RAINBOW MOUNTAIN OF VINICUNCA

  

This beautiful and unique mountain called VINICUNCA by the locals is located in the Peruvian Andes 140 kilometers from the city of Cusco (3 hours by car) between the districts of Cusipata and Pitumarca and has an altitude of 5,100 meters above sea level, it was only in 2016 that it began to become a must-see tourist destination thanks to its peculiar characteristics that made it in a very short time the second most visited place in Peru, only surpassed by Machu Picchu.

Half of the journey to the rainbow mountain is on a paved road and the rest of the way is a dirt road that the locals usually keep in good condition and after passing through small and picturesque towns, dreamlike landscapes where we can still see wild alpacas and llamas in their natural habitat we arrive at the base camp located at 4,600 meters above sea level here there are bathrooms and small businesses where visitors can buy water, chocolates, coca leaves, souvenirs etc and where there are also toilets.

 

 About why the mountain of colors has these characteristics is due to its mineral composition among which stand out: the WHITE COLOR made up of quartz sandstone and marls rich in calcium carbonate, the RED COLOR made up of iron and clays of the upper Tertiary, the PINK COLOR is by red clays, mudflats, mud and arilites (sand) the GREEN COLOR is made up of copper oxide the EARTHY BROWN COLOR is a compound of fanglomerate of rock and magnesium belonging to the Quaternary era and the MUSTARD YELLOW COLOR by calcareous sandstones rich in sulfide minerals. These mineral substances were deposited since 65 million years ago. 

  The trek to the top of the mountain begins at 4,600 meters where the base camp is located. From here we have the option of climbing on foot, horseback, or by motorcycle. To ascend the mountain we must travel 3 kilometers and also 3 kilometers of descent that normally take 2 hours there and 1 hour back. The route is done in 3 stages where there are also bathrooms and small shops where we can stock up on a snack or bottle of water. The first two stages are somewhat easy to cover, being the third and last the most complicated given the altitude at which we find ourselves. It is at this place where the horses also stop and we all must walk this section to the top of the mountain.

 While visiting the Rainbow Mountain is a unique and special experience that connects us with nature at its finest, allowing us to admire its beauty, no less important is the fact that by visiting this wonder we are engaging in community tourism, meaning that all the proceeds go directly to the community that manages this great tourism project. They participate directly by selling tickets to the mountain, renting out restrooms, horses, quads, and other services, providing an economic boost to this entire community, which is located in one of Peru's most poverty-stricken areas.

 

Armando el cronista