ABOUT
Palcoyo Rainbow Mountain Tour: Join our best alternative experience, a 100% alternative route compared to the classic Vinicunca peak. This experience contains an unmissable natural beauty, what´s more, you will not only see one rainbow mountain but many of them, you will also explore the Forest of Colourful Stones, The Three Historic Bridges and perhaps the Red River; so even if the day was rainy, this tour offers you a win-win option, the good experience is guaranteed.
What is the probability of visiting the Red River on this tour?
On the way from Cusco to Palccoyo, there is a river that turns red colour during the rainy season, caused by landslides that flow into this river.
The minerals contained in these landslides end up colouring the river into red tone; This is why you can only see the red river in the rainy season and the river is not always dyed red, because it requires torrential rains that can cause many landslides.
In conclusion: Even though you visit Palccoyo during the rainy season, seeing the red river is not guaranteed, because it will depend on torrential rains that can occur 1 day before the tour and cause a lot of landslides.

Why to reserve with us?
- 100% Peruvian company
- 100% Indigenous team
- Licensed tour guides
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DETAILS
Duration: About 12 hours.
Language: Bilingual in Spanish and English.
Tour Type: Group tours — if you wish a private service, please contact us.
Accessibility: This tour is not suitable for people with reduced mobility.
Please Bring:
- Sweaters or jackets
- Raincoats
- Anti-slip shoes
- Ponchos — buy it in Cusco
- Caps or hats
- Sunscreen
- Sun glasses
- Toilet paper and hand sanitizer
- A bottle of water
- Local currency
- Snacks — keep in mind that the lunch will be at about 2:30 pm
Included:
- Bus pick up from your hotel — as long as you stay in the historic center
- Semi-buffet lunch
- 100% professional and authorized guides
- Tourist bus with air conditioning
- Entrance tickets for Palccoyo
- Walking stick — on request
- Oxygen balloon
- First aid kit
Not Included:
- Horses — optional, if you are going to require it, inform us in advance
- Breakfast
- Dinner
- Tips (optional)
How to book? Please book on this webpage.
Faq’s: Please scroll down to the bottom of this page.
WhatsApp:+51 958745640 & +51 984479073
HIGHLIGHTS
The itinerary can always change because of weather, strikes and festivals.
Meeting Place — at about 6:30 am
We will pick you up by bus from your Hotel — as long as you stay in the historic center, otherwise we will coordinate another meeting place according to your convenience.
Cusco to Checacupe by bus
We will go by bus to Checacupe town, the bus ride will take approximately 2 hours — Checacupe is a district located at 3400 m.s.n.m.
Visit of the 3 historical Bridges
Once we arrive at Checacupe, we will visit 3 bridges that summarize Peruvian history: Inca Bridge (1100 AD – 1532 AD), Colonial Bridge (1532-1821) and a Republican Bridge (1821 – to the present day).
Checacupe to Palcoyo community by bus
We will continue driving for about 2.5 hours, until we arrive at the indigenous community of Palcoyo.
Palccoyo community to Palcoyo Mountain on foot
We will walk for approximately 40 minutes until we reach the Palccoyo mountains.
On the mountain of Palcoyo
Unlike the classic mountain of Vinicunca, in Palccoyo you will see many colored mountains that will be described by our guide — Palccoyo Mountain is located at 4800 m.a.s.l.
Heading to the Forest of Colorful Stones
After having visited Palcoyo, we will walk for about 10 minutes, until we reach the Forest of Colorful Stones located at 4900 m.a.s.l.
Return from the Stone Forest to Cusipata
We will return from the Stone Forest to the community of Palcoyo on foot, then we will take the bus to the district of Cusipata.
Lunch in Cusipata — at about 2:30 pm
We will have local semi-buffet lunch.
Cusipata to Cusco by bus
Tour Ending Place — at about 6 pm
We finish this tour two blocks away from the Plaza de Armas — this tour doesn’t end at your hotel.
PHOTOS
PRICE
Group tour: 40 USD per person
- Kids under 4 years enter for free
- Kids between 5 to 10 years old, must pay for the price of the tour so that they can also have a seat in the bus
- We have different prices for kids over 5 years to 10 years
- Teenagers over 11 pay a regular rate
If you want this tour to be a 100% custom service, contact us.
TOUR SCHEDULES
- Start time: Every day at about 6:30 am
- Ending time: At about 6 pm
MEETING PLACE
We will pick you up by bus from your Hotel — as long as you stay in the historic center, otherwise we will coordinate another meeting place according to your convenience.
REVIEWS
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EverydayOur Social Project
Our philanthropic objective is to help Andean and indigenous communities to improve their socio-economic conditions, with part of the tips received in free tours and a percentage from the paid tours.