The Palccoyo Rainbow Mountain Tour Full day, popularly known as the alternative Rainbow Mountain tour is a popular full-day tour from Cusco. Palccoyo Cusco, just like Vinincunca Rainbow Mountains is famous for its natural multi-color stripes on its surface.
Cusco, the former capital of the Incas is home to many tourist attractions. It is the gateway to the beautiful Sacred Valley of the Incas and Machu Picchu. In 2016, the Rainbow Mountains of Vinicunca and Palccoyo Cusco were discovered, and they soon became a popular attraction. In fact, they are the second most instagrammable spots in the mountain ranges of Peru.
Vinicunca Rainbow Mountain in Peru tops the bucket list of many travelers, especially those craving a high-altitude adventure. The hike to Vinicunca is somewhat challenging. It takes around three hours to reach the summit from the base camp.
Palccoyo Rainbow Mountain Tour Full Day
Palccoyo Rainbow Mountain is much more relaxed. We will be driving you close to the summit.
From the starting point, you will just be hiking 150 meters/492 ft. up the hill through gradual slopes, which can be easily achieved in 45 minutes to an hour.
The view along the trail to Palccoyo Cusco is captivating. You will get a closer sight of the mighty Ausangate mountain. At 6,372m/20,900ft in height, this snow-capped mountain is the tallest peak in the region and dominates the Southern skyline of Cusco city on a clear day.
You will also be hiking through the stone forest (bosque de Piedras). These natural rock formations give an illusion of a forest of stone.
You will also get a peek at the part of the famous red valley. Sediments of the valley form the “Blood River”. The red waters are the first sight you would witness as our vehicle enters the Palccoyo zone.
On this full-day trip, we will also be stopping at Checacupe. This is a remote Andean village that holds a historic significance. It is home to two iconic bridges: Colonial and Republican. There is also a tiny colonial church here.
It was in Checacupe that the famous Incan emperor, Tupac Amaru II was defeated by Spanish conquistadors in an endless fight for independence.
Palcoyo Rainbow Mountain Tour Full-Day Difficulty
The highest point of the Palccoyo Rainbow Mountain tour is at 4,900 meters above sea level (16,070 ft). Although we will be driving you closer to the summit, it is highly recommended that you spend at least 2 days in Cusco before the tour and acclimatize to avoid altitude sickness.
Best Time to Visit Palccoyo Rainbow Mountain
The best time to visit Palccoyo Rainbow Mountain is between March and November during the dry season. During the rainy season, it is often cloudy and the mountain gets covered in a blanket of snow.
We operate the Palccoyo Rainbow Mountain Tour full day both in private and as a small group tour.
Do take a moment to check our review on Tripadvisor.
