Rainbow Mountain is a part of the Andes Mountain range, in the Cusco Region of Peru.

Rainbow Mountain’s unique pattern became visible in 2015, when climate change caused snow that was covering it to melt. Despite only being discovered a few years ago, the Rainbow Mountain hike attracts millions of visitors per year. The hike is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the Cusco Region of Peru. Other popular hikes in the area include the hike to Machu Picchu and the Inti Punku Sun Gate Hike.

The mountain is 5,200 meters (17,060 feet) above sea level.

There are two seasons in the Cusco Region of Peru, where Rainbow Mountain is located—Wet Season (December to April) and Dry Season (May to November). The weather during the dry season is usually sunny with little chance of rain. During the wet season, there are significant amounts of rain and snow. That said, the weather can change quite quickly on Rainbow Mountain and can be unpredictable any time you visit. I visited in December (wet season) and had a great hike, with lots of sun—which is contrary to the “norm” and indicative of its erratic weather.

The best time to visit Rainbow Mountain is during the dry season (from May to November).

The degree of difficulty of this route is intermediate – easy, so it is recommended for people with an optimal physical state, as the advancement could be a little tiring for people who are not accustomed to these walks in height. However you can rent a horse in the same locality of Pampachiri with the Communards who offer this service just for people who cannot walk or not willing to walk for three hours.