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 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.

Why to reserve with us?
- 100% Peruvian company
- 100% Indigenous team
- Licensed tour guides
To conclude, 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.
DETAILS
Duration: About 12 hours.
Language:
- Group tour: Spanish and English simultaneously
- Private tour: Spanish, English — separate groups based on the language. If you want another language, just let us know!
Tour Type:
- Group tour: 10 to up to 30 attendees
- Private tour: No strangers
Accessibility: This tour is not suitable for people with reduced mobility.
What to bring?
- Sweaters or jackets
- Anti-slip shoes
- Passport — it’s optional, but at least have a digital photo
- Raincoats
- Ponchos — buy it in Cusco
- Caps or hats
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses
- Toilet paper and hand sanitizer
- A bottle of water
- Local currency
- Snacks — keep in mind that the lunch will be at around 13:00
Included:
- Group tour:
- Bus pick up from your hotel — as long as you stay in the historic center
- Basic breakfast and lunch with vegetarian options
- Licensed tour Guides
- Tourist bus with air conditioning
- Walking stick — on request
- Oxygen balloon
- First aid kit
- Private tour:
- Pick up with vehicle and tour Guide from your hotel
- On time pick up from your hotel
- Basic breakfast and lunch with vegetarian options
- Professional and authorized tour Guides
- Private Driver
- Private Car
- Walking stick — on request
- Oxygen balloon
- First aid kit
- Drop off at your hotel
Not Included:
- Entrance tickets for Palccoyo: 15 Soles pp
- Horses — there are no horses to rent on this route
- Tips (optional)
- Dinner
How to book? Please book on this webpage.
WhatsApp: +51 958745640 & +51 984479073
HIGHLIGHTS
The itinerary can always change because of weather, strikes and festivals. If you book a private tour, we will pick you up from anywhere in the city of Cusco and drop you off at your hotel.
Meeting Place — at about 4:30
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.
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 13:00
We will have local semi-buffet lunch.
Cusipata to Cusco by bus
Tour Ending Place — at about 17:30
We finish this tour two blocks away from the Plaza de Armas — this tour doesn’t end at your hotel.
PHOTOS
PRICE
Group tour:
- 35 USD per person
Private tour:
- 110 USD per person based on 2 people
- 75 USD per person based on 3 people
- 65 USD per person based on 4 people
- 60 USD per person based on 5 people
- If your group is larger than 5 people, just let us know!
SCHEDULES
Group tour: Everyday
- Pick up time: About 4:30
- Ending time: About 17:30
If you book a private tour, we are flexible with the schedule.
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. If you book a private tour, we will pick you up from anywhere in the city of Cusco.
REVIEWS
⭐TripAdvisor: 100 reviews | ⭐Google Maps: 100 comments | ⭐Facebook: 160 testimonials | ⭐Instagram: 700 followers | ⭐YouTube: watch our videos | ⭐Travellers: more than 54,750 tourists
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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.