Rainbow Mountain, also called Vinicunca or Montaña de Siete Colores, has become in a very short time one of the most photographed places in all of Peru, second only to Machu Picchu.
You will not find information on any paper guide, at least in the less recent ones, because its discovery is very recent and has only been open to the public for a couple of years. If you are planning a trip to Peru it is impossible not to have stumbled upon the picture of this incredible mountain and the colored layers that form it, the result of the sedimentation of different minerals in the soil.
We are in the Vinicunca region, about 3 hours drive from Cuzco, and the departure for this trek is scheduled for 3 am.
Before jumping headlong into this excursion it is important to know that this is a decidedly demanding trek not so much for the route itself, which alternates short steep climbs to almost flat stretches where you can recover your breath, as for the height you reach: 5200 mt above sea level, the highest of our entire journey, with a drop of about 1000 meters.
At this height, breathing is difficult and you may experience several typical symptoms of soroche such as nausea, headache, or, as in my case, nosebleeds, so it is advisable to take this trek after a few days of acclimatization in Cuzco (3400 m asl) so as to give your body time to adapt to the altitude gradually.
Once at the top you will enjoy an incomparable view of the valley and the Ausangate glacier in the distance while you catch your breath after the really challenging final climb.
After resting for a few minutes we decided to continue and reach the summit of Valle Roja, a little less crowded than the Rainbow Mountain but equally fascinating.
The ascent to Rainbow Mountain and then to the Valle Roja requires around 3h without considering breaks, the advice is to take your time anyway based on the body’s reaction to altitude: with 18% oxygen available every step is really a commitment!