Vinicunca, also known as the rainbow mountain, is a masterpiece of nature in the peruvian Andes.
You rithc the mountain trough the "
El camino del Apu Ausangate", is the old path, holy to incas, that brings you there.
The trecking is available in all the Cusco tourist agencies.
Tge price is about 45- 50 USD, really less compared to the beautifull experience you will have.
The van takes yoh at your hotel or hostel around 2.30 am.
Arrives at the valley where the path starts around 8.30 where they organize a light breakfast.
Once you are there you will share the path with other people from different tours.
At one point you have to choose if to take a horse until the top (75 soles, 2,5USD one way 100 soles, 4 USD go and back), we didn't and I really suggeat not to, cause the walk is amazing and more you get tired more the top of the mountain and his colours will be satisfying to your eyes.
But it is true, it's a really hard trecking.
It's about 2.5/3 hours to go up (about 1000m) and 2 more to get down.
The soil is not hard most of the time, it is almost all peat around, so your feet will get wet.
Yoi start from a height of 4000 m and you will ritch 5.200, so the air will get havier and havier, your guides will have all the necessary in case of you will feel bad, coca leaves will help you a lot too.
Once you are there and you see the colours show of the mountain all the fatigue disappears.
You can't really describe what it feels but I can tell you is one of the most beautifull thinks I ever seen, and that repays all the 5.30 hours pf tracking.
Once you are down you will feel dead, tired like never, the head looks like it will explode, but a magical quinoa soup that they give you befire lunch, just makes you feel like nothing happened, an other miracle from mother nature.