Travel destinations Peru – Nature
Vinicunca – the «Rainbow Mountain»
Rainbow Mountain Vinicunca is part of the Vilcanota mountain range
with the greatest concentration of snow-capped peaks in Peru. The melting
of the glaciers revealed
an enchanting high mountain landscape with valleys, lakes and a colorful
mountain ridge. The colored stripes make the mountain appear like a
rainbow on earth. Vinicunca is the Spanish adaptation of the Quechua word
winikunka, meaning «colored mountain».
Geographical location
About 100 km southeast of Cusco.
Minerals that give the mountain
its colors: red clay, quartz sandstone, marl, calcium carbonate, iron,
clay, phyllites, iron-magnesium, magnesium, limestone, sulfur minerals.
5200 m.
Climate
The temperature varies little throughout the year around 4°C and can drop
below 0°C. In the dry season from April to October dry without
precipitation. Foggy and rainy with frequent rainfall in the rainy season
from November to March.
Photo: ANDINA.
Whole day
Hike from Pitumarca to Rainbow Mountain
Vinicunca. View of Ausangate's main peak, which is almost entirely
covered in snow.
Altitude
Travel programs:
PTW-CUS006
Vinicunca – the rainbow mountain