Cusco Pallay Punchu Full Day Rainbow Mountain Tour

Most rainbow mountain day trips from Cusco visit one mountain. This one visits three places.

The first is Pallay Punchu, a ridge of sharp striped rock fins above the village of Layo, at 4,770 metres. The walk to the top takes about 45 minutes from the parking area. The better known Vinicunca stands 266 metres higher and takes around an hour and a half on foot.

The second is Raqchi. The Temple of Wiracocha held the largest roofed building the Inca are known to have built. A central adobe wall still stands around twelve metres high, with more than a hundred round stone storehouses behind it.

The third is Checacupe, where three bridges cross the same river within a few metres of one another. A modern road bridge, a colonial stone arch, and a rebuilt Inca rope bridge woven from grass.

Visitor numbers at Pallay Punchu are still low. On most days only a few dozen people reach the ridge.