Find Peace in the Peaks

Breathe in the Rainbow Mountain, breathe out Adventure

As we arrived, the tour bus pulled into a packed parking area, full of buses from different travel agencies. It was quite busy, and even more buses kept arriving, filling up the space quickly. It seemed like everyone had the same idea to visit Rainbow Mountain that day!

I noticed there were two toilets available in the area: one right by the parking lot and another one about halfway along the road. With so many people around, it was good to have a few options for rest stops before starting the hike or taking the horse ride.

Every mountain teaches a lesson

We had two options: either walk up to the Rainbow Mountain or take a horse ride for 70 soles one way. I chose the horse ride, which turned out to be a big help, especially given the altitude and the cold. On the way back, I paid an additional 30 soles to ride back to the parking lot. The ride was an experience—balancing on the horse was tricky since I didn’t have reins to guide it. Instead, I held onto the metal top of the seat, trying my best to stay balanced.

Embrace the Challenge, embrace the Rainbow Mountain

I was especially amazed by the woman who led the horse. She had such strength and speed, walking briskly with powerful legs while guiding the horse uphill. It was impressive to see her handle the challenging terrain with ease. It’s important to note that the horse ride doesn’t take you all the way to the base of the mountain. After the ride, there’s still a lot of walking left to reach the final point, but the views and the accomplishment make it all worthwhile.

Life’s a climb, but the view is great

The journey to Rainbow Mountain is an adventure in itself. Most visitors start their trek early in the morning from Cusco, a two to three-hour drive from the trailhead. The hike can be challenging due to the high altitude, but the panoramic views and breathtaking scenery make the effort worthwhile. Along the way, you’ll pass through rugged terrain, grazing alpacas and llamas, and see snow-capped peaks in the distance.

Upon reaching the top, you’re rewarded with a 360-degree view of the colorful mountains and the surrounding valleys. Despite the altitude, it’s a peaceful, awe-inspiring moment, perfect for capturing incredible photos and enjoying the majestic beauty of nature.

Adventure awaits at the summit

I decided not to go further down to get a close-up view of the mountain itself since there were already too many people crowded around, all trying to get the perfect shot. Instead, I took in the view from where I stood and enjoyed the moment.

One of the highlights for me was getting a photo with some llamas. They were so cool, and I couldn’t resist. I gave the owner 5 soles as a thank you for letting me take photos with them. It added a fun and local touch to the whole experience, making the day even more memorable.

Rainbow Mountain: The ultimate challenge, the ultimate reward

Visitors are encouraged to acclimate to the high altitude before attempting the hike and to bring warm clothing, plenty of water, and snacks for the journey. It’s also a good idea to pace yourself and take frequent breaks, as the altitude can make breathing difficult.

On the way back from Rainbow Mountain, things took a turn when three passengers started feeling unwell, suffering from high-altitude sickness. It was tough for them, and they began throwing up, which forced the bus to stop at least three times to let them recover. Thankfully, our tour guide was well prepared for this kind of situation.

She pulled out a bottle of Agua de Florida, which I’ve mentioned before, and started helping everyone. She put a few drops on all our hands and encouraged us to sniff it. The scent was soothing, and it really helped calm everyone down, especially those feeling nauseous. I have to say, I really liked the smell—it had a refreshing and calming effect that made the experience much easier to handle.