One of the newest attractions in the Peruvian landscape is the mountain of 7 colors. Oddly enough, this incredible landscape has begun to become fashionable only in recent years. Before, it was very rare for tourists to come to this area to visit it, but it is really worth it if you want to see something different, such as appreciating the 7 colors of this mountain known as Vinicunca.
How to go to the mountain of 7 colors
If you are going to stay in Cusco, you will see that from there a lot of excursions to the mountain of vinicunca leave. Something we recommend is, whenever you go to hire the excursion, look at the comments of the people who have already made the excursion. Above all, if you are going to hire directly in Peru, in a local agency. This is because in many street agencies or those that are advertised in the tourist areas of Cuzco, excursions may be something else than they seem. In addition, to climb the mountain of 7 colors, since it is not an easy climb and being at such a height, we always have to go with the maximum possible security.
You can also go to the mountains on your own, by public transport but we do not recommend it because, although the price will be cheaper, you have to make several transfers and it is always advisable to go with an agency behind in case you have any problems. So we do not recommend going on your own.
How high is the mountain of 7 colors
This is one of the biggest drawbacks of climbing the mountain: its height. The peak, that is the top, is 5,200 meters. To give you an idea, the highest point of Machu Picchu is located at 2,430.
Being so high, we can have altitude sickness or feel more tired or dizzy than normal. That is why it is important to go with an agency because in case you feel very bad, they can attend you or even take you to the hospital if necessary. But don’t worry, it’s not usually as troubling as it sounds. What they do recommend is not to be more than half an hour at the top.
Climb the mountain of colors with horse or without horse?
As we said, you can choose to go up or down the mountain on horseback, and even do both tours. The price is somewhat expensive but it is always an option if you find yourself very tired.
Not only can you decide to ride a horse at the beginning of the trail, but there are horses along the entire trail and as long as it is free you can talk to the man who takes it and ride it. However, at the beginning of the road there are more free horses and as you go up there are fewer.
You also have to know that with a horse you cannot go all the way to the end, the last part of the summit will have to be done on foot, but it is a very small section.
We recommend starting the journey by walking and if you are in trouble, look for a horse along the way. The descent was quite easy for us so we do not think it is very necessary to go down the mountain on horseback. In fact, if you have done the climb on horseback, you can take advantage and make your way on the descent.
Altitude sickness in the mountain of 7 colors
As we mentioned before, being so high you can suffer from a little altitude sickness. Therefore, here are some recommendations to prevent this from happening:
• Do not go to Vinicunca the first day of your arrival in Cusco. The city of Cusco is quite high, so if you have already been there for three or four days you could have done a little more to the height and climbing the mountain of seven colors will not be so overwhelming. In Cusco you can stay in a hotel / airbnb or hotel con jacuzzi cusco.
• You can take pills for altitude sickness that are sold anywhere in Cusco or even Peru. We buy them in a Lima shopping center. Take them from the night before the climb and take another a couple of hours before making the climb. Although it is best to start taking them days before to see that they work well for you. My case was a little strange but I found that the pills lowered my blood pressure so I stopped taking them.
• You can also chew coca leaves while you go upstairs or bring coca caramels that are sold at any stall. Surely in your hotel they also have coca leaves available to make you an infusion before leaving with the bus.
• Always follow the guide’s instructions.
• Hydrate well and always carry some food in a backpack to recharge energy. Physical effort wears away the glucose that we have and it is always advisable to take something with a little sugar or fruit such as banana, which helps us to recover quickly.
• Don’t carry more weight than you need. Go warm depending on the time of year you go, but without going over because you will start to sweat right away.
• If you feel bad, you have dizziness or nausea, stop on the way. There will always be someone willing to help you even if you want to return to the bus where they usually wear oxygen masks to help you if you need it.
• If possible, climb the mountain in company. Not only will it make you less, but they can help you if you feel bad
Is it worth climbing the mountain of 7 colors?
YES. It is a hard but unique experience. When you reach the top you cannot believe the landscapes you are seeing. In addition, the effort you make to get on and off makes you feel stronger than ever to continue your tour of Peru.
