"An unforgettable experience to Rainbow Mountain, made even better by our amazing guides, Cesar and Shirly. They showed great care and attention for every single tourist in the group, always making sure we were safe, hydrated, and feeling okay despite the high altitude. Fortunately, everyone in the group did great thanks to their support. Thank you both for such a wonderful time!"
Cusco · Vinicunca · Valle Rojo
Rainbow Mountain and Red Valley Tour
The striped ridge first, then the deep-red valley beside it, before most groups arrive. The early-start day trip collects you in Cusco at 3 am and has you back on Avenida El Sol by mid-afternoon.
Top rated
From
$19
per person
current promotion, usually $36
Free cancellation
- 4.8 / 5 3749+ Reviews
- 12 hours Duration
- 2 Sights Ridge + Red Valley
- Meals + Pickup Included
- Free Cancellation
The Experience
What the Rainbow Mountain and Red Valley Day Includes
From the listing of the featured early-start day trip, checked October 2026.
Highlights
- Be among the first to reach Rainbow Mountain before the crowds
- Take in stunning panoramic views from various lookout points
- Enjoy local Cusco cuisine with a hearty breakfast and buffet lunch
- Get great support from our professional guides with the necessary gear
What's Included
- Private transportation
- Bilingual professional guide
- Hotel pickup in Cusco (with pickup option)
- Drop-off at Avenida El Sol, in front of Qorikancha temple (Cusco Central Point)
- Buffet lunch
- Local breakfast
- First aid kit and oxygen mask available
- Blanket
How the Day Works
An earlier start than most, for a quieter viewpoint.
Pickup at 3:00 am
Hotel pickup in Cusco between 3:00 and 3:30 am, then about an hour and a half through Cusipata to breakfast.
To the Trailhead
About another hour and a quarter to Fulawasipata at the foot of the Ausangate range, where the guide briefs the group.
Ridge, Then Red Valley
About 1 hour 45 minutes up to the striped ridge, then the optional walk to the Red Valley (30 soles in cash) before the descent on easier ground.
Lunch and Home
Back to Cusipata for a buffet lunch, then Cusco, arriving on Avenida El Sol opposite Qorikancha at about 3:00 to 3:30 pm.
Photo Gallery
Rainbow Mountain and the Red Valley in Pictures
The ridge, the red valley beside it and the trail between them.
Book Your Experience
Check Availability & Prices
Select your preferred date and time. Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
Rainbow Mountain and Red Valley Day Trips Compared
The same mountain and valley, three ways to do the day. Prices and ratings checked October 2026.
| Feature | LOWEST PRICE Early-Start Day Trip with Meals | Premium Day, Entrance Included | Red Valley by ATV |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pickup in Cusco | 3:00 to 3:30 am | 3:00 to 3:30 am | 4:00 am |
| Back in Cusco | About 3:00 to 3:30 pm, Avenida El Sol | Avenida El Sol | Afternoon |
| How You Get Up | On foot, about 1 hour 45 minutes | On foot, horse 70 soles extra | Quad for the approach, then a short walk |
| Vinicunca Entrance | 30 soles cash, not included | Included | 30 soles cash, not included |
| Red Valley Entrance | 30 soles cash, optional | 30 soles cash, optional | On the route; fees on the listing |
| Traveller Rating | 4.8 / 5 from 3,749 reviews | 4.8 / 5 from 812 reviews | 4.7 / 5 from 1,252 reviews |
| Starting Price | From $19/per person in current promotion (usually $36) | From $39 / person | From $65 / person |
| Check Availability | See Premium | See the ATV Day |
Other Ways to Do It
More Rainbow Mountain and Red Valley Days
Prices, ratings and dates on each listing (checked October 2026).
SAME DAY, ANOTHER OPERATORCusco: 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.
ENTRANCE FEE INCLUDEDCusco: Premium Rainbow Mountain & Red Valley Full Day Trip
Enjoy early access and a guided hike to Rainbow Mountain and Red Valley on a premium day trip from Cusco. Marvel at the multicolored beauty of the Andes and enjoy a hearty breakfast and buffet lunch.
BY ATVFrom Cusco: Rainbow Mountain and Red Valley ATV Tour.
LOWER PRICECusco: Rainbow Mountain and Red Valley Guided Day with Meals
Enjoy a day visiting Rainbow Mountain and contemplate the colorful landscapes admiring the incredible shades of colors.
Before You Book
The Red Valley: What It Is and Whether to Add It
The extra walk, the extra fee, and the reason to start at 3 am.
The Red Valley (Valle Rojo) is the part of the Rainbow Mountain day that people come home talking about. It lies just beyond the main Vinicunca viewpoint: a valley of deep red earth with the snow of the Ausangate range behind it, reached on foot after you have seen the striped ridge. Nearly every day trip now sells the two together, and on the standard hiking tours the Red Valley is an optional extra that you decide on at the top.
Should you add the Red Valley?
Yes, if you reach the viewpoint feeling well. In the October 2026 reviews of the featured day, travellers kept telling others not to miss it; one found it more impressive than the ridge itself. It is also the calmest part of the day, because only part of each group carries on.
Skip it if you arrive at the top with a headache or short of breath. It means more walking at about 5,000 m, and the horses that carry people up the main climb do not go there. Allow half an hour to an hour of extra walking. The tours are timed for it, so it uses rest time at the viewpoint rather than making the day longer.
Check dates for the ridge and the Red Valley
Why the 3 am start matters
The featured day collects you between 3:00 and 3:30 am, earlier than most. After breakfast near Cusipata it reaches the Fulawasipata trailhead at the foot of the Ausangate range and starts the climb of about 1 hour 45 minutes. Reviewers who arrived early describe a quiet viewpoint that filled up an hour later. You are back on Avenida El Sol, opposite Qorikancha, at about 3:00 to 3:30 pm, in time for a rest before dinner.
What it costs on top of the tour
| Extra | Cost (October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Vinicunca entrance | 30 soles, cash, not included |
| Red Valley entrance | 30 soles, cash, optional |
| Horse for the main climb | 70 to 100 soles, cash, from local families |
The premium Rainbow Mountain and Red Valley day includes the Vinicunca entrance in its price; the Red Valley is still 30 soles extra. If you would rather ride than walk, the Rainbow Mountain and Red Valley ATV day covers the approach to both by quad.
Before you go
Give yourself two or three days in Cusco before this day: the trail starts at about 4,850 m. Bring warm layers, a hat, gloves, sunglasses and sunscreen, a rain shell from November to April, water, snacks and cash in soles. The altitude guide covers the symptoms to watch for. If the full climb sounds like too much, Palccoyo gives you coloured ridges for a 40-minute walk.
Ready to book? Compare the three ways to do it or check live availability.
Guest Reviews
What Rainbow Mountain and Red Valley Travellers Say
4.8/5
from 3749 verified travelers
"We had a fantastic day. The trip was very well organised and ran perfectly to time. Darwin, our guide, was great. We got to Rainbow mountain early so it was quiet. We weren’t sure whether to go to Red Valley, but Darwin recommended that we went. We were so glad we did - the views were amazing. Breakfast and lunch were great too. We would definitely recommend this trip."
"so so good. we beat the crowds, our guide doris was great, very organised and informative in both english and spanish ! the food was amazing as well, both breakfast and lunch buffet, which is rare for me as a veggie"
"100% satisfied! Special thanks to Kristien who is the best guide for this excursion: good mood, interesting and caring. Do no hesitate to book."
"@Edgar is a very professional and friendly guide. The arrangement of this tour make you become the easiest group to arrive so can enjoy the mountain without crowd."
"Had an amazing time. Our guide Kevin Mario was great- would highly recommend going with him and he speaks great english"
Read all 3749 verified reviews
See All ReviewsSee the Ridge and the Red Valley
Pickup in Cusco between 3:00 and 3:30 am, breakfast and a buffet lunch, a bilingual guide and free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Starting from $19 per person in current promotion (usually $36).
Check Availability & BookStill Choosing Your Cusco Days?
More Day Trips from Cusco
Other Cusco tours, with dates and cancellation terms on each listing.
Rainbow Mountain and Red Valley: FAQ
What the Red Valley is, what it costs and whether to add it. Fees and prices checked October 2026.
A valley of deep red earth beside Vinicunca, reached by an extra walk from the main viewpoint. It is quieter than the ridge itself, and it is the reason most day trips now sell themselves as Rainbow Mountain and Red Valley. On the standard hiking tours it is optional and decided on the day.
30 soles per person in cash at the access point, on top of the 30-sole Vinicunca entrance, in every hiking listing on this page (October 2026). Neither fee is included in the cheaper tours; the premium day trip includes the Vinicunca entrance but not the Red Valley.
If you reach the viewpoint feeling well, yes: it is one of the quietest views of the day, and in the October 2026 reviews several travellers called it the highlight, one finding it more impressive than the striped ridge. If you are short of breath or have a headache at the top, skip it, because it means more walking at about 5,000 m. Your guide will tell you how much time the group has.
Allow half an hour to an hour of extra walking from the main viewpoint, on foot only (the horses do not go there), depending on your pace and the path the guide takes. The day trips are timed for it, so it uses rest time at the top rather than making the day longer.
Yes. Several day trips use quads for the approach to both sights, from $65 per person in October 2026; how much walking is left depends on the route, from a few minutes to a short climb. The ATV day suits travellers who want both sights with less climbing; the hiking day is cheaper.
Very early: the lowest-priced day on this page collects you between 3:00 and 3:30 am, stops for breakfast near Cusipata and starts walking at the Fulawasipata trailhead after about two and a half hours on the road. It is back on Avenida El Sol in Cusco at about 3:00 to 3:30 pm.
Much less than the main ridge. The early-start tours aim to reach the viewpoint before most groups, and only part of each group carries on to the Red Valley, so it is usually the calmest part of the day.
Fit enough to keep walking at about 5,000 m after the main climb, and acclimatised: two or three days in Cusco first. Horses can be hired for the main climb, but not for the Red Valley path. The altitude guide explains how to tell when to turn back.
Still have questions? Email us at info@cusco-rainbow-mountain-tour.com