Rainbow Mountain Cusco: What to Know Before You Go (2025 Guide)
Rainbow Mountain near Cusco looks incredible in photos, but the reality is far more demanding than most guides admit. I visited Rainbow Mountain solo after weeks at altitude in Peru, booking a standard day tour from Cusco. This guide shares what the day actually involves, from altitude and weather to cost and effort, so you can decide if Rainbow Mountain is worth it for you, and whether it makes sense to include it in a wider Peru itinerary.
Rainbow Mountain Cusco: Is It Worth It?
Rainbow Mountain is one of those places that looks almost unreal in photos. Striped colours, dramatic peaks, wide open Andean landscapes, it’s easy to see why it ends up on so many Peru itineraries.
What’s harder to see online is the reality of getting there.
Rainbow Mountain isn’t just another Cusco day trip. It’s an extreme-altitude experience, and whether it’s “worth it” depends far more on how your body handles altitude than how much you like hiking or photography.
I decided to do Rainbow Mountain on my own, and I’m very glad I did. At over 5,000 metres, this wasn’t something I felt comfortable attempting with the kids, and after experiencing it firsthand, I stand by that decision.
This isn’t a post to sell Rainbow Mountain. It’s here to help you decide whether it makes sense for you, and just as importantly, whether it makes sense for your family.
Should You Visit Rainbow Mountain With Kids?
Short answer: for most families, no.
Rainbow Mountain sits at around 5,036 metres, which puts it well into a different category from places like Cusco or even Machu Picchu. This isn’t a case of “take it slow and you’ll be fine” the altitude itself is the challenge.
I’d already spent time acclimatising in Cusco and the Sacred Valley, and even then, the day was tough. The section of the walk near the top left me genuinely out of breath, moving slowly, and very aware of how thin the air was.
That’s the main reason I went alone.
With kids, the risk isn’t danger in the dramatic sense, it’s:
Extreme fatigue
Headaches or nausea
Cold exposure when weather changes suddenly
A very limited margin for error if someone feels unwell
Even strong, active children would struggle here simply because altitude doesn’t care how fit you are.
When Might It Work for Families?
There are exceptions, but they’re narrow.
Rainbow Mountain might work if:
You’re travelling with older teens
Everyone is fully acclimatised
Weather conditions are stable
You’re prepared to turn back without regret
For most families with younger kids, this is one of those places where skipping it is the smarter choice, not the lesser one. I’m relatively fit but the first 20 mins was struggling for air, then if i needed to add parenting on top and kids potentially having issues it wouldn’t have been great.
Booking a Rainbow Mountain Tour (What I Paid & What You Actually Get)
I booked my Rainbow Mountain tour through GetYourGuide, mainly because it was straightforward, clearly laid out, and easy to compare options.
The total cost was £22, which honestly felt very reasonable for what was included.
The tour covered:
Transport from Cusco (return)
A buffet breakfast
A buffet lunch after the hike
Given the distance, altitude, and length of the day, having food sorted without thinking about it was a big plus. This isn’t a trip where you want to be worrying about finding somewhere to eat at 5,000 metres.
Why a Tour Makes Sense Here
Rainbow Mountain isn’t somewhere I’d want to tackle independently.
The road conditions, weather changes, altitude, and sheer remoteness make a group tour the sensible option, especially if anything goes wrong. For £22, having transport, food, and a guide coordinating the day felt like good value rather than a shortcut.
The Travel Day: Cusco to 4,600 Metres
This is where the day quietly starts doing its damage.
The bus journey from Cusco takes just over two hours, climbing steadily into the Andes. By the time you arrive at the drop-off point, you’re already at around 4,600 metres, which is higher than many people realise.
That means:
You start the walk already very high
There’s no “gentle warm-up”
The air is thin before you even move
Even sitting still, you feel it.
This is the part that makes Rainbow Mountain fundamentally different from other Cusco day trips. You’re not hiking up to altitude, you’re beginning inside it.
The Hike: Where the Altitude Really Hits
From the drop-off point, you walk the remaining distance to the summit at 5,036 metres.
On paper, the hike doesn’t sound extreme. In reality, the altitude changes everything.
There’s a stretch near the top that completely takes the wind out of you. Steps feel heavier, breathing becomes shallow, and progress slows right down. This isn’t about strength or fitness, it’s about oxygen, or the lack of it.
I had acclimatised beforehand, and still found myself stopping often just to catch my breath.
This was the moment I knew, without any doubt, that bringing the kids would have been a mistake.
Reaching the Top: Weather, Visibility & Reality
When I reached the top, I was lucky, briefly.
I got about two minutes of clear views of Rainbow Mountain before the weather shifted completely. Fog rolled in, hail started falling, and the temperature dropped fast.
That sudden change is normal here.
At this altitude:
Weather moves quickly
Visibility comes and goes
Warm sunshine can turn into cold wind in minutes
It wasn’t disappointing, just very real. Rainbow Mountain doesn’t perform on cue, and anyone visiting needs to be comfortable with that.
What to Bring to Rainbow Mountain (Non-Negotiables)
This is not a hike where you can wing it. Even if Cusco feels mild when you leave, conditions at Rainbow Mountain are completely different.
Things I was genuinely glad I had:
Warm layers
Temperatures dropped fast once the weather turned. A light jacket isn’t enough at 5,000m.Hat and gloves
Sounds dramatic — until hail starts falling. Then they feel essential.Coca leaves or altitude support
This helped take the edge off the breathlessness. It didn’t make it easy, but it made it manageable.Water
You get dehydrated quickly at altitude, even when it’s cold.Good shoes
The path itself isn’t technical, but steady footing matters when you’re already lightheaded.
What I wouldn’t bother with:
Heavy backpacks
Fancy camera gear
Anything you wouldn’t want to carry while out of breath
At this altitude, less really is more.
Was Rainbow Mountain Worth It?
For me, yes.
For families with kids… Potentially no.
I’m glad I did it. It was challenging, raw, and very different from anything else we did around Cusco. But it was also physically demanding in a way that’s hard to explain until you’re there. The altitude dominates everything.
Seeing Rainbow Mountain for only a couple of minutes before fog and hail rolled in didn’t ruin the experience, it actually summed it up. This is a place that doesn’t guarantee perfect views or easy wins. You earn whatever you get.
And that’s exactly why I’m glad I went alone.
For most families travelling with kids, skipping Rainbow Mountain isn’t missing out, it’s making a smart call. There are plenty of incredible experiences around Cusco that don’t involve pushing your body at 5,000 metres.
Rainbow Mountain is memorable, but it’s optional. And knowing when to opt out is part of traveling well, especially as a family. Just like Machu Picchu its one of the things you need to visit.
There Are Alternatives to Rainbow Mountain
If reading this has made you hesitate about Rainbow Mountain, that’s not a bad thing. At over 5,000 metres, it should give responsible travelers pause, especially families or anyone unsure about altitude.
The good news is that Rainbow Mountain isn’t the only way to see colourful Andean landscapes around Cusco. There are alternatives that are less intense, less crowded, and in many cases, more enjoyable overall, even if you don’t get that photo.
Palccoyo Mountain (The Best Alternative)
Palccoyo Mountain is the most popular alternative to Rainbow Mountain, and for many people, it’s actually the better choice.
What makes Palccoyo appealing:
A later start (most tours leave around 7:30am)
Far fewer crowds
A slightly lower altitude
Views of multiple rainbow-coloured mountains, not just one
The hike itself is much shorter, usually around 40–60 minutes each way, and while altitude is still a factor, it feels more manageable than the push to 5,036m at Rainbow Mountain.
Like Rainbow Mountain, Palccoyo is remote and difficult to reach independently, so a tour is really the only practical option. For travelers who want the scenery without the physical punishment, this is the option we’d recommend looking at first, especially for families with older kids or adults unsure about altitude.
Ausangate Trek (For Serious Trekkers Only)
At the opposite end of the spectrum is the Ausangate Trek.
This is a multi-day, high-altitude trek through some of the most dramatic landscapes in the Andes, reaching passes close to 5,200 metres. It’s remote, rugged, and absolutely not a casual alternative, but for experienced trekkers, it offers a deeper, quieter experience than a single-day Rainbow Mountain tour.
Some routes even pass close enough to Rainbow Mountain for a short visit, but the focus here is the broader landscape: glacier lakes, wide valleys, and a true off-the-beaten-track feel.
This isn’t something we’d ever recommend for families with young kids, but it’s worth knowing that Rainbow Mountain sits within a much bigger, wilder region.
Red Valley (Often Overlooked)
Many Rainbow Mountain tours include a brief detour to the Red Valley on the way down, usually adding 45 minutes to an hour to the hike. What fewer people realise is that it’s sometimes possible to hike the Red Valley more fully on a dedicated route.
The landscape here is striking, deep red terrain, fewer people, and a very different feel to the main Rainbow Mountain viewpoint. While specific Red Valley–focused tours are harder to find and seem to change regularly, it can be a way to make the day feel more rewarding if you’re already committed to the trip.
Just be aware: as with everything near Rainbow Mountain, popularity tends to catch up quickly.
Final Thought on Choosing (or Skipping) Rainbow Mountain
If Rainbow Mountain no longer feels like the right fit while you’re based in Cusco, that’s not a failure; it’s good decision-making.
There are plenty of excellent day trips around Cusco that don’t involve pushing your body to extreme altitude. Choosing an experience that fits your energy, your health, and your travel style will almost always lead to better memories than chasing a single photo.
Whether you visit Rainbow Mountain or choose an alternative, travel thoughtfully. Be respectful of the environment and local communities, and leave the mountains exactly as you found them, except for the memories.
FAQs: Rainbow Mountain Cusco
How high is Rainbow Mountain?
Rainbow Mountain sits at around 5,036 metres (16,522 ft). The hike usually starts at roughly 4,600 metres, which means you’re already at extreme altitude before you even begin walking. That altitude is what makes this trip so challenging, not the distance.
Is Rainbow Mountain hard?
Yes, mainly because of the altitude.
The walk itself isn’t technical, but the thin air makes even gentle uphill sections feel intense. There’s a stretch near the top where breathing becomes difficult and progress slows dramatically. Fitness helps, but altitude tolerance matters far more.
Can kids visit Rainbow Mountain?
For most families, it’s not a good idea.
At over 5,000 metres, Rainbow Mountain is significantly higher than Cusco or Machu Picchu. Even acclimatised adults struggle here. Younger children are especially vulnerable to fatigue, cold, and altitude-related symptoms. For families with kids, there are much better day trips around Cusco.
Is Rainbow Mountain safe?
In general, yes but it’s demanding.
The route is straightforward and well-trodden, and tours are organised. The real risks come from:
Altitude sickness
Sudden weather changes
Cold exposure
This is why going with a tour is strongly recommended, rather than attempting it independently.
How long does the Rainbow Mountain tour take?
How long does the Rainbow Mountain tour take?
Most tours take a full day.
Expect:
A very early start from Cusco
Around 2+ hours each way on the bus
Several hours total including meals, hiking, and waiting
It’s a long, tiring day even if everything runs smoothly.
What’s the best time of year to visit Rainbow Mountain?
Dry season (roughly May to September) offers the best chance of clear views, but even then, weather is unpredictable at this altitude. Fog, wind, and sudden cold snaps are common year-round.
Clear views are never guaranteed.
Is Rainbow Mountain worth it?
That depends on who you are.
For solo travelers or fit adults who want a physical challenge, Rainbow Mountain can be a memorable experience, even if conditions aren’t perfect.
For families with kids, skipping it is often the better decision. Missing Rainbow Mountain doesn’t mean missing out on Peru. It usually means protecting the rest of the trip.
