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Where do the surreal rainbows over Mount Vinicunca come from?
The rainbow mountain Vinicunca, standing at 4876 meters above sea level, is part of the Andes mountain range and is located approximately 100 km southeast of Cusco, Peru. Unlike typical rocky or forested mountains, this mountain is unique in that it is completely devoid of trees.
Vinicunca is a natural rock formation created from multiple layers of sandstone with varying colors. This gives the mountain its vibrant, natural hues. The origin of this unique shape stems from the erosion of layers of rock composed of various minerals.
The rainbow mountain Vinicunca is 4876 meters above sea level.
The reason for the colors on the mountains is due to the ice that once covered the entire area and the effects of climate change. As the ice began to melt, water mixed with minerals in the earth's crust, transforming the Earth into the many colors we see today.
Vinicunca is a natural rock formation composed of multiple layers of sandstone with varying colors.
The dominant colors on the rainbow mountain are composed of quite unique elements. Pink comes from red clay mixed with sand and mudstone, white from sandstone and rocks containing calcium carbonate. Red is formed by iron-rich clay layers. Blue is composed of phyllite and magnesium-rich clay. Brown is a combination of pebbles and magnesium, and yellow is from sulfide-containing limestone sandstone.
The best time to visit Rainbow Mountains
For any adventure, weather is a crucial factor. The same applies to the Vinicunca Rainbow Mountain experience. To capture unforgettable photos, the best time is right at sunrise or just before sunset. The best time to visit is between mid-March and November or from June to August, when the weather is pleasant and the sky is clear blue.
How to get to the surreal rainbow
Since there are no direct flights, visitors must fly to Lima, Peru's capital, and then take a connecting flight to Cusco. From there, it takes about three hours by bus or by car to reach a trail leading to the summit. To reach the highest point of Rainbow Mountain, visitors must hike up to six miles (approximately 9.6 km) or hire a horse from a local.
During their trip, visitors can also explore the culture and characteristics of the local people when they visit Vinicunca.
Throughout the journey to the mountain, visitors will have the opportunity to traverse hills, visit small towns and villages characteristic of the indigenous people, and explore the culture of the local communities.
The Incas discovered this magnificent mountain quite a long time ago. However, they had no intention of commercializing this wonder by promoting tourism. It wasn't until about five years ago that Vinicunca began to attract more attention when mountaineering enthusiasts posted stunning and majestic images of this unique mountain on social media.
Approximately 500 locals have left their jobs to move to this area and work as tour guides for tourists. The average price is around $3 per person (approximately 69,000 VND), generating a profit of around $400,000 per year (approximately 9.2 million VND).
Tourists should bring plenty of water and plan for both the ascent and descent times.
Currently, with the increasing number of visitors, the soil layers of Mount Vinicunca are more susceptible to damage. Therefore, visitors should be careful when ascending the mountain and follow the designated route. In particular, visitors should avoid touching the soil and rocks to prevent erosion.
Despite its fame, visiting and admiring the Rainbow Mountain is not easy, requiring tourists to be in excellent health and possess certain knowledge of mountaineering and survival, even with transportation services in place.
