I’ve seen so many images of the beautiful Vinicunca Rainbow Mountain (or Winikunka/Montaña de Siete Colores). However, I dismissed visiting when I heard it gets crowded, and the trek can take 3-4 hours. Honestly, I’m not a big hiker and am usually scared of heights. Also, the idea of waking up early to hike for hours at a higher altitude just didn’t interest me. So, I crossed Rainbow Mountain off as a possibility for my recent trip to Peru. However, that changed once I found out about Palccoyo Rainbow Mountain!
I found out about Palccoyo through FlashpackerConnect’s Instagram – because of the beautiful images, I had to book a tour.
Disclaimer: This post is in partnership with FlashpackerConnect. However, this review is 100% honest and based on my own experience.
Why visit Palccoyo Rainbow Mountain?
- Less Crowded Not many people know about Palccoyo Rainbow Mountain, so you’ll likely have the place to yourself! We passed by maybe 4-5 small groups during the hike, but most were leaving when we arrived. It was nice to enjoy the scenery at my own pace, and it was peaceful and quiet the entire trek. I was able to take so many photos and not feel rushed.
- Easier hike The hike only takes 20-30 minutes, unlike the 2-4 hour trek you experience at the Vinicunca Rainbow Mountain. I was able to enjoy the scenery and not struggle hiking. The altitude at Palccoyo is roughly similar to Vinicunca – although Palccoyo is a couple of feet/meters less. However, since the trek is significantly shorter, you shouldn’t have too many issues.
- Snooze for an extra hour Tours to Vinicunca start their pick-up between 3-4 am, however, most Palccoyo tours start their pick-up around 5 am. So, you’ll be able to sleep in for a couple more hours.
- Three Rainbow Mountains + Ausangate Glacier You can view three rainbow mountains at Palccoyo in one spot – meanwhile, you only get to see one at Vinicunca. Also, the surrounding mountains at Palccoyo are covered in red and pink tones, it’s a beauty to witness! Visiting Palccoyo on a clear day you’ll see the beautiful snowy peaks of the Ausangate Glacier in the distance.
Note: There are bathrooms at the entrance and it costs 1 sol to use. They did offer toilet paper, but it’d bring some with you just in case. Also, when leaving Palccoyo, make sure to get your passport stamped (for a fee)!
Why book via FlashpackerConnect?
Cost: $125 per person
Group size: 2-8 people
More info is available here
Tour includes:
- Chef prepared breakfast and (Peruvian) lunch: I’m unsure why their website says “box breakfast” because it’s anything but. You get a spread of food and eggs cooked the way you want. And the chef prepared lunch was insane – it was definitely too much delicious Peruvian food for four people. But of course, we didn’t complain and ate as much as we could! Both meals were provided at the same location, at a house about one hour away from Cusco.
- Private transportation from/to your hostel/hostel in Cusco: Our driver and tour guide were prompt in pick-up and drop-off times. Our tour guide was in our hostel lobby at 5 am on the dot, and we were back at our hostel by 5 pm.
- English-speaking guide: Our tour guide, Aiben Cruz, was VERY attentive the entire tour and made sure we were fine the entire trek. He also helped us prevent altitude sickness with coco leaves and Agua de Florida. Aiben even taught us how to chew the leaves. He also paid for our bathroom entrance, gave us a mini-photo shoot with a llama, and provided snacks. We couldn’t have asked for a more caring and mindful tour guide!
- Entrance fees: FlashpackerConnect pays for your Palccoyo Rainbow Mountain entrance fee, which is roughly 10 soles per person.
Overall review:
All in all, FlashpackerConnect is a phenomenal tour company! I love that they focus on providing small group tours, it gives you a more personalized experience. I learned a lot and got to go at my own pace because the tour group was super small. My tour only had four people – they usually have a max of eight. Because the group was small, it was also easy to make friends with the other guests on the tour!
I love that we had almost three hours to explore and take all the photos we wanted. And, because the trek was empty, we didn’t have to wait for folks to move to get the shots we wanted. Also, since I visited during the rainy season, I saw the Red River, which was beautiful. The red is vibrant this time of year from the soils and rock that make up the unique landscape.
The FlashpackerConnect team is very responsive and helpful! I updated them on a change in accommodation two days before my tour and they responded very quickly. Before my tour, FlashpackerConnect sent over an email with additional tips for a successful trip. This email included:
- Travel insurance recommendations (FlashpackerConnect doesn’t provide refunds for any reason)
- Considerations for altitude and harsh weather
- List of items to bring (e.g. toilet paper, warm clothes, sunscreen, motion sickness tablets, cash, water, etc.)
FlashpackerConnect provides tours throughout the world, so check them out!
