Hiking Rainbow Mountain is a must-do activity when you are in Peru. However, since you will be going to a completely new territory it is important to know about certain things before preparing for your trip. Here we have listed 5 things you should know before hiking Rainbow Mountain.
One of the most important things to know when hiking rainbow mountain is the difference in altitude. The hike ends at an elevation of 5200 meters above sea level so if you are not used to such environments, you will struggle a lot at Rainbow Mountain.
It won’t be a pleasant experience with all the altitude sickness symptoms like headaches, nausea, dizziness etc. What you can do is stay 1-2 days in the Cusco area to adjust your body to the high altitudes. You can also take altitude sickness medications or chew on cocoa leaves before the Rainbow Mountain hike.
Because the weather can change drastically, it is good to pack conveniently when hiking Rainbow Mountain. Make sure to carry warm and comfy clothing such as t-shirts, sweaters, waterproof jackets, raincoats and hats. Sunglasses are also a must along with good sunscreen to protect yourself from the strong sun rays at the summit of Rainbow Mountain.
Don’t forget to take good hiking shoes and hiking gear too! It is important to eat well and stay hydrated throughout the Rainbow Mountain hike, so make sure to take plenty of water and snacks like chocolate, protein bars etc.
Travelling alone to Rainbow Mountain might not be practical if you are in Cusco because you have to go for long distances. You have to get up early in the morning and take a bus from Cusco too. So the best thing is to take an organized tour to Rainbow Mountain, in that way you will get access to all the facilities like transportation, meals, and even hotel pickup.
Sure the weather can be too chilly in the early mornings, but that’s when the Rainbow Mountain tours start. So, if you want to avoid the crowds, hike peacefully with all the hiking trails to yourself and take nice photographs at the top, you should get early to Rainbow Mountain.
And by early, it doesn’t mean tours that leave at 7.00 am, do some more research and surely you will find ones that leave much earlier!
Hiking rainbow mountain is no easy task because you have to reach the summit at 5200 meters above sea level. The hike can also be challenging for those who don’t adjust well to high altitudes. Along with that, you need to have good physical fitness to do this, so that you don’t have to stop and catch your breath every minute or so.
Make sure you train a bit, at least 1-2 months before you plan to hike Rainbow Mountain. You will have to hike for about 1.5 hours to reach the summit, while most tour companies allow their guests to walk on their own time sometimes with the weather they might have to rush things up. So be prepared for everything, but if you don’t have any other options you can also rent a horse to get to the summit.