Cusco: Rainbow Mountain Horseback Riding Tour + lunch

The best part of this Cusco day trip is the horseback approach to Rainbow Mountain, which saves you from making the full uphill route on foot. You still get the sharp cold, thin-air challenge, camelid sightings, and famous striped hills, but the horse carries you for the main ascent.

I like the early hotel pickup and the two buffet meals. Breakfast in Cusipata breaks up the pre-dawn drive, while lunch gives you a warm, welcome meal after the mountain. I also like that the tour includes transport, a guide, oxygen, and a horse for one way. The main catch is that the Rainbow Mountain entrance fee is extra, and the horsemen payment arrangement should be made clear before you set off.

Key points to know before booking

• A 90-minute horse ride handles the uphill stretch: The horse is included for one way, so confirm exactly where you dismount and how the return is handled.
• The day begins very early: Hotel pickup near or inside Cusco’s historic center runs between 4:00 and 5:00 am, with arrival back in Cusco around 5:00 pm.
• Buffet breakfast and lunch are included: Both meals are served in Cusipata, making this more than a simple transport-and-photo stop.
• Camelids add a local touch: Keep watch for llamas, alpacas, and other camelid species during the climb.
• Cold weather is part of the deal: Bring layers, a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, and clothing suited to changing mountain conditions.
• The horse arrangement needs clear communication: One confirmed departure included confusion over payment to horsemen, so ask who pays the riding fee and when.

Leaving Cusco before sunrise

This is a long day built around one main goal: reaching Rainbow Mountain before returning to Cusco. Pickup takes place between 4:00 and 5:00 am from a hotel near or inside the historic center, so set out everything you need the night before.

That early start is practical, not glamorous. You will be leaving while Cusco is still quiet, and the first stretch of the day is mainly about getting to the mountain area. The payoff is more time at the attraction and a better chance of following the stated schedule, with a return to the city at about 5:00 pm.

Your phone number must include the country code, and you need WhatsApp for contact with the operator. This matters for a pickup that takes place in the dark. If you are making a last-minute reservation, check availability with Zarate Adventours by email before paying.

The package costs $75 per person. That is a fair bundle if you want hotel pickup, road transport, a guide, breakfast, lunch, oxygen, and a one-way horse included in one booking. It is not the final price, since the attraction entrance fee is excluded and any extra food or souvenirs are your responsibility.

Breakfast in Cusipata before the climb

The first planned stop is Cusipata, where you have a buffet breakfast. This is a useful pause after the early departure, especially because you need fuel before spending time in cold, high mountain air.

A buffet also gives you some choice, which helps if you are not hungry enough for a large meal at that hour. The supplied information does not list the dishes, so you should not book this expecting a particular menu. Think of it as a practical mountain breakfast included in the cost.

Cusipata also gives the day a local rhythm. Rather than driving straight to a viewpoint and rushing back, the tour uses the village as a food stop before and after the visit. The same village is where you return for lunch, so you can think of Cusipata as the day’s base for meals.

Mounting up for the 90-minute ascent

After breakfast, the vehicle continues to the starting point. There you mount the horse and begin an ascent of about one hour and 30 minutes.

This is the feature that makes the outing attractive to many people. Rainbow Mountain is not a casual roadside stop. The uphill route, cold, and altitude can make the approach hard work. A horse reduces the physical strain, though it does not remove the effects of high altitude. You will still need to take the climb at a sensible pace and dress for exposed conditions.

The horse is listed as included for one way. That wording is important. The plan says you return by the same route, but it does not clearly state that the horse carries you back down. Ask your guide before mounting so you know where you will dismount and what the return involves.

There was also a payment problem on one departure. Some people who had not prepaid were asked to pay 80 soles to the guide for a horse, and after the ride, horsemen expected a separate payment. The issue was not the ride itself, but confusion about who had paid whom. To avoid an awkward exchange in Spanish, confirm the horse fee at the start and ask how the horseman receives it.

That point deserves attention because these rides involve local horsemen, not just a vehicle accessory. You want the correct person to receive the agreed fare. If a tip is expected, ask your guide clearly before the ride rather than waiting until everyone is getting off.

Looking for camelids on the mountain route

The climb gives you a chance to see camelid species. The description does not promise a wildlife stop or a particular number of animals, so treat this as an added possibility rather than the main reason to book.

Llamas and alpacas are part of the visual character of the Cusco highlands, and seeing them along the route gives the ride more interest than a straight climb to a photo point. Keep your camera ready, but do not assume the animals will appear on cue.

A professional guide accompanies the group and speaks English or Spanish. Guides on different departures have included Alex, Eber, and Wilfred, though your guide may be someone else. Alex received praise for being friendly and informative, while Eber was specifically associated with good organization and food. The quality of a day like this depends heavily on clear instructions, particularly around the horses and pickup times.

Reaching Rainbow Mountain and making the most of the stop

At the top, you have time to enjoy the scenery and take photographs. The available schedule does not specify the exact length of the stop, but the route description allows enough time for a proper visit rather than a drive-by picture.

The mountain’s appeal is visual. Bands of color cut across the slopes, and the open setting makes the cold feel sharper than it did in Cusco. One useful piece of advice from a previous departure is simple: expect it to be cold at the top. Wear more than you think you need, especially for the photo stop when you are standing still.

Bring sunglasses and sunscreen even if the morning begins cloudy. High mountain light can be strong, and the open terrain offers little shelter. A sun hat helps in clear weather, while warm layers and weather-appropriate clothing are just as important.

Do not confuse the included oxygen with a substitute for preparation. Oxygen is carried as part of the tour, but the outing is not suitable for people with respiratory issues, high blood pressure, recent surgery, or pregnancy. It is also not suitable for babies under one year, wheelchair users, or anyone weighing over 200 pounds, or 91 kilograms.

The attraction entrance fee is not included in the $75 price. Carry cash for that fee, along with any other personal spending. The supplied details do not state the entrance price, so confirm the current amount before departure rather than assuming it is covered.

Returning to Cusipata for lunch

The return follows the same route back to Cusipata, where a buffet lunch is served. After a cold mountain stop, this meal is more than a pleasant extra. It gives you a proper chance to warm up, eat, and recover before the drive back to Cusco.

The lunch is described as delicious and comforting, but no menu is provided. If you have strict dietary needs, ask the operator in advance. Food not specifically mentioned is excluded, so do not assume drinks, snacks, or special meals are included.

The two-meal setup improves the value of the day. Many mountain tours include only transport and a guide, leaving you to sort out food at inconvenient times. Here, breakfast and lunch are built into the route, which means fewer decisions during a very long day.

The ride back to Cusco

After lunch, transport returns you to the city, with arrival expected at approximately 5:00 pm. That makes this a full-day commitment, not a short morning trip that leaves you free for afternoon plans.

I would keep the evening light. The early pickup, long road time, horse ride, mountain stop, and return drive add up. Do not schedule a major evening activity that depends on arriving at exactly 5:00 pm, since the stated time is approximate.

The tour includes hotel pickup, but the service is limited to hotels near or inside Cusco’s historic center. If you are staying farther out, ask where the meeting point will be. The operator needs your correct phone number and WhatsApp access, so double-check both when booking.

What the $75 price really covers

At $75, the tour offers solid practical value for a visitor who wants an organized Rainbow Mountain day without arranging separate transport, food, guide services, and a horse.

Included are:

• Hotel pickup
• Transport
• Professional guide
• English or Spanish guiding
• Buffet breakfast
• Buffet lunch
• Horse for one way
• Oxygen

The gaps are just as important. You pay the attraction entrance separately, and food not mentioned, souvenirs, and other personal costs are excluded. You should also carry cash, as requested in the preparation notes.

The value is strongest if you want convenience and do not want to manage several local arrangements yourself. It is less attractive if you already have transport or plan to walk the route without a horse. Since the horse is one way only, clarify the exact riding arrangement before you compare this package with a walking tour.

Who should book this horseback trip

I would consider it a good fit for an active visitor who wants to see Rainbow Mountain but would rather not make the full climb on foot. You should be comfortable with a pre-dawn start, a long day, cold conditions, and a horse ride lasting around 90 minutes uphill.

It also suits you if included meals matter. Breakfast and lunch in Cusipata make the day easier, especially when you are leaving Cusco before breakfast time.

This is not the right choice for pregnant people, wheelchair users, people with respiratory issues or high blood pressure, people recovering from recent surgery, babies under one year, or anyone over 200 pounds, or 91 kilograms. High-heeled shoes are not allowed, and drones, alcohol, drugs, and littering are prohibited.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later, which helps if your Cusco plans are still shifting.

Practical packing for the mountain

Keep your essentials in a small day bag that you can manage around the horse and during the photo stop.

• Passport
• Sunglasses
• Sun hat
• Sunscreen
• Cash for the attraction fee and personal expenses
• Warm, weather-appropriate clothing
• Comfortable shoes, with no high heels
• A phone with WhatsApp and your country code registered correctly

Layering is the sensible approach. The morning, ascent, and mountaintop stop can feel very different, and the mountain weather may change. The Australian feedback was especially clear about the cold at the top, so do not pack only for mild Cusco weather.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want a well-organized, meal-included route to Rainbow Mountain and like the idea of using a horse for the main ascent. The guides have received strong marks for friendliness, organization, and information, and the combination of transport, breakfast, lunch, and oxygen removes much of the day’s planning work.

Before you commit, ask two direct questions: how much is the attraction entrance fee today, and exactly how are the horse and horseman payments handled? If the answer is clear, the $75 package is a practical choice.

Skip it if you need wheelchair access, have one of the listed medical conditions, dislike very early starts, or want a quiet, flexible mountain day. For everyone else, this is a demanding but sensible way to reach one of the Cusco region’s most recognizable sights.

FAQ

What time is hotel pickup?

Pickup takes place between 4:00 and 5:00 am from hotels near or inside Cusco’s historic center.

Is breakfast included?

Yes. Buffet breakfast is served in the village of Cusipata before you continue to the horse-riding starting point.

Is lunch included?

Yes. After returning from Rainbow Mountain, you have a buffet lunch in Cusipata.

Is the Rainbow Mountain entrance fee included?

No. The attraction entrance fee is not included, so bring cash to pay it separately.

How long is the horse ride?

The ascent by horse takes approximately one hour and 30 minutes. The horse is included for one way, so ask the guide how the return is arranged.

Which languages are available?

The tour offers a live guide in English or Spanish.

Can I cancel the booking?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later.