Rainbow Mountain (Vinicunca)

Winikunka

A 5,036 m mountain with rainbow-like mineral stripes that became an internet sensation after its snow and ice melted around 2015. It is a day trip from Cusco with a 3-hour high-altitude hike that tests your stamina.

Winikunka lies about 100 km southeast of Cusco in the Ausangate range, at 5,036 m. Its slopes are striped with rainbow colors from different mineral deposits, including red hematite, yellow sulfides and green chlorite. The public did not discover these colors until the snow and ice covering them melted around 2015. Today it is the second most visited attraction in Peru. The standard way to visit is a day tour from Cusco, costing about USD 30–60. It includes pickup at 03:30–04:30, breakfast and lunch, and entry, with 3 hours of driving each way. From the parking lot at 4,600 m, hike about 5 km and climb 400 m to the viewpoint, a round trip of 2.5–3.5 hours. The slope is gentle, but the air is thin. Less fit visitors can rent a horse (about PEN 80–100) to the foot of the mountain and walk only the last section. From the viewpoint you can see the full rainbow mountain and, across the valley, the snow-capped Ausangate (6,384 m). Walking another 20 minutes brings you to a view over the nearby Red Valley (Valle Rojo, PEN 20 extra), which has even more dramatic colors and fewer people. Entry costs PEN 25–30, collected by the local community. Note that this is the highest stop on a Peru trip, so spend 2–3 days acclimatizing in Cusco first. Don't schedule it for your first day after arrival. Bring coca candy, water, sunscreen, gloves and a down jacket. It is windy at the top and below freezing in the morning. Between 9 and 11 a.m., tour groups crowd the site, so consider an early-departure tour, or go to the Palccoyo rainbow mountain instead (4,900 m, almost no climbing, suitable for older people and children). The parking lot has recently added toilets and a small shop. Drones require a permit. On the way back, you can stop at the Checacupe Inca suspension bridge.

Rainbow Mountain (Vinicunca)

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