Palcoyo Mountain Peru, Cusco’s Breathtaking Rainbow Attraction?

Where is Palcoyo Mountain, a lesser-known but equally captivating alternative to Rainbow Mountain? If you’re checking out Peru for a vacation, you’ve obviously seen pictures of the Rainbow Mountain, or Vinicunca. It’s that otherworldly kaleidoscopic mountainside just a few hours outside Cusco.

It’s true, Vinicunca Rainbow Mountain is one of Cusco’s most popular attractions — second only to Machu Picchu. But getting to Vinicunca for some is an arduous and exhausting trek.

With Palcoyo, also spelled “Palccoyo“, the prize is much more easily attainable, and no less spectacular.

Overview of Palccoyo Rainbow Mountain 

Where is Palcoyo Mountain?

Palcoyo Rainbow Mountain is about three and a half hours southeast of Cusco by car, followed by a short, easy hike — only about an hour on easy terrain. It can be tackled easily in a day trip from Cusco. The mountain is at pretty high altitude (4,900m/~16,000ft), but coming from Cusco, you should be well acclimatized already.

Located within the remote region of Pitumarca, there are ways to reach Palcoyo independently. However, this would require either renting a car and driving via Checacupe or arranging your own taxi service for the round trip — both potentially complicated options.

It is simpler and more reliable to join an organized tour from Cusco. Here at Fertur we help you create your very own custom Cusco tour which includes a visit to this unforgettable rainbow-colored mountain.

Rock-solid reasons to choose this alternative Rainbow Mountain trek

There are a lots of reasons why you might choose this mountain over the more famous Vinicunca Mountain.

First of all, both are “Rainbow Mountains” in Peru and are equally awe-inspiring. Both have the vivid stripes formed by trace minerals of iron oxide red, bright yellow iron sulphide and varying shades of chlorite green.

(Over thousands of years, the natural erosion from wind and water exposed various layers of sediment, thereby showing off the different colors.)

So Vinicunca isn’t a “better Rainbow Mountain,” it just happens to be the more famous one.

Second, Palcoyo is one of three “Rainbow Mountains” you’ll see. There is also the adjacent Warsaqyani, visible within minutes of starting the trek. And that’s followed by the Cerro Q’alle Q’alle, which comes into view as you make the ascent up the switchback trail to the top of the craggy rock peak, known as the white stone forest or Yura’q Qaqa.

Three rainbow mountains is better than one, right?

Third, bathrooms! There are restroom facilities at the trail head to Palcoyo!

The mountain’s altitude is also lower than Vinicunca, which may allay concerns you have about altitude sickness. At 5,200 meters, or 17,000 feet, Vinicunca is about 1,000 feet higher than Palcoyo.

Perhaps the most significant difference is the length and intensity of the hike to the top of the mountain. Vinicunca is a three-hour hike, and fairly difficult — it’s not ideal for inexperienced hikers unless you do it with horse support, which we highly recommend. A tour of Palcoyo, on the other hand, is a mere 45-minute to one-hour hike to reach the summit, and rated “easy” rather than “difficult”.

You don’t need any hiking experience to handle the hike to the top of Yura’q Qaqa for that picture-perfect view of Palcoyo.

Lastly, due to Palcoyo’s undue lack of popularity in comparison with Vinicunca, you’re likely to find fewer tourists when you get there. So you can have a more relaxing, peaceful experience, and feel like you’re in a more natural, isolated spot to enjoy the jaw-dropping panoramic views.

Related: Prepare for some high altitude to feast your eyes on Rainbow Mountain

Why you should visit Palcoyo vs other treks around the Cusco Andes

Palcoyo deserves a spot in your dream Cusco itinerary for several compelling reasons. Its unforgettable landscapes create an immediate wow factor. The multiple mountains and glaciers along the trek provide countless opportunities for perfect photos. Perhaps most importantly, Palcoyo offers authentic cultural experiences often lost at Peru’s more tourist-heavy destinations. You’ll encounter rural settlements of local people and see herds of alpacas and llamas grazing along the route.

Here at Fertur Travel we operate fully customizable tours around Peru. We can help you visit the iconic Palcoyo Mountain from Cusco. Not only will our expert travel team help you to plan your most exciting trip, we will also do so in a way that minimizes your chances of getting altitude sickness — by gradually increasing altitude along your trip through Peru.

How to plan a trip to Palcoyo Mountain when in Peru

All day trips and treks to Palcoyo begin in Cusco, so you’ll first need to head here either from Lima or elsewhere in Peru. Given that Palcoyo Mountain sits at an altitude of 16,000 feet (4,900 meters), you’ll need to acclimate for a couple of days in Cusco before attempting the trek. You can also follow our other key altitude preparation tips so you can avoid getting altitude sickness when hiking here.

While the 2½-mile (4 km) hike is relatively easy to complete, the high altitude makes it important to prepare physically.

Consider taking some gentler walks around Cusco beforehand, such as exploring the Sacred Valley ruins of Pisac and Ollantaytambo, or walking up to the Cristo Blanco statue overlooking the city.

Preparing for the Palcoyo Rainbow Mountain tour

While Palcoyo requires less fitness and preparation than its more famous counterpart, Vinicunca, there are still a few steps any visitor to the stunning mountainside should take to ensure the best possible tour.

Remember, it’s important to give yourself time to acclimate to the altitude, since that’s the most likely source of woes. Fortunately, it isn’t terribly difficult to do so — just make sure to plan at least two days in Cusco before the trek.

There’s plenty to do for two (or more) days in Cusco while acclimating to the city. You can enjoy a tour of historic Cusco, you could go horseback riding through the Sacred Valley, or you could even visit Machu Picchu, which is actually at a considerably lower altitude than Cusco.

The best time to visit Palcoyo is the dry season: summer months in the Northern Hemisphere, or winter months in the Southern Hemisphere, so May through September. Conveniently, that’s also the peak season to visit many places in Peru, including Cusco and Machu Picchu.

Summary Info for Palcoyo Full-day Tour

• Driving distance from Cusco: (76 Miles / 125 Kilometers)
• Driving time: 4 hours each way (including an hour-long stop in Combapata for a buffet breakfast and a buffet lunch in the village of Cusipata.)
• Entrance fee: S/.15 / $4.50
• Trail: Dirt trail to start, leading to a stone path that ascends gradually and winds to a switchback trail up to the stone forest summit.
• Hiking Distance: (2.5 miles / 4 kilometers round trip)
• Walking time: Hiking to the last viewpoint takes approximately 45 minutes, with a few breaks along the way and about 30 minutes to return to the parking area.
• Base elevation: (15,400 f.a.s.l. / 4,700 m.a.s.l.)
• Top elevation: (16,076 f.a.s.l. / 4,900 m.a.s.l.)
• Elevation gain during trek: (656 f.a.s.l. / 200 m.a.s.l.)
• Difficulty Level: Easy.
• Duration Trip from Cusco: Full-day (10 hours approximately)
• Photo opportunities: YES!

Book the trip to Palcoyo 👌

At this point, you’re probably eager to get out there and go see this unparalleled display of colors and scenery! We have good news — Fertur can easily help you get to Palcoyo so you can see this wonder with your own eyes.

We have a few different tours for travelers visiting Cusco and Machu Picchu, and we can very easily work a day trip to Palcoyo into any of the tours, since they’re pretty tailored to the specific preferences of the traveler. Feel free to reach out to us through the Contact Us Now form below or through our WhatsApp for more information.

So, do you want to visit yet? Want to put Palcoyo Mountain on your travel bucket list? Let us know in the comments.

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