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Rainbow Mountain Full-Day Trek – Trip Details
OVERVIEW
- Pick up from your hotel at 4am in our private van and transfer to trailhead.
- Enjoy your breakfast.
- The hike up takes about 1.5 hours along a trail that goes up a desert valley, with full view of glaciers.
- Enjoy the colorfull Rainbow
- Then hike for 45m to the Red Valley.
- The hike back to the trail-head enjoying the amazing views of glaciers and valleys.
- Highest elevation: 5100mt/16732ft
- After lunch, we take our van back to Cusco
- Arrive to your hotel in Cusco around 5pm.
****A horse can be hired for the majority of the trek. However, the last 600m are too steep for horses and you will have to walk this last part. The cost is about 100 soles roundtrip which your guide can negotiate.
Rainbow Mountain Trek – Itinerary
Day 1: Cusco – Cusipata – Llacto – Rainbow Mt – Llacto – Cusco
Your amazing Rainbow Mountain Trek Adventure begins with pick up from your hotel at 4am! We set out on our drive for 3 hours through the South Valley, on our way to the trailhead at Llacto (4,638m/15,216 ft). Along the way, there are amazing views of farming Inca terraces, traditional villages, valleys and high Andean peaks.
The herds of alpacas and llamas near your breakfast spot will entertain you in the early morning. Enjoy a delicious and hearty breakfast, then get back in the van for the last 5 minute drive to the trailhead. We start on our hike following a lovely stream, with views of the Ausangate Mountain and glaciers. This is a great place to interact with the local people, who are still keeping traditional Quechua culture alive. Learn about their traditional clothes and the significance of the different hats worn by the men. Ask your guide to teach you a few words of Quechua!
After hiking up for about 1.5 hours, we finally reach our destination: the Rainbow Mountain! (5,020m /16,466ft). After admiring the unique beauty of this colorful landscape, you will have time to explore the area. You can take pictures or just soak up the view. We will spend approximately 30 minutes at the top. Afterwards, we hike across to the Red Valley for 45m, enjoy the red colorfull Valley and Mountains and finally we walk back to the trail head.
We will embark on the 3-hour drive back to Cusco and drop you off at your Cusco hotel, arriving around 5:00pm.
**** There is an option to rent a horse from local people right at the starting point of the trek!
WHAT’S INCLUDED?
Included
- Pick-up at your hotel the morning of your trek
- Private transport from Cusco to Llacto trailhead and back to Cusco
- English speaking, experienced and professional guide
- Meals as indicated in the itinerary (optional vegetarian food with prior request)
- First Aid kit including emergency oxygen bottle
Not Included
- Horses, which can be rented at the trailhead (100 soles roundtrip)
- Trekking Poles – $15
- Tips for the driver, guide and cook of SAM TRAVEL PERU
PRICES
Enjoy this 1 day hike with expert team and in a small or private groups!
GROUP PRICES
| # of Persons | PricePer Person |
|---|---|
| 2 persons | $150 pp |
| 3 persons | $125 pp |
| 4 persons | $99 pp |
| 5 persons | $80 pp |
| 6 or more persons | $70 pp |
***Price per person based on the number of participants in the group. When group is finalized, each person will pay per person based on the size of the final group. There is no guarantee of how many may join except the limit is 10 people per group.
***Minimum is 2 participants per group to start a group.
PRIVATE GROUP PRICES (Any date)
| # of Persons | PricePer Person |
|---|---|
| 2 persons | $170 pp |
| 3 persons | $150 pp |
| 4 persons | $130 pp |
| 5 persons | $110 pp |
| 6 or more persons | $90 pp |
***Private group price depends on the number of people, and will be completely private with your own guide, chauffeur and private van. No others will be added to the group.
***Minimum is 1 person but that person will pay $197 for the private group.
ADDITIONAL OPTIONS
- A horse can be rented for the trip from locals when you arrive for about 100 soles round trip. Your guide will help you negotiate the price.
WHY CHOOSE SAM TRAVEL?
SAM Travel Peru is a family owned travel agency and a local tour operator based in Cusco with personal experience over many years of trekking. SAM Travel Peru is a 100% Cusqueñian Company without any shareholders.
Our dream as a locally based company is to create small personalized tours & treks strictly and only operated by local professional staff catering in PERSONALIZED and HIGH QUALITY SERVICE.
We take pride in our reputation as a RESPONSIBLE & SUSTAINABLE tour operator. Our staff are our extended family. We ensure they are supported financially by offering them a fair salary. We are proud of our team without them , we wouldn’t be able to offer the best service and lifetime experiences to our clients.
SAM Travel Peru knows how important it is to trust in a reliable honest operator to create your adventure of a lifetime while in Peru. Check out our reviews and certificates of excellence on, TRIPADVISOR for yourself! Also we are highly recommended on Conde Nast Travelers, Lonely Planet and by many blogs like: Trek de Lares 4 hours, “It’s the journey, not the destination…”, Lares Pass – Day 3, Trekking in the Sacred Valley.
SMALL GROUPS
To ensure a more personalized service for our guests, at SAM Travel Peru we have a policy that our groups will not exceed 8 people. This fact alone sets us apart from other companies that operate departures with bigger groups.
OUR TOP TOUR GUIDES
We are so proud of our guides! They are highly professional and speak fluent English. They are very knowledgeable and passionate for Inca heritage and history. Our guides are dedicated to continuous personal and professional development. They do research to ensure that you receive accurate and recognized theories in Inca and Andean culture. Our crew is fun loving, great sports and well-educated. They all hold degrees in one of the following: Archaeology, Tourism, Botany, History or Anthropology..
OUR CHEF ON THE RAINBOW MOUNTAIN TREK
You will love our fabulous chef! The food on the trek has been highlighted by all our clients. They say that it was better than in the restaurants. Delicious and abundant gourmet style meals, Peruvian and international cuisine are prepared by our professional and dedicated cooks from a mixture of local and exotic produce. If you are vegetarian or have food allergies of any kind, we can cater our meal to adjust to your needs.
SAM Travel Peru can cater to any food restrictions and special diets such gluten free, vegetarian or vegan!
OUR SERVICE PROJECTS
SAM Travel Peru has always believed that we should give back to the communities we pass through when on our treks. Therefore, as part of our commitment to responsible tourism, we always do many service projects and hire locally.
SAM Travel Peru is so proud to be able to support these beautiful people, not only employing them work but also to keep things at grassroots, to share in their homes and with their families. This makes us happy to have this holistic approach with our highland employees and their families!
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Please read carefully the following information. It will help with your questions about our services and the trek to Rainbow Mountain.
WELCOME TO CUSCO
You will be greeted at Cusco airport and taken to your hotel, please ensure that you inform us of your full flight details at least 14 days prior to arrival. Look for our representative holding an orange SAM Travel Peru board at the exit from the arrival terminal.
THE BRIEFING
The briefing will take place the night before the trek at 6pm in our office, which is located at Calle Garcilaso 210, office 207 (second floor) in the La CASA DEL ABUELO shopping center.
CAN I STORE MY LUGGAGE AT YOUR OFFICE?
Of course! During the Rainbow Mountain Trek your main luggage can be stored at our office or at your hotel, whichever is more convenient for you.
HOW TO BOOK THE RAINBOW MOUNTAIN TREK
FIRST, to book your Rainbow Mountain Trek, we need you to fill out our booking form by clicking on BOOK NOW on our homepage or click here the link BOOK NOW.
Please be ready with the following information (FROM EACH PARTICIPANT in your group). We cannot complete your booking for the Rainbow Mountain Trek without the following information:
- Personal information (your full name, exactly as on your passport):
- Gender
- Passport number
- D.OB. (dd / mm / yyyy)
- Nationality
SECOND, we require a deposit of US$53 per person in order to purchase a permit for the Rainbow Mountain Trek. You can make you deposit by clicking on the VISA or PAYPAL symbols on the top of our home page, or you can click on the VISA or PAYPAL symbols on our booking page or click here on the payment of your choice, either VISA .
WHAT ABOUT THE BALANCE?
If you would like to avoid the high credit card fees in Peru, you may pay in cash at our office (US dollars or Peruvian soles) here in Cusco. There are many ATMS within the historical center to withdraw money. You can also pay by VISA or PAYPAL online but you will have to pay a 5.5% service fee, charged by VISA and PAYPAL. To pay your balance through PAYPAL, you need to log into your PAYPAL account and use our email address samtravelperu@gmail.com.
MAY I CHANGE THE DEPARTURE DATE AFTER THE TICKETS HAVE BEEN BOUGHT?
With alternative treks like the Rainbow Mountain Trek we may be able to change dates for a fee depending on what has been already purchased. Please contact the office as soon as possible if you need to change your date.
*** If you cancel your Rainbow Mountain Trek, the deposit is not refundable at all!
WHAT IS THE WEATHER LIKE ON THE RAINBOW MOUNTAIN TREK?
The weather is very unpredictable and it’s difficult to foresee. With the Rainbow Mountain Trek, we highly recommend you bring some warm clothes and good rain gear in your day backpack especially in rainy season, there can be snow or rain. It can be very cold at the high altitudes of this trek. Also, at high altitude clouds and even storms blow across quickly and with little warning.
WHAT ABOUT ALTITUDE SICKNESS ON THE RAINBOW MOUNTAIN TREK?
In general, if you exercise regularly and spend 3 days in Cusco, or in the Sacred Valley for acclimatization to the altitude, you may be just fine.
The recommended medicine for altitude sickness is WATER, COCA TEA and OXYGEN if needed; our guides are trained to treat you for Altitude Sickness. All guides carry oxygen. For more detailed information on Altitude Sickness click this link: Altitude Sickness.
We offer the Cusco City Tour and Sacred Valley tours that you can book while you are acclimatizing. Check out our day tours on our Main Page.
HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE THERE PER GROUP?
The maximum group size is 8 people. Usually our groups are between 2-6 people. Sam Travel Peru specializes in SMALL, PRIVATE groups and provides a personalized service.
IS THE TREK DIFFICULT, DO I NEED TO BE FIT?
Yes, though the distance is not great, it is a difficult trek due to the high altitude and the last section is steep. You reach the altitude of 5100 metres/16732ft. You need to be in good physical condition and have had time to adjust to the altitude before going on the trek. It is also important to be well acclimated to the altitude. Try to spend at least 3 days in Cusco (3350m/11,047ft) prior to starting the trek.
If you are doing other treks and tours in the Cusco area, we suggest that you schedule Rainbow Mountain as your last activity.
WHAT HAPPENS IF I AM UNABLE TO FINISH THE RAINBOW MOUNTAIN TREK?
In the unlikely scenario that you are unable to finish the trek due to a health issue, Sam Travel Peru will assist you to the nearest town for help with transportation. If you are unable to finish due to fatigue you can rent a horse. We always carry oxygen on the trek for any respiratory problems. In extreme cases, a helicopter pick up can be arranged at your own expense. (Travel insurance required). There are no refunds in the unlikely situation that you are unable to finish the trek.
ARE WE GOING TO BE DROPPED AT OUR HOTEL AFTER THE TREK?
Absolutely!! Included in the package we will drop you at your hotel in Cusco! If you have booked your hotel in the Sacred Valley like Ollantaytambo or Urubamba, we will drop you off there too!
TIPPING
If you’re happy with the services provided, a tip – though not compulsory – is appreciated. While it may not be customary in your country, it’s of great significance for the people who will take care of you during the trek. Tipping is a part of the culture here in Peru. It inspires them to give excellent service and is an entrenched feature of the tourism industry across many SAM Travel Peru destinations. Of course, you are free to tip as much as you feel appropriate, depending on your perception of the quality and the length of your trip. Remember, a tip is not compulsory and should only be given when you receive excellent service.
ARE WE SUSTAINABLE?
Yes, we are a local, sustainable & responsible tourism operator. We incorporate the universal principles of sustainable tourism: protect the environment and benefit the local communities by respecting their culture and religion. With this in mind, we have trained all our local staff to know and understand, respect the places and the local people.
PACKING LIST
WHAT TO BRING FOR A DAY HIKE
- A lightweight, waterproof day pack
- Sturdy hiking boots
- Warm clothes and hiking pants, not jeans
- Layers of clothes for variable temperatures
- Camera with charged batteries
- Sun protection: sunscreen, sunhat, sunglasses
- Thermals, wool socks, gloves, scarf, wool hat
- Insect repellent
- Water proof clothing and or a rain poncho
- Water bottles (reusable, not disposable)
- Personal medical kit
- Extra money for souvenirs, drinks, tips
- Walking sticks (rentable)
- Favorite snacks
- Hand sanitizer
- Toilet paper
- Copy of passport and student ID card if applicable
