Rainbow Mountain tour with Overnight 1 hour away - Hotel Included

Beautiful and Breathtaking

This excursion was wonderful and the guides definitely worked to accommodate everyone even those that didn't pre-arrange to ride a horse. It is a mix of some people hiking and some people on horses to a point of where you have to hike the rest. However they separate the two groups. We took the horse and then finished the last bit with the hike. This was nice because we had plenty of time to sit at the top to enjoy the views, take pictures, etc. I saw a complaint about the van being cold but we did not experience that at all. I would say bring some warm gloves and a hat with layers because the temperature fluctuates. The place we ate breakfast at was cold in the morning but warm for lunch. However it was wonderful as there was a little shop there with reasonably priced items and I purchased an extra ear covering that was worth every penny and cute. I would definitely take this trek again and would very much recommend it. It was quite beautiful.

via Viator

Rainbow mountain is beautiful but beware of this tour company

Rainbow mountain is beautiful but I was really unimpressed with this tour company for multiple reasons. 1. The tour van did not have heat or A/C so we were freezing all the way there (3 hours) and hot on the way back. They don't seem to be concerned with customers comfort. 2. The additional expenses listed on the excursion is inaccurate. It says 10 soles but is actually 25 soles. 3. They book horseback riders and hikers on the same trip. So, if you ride a horse like me, you will be waiting hours for the hikers to catch up. It's extremely frustrating and inefficient. They should have two separate excursions instead of combining the two groups. I gave two stars because rainbow mountain is worth seeing, but I'd never use this tour company again.

Response from the operator: dear: Mr. Chad Roberts: We would like to help our travelers to understand a bit of the situation: 1.- the van is a 100% new van, Full air conditioned and the newst one (2023 version). You never asked for a heat or A/C. then this is quite subjetive and malisious by your side. 2.- About the aditional expenses, (Entrance to the rainbow Mountains), there is a cost that unfortunately we can not control, the owners increased the entrance rate after your booking, We advised you about it and you knew that the entrance got from 10 to 25 soles. 3.- you were the only one traveler that book a horse trip that day, We did our best to provide you the trip and acomodated to hire a horse for you unless the whole group decided to hike. We advised that the horse it is a help to clim the mountain, actually this is not a regular horse adventure, the horses are here to help people that get tired, that is afected by altitude to people taht feels the efects of the andes, the horses are not for sport at this place, they are to help you to climb the mountain. Even of that you took this as a horse sport spot, when we told you that that is not the case. Finally, We took you to the red valley because you request it to the guide, we didi it with no extra charge and especting to give our best for you. unfortunately you are not considering a lot of our work and empaty with you as a "solo traveler" with some specific espectations. We appreciate your review and of course will help us to improve ours services and hope that this will help to our travelers as well. Hope you are enjoing your solo trip. warm Regards.

via Viator

BEST EXPERIENCE EVER!

BEST EXPERIENCE OF MY LIFE!! I was a little worried about this tour because I am not the most physically fit person ever, but I surprisingly had the best time ever. The pickup went super smoothly, we had comfortable transportation, and our breakfast was great. Make sure to bundle up for the morning and you can leave your extra layers in the car. Once you get there, the tour guide will get your horse for you and a local person will guide you to the horse-stopping area. The views are amazing the whole way. You never go too fast or feel uncomfortable on the horse. From there, as a group, you summit the mountain and see the beautiful mountain. Some people in my group needed a little extra time to get to the top (which is okay, go at your own pace) so I got to go at my pace up which was nice. Once at the top, there are alpacas, snacks, picture opportunities, everything!! I really appreciated our guide who was super encouraging and kind to us! He told us the history of the place as well as other cool facts. I chose to hike back down all the way which was nice too. Always remember to go at your own pace no matter what and you will have an amazing and safe time! I would do this tour again in a heartbeat!

via Tripadvisor

DO YOUR RESEARCH!

I dropped the ball on this one. Since Rainbow Mountain was offered through our hotel (Antigua Casonas), I thought it would be fun to do. We had spent the beginning of our trip in Urubamba (4 days) to get acclimated and then spent 2 days in Cusco before our trip to Rainbow (we were also taking meds to help with altitude). I think that we were very lucky to have made the climb without getting seriously hurt. We left Cusco at 4AM in a packed, cold and uncomfortable van. We stopped for breakfast (not so great and restaurant was colder than what it was outside...van didn't have heat). Once we got to Rainbow Mountain, the race was on. I had no idea that our tour company would be rushing us to get to the top. We would have been better off if we had been able to go at our own pace but that was not an option with this group tour. I finally got a horse for the last 30 minutes before hitting the last climb to the summit. While walking up (I am 63) I saw 2 young girls on the ground getting O2. On the way down, we watched as they took a gentleman all the way down on a stretcher (an ambulance was waiting at the bottom). If you are going to take this hike, check everything very carefully and consider getting a private tour so that you can go at your own pace. I had my son and his girlfriend along on the trip and I was scared to death that they were going to have serious health concerns. Both got very ill that night. My son got to the summit but left quickly because he was feeling so bad. Oh...did I mention that the trail is filled with thick mud? My son slipped and fell twice on the way down. People were going off the trail to get around the mud...doing harm to the moss and surrounding plants. This place is an environmental disaster happening. And the poor horses! Yes, I took one for about half an hour but I felt very guilty about doing this. These animals, when not hauling people up the mountain, are standing around in deep mud. Oh...and the road up and down in the van??? lots of washouts...road is not in good shape. I don't think it is very safe. All in all, I don't think this was worth the risk to family members.

via Tripadvisor

A great walk ending in amazing views

The tour started very early soon after 4 a.m. We stopped for breakfast in a small village which was a nice buffet. We carried onto the starting point for the walk and then began a reasonable ascent. The guide was supposed to keep the group together but was not that successful. I spotted a few Tyrants along the way which I wished to photograph and was hurried along by the guide saying there would be time on the way back. Fortunately I ignored him and took the photos of at least 5 bird species, none of which I saw on the way back. The views of the Rainbow Mountain are impressive and better in full sun but not that disappointing without. The walk back was fairly easy although we were given a tight schedule to make the bus. We stopped again in the village for lunch which was rushed and no time for a coffee as our driver and guide wanted to get back to Cusco which we did mid afternoon. If you don't fancy the walk you can ride a horse for most of the way. All in all impressive nature and scenery spoilt by being rushed by the guide.

via Tripadvisor