Palccoyo full day tour
General description
What’s better than just a rainbow mountain? The three rainbow mountains of Palccoyo. This new alternative route is lighter, less strenuous, and with no crowds battling for a picture. If you are hungry for spectacular and remote scenery, come join us on this one-day tour to merge a wide smile with the colors of Palccoyo on a hike that will make you feel like the only one on the planet!
You will hike for only an hour and a half to see not just one but the three colorful mountains of Palccoyo. Then, you will ascend at your own pace up to 4,900 meters to admire the sacred Ausangate, the highest snow-capped mountain in Cusco. In addition, you will feel that indescribable tranquility experiencing the unique silence of the Vilcanota mountain range. Give it a try and get thrilled by history, culture, and mind-blowing nature.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 01: Palccoyo
The tour to Palccoyo starts with a trip to the south direction of Cusco. Traveling for approximately 2 hours until you reach Cusipata town, where we have a delicious breakfast. After breakfast, we continue with the Tour to Palccoyo. Here we take a detour to the left bank of the Salka River along an unpaved road. Throughout the trip, you enjoy beautiful high Andean landscapes and you will also see herds of alpacas and llamas. After 1 hour and a half approx of travel, we finally arrive at the end of the route.
THE HIKE TO PALCCOYO:
As soon we get there, we can already see one of the mountains of Colors. We have 10 minutes to get ready and start the walk. You will hike a short walk between 40 minutes to reach the main viewpoint. From this viewpoint, it can be appreciated the 3 Rainbow Mountains of Palccoyo, the Red valley , and the impressive Ausangate mountain, the highest glacier in Cusco.
Also, we have the option of doing a short 20 minute walk to the stone forest from where you can have even more impressive views. After a prudent time, the group will return to the vehicle by the same route. Then, back to the town of Cusipata in the afternoon, where we will enjoy a delicious buffet lunch. After lunch, you return to Cusco, where we will arrive there around 5:00 pm.
Included
- Transportation from your hotel in Cusco to the start of the hike and back to your hotel at the end
- Entrance ticket to palccoyo
- Experienced tour guide fluent in English, Spanish and Quechua. Our guides are equipped and
- trained to practice First-Aid and administer oxygen if needed.
- Breakfast and lunch at a buffet restaurant
Not Included
- Trekking poles (can be rented from us) Water
- Tips for your guide and driver (optional)
Recommendations
- A small day backpack to carry your personal belongings and boxed lunch Trekking poles (or
- you can rent a pair from us)
- Good sneakers or light hiking boots
- Camera
- Rain jacket and plastic poncho (especially if traveling in the wet season, from October to
- March)
- Comfortable hiking clothes Sunscreen and sunglasses Cap for the sun
- Warm clothes including a fleece, warm hat, and gloves Toilet paper
- Water
Prices
Price: shared group:
40 USD per person.
Price: Private service.
2 persons 110 USD per person
3 persons 100 USD per person
4 persons 90 USD per person
5 persons 80 USD per person
6 persons 70 USD per person
Frequently Asked Questions:
How To Book Palcoyo Mountain 1-Day Trek With Cachi Life Peru?
Do I Need To Bring My Original Passport On The Palcoyo Mountain Peru Tour?
Can I Stay In The Sacred Valley For My Palcoyo Mountain 1 day Trip?
Can I Rent A Horse In The Palccoyo Mountain?
Best Time To Hike The Palcoyo Rainbow Mountain?
Is It Cold At The Palcoyo Mountain trek?
If One Experiences Altitude Sickness, What Do You Do?
Are There Any Age Restrictions For The Palcoyo Rainbow Mountain Tour?
How Far In Advance Should I Book The Palcoyo Mountain Trek?
Are There Toilets During The Palccoyo Mountain Hike?
Do I Need Extra Money For The Hike?
Are Hiking Sticks Helpfull For The Palcoyo Mountain Trek?
I Don’t Like To Go In A Shared Group, Can You Arrange A Private Tour For Me?
Can I Charge My Devices My Palcoyo Mountain 1 Day Tour?
Is It Safe To Go On A Palccoyo Mountain Tour?
How Difficult Is The Palcoyo Mountain Trek?
How Many Days Should I Spend Getting Used To The Altitude Before Hiking Palcoyo Mountain?
Can You Visit Palcoyo Mountain Without Hiking?
If I’m Afraid Of Heights, Can I Still Join Palcoyo Mountain In Peru?
I Will Be Traveling With My Family, Including Two People Who Are 65 Years Old. Do You Think They Can Handle It?
Can I Keep My Extra Stuff In Your Van?
Can You Drop Me Off In The Airport After The Palcoyo Mountain hike?
Is The Any Student Discount?
Extra information:
IMPORTANT INFO
Thing To Know
Our Recommendations
Dietary Needs
Palcoyo Mountain Difficulty
What To Carry On Your Daypack
Red River In Palcoyo Mountain
Cost For Photos
Local Culture
Animals
Prepare For The Altitude
Dress In Layers
Respect The Environment In The Palcoyo Mountain Peru
Tips To Hike The Palcoyo Mountain
Groups Tours
Strike And Demontrations
Cancellations And Refunds
Starting from
Duration
1 Day
Destination
Cusco
Type of activity
One Day Trek, Trekking in Cusco
Our team is ready to help. Send us a message on WhatsApp or contact us online — we’ll get back to you right away.
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What Our Travelers Say
Authentic stories from travelers who explored Peru with us.
EXCELLENT
Based on 135 reviews
Posted on Tripadvisor![]()
lanahb304Verified
Machu Picchu and sacred valley We had an absolutely wonderful experience with David from the very beginning of planning our trip. As three ladies traveling together we couldn’t have had any smoother and safer experience. He was there for us throughout the entire process, spending countless hours helping us plan full 5 days, answering all our questions, and responding to our WhatsApp messages within minutes. His communication was truly amazing, and we always felt that we were in great hands. We visited Pisac, Chinchero ruins, Maras and Moray, Ollantaytambo ruins, Machu Picchu, and Rainbow Mountain. When we arrived, David was waiting for us at the airport. He even arranged for someone to help us with our luggage at the Cusco airport, drove us around, and gave us invaluable tips on how to adjust to the high altitude. He was always attentive, alert to our needs, and making sure we were comfortable. David also took us to authentic local places where we could experience things like traditional alpaca weaving, which made the trip feel much more genuine and special. Everything went exactly as planned. He also brought a driver along, which made getting around much smoother and easier. Our Machu Picchu experience, including Circuits 3D and 1B, was unforgettable. There were three of us, and one of us was having difficulty with the mountain climbs. David stayed right behind her throughout the journey, making sure she was safe and supported every step of the way. His care and patience really stood out. And as if being our guide and driver wasn't enough, David also became our personal cameraman! 😊 He was constantly directing us and helping us get the best photos and memories from our trip. On our last day, he took us to Rainbow Mountain and was once again incredibly patient and accommodating to our needs. Throughout the entire trip, David went above and beyond to make sure we had a wonderful experience. We are so grateful for everything he did for us and would highly recommend David to anyone planning a trip to Peru. If you want someone who is knowledgeable, caring, responsive, organized, and genuinely invested in making your trip special, David is your person! Thank you, David, for helping make our trip so memorable!Posted on Tripadvisor![]()
Ashley WVerified
Incredible Time with Frank! Frank was a fantastic guide, we are so happy we had him with us! He understood the pace that was best for our fitness level, and he would take breaks at good moments to teach us about local people, plants, animals, history, and culture, which we felt was all really interesting. We learned so much about Machu Picchu, the Incas, and each archaeological site, and we genuinely enjoyed listening to him. It felt like traveling with a friend, he was so nice and had a great attitude, we were always laughing together. He also had great English, we were able to laugh together at our joke that a sitting chinchilla we saw was "chinchilling." We were also really happy to support Cachi Life which is a Peruvian owned company. We did the 2-day trek, and we appreciated the amount of care put into each step. The hotel that was included in our tour package was very quiet, the bed comfortable, the shower hot, with good breakfast choices as well. Frank also took great photos of us, with good framing and angles, and he never rushed us. He was so knowledgeable and friendly that we would love to return someday and trek with him and Cachi Life again!Posted on Tripadvisor![]()
Charlene KVerified
An Exceptional Experience! We had an absolutely wonderful experience with Cachi Life during our time in Peru, and we cannot recommend them highly enough! We had created our own bespoke itinerary for our trip but we wanted a knowledgeable guide to bring the history to life when visiting the incredible ruins around Cusco and during our two days in Machu Picchu. After reading so many wonderful reviews from other travellers, we decided to use Cachi Life and we are so glad we did. We also used them for transportation throughout the Sacred Valley including journeys from Cusco to Pisac and Ollantaytambo as well as visits to Maras and Moray. From the very beginning, everything was handled with such warmth, professionalism and care. David came to meet us at our Airbnb the day before our tour to personally brief us on the schedule for the coming days. This was such a thoughtful touch and gave us a great sense of confidence that everything was organised and that we were in very good hands. Over the following days, we had the pleasure of spending time with David exploring the remarkable archaeological sites around Cusco, including Sacsayhuamán, Q’enko, Tambomachay and Puka Pukara, as well as experiencing the incredible Machu Picchu. David was an exceptional guide. His knowledge of Peruvian and Inca history was impressive, but what really stood out was his passion and enthusiasm. It was very clear that this was far more than just a job for him. He genuinely loves the history, culture and heritage of Peru and that passion came through in every story and explanation. He had a wonderful ability to bring the ancient sites to life, helping us understand not just what we were looking at, but the people, culture and history behind them. We learnt so much from David and having him with us made the experience of visiting these extraordinary places even more meaningful and memorable. We also had the pleasure of having Frank (David’s brother) drive us from Cusco through the Sacred Valley to Pisac and Ollantaytambo. Although we had not booked a guide for this particular day, Frank was incredibly generous with his knowledge and shared lots of interesting information about the places we passed along the way. It was very much appreciated and added another wonderful dimension to our journey. Both David and Frank were friendly, reliable, thoughtful and genuinely lovely people to spend time with. Their warmth and hospitality really captured what we had hoped to experience in Peru. We never felt like just another tourist booking. They took a genuine interest in making sure we had a fantastic experience and were always happy to help. Thank you so much, David and Frank, for making our time in Cusco, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu so special. Your knowledge, enthusiasm, kindness and hospitality made a lasting impression on us, and we would wholeheartedly recommend Cachi Life to anyone planning a trip to Peru.Posted on Tripadvisor![]()
Trail19335405803Verified
Rainbow Mountain private two days trip We had an amazing experience with Cachi Life travel agency in Peru! 🇵🇪 From the very beginning, David, our guide helped us create a fantastic and personalised plan for Rainbow Mountain. They took the time to understand what we wanted and made sure everything was well organised and suited to our needs. The communication was excellent throughout the whole process. They were always helpful, responsive and happy to answer our questions or make adjustments whenever needed. We really appreciated the personal approach and attention to detail. The whole experience was very well organised, and thanks to their support, we could simply enjoy the incredible views and the experience without having to worry about the logistics. 🌈⛰️ I would definitely recommend this agency to anyone planning a trip to Peru. They genuinely care about their customers and go the extra mile to make the experience special. Thank you for helping us create such an unforgettable experience! ❤️🇵🇪Posted on Tripadvisor![]()
Cesco_FoodVerified
Unforgettable Spending two days in the Sacred Valley with David of Cachi Life has incredibly turned into positive our vacation in Peru. In this country you are pretty much jumping from one operator to another and we didn’t have good experience until we find Cachi. David has a natural passion and a great knowledge of the story of this country and his people, plus is also very friendly and curious by nature. If we ever come back to Peru I would avoid passing through internet and I will get in touch directly with Cachi to organize all my trip. Thank you David for guiding us and sharing your passion and Thank you Oscar for demonstrating that driving is an important part of the trip. Unforgettable.Posted on Tripadvisor![]()
Suman MaharjanVerified
Awesome Experience We did full day tour to Pallay Punchu with David from Cachi Life. David was professional, knowledgeable, and caring. My wife has fear of heights, and he made sure we felt safe the whole time. Highly recommended this tour for anyone looking for a less crowded hike with stunning views and also Cachi Life. We would definitely lgo with them again.Posted on Tripadvisor![]()
Rich CVerified
Fantastic experience! We had an excellent experience with Cachi Life. David was Extremely helpful and professional. We did the 5 day Salkantay Trek and it was fantastic, Taking us from the high Andes to the cloud forest and coffee growing region and on to Machu Picchu, it was amazing. The food prepared by Juan, our guide was exceptional. I highly recommend Cachi Life when trekking to any of the Cusco treks.Posted on Tripadvisor![]()
MichVerified
Awesome Experience David is such a great tour guide and owner. He was always very communicative, accommodating, helpful, and a pleasure to work with. He treated my family and me with the utmost respect and kindness. His knowledge of Machu Picchu is excellent and we learned so much from him. He took care of us the minute we set foot in the Cusco region, including having a driver pick us up and take us to and from the train station in Ollantaytambo. He met us with us at our vacation rental the evening prior to go over everything with us. He even stopped at the store to buy us tea and sugar. He took care of everything for us and all we had to do was pay and show up. You will not find better service to see Machu Picchu than Cachi Life Perú.Posted on Tripadvisor![]()
Sara MVerified
Exceptional experience I thank David Aragon Villagra for organizing a fantastic three-day tour for us in the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu. We were accompanied by the guide Frank, who skillfully and enthusiastically immersed us in the Inca world. Thanks to the super driver Oscar, who was cautious and attentive. Unbeatable value for money. I highly recommend Cachi Life Peru — with Cachi Life Peru.Posted on Tripadvisor![]()
Liz KVerified
Incredible trip, outstanding on every level David (Cachi Life) was recommended by friends when I decided to take a solo trip to Peru. I'm a woman in my mid-60's, fairly physically fit, who wanted to experience Peru's scenery, history, culture, and people. David helped to customize my 11-day trip to include exactly what I wanted (Manu/Amazon rainforest, Inca Trail hike to Machu Piccu, various day tours out of Cusco, etc.) Lodging and transportation arrangements everywhere were clearly arranged and communicated efficiently. Upon arrival he met me at the airport and drove me back at the end of the trip. The entire time David was always quickly responsive and communication was outstanding. This trip was utterly incredible (also exhausting!) in every way. Truly stellar. I will carry the experience with me always. I highly recommend David/Cachi Life to anyone considering a trip to this magnificent country. You will be in very good hands.
EXCELLENT Based on 9 reviews Posted on Facebook Giulio VecchirecommendsTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Facebook. Bravissimi in tutto. precisi, corretti, puntuali. una menzione particolare a Frank, una guida stupenda che ci ha fatto vivere con passione ogni luogo, e ad Oscar l'autista, molto attento e prudente. complimenti a David e a tutto il suo gruppoPosted on Facebook Stephanie McQueenrecommendsTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Facebook. Just returned from an amazing 5-day trip to Cusco, the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, Patabamba, and Palccoyo — perfectly organized by David Aragon Villagra at Cachi Life. David was super responsive and made planning easy, and everything ran smoothly throughout. My guide, Frankin Aragon Villagra, was knowledgeable, engaging, and truly passionate about sharing his culture. If you’re looking to support a local, family-run business that delivers a personalized and authentic experience, I highly recommend Cachi Life for your Peru trip!Posted on Facebook Joshua Clark-BellrecommendsTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Facebook. Frank was an amazing tour guide, extremely helpful, knowledgeable and kind. We had a great time with him and David was brilliant at fast communication. Cannot recommend more!Posted on Facebook Re StrecommendsTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Facebook. Gorąco polecam treking z Cachi Life. Razem z grupą przyjaciół przeszliśmy 6-cio dniowy trek Choquequirao zakończony zwiedzaniem Machu Picchu, gdzie przeszliśmy dwie trasy. Nie musieliśmy się o nic martwić, wszystko było przygotowane. 6 dni w górach, przepiękny czas! David jest świetnym organizatorem, wszystko działało bez zarzutu. Spanie w namiotach, transport- szły z nami muły niosące część bagażu, zapasowy koń. Kucharz Umberto, dokonywał cudów w tych trudnych warunkach. Wszystko było mega smaczne i przepięknie podane. Szedł z nami świetny przewodnik Marco. Potrafił dostosować tempo do naszych potrzeb, elastycznie zmieniał trasę tak żeby cały czas było to jednocześnie i wyzwaniem i przyjemnością. Dzielił się z nami opowieściami o obyczajach, tradycjach i kulturze tej dawnej inkaskiej i tej współczesnej. Nawet uczył nas języka Quechua . Cachi Life - sól życia - tak było🧡Posted on Facebook GoseeThis Nomadic-FilcanrecommendsTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Facebook. I want to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone in this group who have been so incredibly helpful in answering my questions before I started my adventure. I truly appreciate each one of you! As I wrap up this unforgettable journey, I want to give a special shoutout to my amazing tour guide in Machu Picchu, David Aragon Villagra of Cachi Life. I had the best time with his service, and absolutely recommended to those looking for local guides. I chose to support locally owned businesses, which is why I booked the 2-day, 1-night Inka Trail to Machu Picchu. This experience allowed me to explore the stunning ruins along the way, including the breathtaking Wiñaywayna. David took care of everything—transportation, hotels, and all the necessary tickets for the tour—making the entire experience seamless and enjoyable. What impressed me most was David's extensive knowledge. With years of experience under his belt, he is an expert guide who truly brings the history of the Incas and Peru to life. His insights into science and astronomy beautifully connect to Inca history and civilization, enriching my understanding of this magnificent country. I feel so fortunate to have learned so much from him, and I’m excited to share this knowledge and encourage others to experience the wonders of Peru for themselves. And if you're a foodie like me, be sure to ask David for his fantastic recommendations for local cuisine in Cusco—you won’t be disappointed! And yes David is a great photographer! My photos here are captured by him. Once again, thank you all for your support, and a huge thank you to David for making my adventure unforgettable! 🌄❤️Posted on Facebook Leah PumarenrecommendsTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Facebook. I have been in contact with so many tour operators but David from Cachi Life stood out! He was able to answer all my questions right away and all the information was explained well. When the time came to pay i was very hesitant because I didn't know him but have read all positive reviews from previous clients which gave me a peace of mind. I wanted to pay half but he said to just pay the deposit, which tells me that he will not run away with our $$ :) Prior to our arrival David informed us that Franklyn will be at the airport to pick us up, which they were and in time. Let’s just say that Franklyn and staff took care of us from start to finish! They were very accommodating, made sure we were comfortable, gave us coca leaves and other things so we don't suffer from acclimation. Because, i had issues with acclimation, Franklyn brought me oxygen, hiking sticks, carried our jackets, water and food which helped me climb Rainbow Mountain and Machu Picchu. Mind you, we have been to Europe, Hawaii, Alaska, UK, Iceland, Ireland, Bahamas, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Belize, Honduras, Doninican Republic, etc.. but because of Franklyn, Peru is the most beautiful place we have ever been. Thank you so much Franklyn, David and Cachi Life, you made impossible possible! If you want to tour Peru, make sure you hire Cachi Life to make your trip unforgettable!Posted on Facebook Brandon BellamyrecommendsTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Facebook. I have never met more dedicated people David and Kevin. They truly love what they do.Posted on Facebook Kevin KingrecommendsTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Facebook. My girlfriend and I were in Peru in March and Cachi set us up with a wonderful experience. David, our tour guide, is the guy you want. He's a true history buff and his years of experience really shows. We loved hearing about the history of Cusco, Peru, Machu Picchu, and the Incas. Seemed like David had an answer to every question we had! Plus, his English was great - a must have when spending money and time on a trip. Overall, Cachi provided us with everything we needed for our tour. Our shuttles, tour guide, and entry tickets to each place were included. WELL worth the price! We were also fortunate to meet the owners, who were great guys and walked us through everything we would get. Highly recommend Cachi if you're looking for a great, safe time in Peru!Posted on Facebook Lindsey ReneerecommendsTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Facebook. Fortunately used Cachi Life for two different day tours during my stay in Peru. Took the vistadome/train/buses to Machu Picchu, and the process could not have been any smoother. They had everything perfectly coordinated to make the trip comfortable and easy to navigate. Also had the privilege of doing a tour in the local Rayan community, which was an amazing experience. David, our local tour guide was so passionate about his job and sharing with us the culture of his country. We hiked a mountain to the local community, offering beautiful views and a stellar waterfall. Spent the day learning how the families lived off the land and shared a meal with them that we helped them prepare. Would definitely recommend if you want to try something outside of the typical touristy things to do!





