The new rainbow mountain in Perú: Pallay Punchu of the Apu Taqllo

Discover the new rainbow mountain in Peru, just a few hours from the city of Cusco. In the middle of a practically virgin tourist circuit is one of the most impressive natural wonders of Latin America. Travel towards the Cusco highlands and be amazed by a mountain that seems to have been wrapped in a colorful Andean poncho full of ancestral iconography, slopes and summit stand out in various colors, including red, brushed, purple, green, pink, white, and more. Since 2020, this place has received visitors.

With this new destination, we would have 3 colored mountains in the Cusco region: The Vinicunca mountain of 7 colors that is close to the Ausangate mountain, the Palcoyo Rainbow mountain and the Pallay Poncho mountain.

The World of the Pallay:

In this new amazing place, actually there are 3 incredible Sharp Mountains called Apu Taqllo, Condor Sayana, Pallay Poncho. The elevation of this mountain is (4,800 m/15.748 ft).

Pallay Poncho: which means Inca written in the Poncho, The Pallay is one kind of writing that Incas used to use at pre-colonial tomes.

Apu Taqllo: Actually the highest mountain around here is the Apu Taqqllo Mountain (5,000 m/16.404 ft). Native Quechua People called Apu to refer to the spirits who live in the mountains, hence, they are the protectors of towns, nations, and people. Taqllo means sharp, nowadays we can delight that the 3 mountains are sharp.

Condor Sayana: is the mountain beside Pallay Poncho, the meaning is, where the condor stops. According to the locals from Layo District, The Condors look for any animal who is sick to hunt them.

Location and Elevation:

This breathtaking colorful mountain is located Cusco Region, at the limit between Canas and Canchis provinces. Between Layo and Ocobamba Communities. The way to get this Colorful mountain is just following the highway toward Puno. From Cusco City will take you about 04 hours to get the beginning of the Hike. The elevation from Pallay Poncho is (4,800 m/15.748 ft)

How to get to Pallay Punchu?

Layo is approximately 4 hours by car from the city of Cusco. You first need to reach the city of Sicuani (3,550 m / 11,646 ft) and then board a car to get to the town of Layo.

From there, there are several routes to the colorful sector of Pallay Punchu. Some routes are extreme and you may find yourself in a rush to climb. So we recommend you to enjoy this adventure in the company of an expert guide who knows the area well.

On average, you’ll have to walk at high altitude and climb for about 2 hours to the viewpoint. After the walk, prepare to feel like you’re flying over the surface of another planet. The edges of Pallay Punchu — cream, magenta, brown — spread out toward the steep mountain slope in mind-blowing patterns. Take some time to understand what it means to contemplate these pyramids patiently sculpted by Mother Earth, or Pachamama, for millions of years.

On the one hand, you’ll be able to observe the fullness and the dark waters of the immense Langui-Layo lagoon. On the other, you’ll see mysterious and sharp mountains amidst valleys of red earth. Open your arms as if you were an Andean condor, feel the cold wind of the Cusco highlands, and let your mind fly away.

Remember that you’ll reach (4,800 m/15.748 ft), so take precautions. If you want to visit this natural wonder, we recommend you arrive in Cusco (3,400 masl / 11,154 ft) at least 2 days in advance to acclimatize. It’s important to drink plenty of fluids and avoid consuming alcohol, coffee, and cigarettes. Altitude sickness can be very unpleasant since its symptoms include: severe headache, shortness of breath, vomiting, diarrhea, etc.

The weather:

• The weather in Pallay Punchu is cold. During the mornings and afternoons the temperature can reach a maximum of 18ºC. and a minimum of 8ºC. On the other hand, at night the maximum temperature can reach 5ºC. and the minimum 0ºC or even less.
• The rains are more intense during the months of December, January, February and March. On those days it is not advisable to visit the site as the ground becomes muddy and difficult to navigate.
• The most recommended months to visit are April, May, June, July, August, September, October and November.

Other similar tourist attractions:

• 7 Colors Mountain, Vinicunca – This summit is the second most visited tourist attraction in Cusco, after Machu Picchu. Its mineral soils have up to seven different colors. It is one of the most photographed landscapes in Peru. The visit includes a 5-kilometer walk. The Vinicunca is visited by about 1,500 people every day.
• Rainbow Mountain of Palccoyo – A few kilometers from Vinicunca is the mountain of colors of Palccoyo. The slopes of this mountain have a coloration of various shades. You get there through a walk of only 1 hour from the town of the same name. From this mountain you have impressive views of the Andes Mountains. There are some tours that link the Vinicunca with the Palccoyo mountain in a trip of only 1 day.
• The red valley of Pitumarca – The slopes of this mountain have a red – clayey coloration that make it an incredible landscape. It is located just 2 hours of walking from the town of Pitumarca. On the way it is possible to appreciate the famous Andean camelids such as llamas and alpacas. The site is not so visited by tourists so it is still possible to appreciate it without many people around.

More information:

• Due to the distance and the duration of the walk, to make the trip to Pallay Punchu of only 1 day it is recommended to leave the city of Cusco at around 4:00 in the morning.
• There are still not many tourism agencies that offer tours to this tourist destination. You can locate one online or in the city of Cusco itself.
• The village of Layo is the starting point for the trek to Pallay Punchu. There you can take the opportunity to have breakfast and lunch before and after the visit. There are no high-quality restaurants, but all of them offer delicious typical Cusco food.
• To reduce the symptoms of altitude sickness, avoid fatty foods and alcoholic beverages. It is also important to drink plenty of water. A good option for the walk is to carry a ‘portable oxygen’ for sale in any pharmacy in Cusco.

Plan Your Trip:

Want to see the incredible Trek to Pallay Punchu for yourself? Don’t hesitate to contact us so that one of our expert travel advisors can start planning your trip today!

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