Vinicunca or Palcoyo , which one to choose?

Vinicunca and Palcoyo are located in Cusco. This city has many things to offer you. It is full of surprises.

Cusco is one of the 50 most beautiful cities in the world. It was Flight Network that set out to name the World’s Best Cities by asking the experts — a 1000+ Travel Writers, Travel Bloggers and Travel Agencies from all around the globe, who have seen and experienced the best the planet has to offer.

Some of the reasons why Cusco is considered one of the 50 most beautiful cities in the world:

• The wonderfully physical evidence of its urban composition in streets and squares, original layout, urban and architectural values and its symbiosis with the colonial settlement and assembling patterns from the 15th century.
• The San Blas neighborhood and Qoricancha or Temple of the Sun located in the Santo Domingo Convent. 
• Museo Inka, which is the best museum in town for those interested in the Incas. 
• San Pedro Market, which is a significant market that offers you a bustling but charming atmosphere full of flavors, smells, and products that are exotic to any foreign. This is, for sure, the real face of the famous city of Cusco. 
• The experience of visiting Machu Picchu, one of the seven wonders and world heritage site.

Plaza de Armas in Cusco

To these perfect reasons to visit Cusco, we can add the beautiful and impressive mountains like the Rainbow Mountain, which now includes the Rainbow Mountain in Pitumarca or Cusipata and Palcoyo Rainbow Mountain in Checacupe. You can go to either mountain. They both are perfect to appreciate the colors of a surreal mountain. 

To decide where to go you have to consider:

• Your lifestyle
• Physical resistance to long- distance hiking
• Time availability
• Whether you dare to go to a new and not popular tourist attraction.

If you haven’t been to any of these two Rainbow Mountains Vinicunca or Palcoyo, you may wonder which one to go. On this post, we will help you choose the best one for you. This will make your staying  in Cusco a memorable experience.

Vinicunca, most popular tourist attraction nowadays.

Find out some interesting facts about these two Rainbow Mountains. We will answer the following questions: 

Vinicunca and Palcoyo are both truly gems in the Andes of Cusco?

Are the colors in both cases the same?

Are they close to each other?

Although both of them Vinicunca and Palcoyo are very alike, they have some features that make each one unique and different from the other. 

Regarding the colors, it’s incredible to notice that in both cases outstand more pink or Fuchsia, white, purple or lavender, red, green and yellow.

Inkayni Note:

The National Geographic, nominated Vinicunca Rainbow Mountain as one of the “100 places to visit before you die”

During Palcoyo hike, we will visit the Stone Forest.

Differences between Palcoyo and Vinicunca

These are the similarities and differences that you could share with you. Now the decision is yours.

Palcoyo is located in the town known as at an altitude of 4 900 m.a.s.l.

FAQs:

How to get to Palcoyo or Vinicunca?

To either mountain, there are 2 ways to get there. One is going on your own and the other is hiring the service of a trusted Tourist agency like ours, Inkayni Perú Tours.

Is there an age limit to hike any of these Rainbow Mountains?

Although there is no age limit, we recommend that any children under 15 years old shouldn’t visit these mountains. If he decides to come, he must be under a responsible adult supervision.

What is the best season to visit Vinicunca or Placoyo?

The best season to visit Vinicunca or Palcoyo is during the dry season which is from May to October.

We recommend coming these months since there is little rain and the sun is always shining, which is perfect to appreciate the different colors.

When are more tourist coming to the Mountains?

The high season in Cusco and therefore in the mountains is during the dry season, from May to October.

Is it essential to acclimatize to the altitude first?

The weather is Cusco is very changeable. That is why we recommend coming to Cusco some days before you start your trek to acclimatize to the altitude. This can help to prevent from altitude sickness. 

What is altitude sickness? Altitude sickness is a group of symptoms that can strike if you walk or climb to a higher elevation, or altitude, too quickly.

What should you bring?

• Original Passport
• Hiking Boots
• Waterproof jacket/rain poncho
• Warm jacket and Comfortable Trekking Pants
• Beanie and gloves
• T-shirts (quick-dry)
• Sun hat
• Sunscreen (SPF 35+)
• Personal medication
• Camera and film.

Videos:

You can also watch:

• Vinicunca, the wonderful Rainbow Mountain

• Three Rainbow Mountains! Come and visit Palcoyo Rainbow Mountain

Why should you trust Inkayni Perú Tours?

You should trust us because we work with the real spiritual tour leaders, we have the best Tour guides in the region and we treat our team of porters the best with proper equipment, wages and health insurance for everyone. All of us are ready to take you on a lifetime experience.

“Once the travel bug bites there is no known antidote, and I know that I shall be happily infected until the end of my life.” – Michael Palin