Meet the three colored mountains in Cusco:

• Mountain of 7 colors Vinicunca (Winikunka).
• Rainbow mountain of Palcoyo (Palccoyo).
• Mountain of colors Pallay Ponchu (Pallya Punchu).

Rainbow Mountain Vinicunca

The famous mountain of 7 colors Vinicunca is the second main attraction of the city of Cusco, and is considered a very cozy and quiet place. To get to the mountain of 7 colors it is advisable to be in good physical condition since it requires a walk of approximately 1 hour and a half.

Recommendations to visit the mountain of colors:
• Be a day before in Cusco to acclimatize and not suffer from altitude sickness.
• Be in moderate physical condition.
• Before leaving for the mountain of colors it is advisable to take a coca tea, or a pill for altitude sickness (Soroche), consult your doctor or pharmacy.
• Wear trekking shoes that are ideal for walks.
• Bring sunscreen and sunglasses.
• Warm clothes for the cold in the morning.
• You can also visit the Red Valley

Rainbow Mountain of Palcoyo

The rainbow mountain of Palcoyo is the perfect option for those who do not want to do a lot of walking. Palcoyo is considered the other mountain of colors and first cousin of the mountain of colors Vinicunca. Palcoyo is considered today as the perfect alternative to Vinicunca.

Recommendations to visit Palcoyo:
• Be a day before in Cusco to acclimatize and not suffer from altitude sickness.
• It is not necessary to be in good physical condition, Palcoyo only requires a 30 minute walk.
• Before leaving for the mountain of colors it is advisable to take a coca tea, or a pill for altitude sickness (Soroche), consult your doctor or pharmacy.
• Wear trekking shoes that are ideal for walks.
• Bring sunscreen and sunglasses.
• Warm clothes for the cold in the morning.
• Too you can visit the stone forest and Inca bridge Checacupe.

Mountain of colors Pallay Poncho

The sharp mountain of Pallay Punchu or also known as Pallay Poncho was recently discovered and promises to be a very popular tourist attraction in Cusco. It is also known as the Cerro de los colores with sharp points, the Sharp Mountain of colors or Pallay Poncho del Apu Taqllo Apacheta is a geological formation located 3 hours from the city of Cusco (194 kilometers by car).

Recommendations to visit Pallay Poncho:

• Be a day before in Cusco to acclimatize and not suffer from altitude sickness.
• Be in moderate physical condition.
• Before leaving for the mountain of colors it is advisable to take a coca tea, or a pill for altitude sickness (Soroche), consult your doctor or pharmacy.
• Wear trekking shoes that are ideal for walks.
• Bring sunscreen and sunglasses.
• Warm clothes for the cold in the morning.

Imagen: Sonia_sara1

Rainbow mountain tour

Now that you know these three mountains, you can choose and enjoy getting to know each of them or the one you like the most. You can visit any of the colored mountains with a tour or on your own.

The rainbow mountain Palcoyo is an alternative to Vinicunca “Mountain of 7 colors“. Palcoyo receives very few travelers, since it is still not as well known as Vinicunca, but for those who have already visited they say that it is a unique and unforgettable experience, and very happy to have visited another mountain of colors.

How to get to Palcoyo

To get to Palcoyo you must first travel by car approximately 3 hours to the district of Combapata, take into account that you must turn left before reaching the town. There you can see the Checacupe bridge, a suspension bridge that was manufactured by the Quechuas. Once there you must travel for 1 hour by road until you reach a parking lot. From there you can see the colorful mountains, then at a slow pace, approximately 45 minutes to reach the Palcoyo mountain.

Mountain Palcoyo vs Mountain Vinicunca (Mountain 7 colors)

Palcoyo how to get there

For the travelers that are going to make this tour it is advisable to bring: warm clothes, waterproof clothing, trekking shoes, snack, water, sun hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, and gloves for the cold.

Before making this tour you must have an account that is not allowed for people with problems caused by altitude, pregnant. And if you travel with children it is preferable that they are older than 15 years.

Mountain of seven Colors Vinicunca

The mountain 7 colors of Vinicunca receives daily a large number of tourists from around the world, and it is a route that starts from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. approximately, a full day tour where you will have to make a walk for 3 hours to get to this point. The mountain of 7 colors is cataloged by the magazine NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC as one of the most beautiful places in Cusco and that every traveler has to know.

Palcoyo Rainbow Mountain

The rainbow mountain of Palcoyo is the other mountain of 7 colors that is in the city of Cusco, Palcoyo unlike Vinicunca is much more accessible and does not require much walking, which makes this route the perfect option for those who want do little trekking, another of the advantages of Palcoyo is the schedule since it is much more accessible and the tour starts from 6.30 am to 5:00 pm.

As for visits Palcoyo are not yet known as Vinicunca but daily receives an average of visits. And its route is practically beautiful where you can enjoy beautiful landscapes.

Recommendations to visit the mountains of colors: To visit the mountains of 7 colors it is advisable to bring, warm clothes, sun glasses, sunscreen, trekking shoes, trekking poles.

Keep in mind that if you suffer from heart problems you should not do this walk, consult your doctor first.
It is not suitable for pregnant people.

If you have problems with altitude sickness it is preferable to take a coca tea or some pill for altitude sickness “Consult your doctor”.

Now if you have purchased a travel package of 7D / 6N, 6D / 5N, 5D / 4N they are usually included, but it is always advisable to ask.

The Tourist Ticket of Cusco

With the tourist ticket you can access 16 sites in the City of Cusco and its surroundings. The good thing about the tourist ticket is that if you want to visit only some sites you can buy the partial ticket, or if you want to visit all the sites you can opt for the general tourist ticket, and here we detail which are:

1. Tourist Ticket of the General Cusco
2. Partial ticket – Tourist Circuit 1
3. Partial ticket – Tourist Circuit 2
4. Partial ticket – Tourist Circuit 3

General Tourist Ticket

With the general tourist ticket you can visit all the main places of Cusco and its surroundings. It has a valid validity of 10 days and the places included to visit are:
1. Sacsayhuaman
2. Q’enqo
3. Puca Pucara
4. Tambomachay
5. Museum of Contemporary Art
6. Regional Historical Museum
7. Museum of Popular Art
8. Qoricancha Site Museum
9. Qosqo Native Art Center
10. Monument to the Inca Pachacuteq
11. Pikillaqta
12. Tipon
13. Pisac
14. Ollantaytambo
15. Chinchero
16. Moray

Partial Tourist Ticket – Circuit 1

With this tourist ticket you can visit the main archaeological sites of Cusco: Sacsayhuaman, Q’enqo, Puca Pucara and Tambomachay (4 attractions only). And usually this tour does the Tour City Cusco. Validity of the ticket only 1 day.

Partial Tourist Ticket – Circuit 2

With the tourist ticket circuit 2, you can visit different museums: The Museum of Contemporary Art, Regional Historical Museum, Popular Art Museum, Qoricancha Site Museum, Qosqo Native Art Center and Monument to the Inca Pachacuteq. You can also visit the ruins of Tipon and Pikillaqta. These last two are the tour of the Valle Sur Cusco Tour. Validity of the ticket only 2 days.

Partial Tourist Ticket – Circuit 3

With the tourist ticket circuit 3, you can visit only the ruins of Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Chinchero and the Andenes de Moray (4 attractions only). This tour is usually from the Sacred Valley Tour of the Incas. And the ticket is valid for 2 days.

Price of the Tourist Ticket Cusco

The price of the tourist ticket Cusco, varies depending on whether you are foreign or national. It also depends if you want the general or only the partial circuits.

Where to buy the Tourist Ticket

• Counter Central (Avenida El Sol 103 Tourist Galleries)
Monday to Sunday 08:00 – 18:00 Hrs.
• Tourist Information Office – DIRCETUR (Mantas Street)
Monday to Saturday 08:00 – 12:00 Hrs. / 14:00 – 18:00 Hrs.

It can also be purchased at tourist sites (except for the Museum of Contemporary Art and Pachacutec Monument).

Recommendations: The tourist ticket only gives right of temporary entrance to the archaeological sites mentioned above, remember that it does NOT include: Guide, Mobility, nor the entrance to the citadel of Machu Picchu.

Tour Machu Picchu

Our tours to Machu Picchu comply with all security protocols.

Your trip to Machu Picchu can be in a shared or private group, depending on the option you want.

In 1 Day:

Machu Picchu in 1 day from Cusco
Machu Picchu with Huayna Picchu in 1 day from Cusco
Machu Picchu with Mountain in 1 day from Cusco

In 2 days:

Machu Picchu Tour in 2 days from Cusco with overnight in Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu Town).
Tour Sacred Valley of the Incas with Machu Picchu in 2 days and 1 night with overnight in Aguas Calientes (Town of Machu Picchu).

The 2-day tours to Machu Picchu can be added the Machu Picchu Mountain or Huayna Picchu Mountain (Optional).

Trekking to Machu Picchu

To get to Machu Picchu there are also other travel options, and here we mention the most requested:

Traditional Inca Trail 4 days and 3 nights. This route is the most requested by many travelers and to do the Inca trail it is necessary to book 6 months in advance since the Inca trail is one of the most beautiful routes to get to Machu Picchu.
Classic Inca Trail 2 days and 1 night.
Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu 5 Days and 4 Nights. This is another of the most beautiful routes to get to Machu Picchu since it combines a lot of adventure and nature.
Lares Trek to Machu Picchu 4 Days and 3 nights
Huchuy Qosqo Trek to Machu Picchu 2 Days and 1 Night.
Choquequirao Trek to Machu Picchu 8 Days and 7 nights.
Inca Jungle to Machu Picchu 4 Days and 3 nights. This is another of the most beautiful routes to get to Machu Picchu, Inca jungle, a tour full of adventure, history and nature.

For these tours you can also add the Machu Picchu mountain or Huayna Picchu mountain (Optional).

Machu Picchu Economic

For those who wish to save on their trip to Machu Picchu and take one of the alternative routes to Machu Picchu we have:

Machu Picchu by car in 2 Days and 1 Night. This route is done by the Hydroelectric of Machu Picchu.

Travel package to Machu Picchu

Our travel agency DONPeruTours also offers travel packages to Cusco and Machu Picchu, we adapt to all your requirements and we set up your trip to Cusco in a personalized way and with all security protocols. We offer different travel options, either in a group or private.

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Machu Picchu from Cusco Via Train

One of the ways to get to Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu Town) from Cusco is by train, this route is generally very beautiful since on the way you can see beautiful landscapes of the sacred valley of the Incas.

To opt for this option you must purchase your train ticket from the San Pedro train station or buy directly from the pages of Peru Rail or Inca Rail, both companies offer the train from Cusco to Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu town). This service is available from April to December, in other months the route is closed.

How to get to the San Pedro station?

• From the Cusco Airport, you can choose to take a taxi, the approximate cost is 10 Soles and the estimated time is 30 minutes, it all depends on the city traffic.
• From the center of Cusco and surroundings, you can take a taxi, cost 5 soles and the approximate time is 15 minutes, it all depends on the traffic of the city.
• From the Plaza de Armas of Cusco or very close to it you can choose to walk. The San Pedro train station is 10 minutes from the Plaza de Armas of Cusco. You can walk with ease but always take care of your belongings.

Machu Picchu from Ollantaytambo Via Tren

Another option to get to Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu town) is by Ollantaytambo via train, this route is very beautiful and many travelers prefer to opt for it, since they first want to visit the archaeological center of Ollantaytambo or want to visit the town of Ollantaytambo, it is optional which visits you want.

How to get to the Ollantaytambo train station?

• From Cusco Airport you can ask and board a taxi, the price they will offer you will be from 70 soles to 130 soles, it all depends on the number of passengers and how you negotiate the price. The trip will take approximately 1 hour and 50 minutes. You can also hire a private transfer service online.

• From the city of Cusco to Ollantaytambo, here you have two options: you can hire a private or shared service. If you want a private service you can search the internet, here we leave you a contact: www.cuscoairporttransport.com, if you want a shared transfer you can go to calle pavitos and take a VAN / H1 or Sprinter, the cost is from 8 soles to 12 suns, keep in mind that when being shared you must wait until the mobility is full so that it can go out.

• Through a Tour: Another option is through a tour, currently there are two tours that go along that route, the Sacred Valley of the Incas tour or the Chinchero Maras Moray tour with the Sacred Valley, both tours are very feasible since you have the option of staying in Ollantaytambo without any problem. In general, both tours are around 15:00 in Ollantaytambo, that is, you would stay in Ollantaytambo and you would not return to Cusco.

Machu Picchu from Cusco by car or hydroelectric route

One of the cheapest options to get to Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu Town) from Cusco is by car / on the route from Machu Picchu to Hidroeléctrica. This route is somewhat tired more than everything on the car trip, which is approximately 6 hours from Cusco to Hidroelectrica. Once at the Hydroelectric you must walk around 2 hours to 3 hours to reach Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu Town).

How to get to Aguas Calientes by auto route Hidroelectria?

• You can choose to hire the transfer service, several agencies offer this transfer service which is between 40 soles one way, if you want round trip the cost is 80 soles, but keep in mind that they have a fixed departure and return time They do not have several hours.

• You can also go to the Quillabamba terminal located in the Santiago district, here there are several cars / van / sprinter that leave from time to time for Quillabamba and can leave you very close to the hydroelectric plant. Always warn when you hire that you want to go to the hydroelectric and if they leave you near or go to the same destination.

• By Tour: Another option to reach Aguas Calientes via Hydroelectric is by tour, this tour starts from Cusco (7:00 hrs) and at the hydroelectric you will be (15:00 hrs) from there you must walk for approximately 3 hours to get to Aguas Calientes. Machu Picchu service by car includes: transfer, entrance to Machu Picchu, lunch, dinner, bilingual guide, snack and one night accommodation in Aguas Calientes. This service you will find from $ 100 to $ 130 depends on the travel agency where you hire. The route is the same but the service varies according to each agency. Each agency will give you information on how the tour will be so you will have it very clear.

Ollantaytambo, in the time of the Incas was used as tambo. A tambo was a city – lodging that had the capacity to accommodate thousands of people and they were endowed with gigantic deposits of food, very good roads and places of astronomical observation. They were also characterized by the proper distance that separated them from Cusco, for being located in a main route of the Incanato, which facilitated the rest of the walkers to places of great importance, as in this case the Citadel of Machu Picchu.

The Incas provisioned this water fortress through subterranean aqueducts, whose places of capture were state secrets in their time and until today are not discovered.

Ollantaytambo is the clearest example of how the Incas built the imposing archeological complexes that we can admire until now, as you can appreciate the origin, extraction, carving, transport and perfect assembly of the stones.

According to historians its construction would have been initiated in the fourteenth century in the government of Pachakuteq and continued Tupac Yupanqui, would have taken about seven decades and the work of 20000 men its culmination.

The archaeological complex occupies the edge of the northern slope of the city. The south side of the building was surrounded by a polished wall almost 400 meters long. The boundaries of the temple, to the east and the west, were marked by other walls and platforms. The main front of the building looks to the north and is protected by a formidable system of three platforms. These are supported by zigzag walls, made up of large stones, which astonished its first visitors and which continues to astonish even now. The Inca Garcilaso affirms that these walls were made to demonstrate the Inca power.

The main wall consists of stones that can measure up to 5 meters high and 2.5 meters wide, and which can weigh between 90 and 125 metric tons. Moving these stones was a real feat, but so was the perfect fit between them, as well as the care taken in the curvature of the cushions.

From Sacsayhuamán you get a spectacular view of Cusco City and its surroundings. In addition, you can see peaks such as Ausangate, Pachatusan and Cinca, places believed to be inhabited by apus or powerful spirits that rule the mountains.

To the front of the complex is the Suchuna or rodadero, is a natural formation of rock of igneous origin that emerged modulating in its surface curvatures like slides. To the north of the esplanade stands the throne of the Inka, which is a succession of seats carved in rock. And beyond, the famous Chincanas or tunnels. Between both places is an immense reservoir of circular form, perimetrado by stone walls.

In the esplanade of this monument, on June 24 of every year is held the Inti Raymi or Fiesta del Sol.

In the surroundings is located a statue of Jesus of approximately 25 meters called “White Christ” that was a gift of the Arab colony Palestine to the Cusco.