Cusco to Rainbow Mountain: How to Get There
Cusco to Rainbow Mountain: 2025 updated information about schedules, safety, and the best tour company to take!
The distance from Cusco to Rainbow Mountain is around 85km drive to Cusipata and then a 4km trek. Whilst the trek is not easy, the reward at the end of it is the stunning colorful Rainbow Mountain!
Cusco to Rainbow Mountain – What you need to know!
- No direct public transport to the mountain (go with a tour operator)
- Taxi’s are NOT recommended, unfortunately quite a few incidents in the past.
- A local guide is strongly recommended, as the trek is at altitude and difficult. A local guide can also give you incredible insights and local tips and advice
- Official tour operator: Rainbow Mountain Travels
- Avoid booking with online travel agencies like Viator or GetYourGuide as they charge local operators 40% commission
The Cusco to Rainbow Mountain journey is spectacular, but with the altitude of the mountain (over 5,000 meters) and a complex trail, it’s easy to see why going on your own is not the best option.
How to choose the best Tour Operator from Cusco to Rainbow Mountain
When picking between the numerous tour operators available, it’s best to have in mind 3 aspects: safety, departure time, reviews.
Safety
The safety guarantee that a tour operator offers is highly important for Rainbow Mountain. Make sure that it’s a registered operator which provides first aid kit, a qualified tour guide, oxygen tanks, etc.
It’s common for travelers to struggle with the change in altitude and accidents can happen, so, having a tour operator that is reliable is a must.
Departure time
If you want to get the classic shot of you and the mountain, without lots of people in the background trying to do the same, then it is in your best interests to get to from Cusco to Rainbow Mountain as early as you can.
The best way to do this is by going with a company that departs Cusco early (3am is a good reference time).
How to get to/from Cusco? The best way to get to/from Cusco is by using the Peru Hop bus as it gives you an authentic local Peruvian experience or else fly with LATAM Airlines if you are short on time.
Reviews
Last but not least, the reviews left on sites like Tripadvisor are the best way to truly know how the experience with the tour operator is. Have a look when choosing between different options to make the best decision posible for your once-in-a-lifetime adventure.
Summary
With all the aspects explained and after years of surveying travelers who have visited Rainbow Mountain, we recommended Rainbow Mountain Travels as the best option to the colored hill. They have hundreds of positive reviews on Tripadvisor, depart at the earliest time to ensure first arrival and have an impeccable safety record due to their team assistance and trained guides all of whom are equipped with oxygen tanks.
At Rainbow Mountain Peru we work hard to make sure that you have an easy, simple and stress-free experience of Rainbow Mountain. From what to bring, to advice on safety and how to handle the changes in altitude, there is a lot to think about! We try and make that easy and simple for you.
