10 hour(s) 30 minute(s)
English
Included
Palcoyo is a less crowded alternative to the original Rainbow Mountain
Easier and more accessible hike compared to Vinicunca
Walk with alpacas for an authentic mountain experience
See up to five colorful mountains instead of just one
€ 115.61
€ 106.36
Free cancellation and unlimited rescheduling leads to total flexibility while you plan your travels
Lowest Price Guarantee — no other provider offers this tour for less
Palcoyo is one of the stunning Rainbow Mountains in Peru and is often seen as the perfect alternative to the popular Vinicunca Rainbow Mountain. Ideal for travelers who prefer less crowded destinations, Palcoyo offers an equally beautiful and serene experience. Unlike the original route, the Palcoyo hike is gentler and easier, making it accessible for a wider range of visitors. As part of this unforgettable experience, you'll walk alongside alpacas on your way to the mountain, creating an authentic connection with local culture and nature.
What sets Palcoyo apart is its unique landscape — instead of seeing just one rainbow-colored mountain as in Vinicunca, here you can marvel at up to five vibrant peaks. We also plan the tour later in the morning to avoid the rush of early crowds, allowing for a more peaceful visit. Plus, there’s no need for an early 3 AM wake-up call, giving you a more relaxed and enjoyable day. This tour is a rare opportunity to explore a quieter side of the Andes while immersing yourself in local traditions and breathtaking scenery.
Meal and Beverage
Private Transportation
Profesional guide
Oxygen & First Aid Kit
Alpacas for the hike
Entrance to Palcoyo Mountain
Not wheelchair accessible
No public transportation nearby
Pick-up time shared a day before based on hotel location.
Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Type in your hotel/accommodation to see how far the attraction or departure point is.
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I just completed the 1 day Palcoyo excursion. They were good with communicating with me and allowed flexibility in changing my schedule tour. They picked me up on time and the meals offered had quite a bit of variety. That's why I'm giving them 3 stars, but if I were to base it on our guide, it would be lower. Our guide was OK. He shared some basic commentary when the group headed out and a bit more once we got closer. When we got to Palcoyo, he took us up to the base and drew on the ground what looked like an inverted P with a rock in the ground. He said that the place had 3 mountains and it could take 30 minutes to do. If you felt good you could do another one after the 3rd mountain. He tried to show us which mountain he was referring to and then got out his phone and only showed a couple of people. The rest of us didn't get to see it. I thought he was going to be with us the whole way but that wasn't the case. He started to come with us but essentially we were left on our own and there was no guide/ information shared for any of the 3 mountains. We were mainly on our own and any instructions/information given were vague or unclear, as other travelers from the group had mentioned. At one point, he saw some of us and said he should be back by 11. Clearly not everyone got that message because we waited for people to come back at 11:30. While I felt fine doing the hike, once I was back, my head felt like it was pounding and I wasn't sure if I was going to throw up. I had seen our guide help one of the people on our group. So at lunch I told him I wasn't feeling well and asked if he had anything, to which he pointed to some people and said they have vomit bags (it wasn't clear who I should've been taking to but they were travelers who had just done the hike as well). That's it. No offer to see how I was doing and if I needed anything. That left a bad taste in my mouth. Overall, I'm happy I went but don't know if I would go back and use Machu Picchu Reservations again for another tour option given my experience with the guide.
Booked for a client 2 months prior to date of departure and 12 hours before got an email cancelling the tour as only 2 guests. Not acceptable behavior and could have given more notice! What was the guest supposed to do less than 12 hours prior to the tour?! He travelled from NZ for this tour. Terrible service. I can't comment if tour would have been good as the client didn't get the opportunity. Be warned! Have a back up plan if you do book with these guys.
Amazing scenery, much quieter than the other Rainbow mountain but more rainbow mountains here plus easier access
Booked a last minute day trip from Cusco to Palccoyo. What an amazing day! We met with friends afterward, who had visited rainbow mountain (Vinicunca) that same day and compared experiences. Although the colours on rainbow mountain are more vibrant, there was about 10x more people at Vinicunca than Palccoyo. Palccoyo also offers a Stone Forest, which I don’t think exists at rainbow mountain. The Stone Forest was definitely a highlight of our day. The tour operator, Inca Highlands, was fantastic! They spoke Spanish and English, answered all questions in detail, and set reasonable expectations for the day. 100% recommend!
Great company to travel to Palccoyo with. Communication was great and we were picked up on time from our hotel in Cusco. The bus ride was very long but we were comfortable. The scenery is amazing as you're going up the mountains. You will see lots of llamas, rivers, waterfalls, and small villages. The mountain itself had no crowds whatsoever and has a lot of llamas to look at while hiking. The guides were very encouraging and always checked on everyone to make sure we were doing ok with the altitude. After hiking down the mountain we drove about an hour to a small village for an authentic Peruvian buffet lunch which was very delicious. I would highly recommend this company. Can't beat the price or the experience!
