Every agency in Cusco sells “the Rainbow Mountain tour”, and the brochures all look the same: striped slopes, blue sky, a smiling hiker at the top. What they don’t show is that there are four quite different ways to get there, and they cost you very different amounts of money, effort and time at 5,000 m. We run the ATV option, but this guide on how to get to Rainbow Mountain covers all four honestly, including the cases where another option suits you better.
Table of Contents
How to get to Rainbow Mountain: the short answer
Vinicunca sits about 100 km southeast of Cusco, in the district of Pitumarca. Whatever option you choose, the day starts with a pre-dawn drive of around three hours to the trailhead area. What changes is what happens once you get there:
- Standard hiking tour: you walk 6–8 km round trip from the parking area to the viewpoint.
- ATV tour: you ride most of the way and walk the last 1–2 km.
- Horse: you rent a horse at the trailhead for most of the climb, then walk the final stretch.
- On your own: you organise transport yourself and hike the full route.
The viewpoint is at 5,020–5,200 m whichever way you choose, so the altitude doesn’t change.
Option 1: the standard hiking tour
For most people asking how to get to Rainbow Mountain, this is the default, and it’s what most agencies mean by “Rainbow Mountain tour”: a shared bus or van from Cusco, breakfast on the way, a 6–8 km round-trip hike at the site, lunch, and the drive back. Groups are often large, sometimes 20 people or more.
It’s usually the cheapest way to go, with prices that vary by agency and season. The trade-off is effort. You’ll spend two to three hours or more climbing at high altitude, and with a big group the guide can’t stay with everyone who slows down. Time at the top is often short, because the bus has a schedule.
Choose it if: budget matters most, you’re reasonably fit, you’ve had at least two days in Cusco to acclimatize, and you don’t mind a crowd.
Option 2: the ATV tour
Our route swaps most of the hike for an ATV ride across the high plains, past alpaca herds and with views of the Ausangate glaciers, then finishes with a short walk of about 1–2 km to the viewpoint. Vehicles can’t go further than that; the local communities control access near the summit, and the last stretch is on foot for everyone.
That cuts the hard, high-altitude effort from two or three hours to roughly 30–50 minutes. In practice, that’s the difference between reaching the top exhausted and reaching it with energy to enjoy the view.
What you get with us:
- Hotel pickup in Cusco and the return drive
- Breakfast and lunch, with a vegetarian option on request
- A safety briefing and a practice run before the real route
- One guide for every 8 riders, carrying oxygen and a first-aid kit
- The choice between driving your own ATV or riding as a passenger, decided on the spot
The shared group tour is $80 per person; private tours are quoted on request. The community entrance fee (about S/25) is paid separately in cash. The full itinerary is on our Rainbow Mountain ATV tour page.
Choose it if: you want to see the mountain without the long climb, your group has mixed fitness levels, or you’re short on days in Cusco.
Option 3: renting a horse
Local arrieros from the surrounding communities rent horses at the trailhead. It isn’t booked in advance through an agency, and it isn’t included in tour prices; you pay the horseman directly, in cash, in soles. Prices change with the season and how far you ride, so agree on the price before you get on.
The horse carries you up most of the climb, but not to the top. The last 10–20 minutes are too steep for the animals, so everyone walks that part. A horse takes away most of the effort, but you’re still breathing the same thin air the whole time.
Choose it if: you’ve already booked a hiking tour and you’re worried about the climb, or you can’t do the full hike for physical reasons.
Option 4: going on your own
This is the most independent way to get to Rainbow Mountain. You skip the tour and organise everything yourself: transport to the trailhead (usually a private car, as public transport is limited), the entrance fee, and food. It sounds cheaper, but once you add it all up it rarely is, and you lose the guide, the meals and the oxygen that a good operator carries.
Choose it if: you’re experienced at high altitude, you want full control over your timing, and you’re comfortable handling logistics and risk on your own.
How to get to Rainbow Mountain: the four options side by side
| Hiking tour | ATV tour | Horse | On your own | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walking (round trip) | 6–8 km | 1–2 km | 1 km or less, final stretch | 6–8 km |
| Hard effort at altitude | 2–3+ hours | 30–50 minutes | Short, final stretch | 2–3+ hours |
| Group | Often large | Shared (8 per guide) or private | Your tour group | Just you |
| Guide on the trail | Yes, shared by many | Yes | Horseman + tour guide | No |
| Booking | Any Cusco agency | ATV operator | At the trailhead | You arrange it |
The part that doesn’t change: altitude
Whichever answer to how to get to Rainbow Mountain you pick, you’ll stand at more than 5,000 m. Riding or being carried doesn’t put more oxygen in the air. Every option needs at least two days in Cusco first, plenty of water and an honest conversation with your guide if you start to feel unwell. The CDC’s guide to high-altitude travel explains why going up gradually matters.
Our own guide to altitude sickness and ATV tours covers symptoms and preparation, and is ATV Rainbow Mountain safe? looks at the risks of this route specifically.
How to get to Rainbow Mountain: which option fits you
- Tight budget, good fitness, fine with a crowd: the standard hiking tour.
- Limited time, mixed-fitness group, want less strain: the ATV tour.
- Already booked a hiking tour but nervous about the climb: add a horse at the trailhead.
- Experienced at altitude and want to do it your way: go on your own.
If Rainbow Mountain feels like too much for this trip, our lower routes are a good alternative: Maras, Moray & the Salt Mines and Huaypo Lagoon both stay below 4,000 m. You can also read our comparison of ATV vs. hiking in Cusco.
When to go
Our dry season runs from April to October, with the clearest skies and the best chance of seeing the colours sharply. From November to March, afternoon rain, cloud and occasional snow are common, and the stripes can be hidden. See our month-by-month guide to the best time for ATV tours in Cusco, and check the packing list for an ATV tour in Cusco before you go: Rainbow Mountain is the one route where the cold catches people out.
FAQs about how to get to Rainbow Mountain
How far is Rainbow Mountain from Cusco?
About 100 km, which takes around three hours by road each way.
Is the ATV option safer than hiking?
It’s less physically demanding, which helps many people at altitude. The altitude itself is the same.
Can I book a horse in advance?
Usually not. Horses are arranged with local horsemen at the trailhead, in cash.
Does the horse go all the way to the top?
No. Everyone walks the last 10–20 minutes, whatever option they choose.
Is going on your own cheaper?
Rarely, once you add transport, the entrance fee and food. You also lose the guide and the oxygen.
How much walking is there on the ATV tour?
About 1–2 km round trip, compared with 6–8 km on the standard hike.
Want help choosing? Send us your travel dates on WhatsApp and we’ll tell you honestly which option makes sense for your trip.