Palcoyo Tour, Scenic Hike, Andean Lunch

Set out from Cusco for a full day tour to Palcoyo Rainbow Mountain, with a scenic hike as the centrepiece of the trip. The whole outing runs to thirteen hours in total.

Overview

Palcoyo is the quieter cousin of Vinicunca, the famous Rainbow Mountain, and this full day tour from Cusco is built around a short hike rather than a long slog. The walk to the viewpoints takes about 40 minutes, which makes the trip realistic for families and for travellers who found the altitude in Cusco harder than expected. Instead of one striped hill, you get three rainbow mountains in view, plus the Stone Forest, a rock formation area the listing describes as otherworldly.

The day runs about 13 hours door to door. Hotel pickup in Cusco is included, along with a bilingual guide, breakfast and lunch at a traditional restaurant, walking sticks, a first aid kit and oxygen cans. Drop off happens near the main square. The entrance fee to Palcoyo Rainbow Mountain, 20 soles, is paid separately on site.

Groups are capped at 18 travellers. Several reviewers describe the route as manageable and relaxed, with time to walk at your own pace and stop for photos. The listing recommends a moderate level of physical fitness.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Pickup in CuscoThe operator collects you from your hotel or other accommodation in Cusco, then the drive toward the mountains begins.
2. Drive to CusipataRoughly 3 hours on the road, ending at Cusipata, where breakfast is served at a traditional restaurant.
3. Palccoyo Rainbow MountainAbout 1 hour at the site, reached after a roughly 40 minute hike. You see three rainbow mountains, panoramic Andes views and the Stone Forest. The entrance fee of 20 soles is not included and is paid on site.
4. Lunch and returnLunch at the restaurant, then the drive back to Cusco, around 4 hours. Drop off is near the main square in the city center.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points will shape how this day goes, from altitude to what you pay on site.

• Altitude and pace. The hike is gradual and you can do as much or as little of it as you like. A moderate fitness level is recommended. Reviewers describe the walk as easy and relaxed, with time to spread out and take photos.
• Layers and wind. Bring warm layers and comfortable footwear for the walk. One reviewer reported strong wind on the ridge, strong enough to brace against while lining up photos, so a jacket that blocks the wind is a sensible addition.
• Food and money. Breakfast and lunch are included and served at the same traditional restaurant. Opinions on the buffet vary, with one reviewer calling it the weak point of the day. Carry coins in soles for the 20 soles entrance fee and for the toilets near where the vans park, since one traveller reported the attendant there short changing people.
• Group feel. The tour takes a maximum of 18 travellers. Reviewers often mention how quiet the site is compared with Vinicunca, with only a handful of other trekkers around and no jostling for photos. Guides hand out walking sticks and carry oxygen, and reviewers often praise the care and patience of the guiding.
• The long day. This is a full day tour, about 13 hours from pickup to drop off. The drop off near the main square makes it straightforward to get back to your accommodation afterwards.
• Photography. Reviewers describe three rainbow mountains in sight from the trail and a glacier visible in the distance. The low crowds mean you can take your time framing shots, with one traveller noting there was no jostling for photo opportunities.

Common issues. This is a long day, about 13 hours. The tour is not wheelchair accessible and is not recommended for pregnant travellers. The entrance fee of 20 soles is extra. One reviewer had a guide who barely spoke to the group and arrived late, though most reviews praise the guides warmly.

Common Questions