Having hiked Machu Picchu, we decided to take a few days in Cusco to regroup and plan the next few weeks of our adventure.  So far we’ve managed to organize transport from Cusco to head further south and onward into Bolivia. We’ve got a few side trips planned, accommodations squared away and even managed to take in local Shaman (medicine man) ceremony!

The highlight of the last few days has definitely  been a trip to Rainbow Mountain. Located 3 hours outside of Cusco, Rainbow Mountain, locally knows as Vinicuna, stands at 6384 meters or 20, 944 feet in elevation above sea level. Incidentally, this is higher than any part of the Inca Trail we hiked.

The attraction of Rainbow Mountain, despite its hostile environment of cold temperatures, snow and stinging winds, is its multitude of colours. Thick bands of vivid turquoise, lavender, red-violet and gold are just some of the colours that give Rainbow Mountain it’s namesake. 

To get to the mountain, we drove 3 hours outside of Cusco and then transferred to a dirt road that followed one switchback after another for 15 kilometres. Llamas and alpacas peppered the hillside along the way, often refusing to move out of our path. Slowly nudging them along and out of the way, we drove back and forth for nearly 45 minutes until we nearly reached the summit. 

Here, we adorned whatever clothes we had and slowly started to ascend the mountain. We didn’t have to climb far but the little elevation we did hike, made even a snail’s pace, difficult. 

As we stopped to breath in as much as as we could, the effort was made worthwhile by the uniquely stunning scenery of the rainbow bands of the mountains, stretching out before us. 

As we edged forward in measured unison, the mountains became more vibrant. As the clouds dispersed, snow capped mountains could be seen in the distance. It was truly a unique hiking experience and we were glad to have taken the day to visit this remarkable mountain.