PRICE FROM
price per person in group service
Discover the breathtaking beauty of the Palcoyo Rainbow Mountain Tour with convenient hotel pickup from Cusco, Urubamba, or Ollantaytambo. Enjoy an easy and scenic hike through vibrant rainbow-colored mountains, the impressive Stone Forest, and stunning high-altitude landscapes. Along the way, experience authentic Andean culture, spot native wildlife such as alpacas and llamas, and take in unforgettable panoramic views. Led by a professional guide, this full-day adventure is the perfect alternative to the more crowded Rainbow Mountain trek.
1 Day
7km
Intermediate
4,900 meters 16,070 feet meters above sea level
Trekking Nature & Culture
Group Service
Discover the breathtaking Palcoyo Rainbow Mountain, one of Peru’s best-kept secrets and a peaceful alternative to the famous Vinicunca. With convenient hotel pickup from Cusco, Urubamba, or Ollantaytambo, this full-day adventure takes you deep into the spectacular Ausangate mountain range, where you’ll admire three colorful rainbow mountains, the unique Stone Forest, snow-capped peaks, and breathtaking Andean landscapes.
At 4,900 meters (16,076 ft) above sea level, Palcoyo offers a short and easy hike, making it the perfect choice for travelers seeking incredible scenery without the challenging trek. Along the way, you’ll pass traditional Andean communities, spot llamas and alpacas, and enjoy unforgettable panoramic views in one of Cusco’s most scenic destinations.
Your Palcoyo Rainbow Mountain adventure begins with a convenient hotel pickup. If you are staying in Urubamba or Ollantaytambo, we will pick you up at approximately 4:00 AM. For travelers staying in Cusco, pickup is around 5:00 AM. Sit back and relax as we travel through the breathtaking South Valley of Cusco in comfortable tourist transportation.
As the sun rises over the Andes, you’ll pass picturesque villages, ancient Inca terraces, fertile valleys, and spectacular mountain scenery. Before reaching the trailhead, we’ll stop to enjoy a delicious breakfast and admire herds of llamas and alpacas grazing in their natural habitat.
Upon arriving at the Palcoyo trailhead, your guide will lead you on an easy and scenic hike through one of the most colorful landscapes in Peru. Along the route, you’ll discover the three Rainbow Mountains, the impressive Stone Forest, and panoramic views of the majestic Ausangate Mountain, the highest peak in southern Peru. You’ll also have the opportunity to learn about local Andean traditions, meet communities dressed in traditional clothing, and even hear a few words of Quechua, the language of the Incas.
After plenty of time to explore, take unforgettable photos, and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere away from the crowds, we’ll return to our vehicle and head to a local restaurant for a delicious buffet lunch.
Following lunch, we’ll drive back to Cusco, arriving in the afternoon with unforgettable memories of one of the Andes’ most spectacular hidden gems.
Availability: Daily Departures All Departures are 100% Guaranteed. If You’re Booked, You are Going, We won’t cancel your Trip !!!
How to Book?: Send us all Your Personal information, as well as a Deposit.
Group Service: Price per person: US$130
(You will be joined into a formed group of people who come from different countries/Nationalities): From 2-8ppl Max
Private Service: Price per person: US$190
Recommended for Honeymooners, Families with children & Groups of Friends (02 Person Minimum)
Most people automatically assume that the weather is hot in South America, but because of the higher altitude in the Andes, the temperature can feel quite cold, especially at night. We recommend the use of a duffel bag or backpack, whichever is easiest for you to carry. A good size daypack is also essential.
List of things you must bring:
We offer hotel pickup from Cusco, Urubamba, and Ollantaytambo. Pickup is approximately 4:00 AM from Urubamba and Ollantaytambo, and 5:00 AM from Cusco.
The tour includes hotel pickup and drop-off, tourist transportation, breakfast, buffet lunch, entrance fee (if included in your package), a professional bilingual guide, and first-aid assistance.
Palcoyo is considered an easy to moderate hike. The trail is much shorter and less steep than Vinicunca, making it suitable for most travelers.
The round-trip hike is approximately 7 km (4.3 miles) and usually takes 3 to 4 hours, depending on your pace and the time spent taking photos.
Palcoyo sits at approximately 4,900–5,000 meters (16,076–16,404 ft) above sea level.
Yes. We highly recommend spending at least 1–2 days in Cusco or the Sacred Valley before visiting Palcoyo to reduce the risk of altitude sickness.
Yes. Palcoyo offers a much easier hike, fewer crowds, and equally spectacular colorful mountains, making it an excellent alternative.
Yes. The tour is suitable for older children, teenagers, adults, and active seniors who are properly acclimatized.
Wear layered clothing, a waterproof jacket, comfortable hiking shoes, a hat, gloves, sunglasses, and sunscreen, as weather conditions can change quickly.
Bring your passport, water, snacks, sunscreen, sunglasses, cash, a camera, rain gear during the wet season, and any personal medications.
Yes. The tour includes a continental breakfast and a delicious buffet lunch with vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options available upon request.
Yes. Basic restrooms are available at the breakfast stop and near the trailhead. We recommend carrying toilet paper and hand sanitizer.
Absolutely! Along the journey you’ll often see llamas, alpacas, and occasionally wild vicuñas grazing in the Andean highlands.
Yes. You’ll have the opportunity to visit the impressive Stone Forest, one of Palcoyo’s most unique natural attractions.
Yes. Our Palcoyo Rainbow Mountain Tour operates daily, subject to weather and road conditions.
The tour operates throughout the year. During the rainy season (November to March), trails may be muddy, so waterproof clothing is recommended. Tours are only canceled if conditions become unsafe.
Some travelers may experience mild symptoms because of the high altitude. Staying hydrated, avoiding alcohol before the tour, and acclimatizing beforehand greatly reduce the risk.
Yes. Private Palcoyo tours are available for couples, families, and groups seeking a more personalized experience.
The dry season, from April to October, offers the clearest skies and the best mountain views, although Palcoyo can be visited year-round.
Palcoyo offers stunning rainbow-colored mountains, breathtaking panoramic views, the famous Stone Forest, fewer tourists, a shorter hike, and a more relaxed experience—making it one of the best day trips from Cusco.
Book now with us
Posted on Tripadvisor Sara DVerified 10/10 Experience - Would Recommend! We had an amazing time on the Salkantay 5 Day Trek. Before the trip started, Quechuas had great communication and was very accommodating to our travel schedule, including adjusting our briefing time with our guide.The skydome accomodations were great (all fairly spacious, with exception of night 2, which was fine as we didn’t spend much time there), the food was delicious (a great variety and always more than enough to go around) and the trek itself was beautiful. Our guide Steven, as well as second guide Jorge, were very patient, knowledgeable and kind to us and the others in our group - not only did we get to see incredible scenery but we also learned a lot about the local landscape and culture.We rented sleeping bags, which we would highly recommend. We brought our own hiking poles but would recommend renting if you don’t bring your own.Overall, an amazing experience and we would highly recommend this company.Posted on Tripadvisor Matthew WVerified Seamless and Supportive Inca Trail Experience – Highly Recommend We recently completed the 4-day Classic Inca Trail trek with Quechuas Expeditions in June 2025, and overall had a fantastic experience that struck the perfect balance between physical challenge and logistical ease.Our guide, Fernando (“Nando”), was outstanding—passionate, deeply knowledgeable about the trail’s rich history, and highly supportive throughout. He kept our group motivated and informed, and managed different paces and needs with professionalism and care. His English was great, and he always made time to answer questions or share interesting stories along the way.The porter and chef team were phenomenal. Every meal was different, delicious, and plentiful—we were never hungry, and dietary needs (including vegan and vegetarian) were handled without issue. They even baked a custom cake on the trail for a couple’s anniversary, which speaks volumes about their care and capability. The porters themselves were friendly, warm, and constantly going above and beyond to support us.Quechuas provided tents, sleeping bags, a toilet tent, and hot water for face washing each morning, plus coca tea as a wake-up touch. The duffel service was useful, though we did find the weight limits a bit tighter than expected once you factor in the sleeping bag. In the end, we paid for an extra porter—which was easy to arrange but worth noting for those planning their packing. One thing we didn’t know in advance: the porter bags aren’t waterproof, so future trekkers may want to use dry bags or line the inside with plastic.Another small consideration: due to how campsites are assigned (by the government, not the tour company), some days ended up being longer than the traditional day-by-day breakdown you might read online. While not Quechuas’ fault, for myself, as much heads-up as possible would’ve helped with my own mental preparation.All said, Quechuas Expeditions delivered where it mattered most. The logistics were smooth, the staff was superb, and their support allowed us to focus on enjoying the trail and the breathtaking views without worrying about the rest. This is a company that knows what it’s doing.Would I recommend them? Absolutely—whether you’re a first-time trekker or experienced hiker, they make an unforgettable journey that much more seamless and enjoyable. If I ever do this again, I would book with them without question, and if possible, request the exact same team. Thank you Fernando and team for a trip of a lifetime and memories that will stay with me forever 🙏Posted on Tripadvisor Arianna OVerified Amazing trip on the Inca Trail with Quechuas Expeditions I never imagined that the Inca Trail could be so transformative. My partner and I decided to do the classic 4-day trek with Quechuas Expeditions and, honestly, it exceeded all our expectations. From the very first moment we felt very welcome. The service was impeccable, they were always attentive to our needs, solving all our doubts before and during the trek.The hike was not easy, but the views, the fresh mountain air and the energy of the group kept us going without thinking about how tiring it was. The meals at the campsites surprised us pleasantly, we really did not expect so much variety and flavor in the middle of the mountain. And the end, reaching Machu Picchu through the sun gate (Inti Punku) was simply magical, there are no words to describe that moment. It is definitely a unique experience that connects you with the history, culture and nature of Peru. Thank you Quechuas Expeditions for making this trip so special!Posted on Tripadvisor naomiammarVerified Hardest challenge of my life but worth it One of the hardest things I have ever done (definitely underestimate the difficulty level), and I don’t know if I would have made it if it wasn’t for our awesome guide Frenando and all the amazing staff we had. What a fantastic group of people. The porters are so hard working, it’s so humbling. The chef Taco was fantastic! I am vegan and he made me the most amazing food the entire time. I couldn’t believe it. And then our guide Fernando topped it all. Knowledgeable, professional yet fun, very personable, very patient (we were slow!) and very encouraging. If you are considering taking on this challenge, I highly recommend Quechua’s Expeditions and if you can request Fernando. E sure to do so. He’s been doing this for 19yrs!Posted on Tripadvisor cade cVerified Awesome trek We really enjoyed our trip. It was challenging and also rewarding. Beautiful views and even better food. I can’t rave enough about our cook Santiago! Food was unbelievable. Jose did a fantastic job leading us along the way. He did a good job of explaining what we are seeing! Looking for a physical challenge with beautiful views this is the trek for you.Posted on Tripadvisor Lola UVerified Demanding, enriching and unforgettable thanks to the human team I will always be grateful to the rich food and attentions of Santiago, the cook, the professionalism and good advice of José, the guide, the kindness of the helpers, who have made it possible to improve the experience.Posted on Tripadvisor Julia C.Verified Amazing trek, amazing guide and staff The Salkantay Trek was absolutely stunning, domes and the views were great with hot water available. What the trek made very special was our guide Nildo. Also, the chef Julian, horseman and second guide were incredible too. Nildo was knowledgeable, caring and passionate about everything he shared. I cannot imagine a better guide :-) Everything was very well organized.Posted on Tripadvisor Emelie AVerified Hike of a lifetime! We had the most amazing time! The different sceneries along the trek are just unbelievable and although being two fairly unfit persons we could enjoy it all the way. Fernando and Steven are terrific guides making sure we were all comfortable and happy at all times. The food and accommodations along the way were also a lot more luxurious than what we’d expected. Would 100% recommend this to anyone who’s up for a hike!!
Do you need help in choosing your trip or booking? We are at your disposal.