Rainbow Mountain Car Park | Informal Campsite

September 10th, 2023 by bus.trada

Dormimos nesse espaço, a noite foi bem fria (-5) e por conta da altitude de 4.700msnm. Depois descobrimos que há 4km mais acima tem outro ponto, que se passar depois das 16:00 não te cobram a entrada de 20 soles por pessoa.

June 6th, 2023 by adrianaplotzerova

Old abandoned carpark for a rainbow mountain, you can go to the higher point.

March 12th, 2020 by twocluelesstravelers

Easy version: camp/park here next to the clean toilet if you need. Town is empty, restaurant etc are abandoned.
In the morning or evening keep driving up to further parking lot, then it’s a small hike. Roads are almost empty.
I saw a quad tour group driving up here, if you can book that, do it, looked fun :)

Btw, the rainbow mountain ain’t worth it, Argentina had better, but the hike is the goal, nice 1 hour hike to 5000m+ so you can say you’ve done it.

February 10th, 2020 by thomas.grolade

There are 2 ways to see Rainbow Mountain.
- This location it's the first car park of the road that goes through Pitumarca. It's not the new road, but the end it's new. After Pitumarca it's a dirty road. I don't recommend to drive on this road with a motorhome. I guess it's possible but I'm sure it will be hard, long and stressful. When it's wet there is a lot of mud. Sometimes it's narrow with a ravine, steep and there are some holes and (big) stones on the road. We did it with a fast taxi (100 s return) in 1h20 up way. At the top there is this first car park (4440 m) after that you pay 10 s/vehicule to continue on an other (new) road. At the end you have the last and closer car park. After you have about 1h20 of walk to the viewpoint (2 km but you walk very, very slowly with altitude). It's the same viewpoint that the other way from Cusipata. At the top you can buy (hot) drinks and (hot) food. You can also ride if you don't want (can) walk (50s one way, 70s return. You can pay 10s if you catch a horse who goes down on the way). You always have to walk at the last ascent.
We paid 10s for 4 the entrance (2 adults and 2 children 3 and 5 years old) just a few meters before the view point.
- The second way (the new one but I'm not sure that the road is in better condition ?) goes through Cusipata. We didn't take this way. We saw their car park from the view point and it looks a little bit further but their path looks a little bit level.

October 13th, 2019 by vanpanam.com

perfect place to camp before or after the rainbow mountain. We came about 3 and the entire place was empty- didn’t see anyone til the next am. Bathrooms are clean

September 14th, 2019 by landroots

Quiet and safe place to sleep. The people very friendly.

July 8th, 2019 by m-e-a-j.com

We found quite hard to find a spot (or real spot) close to the mountain due to all of the other places indicated (old parking, new parking, new road not on gps, 3h walk, 1.5h walk...🤪). So we came to this parking created in 2017 (so they say) and spent the night. It was a heavy night due to the altitude and we were the only ones. The next day we prepared for a long hike (with the kids - 6 and 3yrs) and found out there was another parking higher up the road (yay!) which left us 45min walk to the top, perfect! We took a horse ride for the kids because even if the distance was short the altitude was challenging enough.
And then we understood that another road was opened through Cusipata (supposed to be shorter if you are coming down from Cusco) but it’s were ALL the tourists and tours go now, and I mean 99% of the visitors.
So if you are going to Cusco I’d recommend to come here because it’s closer and if you are going down from Cusco (to Colca, Arequipa, etc.) I would also recommend to come this way since you’re already going down ! 😊 the road is beautiful and almost nicer than just the rainbow mountain itself + you are basically alone throughout all the way (expect for locals and a couple of cars with tourists).
The other thing is that the parking from the Cusipata side is ~150m higher than this parking and at this altitude it makes a lot of difference in terms of oxygen.
The road is paved until Pitumarca and then it’s dirt, going through the mountains and beautiful canyons.

April 26th, 2019 by Run Run Andante

Great parking area in the beginning of the trailhead. Not slept here, but we believe that is quiet at night. Has bathrooms for $ 1 Sol (running water). We started the trail at 7 am and when we got to the mountain type 8:30 am there were 50 people. We think you have to get to the top before 7 am or after 12 pm

Gran área de estacionamiento en el inicio del sendero. No dormirnos aquí, pero creemos que es tranquilo durante la noche. Tiene baños por $1 sol (con agua). Comenzamos el sendero a las 7 am y cuando llegamos a la montaña tipo 8:30 am habían 50 personas. Creemos que hay que llegar a la cima antes de las 7 am o después de las 12 pm

February 26th, 2019 by o.stoller

We had a good, but very cold night here. There is a huge building with toilets. Very friendly staff and cute dogs:-) Nice walk to the rainbow mountain. Camping is free. No problem with 2WD.

December 5th, 2018 by adventurehaks.com

Nice place to camp before hiking rainbow mountain. There is a grass area behind the huts to pitch a tent, or the massive parking lot if you brought your RV. There was no one here when we arrived at 4 pm, and no one on the mountain when we hiked up at 5 am. 10 soles per person for the hike, camping is free. There is a water tap for cooking and cleaning. Very quiet night.

March 1st, 2018 by zobod

As described. Ports toilets open all night. Shops till 3-5pm maybe later. One stayed very late and had an inside area. Larger toilet block being built. Quiet night-cold when the sun goes down. We had 3 inches of hail.

February 26th, 2018 by method.digitaldesign

We camped here for the night in our roof tent and woke up to everything covered in 3 inches of snow in the morning. The track was fogged in and the friendly guys that live there recommended we wait until the first tour because the weather could turn and become dangerous. There’s a few lovely people who live around the car park in shacks and you can get hot drinks off them. The mountain itself isn’t really that incredible (foggy) but the hike was great!

December 9th, 2017 by viajerosutopicos

Pasamos noche en el parqueo y subimos a las 6h..llegamos y había solo más 3 personas...caminando más un poco hay el Valle Rojo que cuesta 5 soles...estuvimos solos ahí. A las 11 cuando empezamos a bajar estava muy lleno de gente y caballos. Recomendamos que para agarrar la ruta de Pitumarca hasta el parqueo la hagan tipo 11h hasta 13h o después de las 17h..en esos horarios no hay vas subiendo o bajando, y ya que la ruta es angosta es mejor evitar encuentros.

November 23rd, 2017 by undtschueuess.wordpress.com

quite nice flat and cold in the night. we started at 5 am to the mountains. were totally alone.

November 11th, 2017 by Enjoytripbr

Nós tivemos uma noite bem tranquila, um pouco difícil para dormir por causa da altitude, mas já vai se aclimatando para a caminhada. Dormimos em dois carros.

October 10th, 2017 by lesmilav.canalblog.com

Parking à l’entrée du parc montagne arc-en-ciel plat tranquille petit commerce la journée

July 24th, 2017 by americano.frenchpress

Spent the night here and it was well worth it to get an early start on the trail. Plenty of level ground and space for multiple rigs.

July 18th, 2017 by jdeacon

Arrived shortly after dark. Only sone light at which later turned iut to be stalls selling alsorts durig daytime. Parked the car on a side and slept the night.
Set of on the trail at 6:30., the same time as the first tour of 4 which left on hourseback. The next tour was about 20 minutes behind. That was enough time to get unspoit photos.. The views are more than just the 7 colour ridge,
Round trip was exactly 4 hours; 50+, not really fit after travelling for 2 months. Pace youself going up, You"ll feel the last two climbs.

June 20th, 2017 by Flinking Around

great views but really really cold at night. road up is a good quality dirt road.

June 10th, 2017 by pauljohnpickering

This is the brand new start point (circa 1st June 17) to hike rainbow mountain. Large car park, camp area behind stalls and start point for the rainbow trek. Break/lunch/dinner available. Small stall run by friendly family who looked after our bikes and tent while we trekked. They didn't ask for anything but we gave them a tip. Horses available for the less acclimatised! We started the trek at 6am and we're first ones up. Mass of tourist buses arrived from 7am in the car park. Basic drinks and snacks available at the top, even beer! Trek takes between 1.5-3hrs to the top.

June 5th, 2017 by torsten.glaes

Camped here as well, beginning of June it gets icy at night, but there isn't a better Start for Tourist Attractions like this.
We arrived at 04:30pm, on the way still minibuses passing us, so be careful on the way there!
Consider the Sunrise direction for your Diesel Engine, lots of people we met had problems to start the frozen Engine, although because of the altitude (~4600m)