jaw-dropping colors.

Lunch

After enjoying the majestic Palcoyo Rainbow Mountain, we will drive back to the lunch place.

We return to Cusco

Finally we will return to Cusco in a 2 hour drive, you will be dropped off at your hotel in Cusco at approximately 3 pm.

Tour Itinerary

Palccoyo Rainbow Mountain Day Hike Itinerary

Our Palcoyo Rainbow Mountain itinerary offers a breathtaking adventure that will take you to one of Peru’s most impressive natural wonders. The itinerary includes a comfortable transportation service from Cusco, a scenic drive through the South Valley and plenty of time to enjoy the impressive views of Palcoyo. Get ready for a memorable adventure that highlights the beauty of Palcoyo’s Rainbow Mountain!

Cusco - Palcoyo - Cusco

Our tour to Palcoyo starts with an early pick up from your hotel in Cusco. As we set off, prepare to enjoy a scenic drive through Cusco’s picturesque Southern Valley, driving though Cusco-Puno highway. Along the way, you will be captivated by the charm of numerous colonial towns that dot the landscape.

Once in Cusipata, we will have a delicious breakfast before reaching Palcoyo. After breakfast we will take a detour onto a dirt road, where we will drive for about 1 hour in our private transportation until we reach the trailhead for the trek to Palccoyo (4,900 meters/ 16,076 feet). Leaving our tranport behind, we’ll embark on an hour trek to Palcoyo through the impressive Peruvian Andes landscapes.

You will have an optional extra hike through the Palccoyo Rock Forest, in case you wish to explore more thoroughly. This is a great opportunity to get more classic photos of Palccoyo, and enjoy all that Mother Nature has to offer.

After enjoying Palcoyo’s fascinating scenery and taking many photos, we will head back to the local restaurant for a delicious buffet lunch.

After enjoying Palcoyo’s fascinating scenery and taking many photos, we will head back to the local restaurant for a delicious buffet lunch.

We will then return to Cusco, where you will be dropped off at your hotel around 3 pm.

Difficulty

Easy / Beginner

Itinerary Notes

According to our itinerary our tour to Palcoyo starts at 4 am from Cusco, however as this is a private tour you can modify the starting time. We start early to arrive before everyone else and have the scenery all to ourselves. If you wish to leave earlier or later please contact us.

Included

Briefing the night before the trek
Private transport
English speaking professional guide
Breakfast
Buffet lunch
Entrance tickets
First-aid kit including emergency oxygen tank

No Included

Walking poles
Travel insurance (required)
Tips

What to bring to Palccoyo Rainbow Mountain tour

Don’t forget to pack light and take only what you need to enjoy a comfortable and pleasant hike to Palcoyo’s Rainbow Mountain. Here’s a list of essentials to bring for your Palcoyo Rainbow Mountain tour:

  • Sturdy hiking boots
  • Comfortable socks
  • Layered clothing (including a warm jacket)
  • Hat and sunglasses
  • Sunscreen
  • Daypack
  • Water bottle
  • Snacks (fruits, candies, chocolates).
  • Trekking poles (optional)
  • Camera for capturing the breathtaking views

Extra items to consider:

  • Rain jacket or poncho (specially during the winter season)
  • Gloves and a scarf
  • Portable charger for electronic devices
  • Personal medication
  • Toilet paper or wet wipes for convenience

Pricing

Palcoyo Mountain Tour Price

This private tour is priced per person, with reduced rates for large groups. (the more participants in your group the less you pay). Secure your place with a $30, paying the rest in cash on the day of the tour.

2 Persons
Price
US $ 169
per person
3 Persons
Price
US $ 129
per person
4 Persons
Price
US $ 105
per person
5 Persons
Price
US $ 80
per person
6 Persons
Price
US $ 69
per person
7 Persons
Price
US $ 60
per person
8 Persons
Price
US $ 65
per person

Reviews

5.0
based on 125 reviews
Total reviews and rating from TripAdvisor
5 Stars 125
4 Stars 0
3 Stars 0
2 Stars 0
1 Stars 0
Sacred Valley Lovely Day
Teri G 6
April 2025

Will was our guide and he was wonderful! The tour was everything we hoped for. The day was filled with so much and Will made sure we were having the best time we could. Ask for Will- he was wonderful!

Stunning Sacred Valley
Heather R
April 2025
We had an outstanding time in our private tour with Carlos and Michael. Better than expected. Beautiful county and they took great care of us! Sacred Valley is a must!
Wonderful Sacred Valley Tour!
MmHuston
May 2025

My sister and I were referred to Come See Peru from a friend, and we are so grateful for the referral. We did the Sacred Valley Cultural Experience. Carlos (our guide) and Michael (our driver) were knowledgeable, flexible, and fun!

Here are a few specific aspects that I would like to mention:

1. Flexible. We really appreciated the flexibility that we were afforded. We did our half day Sacred Valley trip in between accommodation switches. So we were picked up in Ollantaytambo and dropped off in Cusco. Additionally, we had to be picked up a bit later than the original start time, and Carlos and Michael were happy to accommodate.

2. Informative. Carlos expertly led us around the three sites we visited (Ollantaytambo ruins, The Salt Mines, The ruins of Moray). He actually took us in an order that allowed for there to be less tourists when we were present, which was really nice. He provided us with historical context and answered all of our questions.

3. Patient. Carlos and Michael gave us time to sit in the beauty that is these amazing locations. Carlos is a wonderful photographer as well and offered to take our picture at some really neat places in each location. When we did the Chicha tasting and salt demonstration, they waited while we shopped. We never felt rushed, which we appreciated.

4. Fun! Overall, we had a really good time with Carlos and Michael. We chatted and laughed about all sorts of things. We appreciated the private tour aspect so we could really go at our own flow and connect and just enjoy.

Thank you Carlos and Michael for a lovely exploration of the Sacred Valley! You will be at the top of our list when we return to see Pisac and Chinchero!

|INCREDIBLE Personalized Sacred Valley Tour
KayLane
May 2025

Wow! I booked a customizable 2-day tour to include all of the main Sacred Valley sights because I wanted to start the first day in Cusco and end in Ollantaytambo and use the tour as transportation as well. Come See Peru was so easy to work with, communicating extremely quickly via WhatsApp to design my perfect itinerary. They also suggested some stops that I did not know about.

Our guide Ruben was positively incredible and really made this tour amazing. He presented the history, culture, geography, & food information in such a compelling way! We learned SO MUCH because he is an incredible storyteller. None of the main sites (moray, maras, ollantaytambo, etc) have much signage and we wouldn’t have been able to appreciate them half as well without Ruben. He was also an amazing photographer, always choosing the best locations to take photos of my husband and I.
The vehicle was a comfortable van, which was private, and we had a driver who dropped off and picked up whenever we needed and also stayed with our luggage the day that it was in the car.

Overall, the price was fair for the value received and I would definitely recommend reaching out to Come See Peru to build a customized tour for your trip to the Sacred Valley!

Excellent service
Journey320022
May 2025

My wife, and I actually took three tours in three dayswith Come See Peru. This were for Machu Picchu, Pisac / Llama farm and the half-day tour on the outskirts of Cusco. The company provided excellent tour guides and took care of every detail, so that our tours were totally stressed free.

Terms and Conditions

Free cancellation up to 48 hours before the start of the activity. If you cancel less than this time or do not show up, you will not be refunded.

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What Our Customers Say About Us

Come See Peru has earned TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence for consistently receiving 5-star reviews of our tours in Cusco, Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu tours. This recognition highlights our exceptional service and dedicated attention to our clients.

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