From Cusco: Rainbow Mountain and Red Valley Guided Hike

Explore Rainbow Mountain and the Red Valley from Cusco on an ATV tour with round-trip transfers, meals, and an expert bilingual guide.

Getting started

Begin your full-day trip in Cusco with hotel pickup from the historical city center if this option is selected, then travel out of the city with included transportation. Meet your expert bilingual tour guide and receive basic information about the route before continuing toward the Rainbow Mountain area. After this initial drive, you transition into the ATV tour section that takes you closer to the high Andean landscape.

What to expect

Rainbow Mountain

Visit Rainbow Mountain as one of the first groups of the day, giving you quieter trails and clearer viewpoints. This colorful Andean peak is the main focus of the itinerary before you continue toward the Red Valley.

Features

• Travel part of the route by ATV tour to Rainbow Mountain and Red Valley, reducing walking time and letting you cover more distance in the high-altitude environment.
• Enjoy panoramic views from different lookouts around Rainbow Mountain, with clear vantage points over the striped mineral slopes and surrounding Andean peaks.
• Stay close to your expert guide, who manages the group pace, shares essential information about the area, and supports you during the ascent.
• Make use of the walking stick provided, with 1 wood stick available per person on an optional basis to help with balance on uneven paths.
• Rely on safety provisions including an emergency oxygen bottle and a first-aid kit, kept on hand for altitude-related or minor issues.
• Pause en route or after your hike for breakfast and a buffet lunch with vegetarian options available, giving you time to experience the local flavors of Cusco.
• Remember that the entrance fee to Rainbow Mountain of 25 Peruvian Sol per person is not included and must be paid in cash on site, and horse rental is available for 100 Peruvian Sol per person in cash if you choose not to walk.

Red Valley

After visiting Rainbow Mountain, continue toward the Red Valley area, known for its deep-toned slopes and contrasting terrain.

Features

• Continue your ATV tour to Rainbow Mountain and Red Valley, using the ATVs to approach viewpoints that showcase the valley’s distinctive red landscape.
• Take in additional panoramic views from different lookouts around the Red Valley, observing how the red earth contrasts with surrounding ridges and plateaus.
• Count on your expert bilingual tour guide during this section as well, with guiding provided in a shared format unless you opt for a private experience at booking.
• Benefit from the same support services, with the emergency oxygen bottle and first-aid kit remaining available throughout your time in the Red Valley area.
• Note that the optional entrance to the Red Valley has a separate cost of 30 Peruvian Sol per person, payable in cash if you decide to access this zone more extensively.

En route and mealtimes

Time on the road and in nearby villages frames your high-altitude visit, with key services included during these segments.

Features

• Use the included round-trip transfers that start in Cusco and return to the city, with transportation included throughout the experience.
• Depending on your booking choice, join others on a shared departure or reserve a private experience for a more tailored group configuration.
• Sit down for breakfast and later a buffet lunch with vegetarian options available, which are included and served during the travel window between Cusco and the mountains.
• Travel with a bilingual tour guide who communicates in two languages for explanations and coordination throughout the day, including while you are in the vehicle.
• Keep in mind that horse rental, entrance fees to Rainbow Mountain, the optional entrance to the Red Valley, and tips are excluded from the package price and need to be paid separately if you choose them.

Wrapping up

At the end of the visit to Rainbow Mountain and the Red Valley, you return to Cusco using the same round-trip transfers, with a downtown drop-off that brings you back to the city center so you can continue your day independently.