Experience this off-beaten track into the Ausangate region before it is discovered by mass tourism! Over two unique days, you will experience the remote, untouched wilderness of the Ausangate mountain. Prepare to camp at high altitude and reach out to touch the stars in the clear night skies.
South America
Vinicunca Rainbow Mountain Trek
2 Days, Departs – Daily. Contact for pricing.
Details
Overview
Itinerary Highlights
- Travel through some beautifully scenic valleys while llamas and alpacas sense our approaching and gaze at us momentarily
- Encounter local weavers practicing their craft as we hike through the Quisipicanchis region
- End the trek with the amazing Vinicunca and its layers of rock sediment - What a site to see!
Itinerary in Brief
- Day 1: Cusco - Pitumarka - Hanchi Pacha - Anantapata
- Day 2: Anantapata - Vinicunca - K’airahuiri Alto - Cusco
Tailor-Made Suggestions for this Itinerary
- Stopover in the cultural Cusco and stay at some of the beautiful boutique hotels we have to offer. Ask us about our pre- and post- Cusco Packages which includes a comprehensive Cusco City Tour and more
- Choose from our range of deluxe to luxury cruises to the Galapagos Islands.
Extend your stay in Peru and explore some of its other highlights including Arequipa, the Colca Canyon and Lake Titicaca. - Add in a 3 or 4 day trip to an Amazon lodge or upgrade to an Amazon luxury cruise.
- Consider a change in travel style and explore the Northern Andes region aboard our Tren Crucero Train Tours.
Travelling with Eclipse
Peace of Mind
- Eclipse Travel is Australian owned and run, and an ATAS accredited travel agent.
- 24/7 emergency numbers and local contacts provided for support while you’re abroad.
- We provide all the information you need to organise your visas and vaccinations, making travel preparation stress-free.
- No currency surcharges. Once your deposit is paid, your price is guaranteed.
Specialists
- Our consultants are true destination experts, with firsthand experience and extensive travel in the regions we offer.
- Expect quick, professional responses and dedicated service from our knowledgeable team.
- We conduct regular checks on destinations, hotels, and services to ensure quality for every trip.
Authentic Travel
- Tailor-made itineraries designed around your unique requirements.
- Freedom to select your preferred style and standard of accommodation.
- Unique itineraries that take you beyond the major highlights, immersing you in each location.
- Committed to responsible travel: we reinvest in the environment and local communities across our destinations.
Day 1 - Cusco: Cusco - Pitumarka - Hanchi Pacha - K'aoirahuiri Alto
Cusco - Pitumarka - Hanchi Pacha - K'aoirahuiri Alto
Your two-day Rainbow Mountain Trek starts early as we travel from Cusco to Rainbow Mountain after breakfast at your hotel. To start, our trip heads towards Puno, and we travel on an asphalt road section of the altiplano through the fertile Vilcanota Valley. We will turn off after 2 hours and 15 minutes onto an unpaved road, stopping at the picturesque village of Checacupe. After a visit to the Colonial Church of the Immaculate Conception, we´ll start ascending the Pitumarka Valley.
We arrive at Pitumarka town for a brief stop - we can buy some basic refreshments here before continuing through to the village at Hanchi Pacha. From here it’s one hour more, travelling through some lovely picturesque valleys and canyons. There are some interesting rock formations on this section of the road and we will definitely allow some time for scenic photos!
We will arrive at the village of Qh'esihuno after approx. a total of 4 hours of travel from Cusco. From here we will hike for approximately 3 hours, climbing steadily until we reach the Ausangate viewpoint at Pucachoca Pass (4950m). Here we'll attain great views of the magnificent valley, colourful lagoons and the magnificent Apu Ausangate itself. We then descend to Anantapata at 4750m where we will camp for the night.
Along the route, there might be the chance to meet one of the local weavers keeping watch over her flocks, while weaving. This part of the Rainbow Mountain region, Quispicanchis, has a wonderful textile tradition!
As this is a high altitude campsite, it is important that you've had at least 3 days of acclimatisation at altitude before starting this hike. It can also get very chilly, so we recommend layers of warm clothing and a -15 degrees celcius sleeping bag!
Total walking distance: 12kms
Total walking time: 5-6 hours
Minimum altitude: 4500m
Maximum altitude 4950m
Altitude of camp: 4750m
Lunch and Dinner included.
Day 2 - Cusco: Anantapata - Vinicunca - L'airahuiri - Cusco
Anantapata - Vinicunca - L'airahuiri - Cusco
After another early breakfast we begin to walk about 3 hours, ascending towards Vinicunca Pass, passing over two mountains along the way. After the first 1hour30min, we will reach the Warmisaya Pasws (5020m). Our breathing will become more and more laboured as we gain altitude. Once we arrive at the top of the pass there may be some cold gusts of wind, so please ensure that you are bundled up and that your head is covered with a woolly hat.
From this point we will have a splendid view of the Apu Ausangate and the coloured mountains in the distance. We will descend to a lagoon before continuing to ascend in the direction of the Vinicunca Rainbow Mountain.
You will be rewarded for your efforts on this Raindow Mountain trek when you finally see the amazing Vinicunca, with its colourful layers of rock sediment: turquoise, orange, brown and red! In addition to the great views of the coloured mountain itself, you will have impressive views of hte snow-capped Apu Ausangate, when the day is clear.
After some time to rest and take photos and the chance to observe an impressive sunrise, we'll head back the way we came until we reach K'airahuiri. The return hike downhill will be alot quicker than the ascent, and should take around 2-2.5 hours. There will be plenty of beautiful scenery to feast our eyes upon along the way.
We'll have an early lunch at K'airahuiri, say goodbye to our local crew, and then head back to Cusco in our private transport. We should arrive back in Cusco at approximately 4pm.
Total walking distance: 14kms
Total walking time: 5-6 hours
Minimum altitude: 4700m
Maximum altitude 5040m
Lunch and Dinner included.
Whats included?
- Camping accommodation
- Meals as specified
- Hotel transfers
- Entry fee to the Vinicunca area
- English/Quechua/Spanish speaking professional guides
- Horses to accompany and carry equipment and personal items
- Dining tent with camp tables and chairs
- First aid kit and emergency oxygen bottle
What’s not included?
- International and internal airfares
- Arrival/departure taxes or reciprocity fees, visa fees where applicable
- Travel insurance
- Additional horses for passengers luggage
- Sleeping bags*
- Gratuities
- Any items not mentioned as included
Notes
Minimum age: 8
Maximum people: 12
Altitude & Acclimatisation
We strongly recommend that our guests spend at least three days in Cusco prior to departure. This helps with acclimating to the altitude and also provides an opportunity to explore the beautiful city of Cusco.
Training
Everyone’s tolerance to altitude differs and we encourage our guests to make exercise and a healthy diet a part of their training program before their trip.
Packing Recommendations
Clothing
- Warm clothing that will protect you from wind and rain i.e. coats, cotton pants, gloves, socks
- Protection from sun and sweat i.e. thermal clothing, short sleeves, hat/cap, small towel
- Appropriate footwear i.e. waterproof trekking boots
Equipment
- Hiking poles, torch/headlights, binoculars, pocket knife, water bottles, day backpacks
- Plastic bags for dirty/wet clothes, and for battery storage
- Memory cards or reserve batteries for your camera
- Sun Protection, insect repellent, and toiletries
*Optional extras
You are welcome to hire our range of hiking equipment and camping gear. Please consult our team for a detailed list and the current rates.
Price Assurance
At Eclipse Travel, our expert destination knowledge and decades of travel planning experience come at no extra cost to you. While many think booking through a tour operator is more expensive than planning a trip independently, that’s not the case. We’re paid by our travel partners—such as hotels, activity operators, and cruise providers—via commissions, not by our clients.
Our team negotiates the best rates for you and ensures you receive unbiased advice, with no preference for any particular supplier. In fact, where we secure higher commissions, we often pass the savings on to you, giving us a competitive price edge.
Additionally, we lock in exchange rates at the time of your deposit, ensuring no surprise costs when it’s time for final payment. You can rest easy knowing we’ll handle the details with our suppliers. The only exceptions are national park fee increases or fuel surcharges imposed after your booking, though these are rare.
Take advantage of our team’s expertise and let us help you plan the perfect holiday—hassle-free!
Destination: South America
The vivid sights and sounds of South America offer something for everyone. Stretching from the Caribbean to Patagonia, the variety of cultures, climates and landscapes has to be experienced firsthand to be believed. The memories you take home will leave you wanting more – we’re sure you’ll want to return again and again, just like us!
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