SUGGESTED DEPARTURE TIME: 4:00 am (but you may depart as late as 6:00 am)

DURATION: approximately 10 to 11 hours from pick-up to drop-off

HIKING: a total of about 2 hours 20 minutes / challenging due to the altitude and steep final incline

ATTIRE: dress in layers and be prepared for cold, wet and windy conditions; bring sunglasses, hat/cap, sunscreen

BRING: cash in PEN (Peruvian Nuevo Soles) in case you wish to rent a horse or lineal motorcycle

HORSEBACK or LINEAL MOTORCYCLE: one-way S/80, round-trip S/100

You may opt to rent a horse or or travel as a passenger on a motorcycle from the beginning of the trail. On horseback, you would be accompanied by a horseman walking alongside. These modes of transportation are subject to availability and may not be reserved in advance. Please bring cash in Peruvian Soles, at least 130 PEN (approx. $36 USD) as the vendor would be paid on the spot, and prices are subject to change.

NOTE: you would have to dismount approximately 15 minutes before you reach the peak and continue by foot, as the path would be too steep and unsafe for both you and the horse/vehicle to continue together.

ITINERARY​

- Depart from Cusco or the Sacred Valley (add approximately 30 minutes to/from Cusipata from/to the Sacred Valley).

- Travel in a private vehicle for about 1 hour 30 minutes to your breakfast spot in Cusipata.

- Continue on the road for another 1 hour 40 minutes until you reach the trailhead.

- It's a very gradual uphill hike to the summit of Rainbow Mountain. On average, it takes a little over one hour. For the final 15-20 minutes to the top, the path is zig-zagged and relatively steep.

- Once at the peak, you will have the opportunity to take photos and enjoy the view. It will be cold, and when the winds blow, they can be very intense, so we must limit the time spent at the peak to between 30-45 minutes.

(NOTE: if it's snowing or foggy, visibility of the "rainbow" will be very limited. Nevertheless, the surrounding landscape will still be a beautiful sight to behold.)

- You will descend on the same path on which you ascended, approximately 1 hour.

- You will also return following the same roads in reverse, stopping at Cusipata for lunch after about 1 hour 40 minutes, then continuing on for about 1 hour 30 minutes to Cusco or about 2 hours to the Sacred Valley.

- You'll arrive at your hotel by late afternoon.