Seven Colored Mountain Tour Review: Is it Worth It?

So, you’re thinking about hiking the Seven Colored Mountain near Cusco, right? Maybe you have seen the pictures, maybe you have not. Very, very enticing images are all over the internet. This tour comes up a lot if you search online. I went, and I thought that sharing what I experienced could definitely help. Let’s explore if this crazy popular, super high altitude trip, complete with meals, actually matches the hype!

What is the Seven Colored Mountain All About?

Basically, the Seven Colored Mountain, or Vinicunca as it’s also known, is kinda this mountain with stripes. More or less, layers of different colored sediments give it that eye-catching look. Arguably, it’s the kind of image that just sticks with you! The mountain’s colors are basically from minerals, the mix of which is just pressed together there over many years. That’s why we now have something that can turn a travel destination into something almost dreamlike. Cusco has it pretty near it too! So that makes a lot of people curious enough to try to make it there.

In fact, it had been hidden beneath a blanket of ice until not too long ago. Now that the ice is melting it has unveiled this rainbow beauty! It became really popular only very recently. Before that, I am guessing the secret remained mostly with locals, with only very few tourists willing to venture out into that kind of hard-to-reach destination. Of course, with exposure from the Internet this special spot now gets a huge number of people trying to make their way over. And just so you know, it’s pretty darn high up, somewhere around 17,000 feet (5,200 meters). You feel the difference immediately!

Booking the Full Day Tour: What to Expect

You can find tons of agencies in Cusco that offer pretty much the same package, is that right? Typically, these tours promise a few things, such as transportation to and from your accommodation in Cusco, a guide to show you around, and, really important, all your meals throughout the day. In other words, you do not have to bring food along.

Most of the tour outfits have a similar vibe. It is possible that it starts super early; mine kicked off around 3 AM! Usually it’s in a mini-bus. You just collect a bunch of sleepy tourists from their hotels and get moving toward the mountains. In effect, this means an early, early morning and, typically, the need for a fair amount of patience for any number of small things along the way!

Usually, there’s a breakfast stop in a small town somewhere along the way, followed by a long drive further to the trailhead. This helps the acclimatization and saves you time the next morning, even though some companies can take you from Cusco all the way there in one run. After that it’s an explanation that it’s about a two-hour hike, at a steady incline, to reach the famed viewpoint from where the Seven Colored Mountain can actually be seen. Also included is lunch somewhere on the way back, and a return to Cusco usually around sunset.

The Altitude Struggle: Is Acclimatization Needed?

So, let’s chat about the height, yeah? In fact, if you come from a lower altitude, like I do, the jump can hit you hard, really. I have noticed the height very quickly upon landing in Cusco itself. And that’s already more than 11,000 feet (3,400 meters) above sea level! Now, adding another 6,000 feet on top of that on the trail is that thing! Believe it or not, there are people with fitness and endurance that do not mind a challenge, however, there are plenty of things people can do in terms of precaution before putting themselves through this stress!

I usually would suggest giving yourself a couple of days in Cusco, to take it easy, to let your body adjust naturally. That can definitely make all the difference. Basically, it would make any experience better! You can drink loads of water, too, like your grandma always advised, right? Avoid anything too heavy for food as well. Coca tea is actually something many tourists use too. At the very least you should probably check with a medical professional, I would do that! A lot of places say medication could just deal with it all together!

On the trail, very listen to your body. Really important! So, don’t push yourself too fast. It would be smart to stop often for a moment, in order to catch your breath, arguably. Plenty of folks find that pacing is definitely something that keeps them going longer, actually.

On the Trail: What’s the Hike Like?

Basically, let’s talk about what it’s actually like out there, alright? When you begin, expect that there’s a mix of flat paths and steep sections. The terrain itself is generally solid but it can have loose gravel in certain spots. Those parts? Well, it makes things a little trickier, but that will happen if you pick a challenging activity to begin with! A walking stick helps for sure.

In general, the scenery is striking. Almost otherworldly, if you let yourself just appreciate. You can see mountains all around, is that right? There’s this huge sky over your head, too. It does feel like you’re really out there in the world when you’re looking at it all!

The crowds can get very dense, which I will have to warn about in particular. Many, many people all decide to visit at the same time, you know? Arguably, that might take a bit away from the experience for those who prefer a calmer scene. Be sure that that can very much impact what it feels like to go there at all. Regardless, it’s possible you may not like people walking up ahead of you who just started out 5 minutes prior! I did, personally!

The View: Does the Seven Colored Mountain Live Up to the Hype?

Alright, so here is that thing; the moment you were waiting for. When you see the mountain after all that effort is that actually going to pay off? So, very likely the pictures do make it seem better than it is in reality. That is usually how social media and online travel brochures seem to work in general. It really depends on what you consider worthwhile in such situations anyway! No wonder your answer might depend on the day you find yourself traveling, really!

It may depend on the weather the day you go too. If the sky is totally clear, the colors just are bolder. That does add something. If it’s overcast, then that’s likely just not quite the same. A tip from the inside might be; be aware of times in order to avoid times when it is totally swamped, that way there will be at least better opportunities and vantage points when snapping your images from the top! If nothing else.

What is that? The mountain is cool-looking, I will say that. Just the whole experience – like, the hard walk, getting to that altitude, feeling far from everyone in such a remote spot, might make the effort actually have value to you. I find myself going there and realizing that any adventure taken on for yourself turns into an opportunity to learn or discover some facet of the external reality or the internal consciousness of being who we all truly are! So, you know!

The Food: Fueling Up on the Mountain

Alright, food is what we are talking about now! The food which came with the tour was generally fine, it had everything you’d expect, even though there might be no Michelin Star experiences on offer. So it fills you up before you have to keep hiking.

That breakfast will be very much a pretty simple thing; likely there’s bread, maybe some eggs, coca tea obviously (of course to fight altitude) etc. Just a basic way of getting a kick start to the day. Very much adequate. Then there’s lunch on the way back, which I can explain consisted of a bigger buffet-style selection that offered pasta and soup along with chicken and rice that were, in reality, a whole lot tastier to eat because it would get refuel after hiking.

Now make sure that your tummy does alright when trying all that food while knowing this: some of it may not be prepared while following some international standards or quality and health; what I mean by this statement is basically just consider the potential of anything going wrong because I want to state things like your grandma would, that’s it, nothing too specific.

What to Bring With You

• Warm Clothes: Especially if you get there earlier and would like to stay longer! You should know the temperature is prone to falling like crazy because of being at altitude! You will see the difference from when your mini-bus lets you go there.
• Hiking Boots: Arguably, very sturdy footwear just is a necessity! Support on the ankles will turn to be a blessing.
• Sunscreen & Hat: Now, even if it’s rather chilly it’s good to know how intense the sun can very easily get at this altitude! Better protect yourself to prevent further annoyances.
• Water: This may sound like stating the obvious, but it will prove invaluable in a circumstance which puts your physical well being to the absolute test! So, carry on you at the very least some sort of portable water container and even electrolyte salts may come handy.
• Coca Leaves or Altitude Sickness Pills: Do not doubt if you think that this kind of “special herbs” that the Incas and subsequent cultures left as a legacy! Chew leaves or ask for professional advice about drugs to assist alleviate that pressure upon your lungs and other internal organs when exposed to atmospheric low levels of air! As simple as that!
• Cash: Also something that goes without even suggesting because in a circumstance like that where you wander up through the highlands to find this colored looking mountain there will not be opportunities to spend money like you would in civilized metropolis: well guess again because there is no place where capitalist mind has been unable to find and it just happens that this one may actually may come handy since there’s bathrooms and stuff to buy.

Is the Seven Colored Mountain Tour Worth It? My Recommendation

So, should you just go on the tour? More or less, yeah, if you are into something epic that puts to the test yourself as something else other than just another consumer. But this one, like almost all the things where big effort leads to, takes you through unique vistas which might trigger inner consciousness like just like peyote consumption! If I needed to tell a simple no for all those that expect no bigger emotions when reaching places. It did involve a fairly big effort and very much planning. Still, those sights – even though maybe you have to strain yourself – could definitely be worth it.

That said, basically know that it’s packed with people now! Basically you are not the special adventurer you might have thought to be, however you might still gain some sort of internal or spiritual reward even at a place swamped by crowds with their social media gear ready. The meals, that I think were decent enough in general. But that comes secondary to experiencing something that may trigger some sort of transformation as you gaze out there as some of the clouds pass!

Alright, if I would visit Cusco and could adjust quickly to being high in the mountains, probably yes I would do the hike again. It’s not so you just see something great out in the world. So you prove to yourself what you have deep down to show on! However, I am able to say if, that this adventure should be taken knowing how it is the sort of mass tourist destination!