Rainbow Mountain Beat-the-crowd, Small Group - 8:00 Am Departure

I had a wonderful experience hiking Rainbow Mountain! My tour guide, John, was outstanding. He was deeply considerate, engaging throughout the entire tour, and kept everyone's spirits high. He consistently ensured that all my needs were met and took the time to patiently address any concerns raised along the way. John was especially thorough in highlighting the unique characteristics of Rainbow Mountain, taking care to inform us about the intense physical and health demands of experiencing this high-altitude natural wonder. A special mention to Alex, the driver, who got us safely through the mountain roads. Everything operated smoothly from start to finish. I highly recommend requesting John and Alex if you book this tour—5 stars all around!

This tour is fantastic. I hate waking up early and this was perfect for me and everyone in my tour group agrees. We still got to see everything but with the advantage of getting the whole place to ourselves instead. Highly highly recommend this tour. Get your beauty rest. No reason to suffer waking up before sunrise :D Elis was a fun tour guide as well. He completed our experience and made the tour fun and memorable. He bought his own disco lights for us to enjoy on our drive back. Also really appreciate the blankets and snack boxes they have. It's the small touches that make it memorable.

Alex was a great tour guide! We managed to see Rainbow Mountain in the snow (make sure to bring gloves). I’m not sure how busy the ascent usually gets but we didn’t see many people on the way up or down, and the later you leave it, the more unpredictable the weather gets. We were the last to come down the mountain, which meant the toilets and kiosks lower down had closed already. Alex helped our friend who was struggling, which we’re very thankful for! It would have been great to get some more information on Rainbow Mountain/the Red Valley in the minibus on the way there to learn something about the area.

We really enjoyed the trip and our best guide Ronald. The group was very small, everything was well organized.

Alex our driver and Elis our tour guide are amazing! They are so caring and friendly! If i visit once again i would definitely want them to be our driver and tour guide

Alex and Elis were great. Had a great experience even with snow and sleet throughout the hike

Excellent trip with Elis and Alex from the tour operators The lunch was well organised Remember to get some winter clothing as it gets quite cold at the top with sudden changes of weather e.g. from sunny to hail in a matter of moments

I was a great trip with an excellent guide and driver. The late start made the trip as there were few people at the top when we arrived which made the experience much more enjoyable. The guide had some very helpful suggestions and was attentive to the needs of the individual members of the tour. He was a good coach, encouraging the tour members all the way to the top We recommend this tour as a good way to see Rainbow Mountain - Vinicunca

As promised, with the 8 am pickup we really did beat the crowds. This was one of the best excursions that I have ever taken. Our guide Elisvan and driver Yober were the best! We were given a goodie bag of snacks and bottled water at pickup. Elisvan kept us very entertained on the drive. Not gonna lie, it was a very strenuous hike and I opted to take a horse on the way up. When we arrived pretty much everyone was headed downhill and we almost had the place to ourselves. Elisvan took pictures for us and made sure we took all we wanted. The downhill walk was fine and when we got to the car Yober gave us a blanket to cover our legs and a cup of hot tea. We stopped for a delicious late lunch and then we played car karaoke all the way back. I highly recommend this tour and Elisvan and Yober. It was unforgettable!!

We, four women over 65+, had amazing trip to Rainbow Mountain. John, a wonderful tour guide and Alex- driver, took very good care of us: from picking up in Cusco to until the top of mountain. Especially John. Thank you very much!!

We had an amazing experience with the trip to Rainbow Mountain, led by John the Tour Guide and Alex the Driver. John prepared us well for the trip, he was very professional, knowledgeable and attentive to ensure everyone was comfortable throughout the journey, as some of us had concerns with the altitude. The logistics, including pickup and drop off, the snacks before and during the climb, the very impressive 3-course lunch, all made this a wonderful experience. We highly recommend anyone who wants to experience the beautiful Rainbow Mountain to join this very well organised small group tour, which beats the crowd and avoids getting up midnight.

Great trip but physically demanding due to the altitude. Glad we did this as our first excursion in Cusco as our energy levels were at their best at the start of our 5 days in Cusco ( this would have been hard to do at the end of our stay ) There are options to take a motorcycle or horse to the top but we considered that cheating and you will definitely feel a great sense of accomplishment if you walk the whole way - we certainly did. Great lunch provided and a small selection of snacks but only 1 small bottle of water for the whole day was poor as it was such a hard day. You will definitely need warm clothes for the last section of the walk but as the minibus is really warm you only need to put them on when you start the walk. We did see people in shorts and tee shirts but they looked frozen at the top. Long day with transfers but well worth it for the views at the top.

Alex & Elisban were amazing! Thank you so much for the tour of rainbow mountain, we did the whole walk there and back and loved it!

Driver (Alex) and tour guide Ellis were the BEST. Best time ever!

Amazing experience. Our guide Alex helped motivate us with the long walk up and down the mountain, and our driver was organised with a hot towel and drink once we arrived back to the van. Thank you for an unforgettable experience!

Alex (our driver) and Flore (our guide) made our trip memorable. This was a challenging hike and Flore was both compassionate and encouraging from top to bottom and back. They also provided tasty snacks and a delicious lunch at a neighbouring restaurant. What a magical experience. This mountain does not disappoint! It’s breathtaking.

Great time for the trip and a safe driver. Best time to go as 3am trips leaving. Nice, happy guide who was ensuring health of all

Elis was an awesome guide and a very kind and good-hearted human. Would recommend him to anybody doing this tour. This tour was one of the highlights of my Perú trip and we even finished the tour with some disco in the van :)

Later start worked out well, no crowds and still plenty of time at the mountain. Guide was friendly, lunch also was nice. I’d recommend this day trip.

If you are looking for the best way to see Rainbow Mountain, this 8am option should be your pick! The 3am tours say they beat the crowds, but when we arrived to the mountain, all the crowds were leaving and we were left with breath taking views and a peaceful walk down the mountain almost all to ourselves. The best way to avoid the crowds is to come at this later time with a full night’s sleep.

Great experience with alex and Elis, had a wonderfull day, good lunch and great view. Would recommend this trip!

I highly recommend this tour because it offers everything you need! I also suggest starting the tour at 8:00 AM, as it’s less crowded, the lighting is perfect, and it’s much easier to tackle the trail when you're well-rested. First, you are picked up right from your accommodation at the exact scheduled time, and then you receive a small package with water and snacks to kick off the tour with energy. Trekking poles are provided, oxygen is available if needed, and last but not least, the staff shows incredible patience. Alex was our guide and he was the best. He was patient with everyone, making sure the experience was as smooth and easy as possible. Also, the driver—whose name is also Alex—was very attentive and skilled. To top it all off, we had an absolutely delicious lunch included in the price. In conclusion, it was an amazing experience and I truly recommend it!

Had a lot of fun on the rainbow mountain tour! Our tour guide Alex was very accommodating and gave us snacks and waters and made sure we delt with the altitude correctly! Admission fee to the mountain was 30 soles and it cost 80 soles to rent a horse. Liked this one a lot because it was not crouded at all at the time we went.

I have to say this was the best tour and our guide john was the best guide I have ever had.i would recommend this tour as one of the best for ranbow mountain. All the little extra bread on the way blankets hot tea after walk the use of poles the lunch was beautiful

What a great day! John, Alex, and Christian were fantastic and led a great experience for all of us. It was nice to leave later in the morning because it wasn’t as crowded as it states in the description. John was our guide was always checking on us to make sure we were okay getting up the mountain! He made sure we were comfortable and had everything we needed. He gave us some cool fun facts about the mountains on the way up too. The lunch at the end of the hike was also great. Nothing but good things to say about our experience. Thank you again!

Guide and ride showed up on time, and brought some snacks for us which was a nice touch. Through the ride he would point out things along the way. Once we got up to Rainbow mountain we stopped as needed (altitude didn’t bother us until we got here as elevation is higher than Cusco). So beautiful definitely don’t miss this if you’re capable of getting up there. It is about 3 hr drive each way. Also stopped for lunch at a buffet lunch on way down that had a huge selection of food. Also bring a beanie or headband and also a wind jacket/winter coat. It’s colder up there and windy. Gloves an poncho as well (it started to drizzle on way down but we just missed the rain thankfully)

Ronald did an amazing job guiding us on our Rainbow Mountain hike. He was friendly, informative, and most importantly, concerned for our safety. He made sure we knew we could take our time due to the difficulty of the hike and checked in on us frequently. He also took plenty of photos for us. Highly recommend!

Ronald the tour guy was very friendly and attentive. Alex the driver was very friendly and excellent driver as well. I am glad I choose this tour very well worth the money. It's absolutely beautiful view. The BEST...thanks so much to Alex and Ronald

Alex and Ronald led our tour and we had a fantastic time. They regularly checked in with us to make sure everyone was doing okay at higher altitudes and took excellent pictures for us! It was a great time.

One of the best tours I’ve taken ever. The guide, Ronald was super attentive, friendly, professional and took great care of our group, including my 60+ yo mother. This is an incredible opportunity and the views from the beginning of the hike all the way to the top are breathtaking.

Our guide Oscar was great. He set a good pace for the first 2/3rds of the way and then let us set our own pace for the last 1/3. I've been on other tours where the guide just sets a miserably slow pace and you end up hating it. This was so much better. Good transportation, good views.

The guide, Ronald, is great, who had taken care of each one of us. 8am departure did really beat the crowd, only compromise is having late lunch but totally worth it.

Ronald was an excellent guide. He made us feel comfortable, and paced the group so that all were able to reach the summit. The 8 am departure was also great, as most other groups had left the summit by the time we arrived.

Ronald was our tour guide for the day, and he was really great. He took care of each one of us, and his passion to nature and community is unmatched. Everything went well, transportation, food, etc.

Ronald is a very good guide which he takes good care of the group, explain everything in details. He also check on our health situation from time to time which it’s very nice to have. The photos taken by him looks great too !! Highly recommended

Alex was an amazing tour guide! He was patient and knowledgeable! Highly recommended this tour!

Excellent service, a great experience with Alex. Do not hesitate to book. Peru Private Tours cares about your experience with your enjoyment and safety in mind. Thanks again PPT!

Would highly recommend. It is awesome to go at a time when there are no crowds and you have serenity of whole mountain to yourself. Spectacular views. Just like in all the pictures but better because you’re seeing it with your own eyes. Our tour guide Alex was fantastic. He was energetic, got us excited, very entertaining, and very caring. He made sure everyone was ok. He even stopped to help other travelers from other tour groups that weren’t as well prepared. I enjoyed his company and highly recommend him and his company. One of the best experiences in Peru!

Go to Rainbow Mtn! An amazing experience from Cusco. yes, it’s a super long day but you stop for bathroom breaks and fresh local bread. The climb is only 2 miles. The guide was amazing and prepared us to summit at 17K feet. We got coca candies and lots of snacks including a water. John ensured everyone’s safety and had oxygen just in case. Book it! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Ronaldino was an excellent guide! Extremely personable and eager to share his knowledge of Cusco, the region, and Rainbow mountain. Highly recommend any tours you can do with him! Marco, our driver, was the best! He got us around in a timely fashion and navigated the crazy Cusco traffic. I really appreciated his work.

We were picked up at hotel right on time, with driver and guide meeting us. The guide, John was very prepared for us, brought snacks, water and made sure we were comfortable throughout our car trip out to Rainbow Mountain. He went over important things to remember while heading up towards higher elevation, and stopped frequently (whenever we needed to) to breathe so we could make it to the top. Along the way he pointed out things, and took several pictures for us at the best spots. After coming back down from mountain, we went to a buffet lunch, which was a wide variety of food. This was a great way to see Rainbow Mountain- would highly recommend doing it this way for sure, as he knew what time to head up there to avoid crowds- which was so nice- and hopefully you’ll get John for your guide! Excellent!!!

Great experience. Most Tours went out at 3:00 am and nothing was lost with the 8:00am start. Crowds were smaller and views just as spectacular. Alex was a great tour guide and along with Alex the driver. They went out of their way to make the experience both comfortable and memorable

great experience!! Ron was excellent guide . be prepared for incline and altitude but it’s worth it .. lunch was delicious!

Our guide was Ronaldo. The whole day was amazing. The driver and Ronaldo were funny and helpful and gave us lots of information The rainbow mountain experience was breathtaking and there were no crowds at all when we arrived so had time to take lots of pictures. Ronaldo took our oxygen levels before we started to make sure we were all well enough and he checked in on me with my asthma throughout the trip. I would highly recommend. A fantastic day we will never forget

Amazing experience, beautiful landscape, our guide Ronaldo was one of the best guides we met, helpful, funny and very professional.

First time visiting rainbow mountain but being there only with a small group made the experience unique. Ronald was an exceptional tour guide that created a perfect vibe with explenations along the way. Safety was first in every step. An unforgettable experience no one should miss.

Excellent experience. Ronald was our tour guide and he had an amazing energy. It was a unique experience I would highly recommend.

Alex, our driver is very good & safe. Elisvan is a very great tour guide. He’s very knowledgeable and he takes good care of his familia (clients). Highly recommended.

This was probably one of the most enjoyable and rewarding small group tours I have ever been on. Alex and Elis were a great team, and they made sure from start to finish we had an enjoyable experience. There was a very unexpected amount of snow on our hike up to Rainbow Mountain but Elis made sure we were all comfortable and safe. After our hike we stopped at a nice Peruvian restaurant named Meson Andino. I highly recommend you take this tour during your stay in Cusco!