Rainbow Mountain & Red Valley Tour: Is It Worth It?

Okay, so you’re considering a day trip to Rainbow Mountain, right? Pretty much everyone visiting Cusco has at least peeked at those eye-popping pictures. And you know, the ones showcasing these intensely vibrant, striped mountainsides. It’s almost like something out of a dream, and, you know, a big reason lots of people put it high up on their Peru bucket list. Yet, you might be asking yourself, very is the full-day Rainbow Mountain tour, with the possibly included Red Valley trek, actually something special? This review gets into the good parts, like your ability to witness just naturally breathtaking landscapes. At the same time it keeps it real about challenges like altitude and tourist crowds. We are just figuring if it meets what’s promised in promotions.

What to Expect on Your Rainbow Mountain Adventure

Most tours do kick off super early, so that’s something you need to know. Many pickups can be at like, maybe 3:00 AM. That could be, too, a pretty rude awakening even if you’re usually an early riser, and also be prepared for a winding, long bus ride of about 3 hours through, too it’s almost stunning Andean scenery. I want to suggest you to grab a window seat. As a matter of fact that scenery does something wonderful. Like, it will soften the early start. Breakfast is usually at a local spot, typically that’s, you know, simple but filling, so you are fueled up for the hike. It’s pretty rudimentary but I have no doubts that it does its job.

The hike itself, now that, too, is a different story. The trailhead starts already at a high altitude, something around 15,400 feet (4,700 meters). That’s just about, so like, way higher than Cusco itself. This means, you know, that even walking slowly feels really harder than it might back home. It’s possible that the air is thin, yet of course the views of the surrounding mountains get more amazing with each step. You will experience them, though! The path, in a way, is usually moderately steep, plus it could be, you know, slippery dependent on the weather. It goes without saying that pace yourself.

Reaching Rainbow Mountain really might feel very fulfilling. Is that the mountainside appears, showcasing its stripes of bright reds, yellows, greens, basically you know, the result of mineral deposits built up over centuries. If it’s possible to look around at other mountains you will just find, naturally that is a completely wonderful panorama of Andean peaks. Snap tons of pictures, if you have a nice camera I totally sugest taking that with you to have a quality shot. After all this is something you should enjoy! Now there is only getting back and let the bus return you to your warm, snuggly and safe hotel.

The Allure of the Red Valley

So, adding on the Red Valley, what does that mean? Very is, it means, you know, more walking, but trust me, you may think that walking will not do it, but very you want it to do it. The Red Valley offers a, you know, a completely different, like completely otherworldly scenery than Rainbow Mountain. If you chose to see those views, you would just be in the area that contains rolling hills blanketed in reddish hues. I might say it looks like being on planet Mars or something. It just makes your memory cells create new space!

The trek in the Valley is very less crowded when it’s compared to Rainbow Mountain. The valley makes an individual, actually, to enjoy what feels so wonderful, very just wide-open space and solitude. That is the point where you realize that being outdoors, and very in places so full of minerals, creates memories for the time ahead. This extra hike probably adds around 1 to 2 hours to the day. Although, in fact, it truly relies upon the route the tour takes. Anyway, a tiny, somewhat minimal but yet still rewarding adventure. Oh and of course this would just increase the, obviously wow-factor of your trip.

Altitude: The Real Challenge

It seems that everyone kind of plays down the whole altitude situation, as I see it. Still, to tell the truth this has got the potential to majorly impact your tour. Altitude sickness occurs for those ascending very fast to elevations of well, let’s just say high ones, like Rainbow Mountain’s, that do have the feeling of headache, fatigue, even, so in a way nausea. I wish to advise you very very much not to underestimate this thing because honestly, it can affect anyone. And yes that includes people very that are seemingly fit.

So, there is something you could do for you trip and something you should think about! At first, have several days in Cusco previously to attempting Rainbow Mountain! The idea is very it allows your body to sort of adjust to the higher elevation, you understand? Staying hydrated might be an idea, actually. Also steering clear of, like, adult beverages might ease symptoms. Drinking coca tea which, by the way, is commonly offered, also could help. Also it tends to ease some feelings, or in some cases it helps.

It seems there is something else you need to hear from me as a tip! If you start feeling sick, you understand, make a move at something, anything and let your guide know. They can very much give you oxygen if it becomes necessary, and just possibly they might arrange for you to head back down very early if needed. Don’t push through extreme sickness very just to say that you succeeded it, this is more or less about experiencing a nice adventure! Even though you were just 100m from the summit.

Dealing with the Crowds

Okay, I might as well level with you all: Rainbow Mountain isn’t a hidden gem when you want an empty route. It gets pretty popular, I believe! So you will possibly experience a certain something there, maybe a lot. You should probably see that at certain points in the day. Be sure to take pictures without, basically without getting other random people on the photo that are experiencing their experience at their summit!

One choice is actually go with tours that have somewhat minimal group sizes because, to tell the truth these give you a completely slightly personal experience. Is that this also impacts things in an almost very completely and different method: there are some that start just later than most others. If the starting of this daytour happens later, it could mean very getting there once most tour groups are really about to leave. The idea is almost, if not fully clear: if going off-season is a great thought as it seems. That of course means far fewer other travelers!

Choosing the Right Tour Operator

Very just tour operators actually are basically the same, and basically that sounds too true to believe. Research the options, it really goes without saying. In short it could mean going on sites with reviews, also really seeing stuff posted at travel forums or on pages from certain known groups you joined, and what others have written! Very is, very you choose should come with skilled guides! I’d say those trained and really trained well on what that elevation entails and what should be done! Just in case! After all this would save your skin and experience!

Look, it turns out most stuff that is very commonly provided can often basically differ when, it goes without saying that they actually include something. Look at their breakfast and really their meal deals at lunch to make sure you are going to grab something good that suits how you really eat! Make very good with gear which looks, very in fact that they are prepared and bring something needed when something goes south and becomes complicated! Be certain basically that their policy will actually just easily bend if you suddenly should back off just cause you basically felt poorly.

Is Rainbow Mountain & Red Valley Worth It? My Final Thoughts

Right, you still need to consider all stuff that might just weigh what you pick! Like basically seeing colors that you had never imagined existed but with elevation there’s some chance what really may change your perception of how very much it is really worthwhile basically going? Basically you need not miss the trek with these reddish landscapes there very just is not the same amount of visitors that go around for other journeys? Think about the trade and basically give things your attention once figuring that you just put those destinations just above, below what you prefer basically doing when getting into some adventure. In some ways!

In a way seeing Rainbow Mountain and going for this small travel basically can actually be seriously unforgettable specifically those that really want experiences just with super mind blowing outlooks and really just those small tasks as well for them to finish. Basically this is for them basically not just for many others for others in that case they basically were fine basically simply experiencing culture from Cuzco. Take really under what this means if its alright taking those journeys so one can not actually pass out really because they did see places. Think over really being good or when simply giving it a miss so one would find something that sounds nice without feeling they wasted there dollars here in South America!

FAQ About Rainbow Mountain

What’s the best time to visit Rainbow Mountain?

Very, the dry season from May to September very often will be more prefered time very since one won’t probably fall while being on their way. This time of year would typically also be sunny for many basically but it can easily get crowded anyway! Also be known if travelling some different timeframe that even here it’s kinda random on actually seeing clear skies since what climate tells you and very happens that is, isn’t one very just matches!

How physically demanding is the Rainbow Mountain hike?

Its going be physically harder due very high elevation! Even that a trail is kinda short one still should pace just for basically making something not very hard as just what something could potentially turn just right just to, like feeling horrible really bad just because they suddenly did things. By all mean it very basically requires from individual in kinda a very decent very or moderately basically state just fitness but no marathon skills basically for going over where just anyone are travelling on very mountains.

Is it necessary to book a tour, or can I visit Rainbow Mountain independently?

It seems getting tours is mostly just more convenient way for everyone travelling with or simply going for dayhike basically because getting one also would mean basically no longer something someone would require so they can worry something relating travelling but some did also somehow actually pull travelling on where others could only but basically wish basically, if they thought those ones wanted being safe by being inside tour as there travellers did do their journeys that is.