How to get to Rainbow Mountain

Rainbow Mountain is located around 3.5 hours from Cusco.

To get to Cusco, we strongly recommend traveling with the Peru Hop bus, or flying with LATAM Airlines. Do not fly with other airlines as cancellations are extremely common.

To get to Rainbow Mountain from Cusco, it is strongly advised that you travel with the official tour operator Rainbow Mountain Travels.

You should never take a taxi to Rainbow Mountain (please see our section below).

Tours will include safe transport from Cusco to Rainbow Mountain and back, and will allow you plenty of time to trek the Rainbow Mountain and even see the famous Red Valley.

If you get tired of walking, you can hire a horse there along the way to help you get to the Mountain. They are relatively cheap and provide an income to the local community.

Tours usually begin early morning, so using the official tour company that provides a safe and comfortable transport is important.

Remember, the altitude at Rainbow Mountain is a big factor, so again, the official tour operator (Rainbow Mountain Travels) does have oxygen tanks with them (most “cheap” companies do not)

How to know if a tour operator is good or bad?

Google their name and check if they have their own website. You will see quickly if its a reputable company or not

Message them - if they respond quickly and in good English, again its usually a good sign

Check their online reviews, both on Tripadvisor and on Google

Try to find any blogs or articles written about that tour operator

Ensure you do not travel with an informal cheap company which are often listed on GetYourGuide or sold on TripAdvisor and Viator. These companies have left tourists stranded in the past and they delete bad reviews of these experiences.

For a more luxurious options, you can book a private tour with Alpaca Expeditions or Rainbow Mountain Travels.

Why you should NOT take a taxi to Rainbow Mountain

Some travelers try to find a local driver who will take them to the Mountain and back, however there have been many horror stories reported by travelers who chose this option.

Issues included the driver stealing from the tourists, taxis not being allowed to pass where official tour companies can, drivers not speaking English and speeding along the way.

A huge benefit of going with an official tour company is that you will have a local guide who can tell you stories and legends about the Rainbow Mountain and give you a much more complete authentic experience.

As well as this, official tour companies will have vetted their drivers and vehicles and will ensure a much safer and professional journey.

Finally, an official tour company will have all the permits needed to get the Mountain, whereas a taxi driver probably will not have this.

How to prevent altitude sickness

If traveling from Lima to Cusco, the ideal way is to use the Peru Hop bus so your body will slowly acclimatise as you go up from the Coast to the Mountains.

If short on time, fly with Latam Airlines (do not use cheaper airlines, they often cancel, just read reviews)

As Vinicunca is at an altitude of 5,200m, it is essential travelers are adjusted before trekking.

Learn more

Summary

1

We recommend Rainbow Mountain Travels as the best way to get to Rainbow Mountain from Cusco

2

To get to Cusco, we recommend using the Peru Hop bus or flying with LATAM Airlines

3

Never ever take a long distance taxi in Peru due to poor safety records of taxi drivers

©  Rainbow Mountain Peru 2025