Travel Guide

Palccoyo Mountain – The Perfect Alternative Rainbow Mountain Hike

Palccoyo mountain (also spelled Palcoyo mountain) is the alternate rainbow mountain to the more famous Vinicunca Rainbow Mountain, in the Cusco region of Peru. Palcoyo is relatively off-the-beaten Sacred Valley path.

“Newer” than Vinicunca – THE Rainbow Mountain prominently featured on social media, you have probably never heard of Palcoyo by name. Palccoyo Rainbow Mountain, also known as “the alternate rainbow mountain”, “rainbow valley” or “Three Rainbow Mountains”, is a new route that includes a short walk to the spectacular natural wonder of the Palcoyo Rainbow Mountains, boasting colorful striated rock formations, views of the glacial Ausangate Peak, and a visit to a small colonial bridge in Checacupe.

Our one day Palccoyo Mountain Tour offers a gentler trail with less elevation gain, so it’s a great option for someone looking for a more casual day hike around Cusco.

Peru’s Rainbow Mountain (also known as Vinicunca) has exploded in popularity in recent years. Incredibly, Rainbow Mountain Cusco is now the second-most visited tourist destination in Cusco, after Machu Picchu. All this in just a few short years!

But you can still see the incredible Red Valley of Peru and its colorful mountains, without the hordes of tourists! The Palccoyo hike also has some added highlights that the classic Rainbow Mountain hike does not, like a stop to visit the village of Checacupe for a taste of high Andean culture, and the chance to explore the fascinating Palccoyo Rock Forest.

What to see in Palcoyo?

• The three rainbow mountains: Unlike the single mountain at Vinicunca, Palcoyo features three mountains with colorful stripes, offering a breathtaking panoramic view of hues ranging from turquoise to magenta.
• Palcoyo Stone Forest: This is a collection of rock formations that resemble a petrified forest, adding a mystical touch to the landscape.
• Red Valley: Beyond the rainbow mountains, Palcoyo is home to a predominantly red mountain.
• Peaceful panoramic views: With fewer tourists, Palcoyo offers a serene atmosphere where you can enjoy the views without the crowds, allowing for a more intimate connection with nature.
• Integration with the local community: A visit to Palcoyo Mountain usually includes interactions with local communities, providing an authentic glimpse into life in the Andes.

Not convinced by this alternative Rainbow Mountain tour? We also offer our own versions of the challenging classic Vinicunca Rainbow Mountain hike as well as Horseback Riding to Rainbow Mountain in Peru, with 20-minute walk to the Rainbow Mountain Pass. Another exceptionally beautiful day hike is the Lake Humantay One Day Hike.

Pros of visiting Palccoyo Mountain, Peru:

• Palccoyo offers a quieter, more personal experience away from the crowds at Vinicunca.
• The path to Palccoyo Rainbow Mountain is physically less demanding, making it more accessible to visitors.
• Beyond the colorful mountains, you’ll find unique rock formations and expansive views of the Red Valley.

Cons of Palccoyo trek:

• Being less known, some might feel that visiting Palccoyo in Cusco, Peru, doesn’t carry the same “prestige” as reaching the summit of Vinicunca.
• Some may perceive Palccoyo as less vibrant than Vinicunca.
• Since it receives fewer visitors, options for guides, transportation, and other tourist services might be more limited.

Rainbow Mountain vs Palccoyo: What is the Difference?

If you’re trying to decide whether to hike to Rainbow Mountain or Palccoyo, you’ll need to understand the differences between them and think about what kind of experience you’re looking for.

First of all, are you looking for a challenge or just want to take it easy and enjoy the view? The main difference between Palccoyo and Rainbow Mountain is the hike difficulty. While Vinicunca Rainbow Mountain may be considered a tour for expert hikers – with a difficult, steep climb up to the lookout point – the Palccoyo Mountain Tour, and its much more gentle climb at slightly lower altitude, can be a good option for beginners.

In terms of landscape, the Vinicunca tour offers only one Rainbow Mountain. However, if you find the right spot facing the mountain, you will witness its majestic beauty. Depending on climate conditions, it is possible to observe in the distance the tallest mountain in the Cusco region, Ausangate Mountain.

By contrast, the Palccoyo tour allows visitors to enjoy not just one, but three different colourful mountains along the route. Compared to Vinicunca, the alternative tour of Palccoyo, is a less-crowed destination. Additionally, the tour is the perfect opportunity to get a glimpse of Andean culture; it is common to see locals in their everyday activities accompanied by alpacas and llamas.

Vinicunca: The Original Rainbow Mountain of Peru

In 2015 this geological spectacle was added to Peru’s list of must-see tourist destinations. Its name comes from two Quechua words: wini, which means “little black stones” and kunca, which translates as “wind-gap”.

Since then, it has exploded in popularity. Nowadays, the Vinicunca mountain in Peru has become one of Peru’s top Instagram spots, for tourists and locals alike. What makes this Rainbow Mountain so special? La montaña de los siete colores, as it is known, was formed by sedimentary deposits, weathered by environmental conditions over time, resulting in stunning series of colourful layers – blue, green, turquoise, orange, brown, and red.

Palccoyo: An Alternative Rainbow Mountain

The Palccoyo Mountain (sometimes seen spelled “Palcoyo Mountain”) is another dreamy place with majestic beauty. This hidden gem in the Red Valley of Peru is formed by not one but THREE colorful mountains and offers a great view of the mountain Ausangate.

Palccoyo came on the scene a few years after Vinicunca, after people started looking for a more peaceful alternative to the often-crowded Rainbow Mountain. It’s also an easier hike – just 45 minutes walking and not as steep, compared to the 1.5 to 2-hour climb on the classic route.

The Palccoyo hike also has some added highlights that the classic Rainbow Mountain hike does not, like a stop at the village of Checacupe whose modern, colonial and Inca bridges is like walking through time. You can also explore the fascinating Palccoyo Rock Forest, a fascinating outcropping of jagged rocks.

Preparing for Palccoyo Mountain, or Alternative Rainbow Mountain tour, Cusco’s Colorful Wonder

If you’re interested in visiting the truly magical landscape of painted colored mountains or PALCOYO RAINBOW MOUNTAIN, keep in mind it’s at altitude so will require acclimatization before visiting. The Palcoyo Mountain lie’s south-east of Cusco, three and a half hours driving one-way, on mostly bumpy, unpaved roads – but the reward is vistas of the snow-capped peak of Apu Ausangate, pastoral scenes of Quechua-speaking herders tending to their llamas and alpacas grazing on the land, and impressive multi-toned mountains without the crowds. It’s best to visit Machu Picchu and Cusco first, givin you time to adjust to the mountain air.

Since this trip to breath-taking beauty, is all about the staggering views, it’s also much better to visit in the dry season from April to October – otherwise the relative effort to get here (the long car journey) simply won’t be worth it for cloudy, foggy or snowy views.

What are the differences between the tour of Palcoyo rainbow mountain and Vinicunca Rainbow mountain?

• Palccoyo Rainbow Mountains require a lesser amount of walking. you will walk a total of 2 – 3 hours., unlike Vinicunca Rainbow, which requires 6 hours of walking time.
• Palccoyo Rainbow Mountains are slightly level walking, unlike Vinicunca Rainbow, which is steep walking.
• Palccoyo Mountain is located at 500 m a.s.l. Unlike Vinicunca Mountain, located at 5200 m a.s.l.
• Palccoyo Rainbow is very quiet, unlike Vinicunca Mountain, which is very crowded.
• Important, in both mountains you can see colorful formations in the form of Rainbows or 7 colors, however this natural fact stands out more on the Vinicunca mountain, but if you do the tour to Palcoyo Mountain you will not only see colorful mountains but also a Forest of stones and 3 historic bridges in the city of Checacupe.