Palcoyo Rainbow Mountains: A fantastic alternative tour to the popular “Rainbow Mountain", Palcoyo offers a more relaxed and peaceful place option that is best for those who don’t want to hike 3 hours round trip, providing an amazing view of 3 distinct rainbow mountains, the stone forest, and the Ausangate glacier in the distance in only a short 30 minute walk (one way).
Checacupe 3 bridges: Checacupe is a special place where you will see 3 different bridges and have the opportunity to cross the Inca bridge, which is an amazing experience.
Don't miss our excursions to Rainbow Mountain, a true spiritual portal to the Andean gods and Pachamama. We guarantee unique and unforgettable experiences. We also offer two-day tours, and we can put together complete packages for your trip to Cusco, including this wonderful adventure.
The adventure begins very early with our team picking you up from your hotel at 04:30 hrs. and heading to the small village of Checacupe (located south of Cusco). Where we will make a stop to see an Inca and a colonial bridge and also to grab some last-minute items like drinks, snacks, sunblock, rainponcho, etc.
After the short stop, we continue one more hour to the base camp. Once we arrive there, we take a short and gradual uphill walk (30–45 minutes) to the Palcoyo Pass (4880 m/16,000 ft). Here you will have spectacular panoramic views of the 3 Rainbow Mountains and the spectacular Palccoyo peaks as well, as well as the highest mountain in the Cusco region (Ausangate) and also the Stone Forest at the highest point. We will spend 1 hour at the pass taking pictures and enjoying the spectacular view.
Once we are done enjoying the scenery, we walk back down the same way to the base camp. We now take our private transport to the village called Cusipata to enjoy a delicious, freshly prepared, hot lunch.
After lunch, we will catch our private van back to Cusco.
Unlike Vinicunca, the Palcoyo Rainbow Mountain is a lesser-known attraction and therefore less crowded during the day. Reaching this tourist attraction is much easier because it includes only a 1-hour hike and the altitude is also much lower. From its summit, you can appreciate the Ausangate snow-capped mountain like nowhere else. Additionally, there is a forest of stones and a unique landscape all around.
| Diferencias | Montaña Palcoyo | Montaña Vinicunca |
| Atractivos | Montaña de los 7 Colores de Palcoyo. | Montaña de los 7 Colores Vinicunca. |
| Altura | 4,900 m.s.n.m. | 5,200 m.s.n.m. |
| Dificultad | Fácil | Difícil |
| Tiempo de caminata | 1 hora (2 kilómetros). | 3 horas (5 kilómetros) |
| ¿Necesita caballo? | No | Sí (opcional) |
| Número de visitantes | Bastantes | Pocos |
| Clima | Frío | Frío |
The Palcoyo Rainbow Mountain is located south of Cusco in the Checacupe district and Canchis province, a short distance from the Ausangate snow-capped mountain, in the Andes Mountains of Peru.
Tours of Palcoyo Rainbow Mountain are only available in the mornings and part of the afternoon. Due to the cold weather, the opening hours are from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The best time of year and month to visit Palcoyo Rainbow Mountain is during the dry season (April to October). Rainfall is less frequent during these months, making the hike easier.
You must purchase an entrance ticket in the town of Palcoyo. The cost for foreigners is 10 soles (3 dollars). Domestic tourists pay 5 soles (2 dollars). If you booked with us, the ticket is included.
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Daniel D
July 29, 2026
Ukończenie 4-dniowego Inca Trail było jednym z najlepszych doświadczeń w moim życiu. Wszystko było zorganizowane perfekcyjnie od początku do końca. Nasz przewodnik Paolo Fernandez zasługuje na ocenę 11/10 – ogromna wiedza, profesjonalizm, świetne poczucie humoru i nieustanna troska o całą grupę sprawiły, że ta wyprawa była jeszcze bardziej wyjątkowa. Porterzy byli absolutnie niesamowici. Zawsze na czas, uśmiechnięci, pomocni i niezwykle pracowici. To dzięki nim mogliśmy w pełni cieszyć się trekkingiem. Są to naprawdę wspaniali ludzie, którym należy się ogromny szacunek. Sama trasa jest przepiękna – zapierające dech w piersiach widoki, fascynująca historia i niezapomniane chwile każdego dnia. To było niezwykłe doświadczenie, które na zawsze pozostanie w mojej pamięci. Gorąco polecam tę wyprawę każdemu. Dziękuję całemu zespołowi za stworzenie tak wyjątkowej przygody!
Cesar Eduardo C
July 29, 2026
Gran experiencia para desconectarse de la ciudad... y mejor aún el servicio del guía Paolo Fernández, top.
Amy K
July 29, 2026
TL;DR - I’ve personally used this company (hiking/touring with Percy Lanza) not once but twice and highly recommend them—and strongly urge you to book 2 or 3 days, NOT just the 1-day Inca Trail! I did the 1-day Inca Trail with Percy on a girls’ trip in July 2022 and did not hesitate to book with him again when I returned this July with my family. I knew I could trust him to take good care of us and he did not disappoint! This time we did a 3-day tour, and I’m SO GLAD we extended it! The Sacred Valley tour on day 1 was fantastic—there is just so much more to see besides Machu Picchu. From the weaving demonstration at Chinchero to the incredible site of Moray to a delicious buffet lunch in Urubamba, we loved it all. Staying in Ollantaytambo was perfect—not only did we get to explore the amazing ruins there, but we also got more sleep the night before our hike. Having experienced both ways, I cannot stress enough how much better it is to do the hike, then stay in Aguas Calientes and go back to Machu Picchu the next day for a guided tour. It’s doable in one day, but it’s a LONG day, and harder to appreciate MP when you’re exhausted. Four years ago, we were sort of hiking “on the clock.” We toured MP on jelly legs, then had barely enough time for celebratory drinks before catching the train back to Cusco. This time, it was so nice not to have to rush our hike but be able to enjoy the spectacular views along the way. Plus we got to see MP twice! At the end of our hike, we enjoyed the views from the upper terrace, then took the bus down for the relief of showers and naps. I enjoyed MP ***so much more*** the day after our hike, when I was clean and rested. Plus, AC is a lovely town (at a lower elevation than Cusco, which means better sleep!) and it’s so nice to have extra time there to explore the markets and eat delicious food! Since Percy already had another tour booked before I reached out to him, he arranged for Iza Cabrera to come on day 3 and take us to Machu Picchu. We loved getting to meet and learn from her as well--she was delightful! I wholeheartedly recommend both of them. It is such a gift to have absolutely every detail taken care of—from train, bus, and archaeological site tickets to hiking permits to boxed breakfasts and lunches to private drivers and hotels and restaurant reservations. The cost, in light of all they provide and manage, is honestly a steal. Book a 3-day tour! I’m not into overnight backpacking but this felt like the best of both worlds. And hiking in from the Inca Trail is truly the *only* way to experience Machu Picchu.
Companion42564378925
July 29, 2026
Czterodniowy trekking do Machu Picchu i Huayna Picchu to niezapomniane przeżycie! Ogrom emocji, adrenaliny i wspaniała przygoda, która na długo pozostanie w naszej pamięci. Trasa była dostosowana do możliwości każdego uczestnika, dzięki czemu mogliśmy w pełni cieszyć się całą wyprawą. Ogromne podziękowania należą się naszym przewodnikom, a szczególnie Pablo, który towarzyszył nam przez wszystkie 4 dni aż na szczyt Huayna Picchu. Jego profesjonalizm, zaangażowanie i wsparcie były nieocenione. Jeśli chcecie przeżyć coś wyjątkowego – zjechać jedną z najdłuższych tyrolek w Peru, spędzić niezapomnianą noc w dżungli i dotrzeć do magicznego Machu Picchu – z całego serca polecam tę firmę! ❤️ Właśnie dziś zakończyliśmy naszą czterodniową przygodę i już wiemy, że były to jedne z najpiękniejszych chwil w naszym życiu. Dziękuję🙏🏔️🌿💚✨ — Renata
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