Vinicunca, the colours are real
The high country, by quad
Toward Vinicunca, by quadRainbow Mountain · One day · By quad
The high Andes,by quad.
Ride across the high country toward Vinicunca, the mountain striped in red, teal and ochre, walk the last few minutes to stand before it, then go on into the quiet of the Red Valley. Your quad, helmet, English-speaking Indigenous Quechua guide and transport from Cusco are included.
Choose your dateWhy travel with us
What makes the difference.
A guide who knows the Apu by name.
Vinicunca is a living mountain to the Quechua families who herd beneath it. Your guide speaks their language and carries the stories the mountain is known by.
The easier way up.
The usual hike climbs for hours in thin air. The quad carries you most of the way, so your breath is saved for the moment you arrive.
Small by design.
Your own party, from one guest to twelve. One guide walks with up to eight, and a second joins beyond that, so no one is ever left at the back of the group.
The day
A day among the colours of the Andes.
Rainbow Mountain is high, remote and unlike anywhere else on Earth. A quad carries most of the journey, with a short walk at the end and time to take in the landscape.
Out of Cusco and south.
Rainbow Mountain sits a long drive south of Cusco, so the day starts early and the road climbs as the city falls away behind you.
Helmet on, briefing done.
Meet your guide, put on your helmet and get a safety briefing before the ride begins.
Thirty minutes by quad.
About half an hour across open puna, past grazing alpacas and the herders who keep them, with the mountains growing on the horizon.
Ten minutes on foot.
The quad stops short of the mountain, and the final stretch is a ten-minute walk uphill. At this height, slow is the only pace, and the right one.
The colours are real.
Bands of red, teal, ochre and gold running down the mountain, laid down by minerals over millions of years. It looks painted. It is not, and photographs never quite hold the scale.
Where the colours deepen.
From the mountain, on into the Red Valley, where the earth turns the colour of rust and the peaks open around you. Few people come this far, and the silence shows it.
Back to Cusco by evening.
The ride back across the high country, and the road home, carrying the colours with you.
Weather at this altitude changes fast. Exact times are set against your date and the conditions, and we confirm the shape of your day after you book.
“It looks painted. It is not.”You have to see it to believe it
Gerson Barrios Zea, co-founder, at Vinicunca in the high country above Cusco.
Who you ride with
Someone who knows these mountains by name.
This is Gerson at Vinicunca itself, the mountain you are riding to.
Gerson Barrios Zea
Co-founder · Peru expert guide · Quechua liaison
Born and raised in Peru and formally trained in tourism, Gerson has guided the Inca Trail, the Sacred Valley and the country’s sacred sites for years.
His deepest gift is fluency in Quechua, the ancestral language still spoken in these mountains. It lets him speak directly with the Quechua families and communities you meet along the way.
No vague promises
Everything the day needs.
Included
- ✓ Quad for the ride
- ✓ Helmet and safety briefing
- ✓ English-speaking Indigenous Quechua guide
- ✓ Round-trip transport from Cusco
- ✓ Vinicunca and the Red Valley
Not included
- – Hotels
- – Meals
- – Tips
- – Travel insurance
Request your date
Tell us your day. We’ll do the rest.
We check permits, tickets and your guide for the date you want, then write to you by email to confirm, usually within a day. Nothing is charged until you confirm.
Before you go
Good questions.
Do I need riding experience?
A helmet and safety briefing are included. If you have never ridden a quad, tell us before you book and we will talk it through.
How high is it?
Over 5,000 metres, higher than most people have ever stood. The quad does not remove the effects of altitude, so give yourself time in Cusco to adjust first, and check with your doctor if you have concerns.
Does the quad go all the way?
No. The day combines road transport, a quad section and walking. Ask us about the walking sections before you book so you can judge whether the route suits you.
What if the weather turns?
Conditions change fast at this height. We set your day against your date and the forecast, and confirm the details after you book.
How far ahead should I book?
48 hours is enough. There are no permits or tickets to buy ahead, so you can decide once you are in Cusco and know how you feel at altitude. In the dry season, from May to September, a little more notice helps us hold your preferred date.
How much walking is there?
Very little. About ten minutes uphill to the mountain and ten minutes back down. The altitude is over 5,000 metres, so even a short walk asks for a slow pace. Give yourself two days in Cusco first.
What should I wear?
Dress for the high mountains, even in the dry season. Daytime temperatures are often between 7 and 15 degrees Celsius, the wind can be strong, and snow is possible. Bring warm layers, a windproof jacket, gloves, a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen.
When is the best time to go?
May to September brings the clearest skies and the most vivid colours. From November to March the weather is less predictable, and cloud or snow can cover the bands. Whatever the season, the mountain decides the day, and we will always put your safety first.
Are there toilets and phone signal?
Toilets are at the start of the route and at stops along the way, sometimes for a small fee, so a few coins in soles are useful. Phone signal is patchy in the high country, so let people at home know you will be out of reach for the day.
What if my plans change?
Tell us 48 hours or more before your pickup and you receive a full refund. Between 24 and 48 hours, half is refunded. With less than 24 hours' notice, or a missed departure, there is no refund. If we cancel, or the weather does, you choose a full refund or a new date. Write to us at [email protected].