Palcoyo full day

Summary

The Palcoyo Mountain tour is a scenic and less crowded alternative to the popular Rainbow Mountain (Vinicunca), located in the Vilcanota mountain range, near Ausangate, at an altitude of 4,900 meters. It features three stunningly colorful mountains with hues of red, green, blue, yellow, and white. This trek is considered easy and accessible for most travelers, making it perfect for those who love nature without requiring intense physical effort.

The journey begins in Cusco, followed by a 2-hour drive to the town of Cusipata, where breakfast is served. From there, a 1-hour drive leads to the Palccoyo community. A short one-hour hike brings visitors to the colorful mountains, with an optional visit to the nearby stone forest and viewpoint offering panoramic views of the Andes.

After exploring, the tour returns to Cusipata for lunch, and finally back to Cusco, arriving around 6:30 p.m. The trail offers stunning high-Andean landscapes, and during the rainy season (December to March), visitors may witness the rare and beautiful red river formed by seasonal rainfall.

Itinerario

Palcoyo Mountain full day

Day 1

Hotel Pick Up
We will start our tour with hotel pick up from the hotels located in the Historic Center between 4 to 5 a.m.
Drive to Cusipata – Breakfast
Then we will head south of Cusco, to the town of Cusipata where we will have our first stop to have breakfast and use the restrooms.

Start of the hike
We will continue our journey for approximately 40 minutes until we reach the base where the vehicle will be parked and we will get ready to start the hike.
Our hike at a moderate pace will average 1 hour and 30 minutes, we will have a guide and free time to explore part of the area, after the time we will return to the vehicle again and depart to Cusipata.
Lunch in Cusipata
We will arrive to Cusipata to recharge energies and make use of the hygienic services and then we will continue the trip back to Cusco city.
Cusco City
Arrival time to Cusco city is average at 6:00 p.m., as the final point of the excursion the transportation will leave you at the Plaza Regocijo.

Includes

Pick up from Hotel in Cusco (historical center)

Round trip transportation.

Bilingual guide.

Breakfast.

Lunch.

Walking sticks.

First aid kit, oxygen.

Does not include

Entrance fees: 15 soles per person

Extra Expenses

Travel insurance.

Additional beverages.

Recommendations

Hiking Shoes

Comfortable trekking clothes.

Small backpack.

Personal medication.

Hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, especially water.

Extra money.

Water is provided at meals. However, you should also bring an extra bottle of water.

Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

1.- Where is Palccoyo Mountain located?

It is located about three hours south of Cusco by car, in the district of Cusipata, province of Canchis, department of Cusco.

2.- Should I bring extra water?

Water is provided at meals. However, you should also carry an extra bottle of water to avoid dehydration.

3.- How long will I acclimatize before my trek?

We recommend at least 2 days of acclimatization before the tour.

4.- What meals are included?

Both breakfast and lunch are included in the trek, however we also have vegetarian and vegan options available.

5.- Altitude of the Palccoyo mountain?

The highest point during the hike is 4900 meters above sea level.

6.- About health and safety?

Participants must inform us before and during the trek about any illness or injury. Although our guides carry first aid kits, it is recommended that you bring your own personal medication. We also suggest that you consult your doctor before booking this tour.

7.- Where to store your belongings?

Any belongings (suitcases and backpacks) that you do not wish to take with you during the tour can be safely left at your accommodation, as they have a luggage storage service. However, if you do not feel comfortable leaving your things there, you can also bring them to our office to store them during the tour.