Rainbow Mountain Hike 1 Day (Avoid the Crowds)

Sometimes, Mother Nature creates a display of color so vibrant and varied that it seems almost impossible that it could have occurred naturally. Yet, as your eyes fall upon the beauty of Peru's Rainbow Mountains (known locally as Vinicunca), you are quite literally looking at millions of years of geological history and a natural wonder seen almost nowhere else on Earth.

By far the best way to experience the stunning vistas of Vinicunca is via the Cusipata trail. This challenging but spectacular trail winds through remote Andean villages with their beautiful adobe style houses, passes herds of wild Llamas and Alpacas grazing on the mountainside, and continually rewards us with views of the magnificent Ausangate Glacier. Standing at over 6,300m (20,900ft) this is the highest mountain in the Cusco region.