Peru, a country located in the western part of South America, is known for its rich history, cultural diversity, and breathtaking nature, which includes mountains, jungles, deserts, and coasts. It is home to ancient civilizations like the Incas and other pre-Columbian cultures, making it a fascinating destination for history and adventure enthusiasts.
If you choose it as your destination for a volunteer experience, you’ll be able to enjoy this country in all its splendor and visit its must-see landmarks such as Machu Picchu (we shared its story in a previous blog post), Lake Titicaca, the Nazca Lines, the Amazon Rainforest…
Today, we want to tell you about one of the world’s most famous and unique mountains: the Mountain of 7 Colors, locally known as Vinicunca or Cerro Colorado. This natural wonder is located in the district of Pitumarca, province of Canchis, in the Peruvian Andes, within the Cusco region, where we offer several programs: childcare, teaching and academic support, community soup kitchen assistance, Montessori-style education, and women and youth empowerment.
It will be an unforgettable purposeful trip, combining hours of support for local teams across various projects with responsible tourism to discover the region’s hidden gems.
This mountain is at an altitude of 5,200 meters above sea level, making the climb an absolute challenge for travelers. However, it is entirely worth it and is famous for its striking multicolored appearance caused by the composition of various minerals in the surface layers, displaying hues of red, yellow, white, and brown, among others, shaped by geological processes of sedimentation and erosion over millions of years.
The different colors correspond to minerals such as iron oxides, copper sulfates, sulfur-rich arsenic, arsenic mixed with quartz, magmatic rocks, and manganese compounds. The phenomenon revealing these colors is relatively recent, as glacier melting in the area uncovered the colorful layers.
Located about 100 kilometers southeast of Cusco, several tours are available, including treks of varying difficulty levels. To safely enjoy these excursions, it’s recommended to spend 2-3 days in Cusco or other high-altitude areas for acclimatization.
Essential items for this trip include warm layered clothing, sunscreen, altitude sickness tablets, sunglasses, a hat to protect against direct sunlight, and appropriate footwear. The sun is intense during the day, and rain is common in the wet season. The best time to visit this magical place is between May and October.
A fun fact is how common it is to see llamas and alpacas along the way, as local Quechua communities raise them.
Visiting this rainbow mountain will make for a truly unique experience.
SEE YOU IN PERU?