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Rainbow Mountain (Vinicunca)

Published in August 23, 2023
All About the Mountain of 7 colors, a natural wonder located two hours from the city of Cusco, in the provinces of Quispicanchis and Canchis.
Rainbow Mountain (Vinicunca)

About

Cusco, as we mentioned before, has innumerable beauties, be it geography, architecture or its culture and tradition, all this makes Cusco, the preferred destination for many. Today, we will know a little more about the second most visited tourist attraction in Cusco, the Vinicunca Mountain or also known as the Rainbow Mountain or 7 Colors Mountain.

It is a natural wonder located two hours from the city of Cusco, in the provinces of Quispicanchis and Canchis, to enter the Vinicunca mountain you must go to the town of Pitumarca, which is on the way to the impressive snowy Ausangate.

Cusco Peru Montana Vinicunca
Mountain of 7 Colors Vinicunca Cusco Peru

It is located at an altitude of 5,200 m.a.s.l., that is why Andino Peru Tours recommends at least 3 days of stay in the city of Cusco, to avoid problems of altitude sickness.

What is altitude sickness?

The altitude sickness is the lack of adaptation of the organism to the lack of oxygen (also known as: Hypoxia) at high altitude, its symptoms can be avoided by consuming the famous Coca Leaves tea, an infusion highly recommended for its various healing and relaxing properties.

Also, if you or your companion suffers from cardiovascular and/or respiratory diseases, it is recommended to consult your doctor before traveling to this magical destination.

Why is it colored?

Montaña de 7 Colores  Vinicunca Cusco Peru
Mountain of 7 Colors Vinicunca Cusco Peru

At the request of the community of Pitumarca, the office of Cultural Landscape of the Decentralized Directorate of Culture Cusco, prepared a study to obtain technical information about these mountains and offer them to tourists.

The report revealed that the colors of the mountains are due to their mineralogical composition: the pink color is due to the red clay, fangolites (mud) and arilites (sand). The whitish color is due to the white quartz sandstone. The brown, brown and purple, by limonites and marls, rich in calcium carbonate.

The red is composed of claystones (iron) and clays belonging to the upper Tertiary. The green is due to the compound of phyllites and clays rich in ferro magnesian. The earthy brown color is due to the fanglomerate composed of manganese-bearing rocks belonging to the Quaternary era. And the mustard yellow color is due to the calcareous sandstones rich in sulfide minerals.

The hike to the mountain of colors is of medium difficulty, with about 2 hours of ascent at average pace, the hiking route requires an acceptable physical condition because the road includes slightly steep climbs and plains that ascend progressively.

Nevado Ausangate Cusco Peru Vinicunca
Ausangate Snow-capped Mountain Cusco Peru

Recommendations for visiting Rainbow Mountain

  • Use trekking shoes.
  • Wear comfortable and warm clothes for the hike.
  • Apply sunscreen at least every 2 hours.
  • Use trekking poles, as these will be of great help.
  • Sleep well the day before, as the tour to the Vinicunca Mountain starts very early.
  • Hydrate yourself, take small sips of water on the way, the water contains oxygen that will help you in the ascent.
  • Bring snacks, either nuts or energy bars that will help give you strength on the way.
  • In case you feel the symptoms of altitude sickness, take a pill for altitude sickness or carry coca leaves.

Why Visit the Rainbow Mountain

Visiting the Rainbow Mountain will allow you to enjoy a breathtaking landscape, make a hike of unique beauty, meet local people and learn a little about the fauna and flora along the way. The Rainbow Mountain or Vinicunca, is a must during your visit to the Imperial City.

Enjoy the Colors of the Mountain

From the top of the mountain, you can see the perfect combination of colors, different types of soils or layers of sedimentary rocks, such as sandstone, gravel, halite, limestone and limestone as well as ocher, green and yellow with the combination of more minerals, this makes its formation is layered.

Relating to the Andean Culture

This route, towards the mountain of the 7 colors offers to know, the real life of the local people, in addition, in this way; you can relate or socialize with the guide, in the same way with the muleteers, who accompany throughout the route, you can also learn about their beliefs, traditions, customs among others.

Year after year, this route is becoming one of the most visited of the city of Cusco, also an obligatory stop for all visitors foreign tourists, on this top of the mountain of the 7 colors.

Fun Guaranteed

During the whole route, boredom is not allowed, since the whole route is full of interesting things, such as Andean plants (llaully, ichu, iru), small rodents (mice, etc.), Andean bird species (hawk, condor, etc.), South American camelids (llama, vicuña, alpaca, etc.), and hunters (fox, puma).

Wildlife

An important part of the landscape along the hike to the Rainbow Mountain is the wildlife that can be seen. Among them are some animals such as the llama, the vicuña and the alpaca, which although clearly related, are very different from each other. You can also see along the way a plant that grows in the puna of Peru and is called Ichu.

Observes High Andean Agriculture

From the exit of the city of Cusco, towards the mountain of the 7 colors is observed, the agriculture of different products, such as potato, aba, tarwi, olluco, oca, year, etc. and cereals such as aba, peas, quinoa, quiwicha, barley, wheat, among others. Peruvian agriculture; was inherited from the time of the Incas, agriculture is practiced for self-consumption and marketing, or for barter for the exchange of products.

Appreciate all the Natural Beauty

This route offers attractive, surprising and unmissable landscapes, such as the fourth largest peak “snow-capped Ausangate”, mountains with lagoons of different colors, and not to be missed, the mountain of the 7 colors, among others.

Breathing Pure Air

Breathing fresh air, benefits us a lot in our health, such as cellular oxygenation of the body, reduces the level of stress, eliminates toxins accumulated in the body, improves our anemic state. It is very good to get away from all the polluted air of the city, and spend some time enjoying all the goodness of nature.

Enjoy Andean gastronomy

The gastronomy is one of the things, which is enjoyed more in the region of Cusco and throughout Peru, this is transcending from generation to generation, this makes unique to the city of Cusco, for the originality of its typical dishes and showing a great experience, its foreign tourists enjoy new flavors, for many palates.

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