Rainbow Mountain Peru: Our 10 MUST Read Tips!

March 20, 2018

Rainbow Mountain Peru: Here are the top 10 unmissable tips from successful travellers who have completed this trek.

Be ready to visit Rainbow Mountain by reading our extensive guide which most tourist companies do not want you to know about before doing this amazing trek.

Going through our messages, we have seen a lot of comments and questions about Rainbow Mountain Peru. So, we have decided to go check it out on our own and today we present you with our top 10 tips to make the most out of your experience at this relatively new and exciting attraction near Cusco city.

Most people do a tour of Rainbow Mountain that will include driving you out there and bringing you back to Cusco. This is a one-day tour and starts very early at 3AM. Expect to be back to Cusco at 7PM.

Make sure to buy from a recommended and trusted tour agency. We know that sometimes this is easier said than done so to avoid spending a lot of time doing the research on your own, make sure to check out RainbowMountainTravels.com, our most recommended and the best operator for tours to Rainbow Mountain. We booked through them and were very satisfied with the overall service. So, without further ado, here are our tips:

Acclimatise Yourself

Believe us, it’s no small thing. Cusco is at 3,300 m.a.s.l. (metres above sea level), Aguas Calientes at 2,000 m.a.s.l., Machu Picchu at 2,400 m.a.s.l., and Machu Picchu Mountain at almost 3,100 m.a.s.l. Your Rainbow Mountain excursion will start higher than all of those at around 4.500 m.a.s.l. and it will take you to 5,030 m.a.s.l. at the highest point of the trek. Therefore, it is extremely important that you acclimatize yourself to places above 3,000 m.a.s.l. One thing you could do is arrive in Cusco 48 hours before going to Rainbow mountain or spend a couple of days in Puno before heading to Cusco.

Prepare Your Body

No, no need to do push-ups, squads or anything like that. On the contrary, get plenty of rest the day before. Have your stuff ready before going to sleep and do not stay up late. Pack lots of water, nutritious snacks and if possible coca leaves. Coca leaves are a proven to prevent and mitigate altitude sickness symptoms. You can also check out other method’s to help prevent altitude sickness here

Rainbow Mountain Peru - coca leaves

Wear Light Clothes

The wind is very strong and very cold at times during the day. But, do not wear a jacket that is warm and heavy because it will be very difficult to walk and you will get tired faster. Wear a light layer of clothes that you can easily put on or take off depending on how cold or warm it feels. Carrying a plastic poncho is also advisable.

Have A Backpack With A Waist Adjuster

Your backpack can make you tired pretty quick if it is not firmly tightened to your waist. Thus, it is highly recommended you carry a backpack that has a hip belt before heading to do this trek. Preferably, only bring the necessary items with you. But, depending on the amount of weight that you decide to carry, it is even better if your backpack has shoulder straps, load lifters, sternum straps, etc.


ENTERTAINMENT TIP: If looking for fun at night, or to watch sports during the day, or even a taste of home, visit the Wild Rover Hostel Cusco for great food, sports and beer! Entrance to their bar is free even for non-guests


Wear sun protection

At high altitudes, the intensity of solar radiation is much higher. It is 1.5 times greater than sea level at 2500m and 2.5 times greater at 4000m. Moreover, the presence of snow can reflect 80% to 90% of solar radiation compared to 20% of reflection from rough surfaces without snow. Therefore, it is very important to wear hats, sunglasses and sunscreen at all times.

Top Tips for visiting rainbow mountain peru - Coca leaves

Put on trekking shoes

Trekking shoes are very important to complete the tour without any problems. The path is sandy and can sometimes be slippery due to precipitation. Having the right shoes can prevent potential accidents plus it will keep your feet from getting hurt. A painful blister due to a bad pair of trekking shoes can ruin a lovely day even at Rainbow Mountain.

Choose your pants right

Wear comfortable pants. Do not wear jeans – these are the worst pants you can wear for this trek. While amateur trekkers will focus on their footwear only, more seasoned trekkers know that a good pair of pants can make a big difference. The pants you choose need to be able to breathe, be durable and help to cut wind.

Carry trekking poles

These are particularly useful when going uphill and downhill. Although some people prefer not to carry them, the extra two points of contact significantly increase your traction on slippery surfaces like mud, snow, and loose rock.

Wear gloves

Blowing wind can make things feel colder than they really are. Moreover, if you are carrying your trekking poles, your hands will be constantly exposed. Preferably, the gloves you take with you should protect your hands from the cold and let you have a firm grip of your trekking poles.

Walk at your own pace

Some people will walk faster than others. Do not get discouraged by it. Remember that there are seasoned trekkers on the trail too. The walk can be particularly difficulty for people with sedentary lifestyles or for those who are not accustomed to such heights. Plus, if you do not acclimatize yourself properly, you could suffer headaches and nausea. So, take it easy.

Top Tips for visiting rainbow mountain peru - Man standing on edge looking onto rainbow mountain

BONUS TIP: To truly appreciate the beauty of the overall scenery as you complete your tour to Rainbow Mountain, we recommend trying to go on a sunny day!

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Did you know - The Lima Walking Tour leaves from the Tourist Information Center at 799 Avenida Jose Larco in Miraflores every day at 10:15 am. Visit our Blog for more information!

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