Length: 5.37 miles
Elev gain: 1394 ft
Time: 3:42:42
The hike:
https://www.alltrails.com/explore/recording/rainbow-mountain–82
Rainbow Mountain is near Cusco, Peru and became a popular tourist attraction a few years ago due to its vibrant colors, which are the result of various mineral deposits present in the rocks, including iron oxide, sulfur, and copper.
Due to lack of transportation, I joined a local tour for the visit. We had to get up extremely early and were picked up at 3 am. It was a long drive from Cusco, including a quick breakfast stop. There were already a lot of people by the time we arrived at the trailhead.
There was an option to hire a horse instead of hiking to the summit, as some people chose to do. It turned out to be a great option but I didn’t realize that until it was too late. So instead, I took off on foot.
The trail to Rainbow mountain seemed easy as it was relatively flat.
But it was far from easy. Although the incline was mild, it was still very challenging due to its high elevation. It’s 17,060 feet at the summit. I had to stop frequently to catch my breath. It took a very long time to reach Rainbow Mountain even though it’s only a little over two miles.
I finally reached Rainbow Mountain.
Looking down at the valley below.
Before heading back, I took a detour to Red Valley (also known as Valle Rojo) nearby. Obviously the valley gets its name from the rich red and maroon hues as a result of iron oxide and other minerals that present in the soil that dominate its landscape. Just like Rainbow Mountain, the display of colors was also very impressive.
Since we were going downhill on the way back, the hike was a lot easier and I was able to enjoy the breathtaking views a lot more.
After that it was another long drive back to Cusco.