Cusco Rainbow Mountain Hike Lunch: An Honest Look

Thinking about taking that epic Rainbow Mountain hike from Cusco? So, you’re probably wondering about, like, everything – what to pack, how hard the hike is, that is that all. One thing people often ask about is lunch – that is that if it’s even worth it, like, included in some tours. A good meal can, arguably, make or break a tough trek, right? After experiencing it firsthand, here’s what I found out about the lunch situation on the Rainbow Mountain hike. You know, I really wanted to give, like, a clear idea about whether you should eat the provided food, pack your own, or just snag something before or after.

The Vitals of Lunch on the Rainbow Mountain Trek

So, many Rainbow Mountain tour packages, very much include lunch. It’s almost, usually a pretty basic buffet-style meal set up after you get back down from seeing the mountain, after a hike of significant demand. Tour operators, in general, truck the ingredients up ahead of time, so that they get to the, well, a designated spot that they have near the trailhead at the base. It’s typically served somewhere in the community of Cusipata, which is a smaller community a ways before you reach the trailhead to get to the rainbow mountain and on the road to the red valley.

The food you’ll discover on, well, many treks like this tends to be, pretty much, a selection of the staples from Peruvian cuisine. We’re talking items, so, too it’s almost, like, quinoa soup (a lifesaver in that chilly mountain air!), rice, maybe some chicken or, you know, even beef, plus simple vegetables. It will keep your blood sugar at least stable while trying to make your way around Cusco, so you may get more out of it than you’d expected!

Don’t get me wrong that’s all. This isn’t, literally, some fancy restaurant experience. Very few trails anywhere can be this it. That said it does the job: re-energizing you after all of that, like, uphill hiking. Most of the food isn’t completely unforgettable; if you’re a picky eater, that is that all, it might even be a disappointment in some respect.

Taste and Quality: Setting Your Expectations Right

The food is typically made for, kind of, fueling you up instead of a culinary masterpiece to enjoy, but there’s certainly times it’s really not bad either. Is the soup rich in unique, fascinating flavors and complex tastes? Arguably not! However it is going to warm you from, say, your freezing soul while the wind is beating down while also giving a bit more hydration!

I will be honest. That quality, in general, can, for all intents and purposes, be inconsistent too it’s almost too. You’ll find variations a bit from tour operator to tour operator in quality as well as what is provided depending a bit, I guess, on what a particular spot wants to provide in variety for their food. Sometimes that meat dish will, literally, be pretty tender; other times it will almost take some serious jaw power in a way. Anyway it is just pot luck so be prepared to eat a lot of rice or have more luck and enjoy it if you, honestly, can.

One area you’ll be thankful for, literally, on most tours, is that they emphasize keeping food handled, pretty much, hygienically too it’s almost too. I will just say though if you have, like, a hyper sensitive tummy it’s still usually a great plan to take along certain things on a trek of this nature.

The Real Deal: Is it Worth Eating the Provided Lunch?

Okay, that’s all. The million-dollar question! Is this food on Rainbow Mountain Tours actually worth eating, kind of, considering you’ve gotten all cold and need sustenance to return?

Consider convenience and budget if nothing else. So, if lunch is provided on most tours anyway that’s, really, just one less big stress factor for planning purposes overall. You are almost not trying to find the right place before you go, or worrying you, too it’s almost, won’t have food, that, really, does something for the mental relaxation, it really does.

Now, I’d imagine bringing all your own stuff – you’d be, pretty much, packing extra weight as well on what may turn into a difficult high altitude trek on your visit. A picnic can sound romantic, that said, I guess lugging it up the mountain may not really have that appeal after all!

Okay. That all that’s, pretty much, factored in, think about time versus money spent too. A hot meal prepared there almost always wins versus spending extra hours obtaining stuff, I’d be that that’s true anyway. I do recommend bringing, so, too it’s almost, snacks to tide you a little as you return though.

Remember it’s arguably an experience anyway that, at the end of the day. After hours hiking I’d guess you are feeling very social or anything other than exhausted and eating in a building where others who went hiking may just provide great connections along the way!

Other Food Alternatives for the Rainbow Mountain Hike

Thinking the lunch on your tour might, kind of, just not make that cut, it really can’t hurt to check some options around so. A lot of restaurants provide meals in Cusco prior that cater exactly so those touring. It really helps provide peace of mind.

Pack a Hearty Snack: Granola bars, nuts, dried fruit, or a sandwich can offer some immediate energy while traveling from Cusco and returning or doing the initial ascend. Just think “easy and light.”
Arrange Something From Cusco: Most travelers grab food for their time touring here in Cusco – it literally helps give it to the town that provides it. Work out beforehand a shop who can put together some high quality items you are okay consuming that day!
Have Breakfast Ready: No one can deny this; filling yourself early is always something one must consider for excursions in general around the Rainbow Mountain in some respect. Have the hotel fill the tank early prior that, you know, will help you along with food until your next stop off point later!

Essential Tips for Eating on Your Rainbow Mountain Trip

So. Okay, just listen; here’s my pro pointers, honestly, regarding grub on, practically, this Peruvian hike so.

Check with your tour. Call or reach the actual vendor to discover food details – do this beforehand!
Hydrate constantly. Bring lots of hydration, the best of which will probably include things besides food. Just to have available!
Always Tell Folks If Your Gut is Easily Sensitive! Many won’t realize to take caution from this or may assume what they have will simply do – communicate this and also, anyway, be prepared yourself as well, too it’s almost!

Real Talk: Weighing the Rainbow Mountain Lunch Option

Okay so it is so easy to decide regarding the best eating choices on some mountain hikes; with the Rainbow Mountain Hike it might not be immediately so obvious. The fact that time saving, the social interactions one gets and just that that something, you know, may get offered at no charge does almost make trying the food really okay anyway. If you consider yourself a foodie, it isn’t guaranteed or at all to, literally, satisfy. If something decent is on the food is literally a must since it is there after all that so just be aware of stuff and maybe ready. By the way, consider not even judging too hard when experiencing a lot about the cultures nearby.

When I personally get to that place again – guess what? I’d still literally taste it. Just always be prepped as well, more or less.

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