Palcoyo Rainbow Mountain

Palcoyo (also spelled Palccoyo) is an area of rainbow mountains in Checacupe District, Canchis Province, southeast of Cusco. Its highest point is around 4,900 m and, unlike Rainbow Mountain (Vinicunca), you explore it on a short, almost flat walk between several viewpoints, a stone forest and views of snowcapped Ausangate. It’s the alternative to Vinicunca for anyone who wants to see rainbow mountains with far less effort and far fewer people.

Palcoyo at a glance

Fact	Palcoyo Rainbow Mountain
Other names	Palccoyo, Palcoyo Mountain, Montaña de Colores Palcoyo
Location	Checacupe District, Canchis Province, Cusco Region
Maximum elevation	About 4,900 m
Distance from Cusco	Almost 100 km; a 3 h 30 min to 4 h drive, with a final stretch on a dirt road
Hike	Short and gentle, on a loop between viewpoints
Entrance fee	Community fee, paid in cash
Best season	April to November

Where is Palcoyo Mountain?

Palcoyo is in the Vilcanota mountain range, in the highlands of Checacupe District, not far from snowcapped Ausangate. According to Andina, Peru’s state news agency, the natural area covers more than 9,000 hectares and combines mountains with reddish, ocher and lilac stripes and valleys in shades of brown. Vinicunca is in the same mountain range, but you reach it by a different route.

The route leaves Cusco on the highway toward Sicuani and Puno, crosses the South Valley, near Andahuaylillas, and continues to Checacupe. From there, an unpaved mountain road climbs to the community of Palcoyo, where the walk begins. Checacupe is on the same highway that leads to the Inca temple of Raqchi, a little farther south.

Palcoyo elevation

The summit of Palcoyo reaches about 4,900 m, almost as high as the Rainbow Mountain viewpoint, at about 5,036 m. The big difference is that at Palcoyo the vehicle drops you off very close to that elevation, so you walk only a short distance and without any big climbs. Even so, you’re about 1,500 m higher than Cusco: any effort will tire you more than usual.

Important: a short walk doesn’t mean the altitude won’t affect you. Do Palcoyo on your third day in Cusco at the earliest, walk slowly and head back to the vehicle if you notice a bad headache, nausea or dizziness. There’s more information in our guide to altitude sickness in Cusco.

What to see at Palcoyo

• Three rainbow mountains: instead of a single slope, as at Vinicunca, at Palcoyo you see several striped mountains from different viewpoints.
• The stone forest: a cluster of rock spires and blocks that, according to Andina, formed naturally millions of years ago. It’s one of the most photogenic spots on the route.
• Snowcapped Ausangate: on clear days, Cusco’s great apu, or sacred mountain, appears on the horizon.
• The puna: alpacas, llamas and herders from the community, which runs the visit.

How to get to Palcoyo from Cusco

Day trip

This is the simplest way to go. Day trips leave Cusco before dawn, stop for breakfast on the way, visit the viewpoints and return to the city in the afternoon. They usually include transportation, meals and a guide; check whether the community entrance fee is included.

On your own

Andina describes the route as a bus from Cusco to Checacupe, about 2 hours, and from there about 30 more minutes in another vehicle to the village of Palcoyo. In practice, there’s no regular transportation to the community, so you’ll have to hire a car in Checacupe. A private car with a driver from Cusco is the most comfortable option if you want to go at your own pace.

The walk at Palcoyo

The route is a dirt path that links the viewpoints and the stone forest, with short, gentle climbs. You reach the first viewpoint in about 15 minutes, according to Andina; walking the full loop, with stops for photos, takes around an hour or a little more. You don’t need any trekking experience, just shoes with good grip and warm clothes.

Tip: walk the whole loop all the way to the stone forest. Many visitors stop at the first viewpoint and miss the best part, which also has fewer people.

Palcoyo entrance fee

The community charges an entrance fee in cash and in soles, which isn’t part of the Cusco Tourist Ticket. In 2019, Andina reported a fee of S/ 10 for foreigners and S/ 5 for Peruvians; it may have changed, so bring small bills and ask for the current amount. At the time, Andina reported about 100 visitors a day at Palcoyo, compared with about 1,500 at Vinicunca in high season: you can feel the difference in atmosphere.

Palcoyo or Rainbow Mountain

	Palcoyo	Rainbow Mountain (Vinicunca)
Hike	Short and gentle, between several viewpoints	1 h 30 min to 2 h up
Maximum elevation	About 4,900 m	About 5,036 m
Drive from Cusco	3 h 30 min to 4 h	About 3 h
Visitors	Few	Many, especially in the morning
What you see	Three rainbow mountains, a stone forest and Ausangate	One very sharply striped rainbow mountain and the Red Valley
Best for	Families, older adults and travelers who aren’t well acclimatized	Well-acclimatized hikers

Choose Palcoyo if you’re traveling with kids or older people, if you don’t feel fully acclimatized or if you’d rather avoid crowds. Choose Vinicunca if you’re after the most famous view and don’t mind the effort. If you prefer a landscape of water and glaciers, the third option is Humantay Lake.

Weather and best season

Like the rest of the Vilcanota puna, Palcoyo is cold and windy. Early mornings are below freezing in the dry season, and by mid-morning the sun is scorching.

• April to November: the best time to go, with clearer skies and the dirt road in good shape.
• December to March: rain, mud on the road and a chance of snow covering the colors.

See the month-by-month details in our guide to Cusco weather.

What to bring

• Layers, a warm hat, gloves and a windbreaker.
• Hiking shoes or comfortable footwear with good grip.
• Sunscreen, sunglasses and water.
• Cash in soles for the entrance fee and the restrooms.

The full list is in our Cusco packing list.

Summary: what to do in your situation

• You’re traveling as a family or with older people: Palcoyo is the most manageable rainbow mountain.
• You want the most famous photo: Rainbow Mountain, once you’re well acclimatized.
• You have 7 days or more: add Palcoyo toward the end, as our Cusco itinerary suggests.
• You want something wilder in the same mountain range: take a look at Ausangate and its lakes.