The most famous Rainbow Mountains are in China. But not many people know that Peru also has such mountains. Vinicunca, as they are called in the Quechua language, literally means “rainbow-colored mountains. The beauty of the Rainbow Mountains beckons travelers from all over the world, and tourists include an excursion to Vinicunca as part of their tour of Peru.
Many photos and videos of the colored mountains in Peru can be found online. Photographers tend to use photoshop, trying to enhance the colors. But these colorful mountains surrounded by glaciers are beautiful without any Photoshop! There’s a reason National Geographic included the Rainbow Mountains on their list of “100 Places to Visit in a Lifetime.”
Rainbow Mountains in Peru – How and Why the Mountains Became Colored
Why did the mountains become colored?
The colored layers of these mountains were formed millions of years ago from red sandstone, which was influenced by climatic conditions, groundwater, and mineral admixtures to turn yellow, green, white, and other colors.
The Rainbow Mountains are located 100 kilometers from Cusco in the province of Quispicanchis, 5,200 meters above sea level among snow-capped peaks and turquoise lagoons. It offers a magnificent view of the Ausangate Glacier, a sacred Inca mountain where pilgrims gather every year to celebrate Qoyllur Rit’i Day.
Getting to this place on your own is quite difficult, as there are no direct buses from Cusco. You can take a cab (it’s a three-hour trip from Cusco), or find a shuttle bus that goes to Puno. Take a bus to the village of Pitumarca, then from Pitumarca go to the village of Ocefina (Chillca) and from there start hiking to the Rainbow Mountains.