Pallay Punchu Rainbow Mountain Hike

Unleash your sense of adventure and get ready to uncover a surreal landscape that feels like it's been painted by nature itself. Nestled just a few hours from Cusco, Peru, lies the mesmerizing Pallay Punchu Mountain—a striking natural gem sure to leave a lasting impression with its bold colors and dramatic form.

Picture a mountain draped in an Andean tapestry, where brilliant shades of red, yellow, green, blue, and purple flow together in dazzling harmony. Cusco is home to not one, but three breathtakingly colorful peaks: Vinicunca, Palccoyo, and the extraordinary Pallay Punchu.

Often referred to as one of Peru’s “rainbow mountains,” Pallay Punchu is a relatively undiscovered treasure that's quickly gaining fame among hikers, photographers, and lovers of the great outdoors. In this article, we invite you to dive into the enchanting world of this hidden wonder in the high Andes.

Prepare to be swept away by its raw beauty. Pallay Punchu isn’t just a destination—it’s a reminder of Earth’s incredible artistry and the awe-inspiring forces that shape our natural world.

This exciting adventure begins around 4:00 AM, when we pick you up from your hotel. We'll take you by car two and a half hours away to Cusipata to eat an energizing breakfast. After that, you'll continue down the road toward Sicuani, along the way taking in the beauty of the Blue Lagoon of Langui, which extends more than 15 km across. You'll stop by the shores to enjoy the sights before continuing to Layo, where the hike begins. ADD TO CART Once there, this challenging hike is uphill for about one hour. You'll walk on a trail leading through pastures and impressive red lands accompanied by typical fauna of the area: alpacas, llamas, and, if lucky watch kestrels, peregrine falcons, or the famous condor flying overhead. When we get to Pallay Punchu of the Apu Taqllo which, translated in Quechua, means "woven poncho," you'll have the opportunity to climb the sharp edges of the mountain and feel like you're flying over the surface of another planet. This mountain stands out because of its precise lines, perfectly sculpted by nature across millions of years. You'll be able to distinguish diverse colors like red, brown, yellow, green, magenta, and ocher, among others. While you enjoy the wonderful pigmentation of various tonalities, you can also lean out across the edge to get an even better look at the impressive Langui lagoon and a part of the Andes mountain range. You'll reach an altitude of more than 4,730 m (15,518 ft), so we recommend that you are acclimatized before your tour to avoid any altitude sickness. We'll return to Layo by the same trail, and find the perfect spot for lunch near the Lagoon shoreline. If you prefer, you can enjoy an optional and larger meal at a rural restaurant in Cusipata. Finally, we'll go back to Cusco to end this immersive adventure.

Meals: Breakfast, Box Lunch, and wáter Difficulty: Moderate Starting Elevation: 4,570 m/14,993 ft Max altitude: 4,730 m/15,518 ft (Pallay Punchu) Elevation Gain: 772 m on the long hike from Layo // 200 m on the short loop to the Pallay Punchu viewpoints Walking Distance: 14 km from Layo to Occobamba // 2.5 km round loop to the Pallay Punchu viewpoints from the car park Walking Time: 5.5 hours for the full hike // 1.5 hours for the short hike (both depending on how long you spend at the top)

Money for personal expenses, comfortable clothes, hiking shoes, sun glasses, sun screen, and a water bottle.

Transportation, entrance fee, breakfast and lunch, water and bilingual guide.