Palccoyoc - Rainbow Mountain

If you want to see the stunning colors of the rainbow mountain- Palccoyoc, but the long hike up Vinicunca scares you? There is a little-known but great alternative. If the hike up Vinicunca is challenging as it is going up a lot, is long, and the altitude can cause problems to some people, the way from Palccoyo is easier, shorter and mostly flat. Moreover, as Palccoyo is a new route, you will also most likely be alone with your group or with a few other groups. Your pictures will then be better, and you will also see three rainbow mountains instead of just one with the classic tour to Vinicunca. This tour is a must-do in the area.

Palcoyoc-rainbow mountain

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Location and Altitude

Palcoyo is located in the Combapata district, Canchis province, within the Cusco region. During the trip you can see the Checacupe bridges, a colonial bridge and also the bases of what was an Inca bridge.

This Beautiful place  is located at 4,900 Mt/16076 Ft, due to the fact that the walk does not present slopes and runs on terrain without many unevennesses. Therefore, the physical effort and the time it takes to get to Palcoyoc is much less than Vinicunca, it can be covered in a maximum of one hour Hiking up really slow.

DMG-Palcoyoc

Weather

The climate, typical of the highest areas of Cusco, is cold. Rain, wind, and altitude sickness (soroche) can be the biggest obstacles for visitors. Temperatures can drop below zero degrees centigrade.   The Palccoyoc Rainbow Mountain, being located in the Cusco region, shares the well-marked seasons, the rainy season and the dry season. However, this place has a certain peculiarity in its climate, during the mornings the weather is cold with winds and in the afternoons, the weather is dry and sunny.

The best time to visit this place is during the dry season (April to November) when everything is nice and warm and the rain is less, but if you plan is to visit during the rain season (December to March) everyday is going to rain and the weather is not going to be safe

Flora and Fauna

This incredible geography of the place creates a scene of typical animals from high Andean areas such as deer and vicunas. Villagers in the area raise horses to offer as transportation to visitors. Due to the height of this region, ‘ichu’ or natural grass of the Andes is everywhere

How you can Get to this Place

In order to get here, first you need to take a bus from the city of Cusco in the direction of the Combapata district, after a 03-hour journey you must turn left to the Checacupe bridge (This suspension bridge was made by the Incas to favor the routes of the old empire) You must continue the route through a trail for approximately 01 hour until you reach a parking lot, in this parking lot you will be able to appreciate the first  Rainbow mountain  of Palccoyoc, however, the best experience you will have if you walk up at a pace Slow for about 45 minutes until you reach the natural viewpoint of the Rainbow Mountains of Palcoyoc where you can see the 3 rainbow mountains..

How to Visit this Place with a Travel Company

If you don’t want tyo visit this place on your own, you can hire  the services of a travel agency or you can rent a private taxi to get there.

On the internet or in the city of Cusco you can find many travel agencies  that offer the 1-day tour to the  Rainbow Mountain Palccoyoc.

Tours include direct transportation to that place, food, entrance fees, and tour guides. The start of the tour is with the pickup  from your hotel.

The tours of the rainbow mountain of the Palccoyoc start  in the city of Cusco in the morning at 5 or 6 am and you will end your tour in the afternoon  in the same place (4 or 5 pm).

Mountain Difficulty

To get to that mountain takes aprox. 45 minutes (depending on the physical state of the hiker) is not dangerous and requires moderate-high physical effort. There are sections of steep slopes up and down but is not very steep. However, one of the biggest difficulties is the cold weather and the cold wind. The altitude of the area can cause altitude sickness or soroche. At least 1 day in the city of Cusco is better in order to acclimatize is recommended.

Why is it colored?

The colors of the new rainbow mountains of Palccoyoc are due to the mineral composition that it has: pink color is due to the red clay, mud-stones (mud), and arillites (sand). whitish, due to the white quartz sandstone. The different browns and purples, by limonites and marls, rich in calcium carbonate.

Red is made up of clays (iron) and clays belonging to the upper tertiary. Green is due to the compound of phyllites and clays rich in magnesium ferro. The earthy brown is the product of the fanglomerate made up of rock with manganese from the Quaternary era. Finally, the mustard yellow color due to the calcareous sandstones rich in sulfur minerals.

What you need to Bring

  • 1 Liter and half of the water (per person- at least!).
  • Water-resistant trekking shoes.
  • Warm clothing (thermal underwear, fleece, hat, gloves, and socks).
  • Waterproof clothing (poncho).
  • Synthetic or cotton clothing (socks, trousers, shorts, t-shirts).
  • Sunhat and sunglasses.
  • Sun cream.
  • Water bottles such as Nalgene.
  • Basic medications.
  • Walking sticks.
  • Personal items.