Rainbow Mountain in Peru

Rainbow Mountain is located in the Andes of Peru, standing at an altitude of 5,200 meters. It is said that the mountain was long covered in snow, and its stunning multicolored terrain was only revealed after the snow melted, astonishing the world when discovered by a group of climbers. The vibrant colors of Rainbow Mountain are due to the mineral composition of its slopes and peaks. I joined the Local Tours one-day trip to Rainbow Mountain. We departed from the hotel at 5:00 AM, and after about two hours, we arrived at the breakfast spot before continuing to the destination. Around 10:00 AM, we reached the starting point for the climb. Here, you can choose to hike, ride a horse, or take a motorcycle up the mountain. You can even drive the motorcycle yourself. If you opt for horseback riding, there’s still a section to climb on foot at the end, while the motorcycle route is relatively smoother. I chose to ride a motorcycle. Given the high altitude, it’s important to ascend slowly. Rainbow Mountain is truly breathtaking. Although there were many visitors, it didn’t detract from the beauty of the scenery. Besides Rainbow Mountain, the surrounding landscapes are equally stunning. From afar, you can see the Vilcanota snow-capped mountain range, including Cusco’s highest peak (6,384 meters), famously known as "Mr. Impossible" in the mountaineering world. The mesmerizing views made it hard to leave, but the cold and lack of oxygen at high altitude eventually forced me to descend slowly on foot. On the way back, we had lunch at the breakfast spot, and by the time we returned to Cusco, the city was lit up beautifully.