"We had a brilliant time on this tour. Norman was an excellent guide, very attentive and kind to all the group."
Cusco · Checacupe · Palccoyo · 4,900 m
Palccoyo Rainbow Mountain Tour from Cusco
Three striped ridges and a forest of rock towers for a 30 to 40 minute walk, with about two hours to enjoy them and a fraction of the Vinicunca crowds. Pickup in Cusco at 4 am, breakfast and lunch included.
Top pick
From
$34
per person
current promotion, usually $40
Free cancellation
- 4.7 / 5 650+ Reviews
- 12 hours Duration
- 4,900 m Palccoyo Viewpoint
- 30-40 min Walk to the Top
- Free Cancellation
The Experience
What the Palccoyo Day Includes
From the listing of the featured Palccoyo day trip, checked October 2026.
Highlights
- Discover the Stone Forest and the Three Rainbow Mountains of Palccoyo
- Spot alpacas and llamas along the route
- Follow a less demanding, moderate path
- Avoid the crowds of Vinicunca Mountain
- Take the excursion with well-acclimatized children and young people
What's Included
- pick-ups from the Plaza de Armas / Pick-up from your hotel, hostel, or Airbnb apartment (between 4:00 and 5:00 am depending on your hotel's location)
- We'll drop you off at Regocijo Square
- Tourist transportation
- Bilingual professional English- and Spanish-speaking guide
- Buffet breakfast with a vegetarian or vegan option
- Buffet lunch with a vegetarian or vegan option
- Hiking stick
- First aid kit
- Oxygen tank (in case of emergency)
How the Palccoyo Day Works
A longer drive than Vinicunca, a much shorter walk.
Pickup Between 4 and 5 am
Collected from your hotel or the Plaza de Armas, you drive about two hours to Cusipata for a buffet breakfast with vegetarian and vegan options.
On to the Palcoyo Community
About another hour and forty minutes by road brings you to the community of Palcoyo, where the walk starts.
The Ridges and the Stone Forest
A 30 to 40 minute walk to the viewpoint at about 4,900 m, free time with the guide, then an optional 10 minute walk to the stone forest.
Lunch and Back to Cusco
A buffet lunch, then the drive home, ending about one block from the main square at around 4:40 pm.
Photo Gallery
Palccoyo Rainbow Mountain in Pictures
The three coloured ridges, the stone forest and the high plateau around them.
Book Your Experience
Check Availability & Prices
Select your preferred date and time. Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
Palccoyo vs Vinicunca vs the ATV Day
How the quieter rainbow mountain compares with the famous one. Prices and ratings checked October 2026.
| Feature | THE EASIER ONE Palccoyo Trek, All Inclusive | Vinicunca, Classic Hike | Vinicunca by ATV |
|---|---|---|---|
| What You See | Three coloured ridges and the stone forest | The single striped ridge, Red Valley optional | The striped ridge and the Red Valley |
| Highest Point | About 4,900 m | About 5,000 m at the viewpoint | About 5,000 m |
| Walking | 30 to 40 minutes up, then 10 minutes to the stone forest | About 3.5 km up, roughly 1.5 hours | A short walk after the quad ride |
| Time at the Top | About 2 hours of free time | About 30 minutes at the viewpoint | Short stops at both sights |
| Entrance Fee (cash) | 20 soles, not included | 30 soles, not included | 30 soles, not included |
| Traveller Rating | 4.7 / 5 from 650 reviews | 4.8 / 5 from 6,725 reviews | 4.7 / 5 from 1,252 reviews |
| Starting Price | From $34/per person in current promotion (usually $40) | From $26 / person | From $65 / person |
| Check Availability | See Vinicunca | See the ATV Day |
Or the Famous One
Vinicunca, the ATV Day, or Humantay Lake
Prices, ratings and dates on each listing (checked October 2026).
VINICUNCA, THE CLASSICCusco: Rainbow Mountain and Red Valley Day Trip with Meals
Skip the crowds and experience Rainbow Mountain and Red Valley with early access on this full-day tour from Cusco. Take in the stunning views and enjoy a buffet lunch after the unforgettable hike.
VINICUNCA BY ATVFrom Cusco: Rainbow Mountain and Red Valley ATV Tour.
OR: HUMANTAY LAKECusco: Humantay Lake Tour with Breakfast and Buffet Lunch
Before You Book
Palccoyo or Vinicunca: Which Rainbow Mountain?
Who the easier mountain suits, what you give up, and what the day costs on top of the tour.
Palccoyo (often spelled Palcoyo) is the rainbow mountain for people who want the colours without the climb. Instead of one famous ridge at the end of a hard hike, you get three coloured ridges and a forest of wind-carved rock towers, a 30 to 40 minute walk from where the van stops, and about two hours to look around. The view is not the Instagram one. For a lot of travellers it is the better day.
Who should choose Palccoyo
- Families and older travellers. The operator markets it for well-acclimatised children and young people, which is rarely true of Vinicunca.
- Anyone short of acclimatisation. You still reach about 4,900 m, but you walk for minutes, not hours, at that height.
- People who dislike crowds. Vinicunca’s viewpoint fills up through the morning; Palccoyo is quieter.
Choose Vinicunca instead if the single striped ridge is the reason you came to Peru, and you have had two or three days in Cusco first. The Vinicunca day trip and the Red Valley add-on are on their own pages.
Check Palccoyo dates and prices
The day
Pickup is between 4:00 and 5:00 am, from your hotel or the Plaza de Armas. The van drives about two hours to Cusipata for breakfast, then about another hour and forty minutes to the community of Palcoyo, so the drive is longer than to Vinicunca. From there it is the short walk to the ridges, free time with the guide, and an optional 10 minute walk on to the stone forest at the same height. Lunch is a buffet, and the tour ends about one block from the main square at around 4:40 pm.
What it costs on top of the tour
| Extra | Cost (October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Palccoyo entrance | 20 soles, cash |
| Checacupe colonial bridge stop | 10 soles, optional |
| Tips | your choice |
The featured Palccoyo day trip includes transport, the guide, breakfast and lunch, a walking stick and emergency oxygen.
Weather and what to wear
Go between May and October for the clearest colours. In the wet months, rain, fog, hail or snow can change the stops or the pace, and the operator adjusts the route for safety. It is cold at 4,900 m in any season: bring warm and waterproof layers, shoes with grip, water, a hat and sun protection.
Still undecided?
The comparison puts Palccoyo, Vinicunca and the ATV day side by side, and the altitude guide helps you decide how high you should go in your first week. Ready? Check live availability for the Palccoyo day trip.
Guest Reviews
What Palccoyo Travellers Say
4.7/5
from 650 verified travelers
"The guide was amazing, he was understanding with a slower pace to enjoy the views, did not feel too rushed. Unfortunately… Me and my friend both got food poisoning from the buffet… be careful…"
"Lovely day. do note that there is a lot of driving and the roads are a little bumpy so wouldn't recommend for anyone who gets travel sick!"
"It was a great experience our guide Norman was an excellent hiker he was able to attend a small emergency we had, with calm and in the best proper manner, only like a true experienced hiker knows how to do; besides he is really knowledgeable. The scenery was beautiful the pace we did it was great! And this place was not so crowded, I really recommend this hike!"
"We had an amazing day trip to the Palccoyo mountain. This was hands down the most beautiful day trip we took from Cusco. Our guide Fernando was a professional. We can highly recommend this tour!"
"Exceeded our expectations! I highly recommend this tour for those who want to see the miraculous colours of the mountains. We had a wonderful and kind guide named Fernando who had so much information to share. We left with big smiles on our faces."
Read all 650 verified reviews
See All ReviewsSee Palccoyo, the Quieter Rainbow Mountain
Pickup in Cusco between 4:00 and 5:00 am, breakfast and lunch, a guide and walking stick, and free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Starting from $34 per person in current promotion (usually $40).
Check Availability & BookStill Choosing Your Cusco Days?
More Day Trips from Cusco
Other Cusco tours, with dates and cancellation terms on each listing.
Palccoyo Rainbow Mountain: FAQ
The easier rainbow mountain, its walk, its fee and how it compares with Vinicunca. Checked October 2026.
Better for some people, not better for everyone. Palccoyo (also spelled Palcoyo) gives you three coloured ridges and a stone forest for a 30 to 40 minute walk, about two hours of free time at the top and far fewer people. Vinicunca is the single famous ridge, a harder climb to about 5,000 m and a busier viewpoint. Choose Palccoyo for an easier day; choose Vinicunca for the view in the photos.
Easy by mountain standards: a 30 to 40 minute walk from the Palcoyo community to the viewpoint and a 10 minute walk on to the stone forest. The catch is the altitude, about 4,900 m, so walk slowly and stop often. Children who are well acclimatised can do it, which is rarely true of Vinicunca.
The viewpoint and the stone forest are both at about 4,900 m. That is about 1,500 m above Cusco and slightly lower than the Vinicunca viewpoint, at about 5,000 m.
20 soles per person, paid in cash and not included in the tour price, in the October 2026 listing. Some tours also stop at the Checacupe colonial bridge on the way, an optional 10 soles more.
Further than Vinicunca by road: the day trip drives about two hours to Cusipata for breakfast and another hour and forty minutes to the Palcoyo community, so allow three and a half to four hours each way. Pickup is between 4:00 and 5:00 am and the tour is back in Cusco at about 4:40 pm.
No, they are separate mountains on different roads, and no day trip visits both. Palccoyo is south of Vinicunca, reached through Checacupe. If you want the famous striped ridge, book Vinicunca; if you want colour with less effort and fewer people, book Palccoyo.
It is the better of the two rainbow mountains for both, because the walk is short and the path is easier. The altitude still matters: everyone in the group should have had two or three days in Cusco first, and anyone with heart or breathing problems should ask a doctor before going above 4,000 m.
May to October, the dry season, for the clearest colours. From November to April, rain, fog, hail or snow can change the schedule or hide the ridges, and the operator may adjust stops for safety. The mornings are clearest in any month.
A field of tall, wind-carved rock towers a ten-minute walk from the Palccoyo viewpoint, at the same altitude. Most Palccoyo tours include it as an optional short walk after the coloured ridges.
Still have questions? Email us at info@cusco-rainbow-mountain-tour.com