Why book the Rainbow Mountain trek with us?

• You will spend the night in our Shelter.
• Our van stays at the trailhead all the 2 days, if anyone get sick, we evacuate them as soon as posible with our van.
• All the horsemen who work for us live at the trailhead of our trek so we benefit them directly.
• We have a private campsite with an amazing view of Ausangate Mountain.
• Horses carry all the equipment and supplies so you can travel light.
• We don't share the service of Rainbow Mountain 2 days with other companies.
• Small groups are of 2 to 8 people maximum. This fact sets us apart from other travel companies that take bigger groups.
• AB Expeditions is A 100% locally owned Travel Company and fully licensed Rainbow Mountain operator.
• Our Tour Guides pride themselves on being up-to-date and have a comprehensive program of continuing professional development. We love showing what a fascinating and unique Rainbow Mountain trek is.

RAINBOW MOUNTAIN 2 DAY TREK ITINERARY

Day 1: Cusco – Alqatari – Ausangate -Ananta

We pick you up at your hotel at 04:00 am for your Rainbow Mountain 2 Day Trek and drive for about 3 hours to Alqatari where we have our hot breakfast prepared by our professional chef. We are going to start our high-altitude exploration in the morning passing local houses, lush pampas, and hundreds of llamas and alpacas.

Our destination to get Pucacocha passes from where we have a spectacular view of Ausangate glacier (the highest peak of Cusco 6,370 meters/20,000 feet). After enjoying the glacier and colorful tarns we come down to our campsite and have delicious lunch in our dinning room which is made of stones and mud. As the sun sets down our staff set up the tent inside our mountain Huts for you to relax and enjoy playing soccer over 4700 meters/15,200 feet if you can. at the same time, our private cook is preparing dinner. This night you are going to observe a memorable night sky full of southern constellations.

• Walking Distance: 10km/ 6,21 miles.
• hiking hour: 5 hours roughly.
• Difficulty: Difficult.
• Campsite Elevation: 4,700 meters / 15,419 feet.
• Accommodation: Mountain Huts.

Day 2: Ananta – Warmi Saya – Rainbow Mountain- Cusco

Today is the most important day which you have been waiting for. you will enjoy this amazing Rainbow Mountain. We are going to wake you up at 03:30 am with coca tea or coffee delivered to your tent, and have your hot breakfast to fuel you up for your first climb to Warmi Saya pass 5150m (16,8963 feet). then go down to the circle lake and walk along two lakes until to get Vinicunca (Rainbow Mountains).

Once you get to Rainbow Mountain, you can take all the pictures you can, explore the mountain with your local guide and really enjoy the colorful mountains around you. it truly is a spectacular place. Then you will hike down, it only takes you about two hours and here you will celebrate a successful trip, and enjoy your delicious lunch before getting back to Cusco (3 hours and a half). We will get back to Cusco around 3 pm.

• Walking Distance: 9 km/ 5,59 miles.
• hiking hour: 4 hours roughly.
• Difficulty: Moderate - Difficult.

Itinerary subject to change

INCLUSIONS

Included

• English-speaking tour guide.
• Professional cook and horseman for the mules and horses
• Mules carry group gear and large duffels provided by the company, for personal belongings.
• All food on the trek incorporates traditional Peruvian cuisine, modern fusion cuisine, and specific dietary needs.
• Boiled water and snacks.
• Large Dining tent, table, stools, all cutlery, and kitchen tent.
• Tents to overnight, and Thermarest. Two-person tents are provided for a single person and three-person tents for double people to offer plenty of space for personal gear.
• First aid kit, including oxygen.
• A pre-trek briefing.
• Entrance fee to private lands and Rainbow Mountain.
• Private transportation to and from your hotel in Cusco.
• 7 kilograms of your personal belonging.
• sleeping bag.

Not Included

• Personal trekking gear including, backpacks, and trekking poles. However, they may be rented from the company.
• Gratuity for guides, cooks, and horsemen.
• Personal riding horse. Additional horses may be rented according to the needs of the individual and group.

WHAT TO BRING FOR THE RAINBOW MOUNTAIN 2 DAY TREK

• Day pack with a Rain cover.
• Torch/ headlamp.
• Extra socks (wool is best).
• Hiking pants and shirts- layers.
• Rain pants.
• Camping shoes/ sandals- to wear in the evenings.
• Camping pillow.
• Water-resistant trekking shoes.
• Warm clothing (thermal underwear, fleece, hat and gloves).
• Waterproof clothing (poncho).
• Synthetic or cotton clothing (trousers, shorts, t-shirts).
• Sunhat and sunglasses.
• Sun cream.
• Lip Balm.
• Camera/ extra battery.
• Water bottles such as Nalgene.
• Basic medications.
• Walking sticks.
• Personal items.
• Personal snacks.
• Cash (if you’d like to purchase souvenirs).

FREQUENT ASKED QUESTIONS

WHAT TIME WOULD WE LEGITIMATELY BE AT THE RAINBOW MOUNTAIN SUMMIT?

We wake up at 4 am and depart from the campsite by 4:30 am. The journey from the campsite to the Rainbow Mountain requires approximately 3 hours, placing us at the Rainbow Mountain by 8 am. A quicker pace in hiking could potentially bring us to the Rainbow Mountain by 7:30 am, while a slower pace might extend the arrival time to 8:30 am.

WHAT TIME RAINBOW MOUNTAIN GET SO CROWDED?

The Rainbow Mountain is crowded between 9 am and 1 pm, with over 1000 people embarking on day trips from Cusco. To avoid the crowds, it is advisable to arrive before 9 am or after 3 pm.

WHAT HAPPPEND IF I GET ALTITUDE SICKNESS WHILE HIKING?

During the 2-day Rainbow Mountain tour, our vehicle remains stationed at the trailhead to facilitate immediate evacuation to Cusco in case of illness. Eight years ago, our vans used to return to Cusco, but due to past challenges in locating a van in the remote area, it has become mandatory for our vehicles to stay at the trailhead. This precaution ensures a prompt response and efficient evacuation process for the well-being of our participants.

HOW DIFFICULT IS YOUR RAINBOW MOUNTAIN 2 DAY TREK?

The majority of customers said that our Rainbow Mountain 2-day trek is difficult, making it unsuitable for those with limited hiking experience. This expedition demands a certain level of physical fitness for successful completion. If you are seeking a more accessible option, we offer the Rainbow Mountain 2 day easy trek tailored specifically for beginners who prefer a less strenuous hiking experience.

IMPORTANT INFO

Don’t forget wáter!. Drinking lots of water will help with the altitude. We advise bringing at least 2 liters per person on the hike with you and having an extra bottle to leave in the van for when you get back.

We skip the crowds!— Everybody else goes to Rainbow Mountain at the same time. That means they’re all up at the top at the same time. There is only one spot to take the classical picture of Rainbow Mountain(Vinicunca) and it wouldn’t be pleased with a huge crowd of people. Since we leave from Cusco at 02:15 am.  You will get the Rainbow Mountain before the crowd.

Our guide always oxygen tanks which are important as you get over 5040 meters/16,500 feet above sea level! Not all travel agencies offer this, so this is definitely something to look out for when choosing the best Rainbow Mountain tour operator.

The best time to visit Rainbow Mountain is going to be in the morning or evening hours, either right after sunrise, or right before sunset.

The hike to the top is no joke. Constantly changing weather conditions, combined with high altitude, can be a challenge for experienced hikers. But if done right it’s manageable even for those who don’t hike much.

When you go to the Plaza de Armas in Cusco, you’ll find tons of agencies that offer this same tour “cheap” but remember: you get what you pay for. In many cases, some agencies may charge much less but will send you on a tour where the groups are 25, 35 more tourists, and one guide. We offer our exclusive service tour where the minimum is 2 and the maximum is 8 people per group.

Our recommendations

Make sure you are acclimatized to Cusco’s altitude before you set off on your hike to Rainbow Mountain. This is by far the best insurance for a smooth and enjoyable trip. We recommend you spend at least 3 days in Cusco prior to the excursion.

Go to sleep early and try to avoid drinking or partying the night before, because We will pick you up at 02:15 am and the physically challenging trek will be much more bearable without a hangover.

If you have altitude sickness symptoms, descend as quickly as you can. It’s nothing to mess around with.

Try to go all the way to the viewpoint. You get a 360° view not just of a rainbow Mountain, but of the nearby glacier and a gorgeous valley in the other direction. We think most people didn’t realize what they were missing by not going all the way up.

If you are going to Machu Picchu the day before your trip to Rainbow Mountain, tell your travel company to book your return train ticket early.

Don’t go to Rainbow Mountain in the afternoon in the rainy season because of the lighting. Since the high concentration of minerals. There is a high chance to get stricken by lighting.

Higher elevation also means colder, nearly freezing temperatures, so be prepared. Whether you decide to take a one-day tour, make sure to wear very warm clothes. Also, bring coca leaves to fight off altitude sickness and carry the minimum gear possible to ease the hike.