If you’re in search of incredible places, you’re going to love Palccoyo. This Rainbow Mountain range, as it’s known, is a new tourist destination in Cusco, characterized by its beautiful landscapes and easy accessibility. You might think we’re talking about the famous and well-known Rainbow Mountain, “Vinicunca,” but you’d be mistaken. This is another attraction that offers spectacular views and, compared to the former Rainbow Mountain, has more than three colorful mountains. It also features a stone forest. Learn more about this destination, its location, how to get there, the tour, and more in the following information.
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How to Get to Palccoyo
For travelers on foot who don’t have a travel agency, we provide some information on how to get to Palccoyo.
The journey to the second Rainbow Mountain takes approximately 3 to 4 hours by car. The first destination to reach these mountains is the district of Combapata, where you’ll find the hanging bridge of Checacupe. It’s highly recommended to take photos here due to its Inca-era appeal. Finally, you’ll travel for 1 hour on the road until you reach the district of Palccoyo. So far, the journey is by car, but to fully appreciate the famous mountains and the spectacular landscape, you’ll need to walk for about 1 hour at a leisurely pace to reach the summit. As mentioned at the outset, this destination is easily accessible, making it easy to reach.
Route Without a Travel Agency
For walkers who want to explore this destination, the journey starts in Cusco by taking transportation to the town of Combapata and eventually reaching Checacupe. At this place, you can stop for breakfast or buy snacks. From here, continue your journey to a small community called Palccoyo. Here, you’ll typically pay an entrance fee to access the circuit before embarking on a walk of about 1 hour to complete the journey. The hike can be somewhat challenging, so it’s advisable to acclimatize in Cusco for a day before the hike. It’s recommended to bring coca leaves, lemon candies, chocolates, and, above all, water to stay hydrated until you reach Palccoyo Mountain at 4,900 meters above sea level. From here, you’ll be able to marvel at the place even more. As previously mentioned, this is a unique and accessible destination.
Route With a Travel Agency
However, if we’re talking about safety, cost savings, and comfort during your trip to Palccoyo, hiring a travel agency like Peru Grand Travel is highly recommended. This is because you’ll have access to a specialized team for this journey, including food, entrance tickets, transportation, a guide, and more. Without a doubt, it will be a unique experience, highly recommended for travelers coming with their families or those looking to discover new destinations and, above all, enjoy nature. Peru Grand Travel offers this tour to Palccoyo, providing special treatment and, most importantly, excellent service. Below, we provide you with the itinerary.
Itinerary for Palccoyo
The pickup time will be between 4:30 and 5:00 in the morning (we suggest acclimating for at least a day in the city of Cusco before starting this tour). Once the group of up to 16 people is together, we’ll head south from Cusco for approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes until we reach the district of Pitumarka, where we’ll have our delicious breakfast, prepared by our experienced chefs. After a break and the purchase of sweets, chocolates, water, and cookies, we’ll continue our journey towards the Combapata district. Before reaching the town, we’ll stop to enjoy the photos of the attractive colonial bridge of Combapata. Later, we’ll continue for about 1 hour and 30 minutes on an unpaved road to the left bank of the Salcca River. In this section, we’ll see native alpacas in beautiful mountain landscapes. Finally, we’ll reach the community of Palccoyo, located at 4,900 meters. From this point, we’ll have privileged views of the colorful Palccoyo mountain range, with its three visible colorful mountains. We’ll also enjoy the view of the magnificent stone valley. This is an excellent option for people who don’t enjoy walking much. Our tour leader will give us the option to take a 40-minute walk to reach higher points for a better view of the three colored hills and the stone valley. After 2 to 3 hours of complete enjoyment, we’ll return to Cusco in our van on the same route. We’ll have lunch in Pitumarca, and upon arriving in the city of Cusco (around 6:30 p.m.), we’ll leave you at your hotel or the nearest location.
An excellent trip, isn’t it? As mentioned earlier, this will be a unique experience. Peru Grand Travel invites all travelers to take this journey.
Differences Between Palccoyo and Vinicunca, the 7-Color Mountain
Now, to learn more about the differences between Palccoyo and Vinicunca, the Rainbow Mountain, we’ll describe some characteristics of these destinations.
Palccoyo
- The tour starts between 4:30 and 5:00 in the morning.
- The tour returns to the city of Cusco at around 6:30 p.m.
- The maximum altitude reached on the tour is approximately 4,900 meters above sea level.
- The duration of the hike is about 1 to 2 hours round-trip.
- The difficulty level of the hike is easy.
- Travel time by car is approximately 3 to 4 hours.
Vinicunca
- The tour starts between 3:30 and 4:00 in the morning.
- The tour returns to the city of Cusco at around 6:30 p.m.
- The maximum altitude reached on the tour is approximately 5,000 meters above sea level.
- The duration of the hike is about 4 to 5 hours round-trip.
- The difficulty level of the hike is moderate to high.
- Travel time by car is approximately 3 to 4 hours.
Travel Recommendations for Palccoyo
We don’t want to end this post without giving you some recommendations if you’re traveling to Palccoyo. We’re sure they’ll help you prepare and enjoy your trip better.
- The Palccoyo tour is not recommended for people suffering from altitude sickness. Remember that this destination is located at 4,900 meters above sea level.
- For those who are traveling to high-altitude cities like Cusco for the first time, it’s recommended to acclimate for at least one day before starting the tour.
- Regarding appropriate clothing for this tour, it’s suggested to wear comfortable trekking attire, as well as items such as sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat, and extra money, preferably in Peruvian soles.
- Remember that both Palccoyo and Vinicunca have their unique features, and they are equally stunning. So, get inspired and travel to Peru.
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