Three hours from the city of Cusco you will find a colorful and wonderful place, where nature did one of its most beautiful works. In this land blessed by the Incas, the Mountain of 7 Colors or Vinicunca, as it is also known, is the ideal place to visit. A paradise for lovers of trekking and responsible tourism.
This mountain is one of the most visited destinations by travelers from all over Peru and the world, thanks to its captivating landscape. In addition, its surprising walking circuit focuses on the imposing and beautiful snow-capped Ausangate. This has caused more than two thousand people to pass through there daily, making its care essential, since it is a very fragile ecosystem, in which the presence of endangered wildlife predominates, such as the Andean condor, vicuñas, Andean cats and more. If you have made the decision to take this tour, rest assured that you will not regret it, but first, write down these details so that you can make the most of your trip.
The mountain of 7 colors is located 1 hour walk from the community of Llacto, in the district of Cusipata, province of Quispicanchi, department of Cusco.
How to get there on your own?
Taking the city of Cusco as a reference, from there it is time to take transportation to the town of Cusipata, passing through Oropesa, Andahuaylillas and Quiquijana on the route. If you dare to get around by public transportation, you can take the bus in Huayruropata, very close to the Closed Coliseum in the city of Cusco (price S/ 8.00).
Although there is not much distance in kilometers, the journey will take you 1 hour and 15 minutes, with Cusipata being your first stop. Take advantage of this town to eat something, do some shopping or go to the bathroom since, from then on, you will not find good services. Right there you can grab a van (in front of the municipality of Cusipata) to the Llacto camp. On the route you will come across a gate where you will pay S/ 10.00 to enter the Montaña de 7 Colores.
Once you arrive at Llacto, you will begin the 1 hour and 30 minute walk until you reach the Mountain of 7 Colors.
Here is the map or route that you must follow to reach the mountain of 7 colors.
How to get there with a Travel Agency?
In the morning from 4:00 to 4:30 a.m., we will pick you up at your hotel in Cusco to make the trip to the Mountain of 7 Colors, located in the southern part of the Cusco region, from the beginning we will travel during 3 hours approx. By tourist transport, we will first pass through the town of Quiquijana, and then continue through Cusipata, and then we will arrive at Chillihuani, where we will have breakfast, then we will continue traveling until we reach Llacto, where we will begin our 1-hour walk to the highest point. At the top of the Mountain of 7 Colors, during this journey we will have the opportunity to see the different varieties of South American camelids, beautiful landscapes and birds. Upon arrival at the Mountain of 7 Colors, we will have free time to take photographs of this enigmatic place. Afterwards, we will continue with our return walk to the starting point, then we will go by tourist transport to Chillihuani, where we will stop for lunch, then we will return to Cusco, where we will arrive at 6:00 p.m. approx.
The service includes:
Pick up from your hotel in Cusco
Tourist transportation
1 breakfast
1 buffet lunch
Professional guide English – Spanish
Entry to the Mountain of 7 Colors
First aid kit
Oxygen balloon
Why is it Colored?
At the request of the community of Pitumarca, the Cultural Landscape office of the Decentralized Directorate of Culture of Cusco prepared a study to obtain technical information about these mountains and offer it to tourists.
The report revealed that the colors of the mountains are due to their mineralogical composition: the pink color is due to red clay, mudstones (mud) and arilites (sand). The whitish, due to the white quartz sandstone. The brown, brown and purple ones, due to limonites and marls, rich in calcium carbonate.
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 ferromagnesia. The earthy brown is a product of fanglomerate composed of rock with manganese belonging to the Quaternary era. And the mustard yellow color due to the calcareous sandstones rich in sulfide minerals.
The Colors of the Mountain
Pink or fuchsia: mixture of red clay, mudstones (mud) and sand.
Whitish: sandstone (quartz sand) and limestone.
Purple or lavender: loam (mixture of clay and calcium carbonate) and silicates.
Red: argillites and clays.
Green: clays rich in ferromagnesian (a mixture of iron and magnesium) and copper oxide.
Yellowish brown, mustard or golden: limonites, calcareous sandstones rich in sulfide minerals (combined with sulfur).
Entry
The entrance to the Mountain of 7 Colors has a price of S/ 10.00 for national tourists and S/ 20.00 for foreign tourists.
Horse
Horse rental on the route has a cost of S/ 80.00 or USD 25.00 round trip, if you wish you can also rent it only one way and you would pay half.
Climate
In Cusco, the rainy season is cloudy, the dry season is partly cloudy, and it is cool all year round. Over the course of the year, the temperature generally varies from 0°C to 19°C and rarely drops below -2°C or rises above 22°C.
Based on the tourism score, the best times of year to visit Cusco for hot weather activities are from mid-April to the end of October.
Month
T Max
T Min.
Climate
January
18.5ºC
6ºC
With rain
February
18ºC
6ºC
With rain
March
18.5ºC
6ºC
With rain
April
19ºC
4ºC
Dry
May
19ºC
2ºC
Dry
June
18.5ºC
0ºC
Dry
July
18ºC
0ºC
Dry
August
19ºC
1ºC
Dry
September
19ºC
3ºC
Dry
October
20ºC
5ºC
Dry
November
20ºC
5ºC
With rain
December
18ºC
6ºC
With rain
Temperature
The temperature in the Mountain of 7 Colors ranges between 5°C to 18°C.
Height
The Mountain of 7 colors is located at 5200 meters above sea level.
Difficulty
The difficulty of the hike to the mountain of 7 colors is medium. You have to walk 3 km for approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes. According to physical condition.
Recommendations
Bring sunscreen and sunglasses. The dry season runs from March to November and is accompanied by bright sunshine, so it is necessary to protect yourself properly.
Hydrate properly. Bring a bottle of water or rehydration drinks for your journey.
Don’t make too much effort. If you find it necessary, use a climbing stick or take the additional service of horses.
Carry snacks. There are no places to buy food along the way, so it is good to have some snacks to replenish energy and overcome any difficulties.
Carry what you need in your backpack. Protect your back.
You wear warm clothes and a poncho for the rainy season (December – April)
“Tania hizo que nuestro viaje fuera perfecto, siempre atenta y amable. La agencia es excelente y cuida cada detalle.
“Nuestra experiencia con la agencia fue excelente de principio a fin. Tania nos brindó un servicio impecable, siempre atenta, amable y resolviendo cada detalle. Sin duda, un 10/10 tanto para ella como para la agencia; ¡los recomendamos totalmente!”
Sayri R
2025-10-04
Verified
✨ Una experiencia inolvidable en Perú
Mi viaje a Perú fue una experiencia increíble, ¡superó todas mis expectativas! ✨ Fueron cinco días llenos de aventuras y paisajes que parecen sacados de un sueño: Machu Picchu, la laguna, la montaña de colores… cada lugar fue simplemente espectacular 😍. Pero lo que realmente hizo la diferencia fue Tania, una persona súper atenta, pendiente de cada detalle y de todas nuestras necesidades. Gracias a ella, todo fue perfecto, sin preocupaciones y con una atención de primera. 🌄💖 Sin duda, un tour 1000% recomendado — una experiencia que jamás olvidaré. 🙌🇵🇪
Shoba K
2025-09-24
Verified
Most unforgettable trip ever
Spent the most amazing 8 days of my life in Peru . Tania is the best travel agent. She has been very accommodative and responsive to our needs . I recommend her to get the best deals and services.
Natalia K
2025-09-23
Verified
Incredible experience!!!
I recommend Machu Picchu Peru Travel with all my heart! I've found them via TripAdvisor, the positive reviews have convinced me that it is going to be a good choice and it definitelly was!We have done 2-day Sacred Valley Tour and Rainbow Mountain. Everything went according to the plan, the price for the trips was very reasonable. The owner, Tania, was super helpful, always there for us. Our guide Willie had incredible knowledge, was taking great care of us and generally is a great companion. It's an excellent tour operator, do not hesitate and choose them for your experience in Peru!
Alba R
2025-09-21
Verified
Very good experience with full 7-day tour
A pleasant experience, we hired the full tour with the agency from Lima, with tour to the Ballestas and Huacachina islands, then Cusco tour to the Sacred Valley, Machu Pichu, Humantay lagoon and colorful mountain, everything was super good, and Tania's attention at all times very good. We had a great time and recommend the agency 100%
Seema M
2025-09-19
Verified
An amazing and memorable experience
An amazing experience. I did the trip with my friends and Willie the guide and Celestine the driver were amazing companions throughout the trip. Tanya was very responsive- she responded with a solution anytime we called her . Willie has lots of of information and took great pictures for us . At no point did we feel rushed
Shalini G
2025-09-19
Verified
Great experience and exceptional guide Willie!
Our travel plans were well laid out and our guide Willie was exceptional in attending to our requests. He was knowledgeable and well versed in English. He even helped us by carrying our backpacks for a part of the way. Cannot recommend this company and guide enough! Five stars from me
dbeta83
2025-09-07
Verified
Unforgettable Trip to Peru
We recently returned from an incredible trip to Peru, and we owe it all to Tania from Machu Picchu Peru Travels. From start to finish, she was professional, attentive, and deeply knowledgeable about the destination. Every detail from our accommodations and guided tours to transportation and local experiences was perfectly planned.Tania took the time to understand our travel style and preferences, and she created Spotting Sea Lions in Islas de Ballestas in Paracas, dune bashing and sand surfing at the Oasis de Huancachina, hiking Machu Picchu, exploring the Sacred Valley, and riding on ATVs to the Rainbow Mountain.What stood out most was her responsiveness and care, even during the trip. When we had a minor questions while abroad, she replied immediately and ensured everything went smoothly.We couldn’t have asked for a better travel experience and would absolutely recommend Tania and Machu Picchu to anyone planning a trip to Peru!
Raul G
2025-09-05
Verified
Machu Picchu Greatest Experience
Our Machu Picchu tour with Tania was absolutely incredible! From the very beginning, she was professional, knowledgeable, and so passionate about sharing the history and culture of this magical place. Her explanations brought the ancient ruins to life, weaving together fascinating stories and insights that made the whole experience unforgettable.Tania was also patient, kind, and attentive to everyone in the group, making sure we felt comfortable and had plenty of time to explore, take photos, and truly soak in the beauty of Machu Picchu. She went above and beyond to make the day special, and her positive energy made the journey even more enjoyable.I couldn’t have asked for a better guide—thank you, Tania, for an amazing experience that I will remember forever! If you are planning to visit Machu Picchu, I highly recommend booking a tour with her.
Marcela N
2025-09-01
Verified
Very nice experience
My family and I had a great time, the experience, very beautiful and the guides very nice.I liked everything.
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