7 Colors Mountain Tour in Peru: everything you need to know before trekking

Are you planning to take a tour to the recently discovered cheap 7 colors mountain in the Cusco, Peru area? Read our hiking guide which includes all the tips and information you need to know before traveling to this beautiful place.

You have probably already seen many images of one of the most magnificent geological features in the world, Rainbow Mountain, and wonder if those pictures are real or if the effect is just a work of expert Photoshop users.After your cheap 7 color mountain tour, you will be able to confirm that it is not fake: those colors are real, but to enjoy the 7 color mountain in its glory, we recommend that you plan your visit on a sunny day when the colors are more vivid. When it rains or is cloudy, the colors may be darker.

Where Rainbow Mountain is located

Rainbow Mountain, also known as Vinicunca or Seven Colors Mountain, is located in a remote region of the Peruvian Andes, approximately three hours drive from the ancient capital of the Incas, Cusco.

The Seven Colors Mountain is part of the Vilcanota mountain range, as well as the Ausangate Mountain, at 6384 meters, the highest mountain in the Cusco area.

Rainbow Mountain Discovery

You may be wondering how it is possible that the great boom of the 7-color mountain has only recently begun.

The increasingly popular multi-day Ausangate trek leads around this mountain, so how come no one (not even the locals) knew about it before?

The answer is perhaps more obvious than I expected: global warming.

About five years ago, global warming caused the ice to melt, and the colorful mountain appeared below. It wasn’t long before hikers and guides walking the Ausangate route noticed the new attraction and shared it with the world. Since then, approximately 1,000 people take the 7-color mountain tour every day.

Why Rainbow Mountain is so colorful

As we looked at the valley leading to Rainbow Mountain and the mountain itself, we couldn’t help but wonder where all the colors come from.

The explanation is more complex as there are many reasons why Rainbow Mountain is streaked with multiple colors such as yellows, greens, reds and purples, but there are two main reasons: they are called weathering and mineralogy. Different layers of sedimentary rock change color when exposed to environmental conditions such as wind or water, and we cannot forget that high altitude also plays an important role in this process.

That’s why iron oxide sediments turn red or iron sulfide turns bright yellow.

Nature is sometimes amazing, isn’t it?

Hiking at high altitude

Because of the striking colors and almost unreal colors, travelers sometimes can’t wait to take a cheap 7 colors mountain tour and sign up for a tour the next day after arriving in Cusco.

But this is usually a big mistake.

To do the 7 colors mountain tour cheaply the important thing is acclimatization before doing the hike, because altitude sickness is no joke and can ruin your whole trip in Cusco in general.

Although you can never know how the altitude will affect you (it has nothing to do with physical ability or how your body reacted to altitude before), there are several simple rules to follow to maximize your chances of enjoying the trek.

Stay in Cusco at least two to three days before the hike to adjust your body to a higher elevation. Drink enough water, don’t eat heavy meals, and try to do some light physical activity – don’t forget that health and safety always come first.