Full-Day Rainbow Mountain Trek

Check out Rainbow Mountain and beautiful landscapes along the way

Cusco, Peru

Duration
1 Day

Max Group Size
14 People

Pick-Up & Drop-Off
Included

Fitness Level
Moderate

Languages
English / Spanish

Meals
Included

What's Included

Full day of guided hiking
Andean Blessing (Ancestral Ceremony for protection with a local shaman)
First aid kit including oxygen
Transport: Cusco – Trailhead – Cusco
Breakfast, Snack, Boxed Lunch
Professional, bilingual Trekking Guide (English – Spanish)
Emergency horse and wrangler for groups of 5 people or greater.
Entrance fee

What's excluded

Dinner
Gratuities for the guide and driver
Optional services for hire: horse and wrangler $35USD (round trip), Hiking Poles $ 4 usd per pole, Rain Poncho $ 5usd per day.

What to Expect

Rainbow Mountain trek (Vinicunca Mountain) is one of Peru's most popular choices among self-challenging travellers. The simple act of walking in a landscape with high altitude for a day and enjoying the nature of a mountain will make you feel alive and connected with the land. Vinicunca Mountain provides us with a natural coloured palette that is hard to find anywhere else on earth.

Your experience will be safe and enriched by Peruvian flavours and cultural sustainability designed by the tour provider. You may also choose to go up to Vinicunca Mountain with an easier alternative option of horseback riding for an extra cost.

ALTERNATIVE PATH

This route offers the best that Rainbow Mountain has to offer. What most people are unaware of is that it’s the journey to the peak that provides some of the more spectacular views. But there are multiple paths to the top. So we want to make sure you see everything Rainbow Mountain has to offer.

A new road was recently created for Rainbow Mountain which has made the older route less favoured among most Rainbow Mountain tour operators. The new route takes you to Rainbow Mountain faster but it comes at the expense of missing out on some beautiful landscapes. You also have to contend with heavy traffic and many tourists walking shoulder to shoulder intruding on your camera shots. That's why this tour route was designed to give you the best of both worlds. To make it to the summit in time and with less effort, we will start on the easier trek. This should save you breath on the way to the top. On the way back down, we will take the less used path. This path offers much more scenic opportunities and has been ignored by other tour operators. So you can enjoy the spectacular views at your own leisure.

ITINERARY

The tour will begin bright and early with a 3:30 am pick-up from your hotel. You will travel roughly 2.5 hours along a paved road to the community of Pitumarca before turning onto a dirt road for another 45 minutes until we reach its end and our beginning. After stretching our legs for a bit and having a light breakfast, you will start the hike towards Rainbow Mountain. The first half of your walk is a 9km, roughly 4-hour ascent to an elevation of 5,029m (16,500ft). This section will vary from moderate to very difficult. Once you arrive, you will be treated to unparalleled views and a huge sense of accomplishment. You will stay long enough to truly savour it and take some photos before descending to lower altitudes and warmer climes. On the way back, you will take a bit more time to see the glacial lagoons, where you will stop for lunch and take in the wide-open landscapes of the area before returning to the starting point. Your driver will be waiting to take you back to Cusco, arriving between 6:30 pm and 7:30 pm.

ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS:

This trek’s difficulty level is moderate. If you haven't been at altitudes over 2000m (6561ft) in the previous 2 weeks, we suggest that you take a few days to acclimatize before doing this trek. If you are not used to hiking, we suggest that you hire one of our horses (see above). This is a round trip service going at a slow pace and which you can stop at any time to get off and hike. You can also use and even share the horse service to carry your backpack or other things. The maximum weight is 90 kg (202 lb).

We suggest that you use hiking poles if you are not used to hiking or have any foot or knee injuries. This trek can be hiked by people of almost any age, from 11 to 65. Get some coca leaves to chew and also to give to the locals along the way (we can tell you where to buy them). This is a traditional Andean way of greeting and exchanging gifts, and the locals will be very appreciative.

Tour Options

Full Day Rainbow Mountain Trek
The simple act of walking, taking in a landscape and enjoying the nature of a mountain or any other natural spot makes you feel alive and connected with the land. Vinicunca Mountain, also known as the Mountain of Colours.
FromUSD $100
Check Availability
Full Day Rainbow Mountain – The Less Traveled Scenic Route
Travel and Healing has designed a route to give you the best Rainbow Mountain has to offer. There are multiple paths to the top. So we want to make sure you see everything Rainbow Mountain has to offer.
FromUSD $209
ValueUSD $220SAVE USD $11
Check Availability

Frequently Asked Questions

Camera.
Walking sticks
Raincoat or poncho
Comfortable backpack for walking
Sun hat for the sun, sunblock, and sunglasses
Warm clothes to be worn in layers, including a hat and gloves
Hiking boots (Due to the height of the trek there may be some sections where snow has fallen.)

Policies

Terms & Conditions:

If the provider is prevented (directly or indirectly) from performing any of its obligations under this agreement by reason of an act of God, strikes, trade disputes, fire, breakdowns, interruption of transport, government or political action, acts of war or terrorism, acts by or omissions of a third party or for any other cause outside of the supplier's reasonable control, the supplier will be under no liability, including financial, whatsoever to you and may, at its discretion, by written notice to you, either cancel the tour or take any other action as specified in our conditions.

Cancellation Policy:

Any cancellations made by the client up to one week in advance, 50% of the trip cost will be charged.
All cancellations made within the week leading up to the booked date - no refunds will be processed.

The Contract

Please note that it is essential to read and understand the following terms and conditions. This is a contract between you and Peru Travel & Healing SAC. When you make your booking and pay your deposit you acknowledge that you have read and agree to the following terms and conditions. In addition, please ensure you have read and understood the itinerary and the style of travel in which you will be partaking.

These are the terms and conditions governing the relationship between Peru Travel & Healing SAC, hereinafter referred to as Travel & Healing or ¨the company¨ and you, hereinafter, are referred to as ¨the client¨.

Program and Service Prices

All prices are listed in US dollars and include all taxes for non-residents of Peru. All air and bus fares are subject to change and availability. They will be confirmed on the date that the ticket is purchased.

All prices for Group Departures are based on a shared double-occupancy basis. If you are a single traveller you will be matched up with another traveller of the same gender or can pay a single supplement. All payments made by credit card are subject to an additional fee.

Bookings and Deposit

Sacred Treks: At the time of booking a non-refundable deposit of 50% is due in order to reserve your trek, and full payment is due 30 days prior to the beginning of the trek. If a reservation is made within a 30 day period of a trek or tour, the entire reservation must be paid in full at the time of booking. Please note that the Inca Trail must be booked well in advance as government trail permits can sell out up to 5 or 6 months ahead of time. Please consult us for availability.

Spiritual Journeys: At the time of booking we require a 50% non-refundable deposit to reserve your program. The balance remaining is to be paid in full 60 days prior to the departure date of your tour. If a reservation is made within a 60 day period of a trek or tour, the entire reservation must be paid in full at the time of booking.

Day Activities/Healing Activities: Must be pull in full, up front at the time of booking. It is to be paid 1 week prior to the departure date of the day tour.

Ayahuasca, San Pedro, Yoga Retreats: All retreats must be paid in full, up front at the time of booking.

Cancellation of Services by the Client

Sacred Treks: Any cancellations made by the client, before the 30 days will result in the loss of your deposit. Cancellations after this time will result in the loss of all money paid.

Spiritual Journeys: Any cancellations made by the client, before the 30 days will result in the loss of your full amount which will be 50% of the order value.

Day Activities/Healing Activities: Any cancellations made by the client up to one week in advance, 50% of full amount is not refundable.
After that time, no refunds will be made.

Ayahuasca, San Pedro, Yoga Retreats: Should the participant need to change dates, we allow for this within a 12 month period. However, we do not refund deposits for any reason.

*Though you may transfer your retreat booking or day tour to another person, as long as they receive medical approval in case for the retreat. If you leave or are expelled from the retreat at any time prior to the finish time, no refund will be issued.

For all services Bank fees are not included in the cost of the service. Please ensure that you cover any fees charged by your financial institution.

Cancellation by the company

The company will only cancel a tour for the following reasons.

¨Force majeure¨ (see below)
Unforeseen circumstances beyond the company’s control

The company will inform the client as soon as possible of a cancellation. Clients holding a fully paid booking may choose between an alternative trip when possible or a full refund. The company is not responsible for any incidental expenses the client may have incurred as a result of the booking, such as visas, vaccinations, non-refundable flights or loss of enjoyment, etc. If the alternative trip chosen is a lower value than that originally booked then you are entitled to a refund of the price difference. If the alternative tour chosen is of a higher value then the client will pay the difference in price.

Please note that refunds will not be given for the following:

Lost travel time or substitution of facilities
Presence of circumstances beyond the company’s control which require that alternative arrangements be made to ensure the safety and enjoyment of your tour.
Unused services for any accommodation, activity or tour segment without prior notice.
Premature contract termination

UNUSED SERVICES

If for any reason the transportation chosen by the client (bus, flight, train, etc…) does not arrive at the destination prior to or on the date and time scheduled to begin the services contracted from the company, the company shall not be held liable for any resulting missed services. The company will begin to provide services from the date of arrival of the client until the originally scheduled termination of the services. Any services missed as a result of the these delays are not refundable. If the client leaves the tour early, including not using additional nights of accommodation for any reason, voluntary or involuntary, no monies will be refunded.

Prices and Surcharges

As we publish our prices well in advance, we may occasionally be faced with significant cost increases due to factors over which we have no control. As such, we reserve the right to impose surcharges (price increases) up to one month before departure if the actions of government or others should require us to do so; such instances include but are not limited to significant changes in exchange rates, increases in entrance fees, train fares or other transport cost taxes. Any surcharge or price increase will be fully explained and justified by the company before implementation. If any surcharge results in an increase of more than 10% of the program cost the client may cancel the booking and obtain a full refund, less expenses already incurred, provided the cancellation is made within the required time period.

Included meals

On all flights and land transportation, meals and snacks are given to passengers according to the transport company. Some programs include the meals specified in the itinerary. These are described as B(breakfast), L(Lunch), D(Diner). All other meals are the responsibility of the client.

Flexibility

The client appreciates and acknowledges that the nature of travel to developing countries requires considerable flexibility and should allow for alternatives. It is understood that the route, schedules, itineraries, amenities and mode of transportation may be subject to alteration without prior notice due to local circumstances or events, which may include sickness or mechanical breakdown, flight cancellations, strikes, events emanating from political disputes, entry or border difficulties, climate and other unpredictable circumstances. If hotels need to be changed they will be replaced by hotels of similar standard.

Factors outside of the company’s control (Force Majeure)

The company will do its best to minimize the effects of matters outside its control but cannot accept any liability for these matters, which include but are not limited to political disputes, border closures, refusal of visas, industrial action, delayed flights, unforeseeable climate, landslides, etc. The client agrees to assume all extra costs derived by any of these factors.

Authority on Tour

At all times the decision of the company’s tour leader or representative will be final on all matters likely to endanger the safety and well-being of the tour. By booking with us the client agrees to abide by the authority of the tour leader or representative, who represents the company. If the client chooses not to abide by the decisions made by the company representative, the client will be considered as having left the tour. The client must at all times strictly comply with the laws, customs, foreign exchange and drug regulations of all countries visited. If the client is affected by any condition, medical or otherwise, that might affect other people’s enjoyment of the tour, the client must advise the company at the time of booking. Should the client fail to comply with the above or commit any illegal act when on the tour or, if in the opinion of the tour leader or representative, the client’s behaviour is causing or is likely to cause danger, distress or annoyance to others, we may terminate that client’s travel arrangements without any liability on the company’s part and the client will not be entitled to any refund for unused or missed services or costs incurred resulting from the termination of the travel arrangements.

Acceptance of Risk

Some of the company’s itineraries have been designed to provide participants with an exposure to the true nature of the environment visited. They therefore involve an element of personal risk and exposure to danger, which could, among others, result in physical or emotional injury, paralysis, death or damage to the client, his/her property or to third parties. The client understands that such risks simply cannot be eliminated without jeopardizing the essential qualities of the activity and therefore assumes the risks as part of the tour. The client accepts that he/she is aware of his/her physical health conditions and in that knowledge, he/she assumes the above-mentioned risks. The client absolves the company of any and all responsibility linked to any accident or injury that may occur associated with the client’s health, physical condition or other.

PHOTO APPEARANCE RELEASE: You hereby consent and grant permission to Travel and Healing and/or those who have the written consent of Travel and Healing, to use photos or videos of yourself for the purposes of promoting future Travel and Healing programs. You expressly release Travel and Healing, its agents, employees, licensees, and assistants from any and all claims which you have or may have for invasion of privacy, defamation, or any other cause of action arising from the use of these photographs and video images. If you would not like your image used on our promotional material, please advise us at the time of booking.

HOLIDAY SURCHARGE

For our Wellness Treks and Multi-Day Wellness Programs and Retreats, we pay a surcharge to our field staff (guides, cooks & muleteers) if their work takes them away from home on the following holidays:

– Christmas Eve (24 December) & Christmas (25 December)

– New Year’s Day (1 January)

– Holy Thursday & Good Friday at Easter (date changes from year to year)

– Peruvian Independence Day (28 July) .

The surcharge to the client for each holiday day worked is $100 per holiday day.

EXCLUSIONS FROM TOUR PRICE

The following items are excluded from the tour price:

Travel to and from the departure point for the trip.
Personal travel insurance.
Visa, passport and vaccination charges.
Departure, airport and airline taxes.
Meals, transport costs, entrance fees, accommodation costs, or other expenses not outlined in

the itinerary.

Laundry, postage, personal clothing, medical expenses & other items of a personal nature.
Emergency evacuation and/or emergency search charges; and tips, alcoholic beverages and excess baggage charges.

Refer to our itinerary for full details.

Note that information about these matters or related items is given in good faith but without responsibility on the part of Travel and Healing.

FORCE MAJEURE

If Travel and Healing is prevented (directly or indirectly) from performing any of its obligations under this agreement by reason of an act of God, strikes, trade disputes, fire, breakdowns, interruption of transport, government or political action, acts of war or terrorism, acts by or omissions of a third party or for any other cause outside of Travel and Healing’s reasonable control, Travel and Healing will be under no liability, including financial, whatsoever to you and may, at its discretion, by written notice to you, either cancel the tour or take any other action as specified in our conditions.

AIRLINE

Any material published by Travel and Healing, the Booking Form, and these conditions of contract are not issued on behalf of and do not commit any airline whose services are used or proposed to be used in the course of the tour. Travel and Healing will make its best effort to ensure that all flight prices and pre-paid taxes are correct at the time that they are quoted. Airlines reserve the right to amend or withdraw fares without prior notice. When you, the client, make a deposit for your tour, you are committing to the dates of travel. Flight bookings cannot be transferred and are usually non-refundable, non-changeable tickets.

AGE REQUIREMENTS – apply to TREK reservations only

We do not accept TREKKING reservations for children under the age of 8 years old and adults over 68 years old. All children under 18 years old must also be accompanied by an adult on all Travel and Healing programs. We recommend that if you are over 60 years old, you should talk to your doctor well in advance about how best to plan for the trek and also to ensure that your travel insurance covers such adventure activities, especially with regards to limits on high altitude activities. We also insist that clients over 60 years old arrive in Cusco at least 3 days prior to starting the trek (rather than the usual 2 days). For trekkers over 63 years old we also ask you to bring a letter from your doctor confirming that you are fit to participate in the trek. Unfortunately, if you fail to bring a letter from your doctor we reserve the right to cancel your trek and your trek deposit cannot be returned.

MEDICAL DISCLOSURE

People with heart conditions, knee problems, severe asthma or who are more than 18 weeks pregnant should not participate in treks but are able to participate in non-trekking tours by providing our medical form signed by their physician. People with mild asthma, diabetes, or who are pregnant by less than 18 weeks, will have to bring a medical letter from their doctor stating that they are fit to undertake a trek. They will also be required to be accompanied by a trekking companion on the trek at all times who will trek at their side and be familiar with any medicines required in case of an emergency.

Your payment of a deposit is declaration that:

You are in good health and have good mental and physical fitness at the time of booking this tour.
You have disclosed to Travel and Healing every matter concerning your health and mental and physical fitness of which you are aware, or ought reasonably be expected to know, that is relevant to Travel and Healing’s decision to permit you to go on the tour upon any adverse change in your health or fitness that may be likely to affect Travel and Healing’s decision to accept the risk of permitting you to go on the tour, you will IMMEDIATELY notify Travel and Healing in writing of any such adverse change.

You acknowledge that the obligation to disclose under this condition continues from the time of booking the tour through to departure and extends for the duration of the tour. If you fail to comply with the duty of disclosure in this condition and if Travel and Healing would not have permitted you to undertake the tour, or continue participation of the tour, had you made full disclosure under this condition, Travel and Healing will not be liable, for personal injury, death or property damage, loss incurred by you or the cancellation of your program and any related expenses.

TRAVEL DOCUMENTATION

The client must be in possession of a valid passport and all visas required for the entirety of the journey and the client accepts responsibility for obtaining the same. Any information or advice given by the company on visas, vaccinations, climate, clothing, baggage, special equipment, etc. is given in good faith, but without responsibility on the part of the company.

INSURANCE

It is mandatory that all clients obtain travel insurance that covers personal injury, medical expenses, repatriation expenses and evacuation expenses. Insurance policies must cover altitudes sufficiently high to include all altitudes that the client will be present at.Clients must be able to provide proof of insurance to the company representative. It is strongly recommended that the client’s insurance also cover cancellation and interruption, curtailment, loss of belongings and all other expenses which may arise as a result of loss, damage, injury, delay or inconvenience occurring to the client. The company shall have no liability for loss, theft or damage to baggage or personal effects. Personal belongings lost or stolen while unattended by the client in public lounges or other public areas, whether on board a vessel, train, bus or other mode of transportation, publicly owned or due to ordinary wear and tear, and other acts of God are not reimbursable.The company cannot accept responsibility for and in no event shall be liable for loss or damage of valuables or other articles left in or on facilities used by the company such as hotels, home-stays, vessels or any other mode transportation.

CLAIMS AND COMPLAINTS

If a client complaint arises while on tour, the client must first advise the local representative or tour leader so that the company can endeavour to resolve the situation on the ground. If the client is not satisfied with the resolution offered by the company’s representative the client should then contact the company with any complaints. If by the end of the tour the client is still unsatisfied with the service provided they should send their comments in writing to the company at info@travelandhealing.com

RESPONSABILITY FOR YOUR TOUR

All services here in are organized by the company. Notice is hereby given that all arrangements made on behalf of customers are made by organizers on the sole condition that the organizers shall not be held responsible for any injury, death, accident, delay, loss, damage or irregularity which may be occasioned through acts of any company and/or persons engaged in carrying out the arrangements. The company acts as an agent for transport companies, hotels and other contractors and shall not be held liable for any injury, damage, loss, delay or irregularity that may occur, including, but not limited to any defect in a vehicle or any other form of conveying a traveller, acts of God, detention, delays or expenses arising from quarantine, strike, riots, thefts, force majeure, civil disturbance, government restriction or regulation, accident by aircraft, boat, bicycle, motor vehicle, horseback or any other form of transport or in any hotel or guest house, pension or other form of accommodation. The client acknowledges the quality of the products organized by the company including accommodations and all other services related to the tour which are organized by the company are not within the control of the company and that in any event the quality of such products may be compromised by local conditions.

Accordingly, the client hereby releases the company from all claims and causes of action arising from any damages, loss of enjoyment, inconvenience or injuries related to the quality of such products. The information contained in all the company’s documentation in brochures, on the website, or in flyers is correct to the best of the company’s knowledge and has been put together in good faith. The company accepts no liability for its right to alter any itinerary in progress or service at any time without penalty to the company. Any additional expenses or cancellation shall be borne by the customer at the discretion of Travel and Healing or its representatives. Payment of the deposit is taken as acknowledgement and agreement of the above items.