Rainbow Mountain tour from Cusco: Beat the crowds, small group

Hike to the summit before the masses arrive, or after they've left.

A small-group hike to Rainbow Mountain from Cusco with two departure times designed to avoid crowds: the Early Bird gets you to the painted hills first, the Comfort Departure arrives after the morning rush clears. Hotel pickup and drop-off, a professional guide in English or Spanish, lunch at a mountain restaurant, walking sticks, and snacks are included. The hike takes 1.5 to 2 hours on foot or about 1 hour by horse (optional, paid separately to locals). The full day runs 11 to 12 hours door-to-door.

Step-by-step itinerary

Rainbow Mountain hike and return

• Hotel pickup in Cusco
• Travel 1h 45m to rest stop
• Enjoy breakfast or snacks
• Use restrooms before trailhead
• Guide briefing and walking sticks
• Optional horse rental for hike
• Hike to Rainbow Mountain summit
• Enjoy views and photos at summit
• Hike back to parking lot
• Drive to restaurant for lunch
• Relax and refuel with lunch
• Scenic 2-hour drive back to Cusco
• Hotel drop-off in Cusco

The experience

The hike starts with hotel pickup and a 1 hour 45 minute drive to the trailhead, with a rest stop where the Early Bird option includes full breakfast and the Comfort option provides snacks. Your guide briefs you at the trailhead, hands out walking sticks, and arranges horse rentals for anyone who wants to ride instead of walk. The summit sits 1.5 to 2 hours uphill on foot, or about 1 hour by horse (40 minutes riding, then 20 minutes hiking the final stretch). Either way, you arrive with space to breathe and photograph. The Early Bird gets there before the crowds, the Comfort Departure after they've moved on.

After soaking in the views of the painted hills and sweeping glaciers, you hike back down to the parking lot and drive to lunch at a restaurant in Cusipata. The meal is ready when you arrive, and the pace is yours, no rushing. Vegan, vegetarian, or other dietary needs are accommodated if you mention them the day before. The 2-hour drive back to Cusco follows, with drop-off at your own hotel, not the main plaza.

Oxygen is available during the hike and in the car if you need it. Walking sticks, a bottle of water, chocolate, cake, Andean cereal bar, fresh fruit and candies are provided. The guide is a professional with a license, and speaks English or Spanish.

What’s included

• Professional licensed guide in English or Spanish.
• hotel pickup and drop-off door-to-door.
• walking sticks.
• oxygen available during the hike and in the car.
• lunch at a mountain restaurant in Cusipata.
• snacks including water, chocolate, cake, Andean cereal bar, fresh fruit and candies.
• comfortable transportation for the full day.

Options for this experience

2 options

Early Bird DepartureGuide in English or Spanish · 04:00Door-to-door service: we take you to your hotel, not the main square. Duration: 12 hours. Includes breakfast and lunch. Comfortable and safe van: a comfortable 15-seat van used for a maximum of 12 people. Pickup is included.

08AM Comfort: Avoid the CrowdsGuide in English or Spanish · 08:00Door-to-door service for a maximum of 12 people: we take you to your hotel, not the main square. Duration: 12 hours. Includes snacks and lunch. Comfortable, safe van: a comfortable 15-seat van used for a maximum of 12 people. Pickup is included.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Lasts 11h–12h, runs every day at 04:00 and 08:00, from US$ 89 per person, with a live guide in English and Spanish, in groups of up to 12 and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 04:00 and 08:00

Book up to15h before

AgesAdult (5 and older) · Under 5: can't be booked

GroupUp to 12

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 8.53

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Moderate physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Peru Private Tours

Is this one for you?Choose the Early Bird if you want to summit before anyone else arrives and have the viewpoint to yourself in the quiet hours. Pick the Comfort Departure if you prefer a later start and want the crowds to have cleared by the time you reach the top: either way, you avoid the rush that defines most Rainbow Mountain days.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How long does it take to hike to the Rainbow Mountain summit?

The hike to the summit takes 1.5 to 2 hours on foot, or approximately 1 hour by horse (40 minutes riding plus 20 minutes hiking the final stretch to the top).

What's the difference between the Early Bird and Comfort departures?

The Early Bird departure leaves at 8:00 AM and gets you to the summit among the first arrivals, before the crowds. The Comfort Departure is timed so you arrive after the morning crowds have left, giving you the viewpoint almost to yourself. The Early Bird includes full breakfast at the rest stop. The Comfort option includes snacks.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes, the tour includes door-to-door pickup and drop-off at your hotel in Cusco, not at a central meeting point.

Can I ride a horse instead of hiking the whole way?

Horse riding is optional and available at the trailhead. You pay the locals directly in cash for this service. It is not included in the tour price.

What happens if I have dietary restrictions?

Vegan, vegetarian, or other dietary needs are accommodated at lunch. Let the operator know the day before so they can coordinate with the restaurant.

What's included in the tour?

The tour includes a professional licensed guide, hotel pickup and drop-off, walking sticks, oxygen available during the hike and in the car, comfortable transportation, lunch at a mountain restaurant, and snacks (water, chocolate, cake, Andean cereal bar, fresh fruit and candies).