Pallay Punchu Rainbow Mountain Tour from Cusco — Short Hike, Few Crowds

Pallay Punchu or Rainbow Mountain? Pick Pallay Punchu for a short hike and few crowds; pick Vinicunca for the famous view. Pallay Punchu is under an hour up, at about 4,780 m, with a lake below. Vinicunca is about 2 hours up, at 5,036 m, and far busier.

• Crowds: Vinicunca can draw hundreds on a clear morning; at Pallay Punchu many groups find the ridge almost empty • The hike: about 1.5 km and under an hour, against 3.5 km and a 2-hour climb at Vinicunca • Altitude: about 4,780 m (15,682 ft), some 250 m lower than Vinicunca's 5,036 m (16,522 ft) • The view: the deep blue Lake Langui-Layo right below the stripes • The drive: very similar, about 3.5 hours each way They are two different mountains, and this tour does not visit Vinicunca.

Choose an agency whose local team has recent, glowing reviews of this exact tour. Ours is rated 4.8 out of 5 by 93 travelers on GetYourGuide for Pallay Punchu, and you can book the same tour right here.

• Check reviews of the tour, not just the company: the same tour is often sold under two or three names • Check what the price includes, above all the entrance fee, the most common surprise • Check the cancellation policy We sell this tour, so read this with that in mind: hotel pick-up, both buffets, a bilingual guide, oxygen and a first-aid kit are included; the S/ 25 entrance is listed before you book; and cancelling 48 hours ahead gets you a full refund.

This tour is US$ 45 per person, plus the S/ 25 (about US$ 8) entrance, paid in cash. Guided day tours from Cusco usually run from about US$ 40 to US$ 190.

What your US$ 45 includes: • Hotel pick-up in Cusco's historic center and round-trip transport • A bilingual guide, English and Spanish • A buffet breakfast and an Andean buffet lunch, with vegetarian options • Coffee, coca tea and muña tea • Walking sticks, an oxygen tank and a first-aid kit

Press Book Now, pick your date and pay online with Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Google Pay or Apple Pay. Cancel at least 48 hours ahead for a full refund.

• Questions first? Message us on WhatsApp at +51 926 445 634 • Pick-up is between 4:00 and 4:30 AM at your hotel in Cusco's historic center • The S/ 25 entrance isn't part of the online price: bring it in cash, in small notes or coins

Easy to moderate! The Pallay Punchu trek is about 1.5 km with some 200 m of climbing on a good path, and under an hour to the top at your own pace. What you'll feel is the altitude, not the distance.

• Start: about 4,580 m (15,030 ft), with the lake in view from the first steps • Top: about 4,780 m (15,682 ft) • Walking sticks are included, and your guide keeps an easy rhythm As one traveler put it: “hard work with altitude but so doable.”

Pallay Punchu's height at the top is about 4,780 m (15,682 ft), well above Cusco's 3,399 m. Spend two days in Cusco first, walk slowly, drink water and skip alcohol. The tour carries an oxygen tank and a first-aid kit, just in case.

• Being fit doesn't protect you: the CDC says fitness has no effect on the risk of altitude illness • Avoid alcohol for your first 48 hours at altitude (CDC) • Headache with nausea, dizziness or tiredness? Slow down and tell your guide. Going down is the best treatment (Wilderness Medical Society) • Confusion, loss of coordination or breathlessness at rest are an emergency Not suitable for pregnant travelers, babies under one or travelers over 70. With a heart or lung condition, see a doctor before booking.

A full day of 12 to 13 hours: pick-up at 4:00–4:30 AM, breakfast in Sicuani, on the trail by about 9:00 AM, lunch in Cusipata, and back at the Plaza de Armas between 4:30 and 5:30 PM.

• 4:00–4:30 AM: hotel pick-up in Cusco • 6:00 AM: buffet breakfast in Sicuani • 9:00 AM: the hike, under an hour up • 9:45 AM: the top, with about 45 minutes for photos • 1:00 PM: Andean buffet lunch in Cusipata • 4:30–5:30 PM: drop-off at the Plaza de Armas

May to September, the dry season, brings the clearest skies. From November to April it rains most afternoons. Snow can cover the stripes in any month, so nobody can promise the view.

• Dry season: clearest skies and the coldest mornings, with the strongest frosts from June to August (SENAMHI) • Rainy season: the wettest months are December to February (SENAMHI) • All year: you reach the top around 9:45 AM, usually before the afternoon rain

Warm layers, a hat and gloves, hiking shoes with good grip, sunscreen and sunglasses, water, a few snacks, and cash in soles for the S/ 25 entrance. Walking sticks and hot drinks come with the tour.

• Layers: mornings on the ridge are very cold, then the sun gets strong • Sun protection: UV rises about 10% for every 1,000 m of altitude (World Health Organization) • Cash: small notes or coins, so you can pay the entrance exactly • A charged phone or camera, because you'll want it at the top • Coming in the rainy season, November to April? Add a waterproof jacket, a rain cover for your bag and shoes that don't mind mud

Two buffets! A buffet breakfast in Sicuani on the way out and an Andean buffet lunch in Cusipata on the way back, both with vegetarian options, plus coffee, coca tea and muña tea.

Pack a water bottle and a snack or two for the hike: bottled water, extra drinks and snacks aren't included.

Yes! A private departure runs for your group alone, on the date you choose. It's perfect for families, friends and photographers. Ask for a quote on WhatsApp.

Send us your date and how many of you are traveling on WhatsApp at +51 926 445 634, and we'll reply with a price for your group.