Cusco Rainbow Mountain Review: Is it worth the trek?

Alright, so you’ve probably spotted the photos, right? Those stunning, almost unreal, images of Rainbow Mountain in Peru are, well, they are plastered all over social media, actually. And that has likely piqued your curiosity. You’re wondering if it’s the kind of thing you should add to your travel bucket list, yeah? The real question that you are perhaps pondering is whether or not Rainbow Mountain actually lives up to all the hype. This is supposed to be more than just a bunch of pretty pictures that look appealing, doesn’t it? Well, let’s see if it truly warrants the early wake-up call, the demanding trek, and, naturally, the breathlessness that you may face at such a high altitude. Is it one of those things you’ll remember for life? Let’s check it out.

What’s the Deal with Rainbow Mountain?

Called Vinicunca in Quechua, the native language, Rainbow Mountain, sometimes it’s known as Montaña de Siete Colores which sort of means “Mountain of Seven Colors,” isn’t just a pile of rock. Instead, it’s a geographic showstopper formed over millions of years, basically. All those vibrant stripes you glimpse? Well, they’re from the various minerals packed into the earth, sort of like layers of a cake, actually. Iron gives off red hues; there’s that ochre from clay, and different minerals sort of add yellows, greens, and lavenders into the mix, see? The outcome? It’s almost this crazy natural spectacle that’s totally unforgettable, almost. If you ask me, It sounds quite sensational.

Now, what folks often don’t tell you upfront is that getting there is no stroll in the park. The mountain chills out at a whopping altitude, quite a lot higher than Cusco itself, truly. The thinner air can affect you, and sometimes it can really affect you. We are going to discuss ways to handle that in just a bit. You’ll want to prepare in order to experience it the most.

Choosing Your Rainbow Mountain Tour: A quick guide

Alright, so deciding how to make your way up Rainbow Mountain involves a few things. Loads of companies will tell you, quite willingly, that they’re your ideal choice, that they offer just what you need and what makes them better, obviously. Some provide these really budget-friendly choices for the money conscious; others promote very small-group experiences that focus on personalized consideration. The thing is, when comparing? Look at these considerations.

Group Size: That tiny, intimate experience sure does sound perfect, yeah? But, anyway, bear in mind that smaller groups often come at a cost increase. Think about what kind of vibe you actually like better. Do you do better in a loud atmosphere, or do you prefer quiet walks, right? Basically, more or less.

Altitude Assistance: Rainbow Mountain sits high, almost tauntingly, so tour companies should carry oxygen tanks, which is totally helpful, if that happens to be important to you. Most provide coca tea, supposedly for handling altitude discomforts, but it also seems sort of nice and warm. Look for things like whether they carry first-aid equipment on them in order to be well prepared and stuff.

Red Valley Inclusion: Okay, here is where your alternatives broaden. See, lots of tours have a so-called “optional” add-on which is a Red Valley trip. I propose you mull that over pretty closely. The Red Valley is a striking region with, yup, red rocks which offers, in effect, quite an otherworldly backdrop. If the weather’s working with you, then the contrast to Rainbow Mountain’s stripes is gorgeous, genuinely, nearly perfect. I feel this way at any rate.

Sustainable Methods: It feels genuinely sensible to look for a company showing ecological responsibility to this place. In that respect, confirm whether the groups stick to defined trails, and check on the steps they make toward respecting local cultures. That makes good sense and seems smart to do.

The Trek: What to Expect on your way up

Ok, getting real here, that hike? Really, truly, it is challenging. Many folks, including us, find themselves short of breath; altitude sickness symptoms sort of loom over everything. It may involve far more exertion than the Insta shots seem to suggest to the average person, frankly.

Acclimatize, alright?: Give yourself at least a couple of days hanging around in Cusco before attempting Rainbow Mountain. Seriously, though, this does offer your body some time to try adjusting to the lower oxygen levels in that zone, you see. This makes a huge impact. So, to put it simply, this should not be skipped.

Dress Smartly: Okay, layer it up. And by this I mean that the climate here shifts dramatically, apparently. Start off with thermal underclothes, include a fleece jacket, and do pack that wind and water resistant jacket as well, honestly. Oh, and wear comfortable, sturdy hiking shoes or boots. I swear.

Pace Yourself and stay hydrated: Hike gently, just nice and smoothly. I mean, there’s absolutely no reason to prove how very quickly you will go up a hill. Stop for rests as often as you need to. Carry water, I suggest bringing extra to allow yourself the chance to stay really hydrated during this work, yeah?

Coca Leaves and candies, maybe?: Many people chew coca leaves, and you can buy coca candy in Cusco for combating altitude effects, it turns out. While technology will not actually make you Superman or anything, you just may notice the edge off some effects which, certainly, might just improve how the tour will go.

Consider the horse: Yup, I said horse, arguably. Most tours provide the choice to take a horse up almost all the way for yet another cost, if you will find out that hiking isn’t really the thing for you on that day. Think of it as your “oh no!” button if you wish, right?

The Big View: Rainbow Mountain Up Close

Alright, when you get there, it is impressive. Even though photos of the location can look as though the colors are intensified a little too much, in reality, the natural colors of the landscape stand out sharply under the mountain sky, clearly. Really, the vista from the best spot really is spectacular, naturally.

Nonetheless, I can offer some heads-up. Crowds might thin out that solitary image experience you imagined, sadly, often significantly, especially between 10 in the morning and 2 in the afternoon. The time of the year greatly impacts the colors as well, basically. Dry season (May–September) usually presents colors which might be much more distinct as compared to the wet season, at the end of the day.

Is there a solution? If it can be squeezed in, ponder on doing an early morning tour or one that begins later in the day. A small number of businesses offer overnight camping experiences. Those have the perks to be one of the first to appear at the top to enjoy that view to enjoy even longer to admire what one traveled here to view, yeah?

Red Valley: Is it worth adding on to your tour?

Ok, listen up: Red Valley could very well be the unsung hero of the whole escapade. Okay, it may add a couple of hours on your day. But this terrain? Well, its Martian landscape? Very different from the striped splendor of Rainbow Mountain.

If you think of including this, then confirm the weather conditions, seriously. Given ideal clear skies, that contrast from the red dirt with the blue sky makes a stunning, spectacular landscape to savor, you know. Nevertheless, with rainfall, that area will get difficult. Sometimes slick, that path may not offer that very great experience anyone wanted to see in the daytime in this Peruvian setting, it seems to me, actually.

Do know the fitness thresholds of your people in the group to find out. The hiking itself? Is somewhat easier than getting as high up as Rainbow Mountain, frankly. You do want to find a balance here so no one gets pressured, basically. If everybody has the oomph, however? Then really do go for the Red Valley; it’s an adventure that goes quite well with its sister site, you know.

Regardless, when thinking it over: look at your vitality amount; inspect climatic reports, and take it as though a complementary bit of the Rainbow Mountain tour deal to gain far more awe-inspiring views, perhaps.

Making it Matter: Respecting Rainbow Mountain

Look, places such as Rainbow Mountain happen to be spectacular, and furthermore, they merit our total regard. I’d really recommend these pointers so every one of us can make a positive effect while admiring its spectacular setting:

Stay on these Marked Routes: Keeping within designated pathways safeguards all the sensitive ecosystems also helping to prevent disintegration associated with any soil in a region that experiences elevated walking activity, pretty much. Don’t stroll off just for photographs if one has the choice of acting responsibly and thoughtfully, okay? Be respectful. As I was saying, don’t just do it.

Patronize these Local Communities: Find an approach of purchasing from indigenous suppliers or even tour firms actually utilizing residents so its traveler $ help improve surrounding economic situations particularly rather then flowing just right to internationally based businesses. Look carefully around at options!

Lower your trash quantities: Carry almost everything which comes with you back outside the trail again – all snack wrappers, containers of water or just about any other possible litter one probably carried! Ideally? Carry that eco friendly, multi use container as well and things like the personal reusable bags actually just assist you with trying to keep waste generation to zero, so it seems. I do and it gives some piece of mind too it appears.

Regard Animal Living spaces: Keep a good viewing size through just about any indigenous livestock, probably llamas as well as alpacas typically, steering away off stressing those to sustain undisturbed behavioral lifestyle. That’s their land, essentially.

Usually do not move something from that Mountain, never: Avoid accepting pebbles, flowers, or even various other physical physical objects like souvenirs so we don’t mess about even fragile surrounding ecosystems. If many tourerstook home that ‘ modest object’, there could easily cause great damage , right? The goal will be looking after that attraction even when you abandon, therefore even future folk tend to get that joy originating from getting a view concerning natural greatness such that our group do; really feel me personally?, practically everyone will make this place wonderful while following thoughtful methods , you know!

Taking actions towards conscious tourism methods? Allows shield regions just like Rainbow Mountain intended for coming many generations, to provide every tourer a rewarding still safe adventure; basically.

Rainbow Mountain: Is the effort genuinely worthwhile, huh?

Well, there it is, really, Rainbow Mountain is a tough but very rewarding endeavor, I feel. Yeah, the rise up gets a bit tough, naturally, along with those altitude adjustments which aren’t always fun for a few people. But the view you get from on top – all those brilliant colours expanding beneath sky, very makes it, more or less, worthy it at the end, really. You blend in some consideration related to neighborhood regard, appropriate excursion selection and you get to feel a spectacular bit involving Mother Nature while simultaneously generating confident side effects upon communities; I am of this view anyway, yet.