WHERE IS RAINBOW MOUNTAIN LOCATED?
Located in the Peruvian Andes in Cusco just 3 hours away from the historical center, Rainbow Mountain is becoming the main attraction to see after or before Machu Picchu. As you could guess, the mountain is famed for its natural, multi-colored beauty at a staggering 5,200m above sea level. This rainbow-like appearance is created by the sediment of minerals throughout the area giving the mountain the turquoise, lavendar, gold and other colors.
It was only recently discovered due to the snow melting revealing the hidden gem that’s still considered holy by many until this day. Since its discovery, Rainbow Mountain as slowly started gaining popularity and has even been listed in National Geographic’s “Top 100 Places To Visit Before You Die”.
HOW DID RAINBOW MOUNTAIN BECOME SO POPULAR?
Once the mountain’s existence was known outside of the local communities, it started attracting locals and travelers alike, first having a couple of dozen of people to now taking in hundreds of visitors a day. The first thing that caught everyone’s attention was, you guessed it again, the colors seen nowhere else. But that wasn’t the only thing. It’s one of those places where the whole journey is as amazing as the destination. Llamas, horses, and alpacas are dispersed all over the range, with local communities still living almost the same life as before but now also helping visitors discover the colored mountain. The scenery along the trek is just like the pictures and even they don’t do it justice sometimes. Add to this the geological and local history and it’s no wonder why it’s gaining popularity!
TOP FACTS
Rainbow Mountain is at an altitude of more than half of Mount Everest
It is also known as Vinicunca, a word originating from Peru’s native tongue Quechua, which translates to “colored mountain”
The mountain is made up of 14 different, colorful minerals
Just 4 years ago it was entirely covered in snow, making it impossibe to fully witness the beauty of the mountain
Temperatures still drop below 0 at night – good to know for anyone visiting Rainbow Mountain on a multi-day Ausangate trek
Llamas and alpacas can be seen dotted all along the route to Vinicunca
Weather can change rapidly from snow to rain to blistering sun in the space of an hour
You can rent a horse at any point on the way if you begin to find the trek difficult – you do not need to have one hired from the beginning
