2-Day Rainbow Mountain & Red Valley Trek
About this activity
Highlights
- Breathtaking Rainbow Mountain vistas
- Exploration of the Red Valley's unique landscapes
- Authentic Peruvian cultural immersion
- Guided trek through diverse Andean ecosystems
- Stunning sunrise views over the mountains
Full description
Included / Excluded
- Professional English-speaking guide
- Camping equipment and meals
- Transportation from Cusco to trailheads
- Personal hiking gear
Important information
Know before you book
- This trek involves moderate physical activity; prior hiking experience is recommended.
- Acclimate to Cusco's altitude before the trek to minimize altitude sickness risks.
- Check the weather forecast and pack accordingly for potential rain or sun.
Know before you go
- Wear comfortable hiking boots and layered clothing suitable for varying temperatures.
- Bring a backpack with essentials like water, snacks, and a camera.
- Ensure you have a valid passport for travel in Peru.
Cancellation policy
0All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
Accessibility
- Service Animals Allowed
Good to know
- It's recommended to arrive in Cusco at least 2 days before the trek to adjust to the altitude.
- Passport name, number, expiry and country is required at time of booking for all participants
- Please ensure your passport is up to date and ready for use on your travel day
- Children aged 12 and over may participate and must be accompanied by a responsible adult at all times.
- Solo travelers are welcome and can join shared groups. No minimum participants required. Most departures are guaranteed.
Traveler reviews
One of a kind
Me and my aunt signed up for the 2 day Rainbow Mountain and Red Valley trek. It was a difficult.hike due to the elevation, but our guide Ruben, was very supportive and helpful. The food, cooked by Alex, was delicious and plentiful. Grigorio helped us out when we were tired, by taking us up some of the steeper parts of the trail via horseback. We saw alpaca, llamas, chinchillas, ducks, and the landscape was stunning.
What a ride!
Overall, Salkantay offers carefully-planned treks with top-notch equipment and staff. We foolishly picked an extremely challenging itinerary for our first attempt at Andes hiking. We reached altitudes close to 16,000 feet and nighttime temperature was about 32F. Our guide Ruben was very patient with our frequent rest stops and provided coca and oxygen as well as lots of encouragement. Horseman Giulito (sp?) gave us a few rides on our friend Juanito at some of the steepest places at the highest altitude. Alex cooked delicious and abundant food. To reach the top and see the Rainbow Mountain and know that we made it was exhilarating. What a ride!
Salkantay Trekking
Salkantay Trekking was an incredible company to use for our trek! We explored the peaks surrounding Ausangate Glacier and camped close to the base of Rainbow Mountain, which made us one of the first to arrive to Rainbow Mountain the 2nd morning! Ruben, our guide, was phenomenal, set an appropriate pace and was stopping often to let us catch our breath (hello altitude) and check in on how we were doing! The food served was incredible and the entire team greeted us with smiles at every step! I would highly recommend Salkantay and Ruben!
An Unforgettable Experience
We did the two day rainbow mountain and Ausangate trek with Marco as our guide and Elzban as our chef. We could not have asked for a better team or experience. The views and mountains were stunning. You get to experience being in the Andes with almost nobody around. And you get to rainbow mountain before any other crowds come. It was unforgettable being able to be out there in the quiet and solitude and enjoy the views with knowledgeable and wonderful locals. Would recommend to everyone to do this experience!!
Ricardo is awesome!
So I actually did the 9 day Andean Explorer so I visited other archeological sites outside of the 5 day trek. I went to Rainbow Mountain and The Red Valley as well. For those explorations, my guide was Ricardo with Salkantay Trekking. Ricardo is amazing. He’s constantly smiling, is super helpful and patient, and has a wealth of knowledge about the places we visited and the world around us. We had some great conversations about plants and our connections to nature. Ricardo made this whole experience even better. Highly recommend requesting Ricardo for all of your small explorations with Salkantay. He’s awesome