Cusco: Rainbow Mountain Horseback Riding Tour + lunch

Rainbow Mountain is the main event here, but the horseback ascent changes the day. You still need to cope with cold, thin mountain air and an early start, yet the horse carries you for the uphill section while you watch camelids and high Andean scenery pass by. At the viewpoint, you get time for photos before returning along the same route.

I like the practical combination of breakfast and lunch buffets, which saves you from hunting for food on a very long day. I also like the clear hotel pickup, included transport, guide, and oxygen. The main caution is the horse arrangement: one booking raised confusion over who had paid the horsemen, so confirm the payment and tipping details before you mount.

Key points to know before booking

• The day begins between 4:00 and 5:00 am, with pickup near or inside Cusco’s historic centre.
• The horse ride uphill takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes, while the included horse is described as one way.
• Breakfast and lunch are buffet meals in Cusipata, useful on a full-day trip with limited time.
• Camelids may appear along the route, adding a local Andean touch beyond the famous mountain colors.
• The return to Cusco is scheduled for about 5:00 pm, so this is a full, tiring day.
• The $75 price includes transport, guide, meals, horse, and oxygen, but attraction entrance fees are extra.

What the $75 Rainbow Mountain day really includes

At $75 per person, this tour offers a solid package for a one-day outing from Cusco. Your fee covers hotel pickup, transport, an English or Spanish-speaking guide, buffet breakfast, buffet lunch, and a horse for the uphill section. Oxygen is also listed as included, an important bit of support for a demanding high-altitude outing.

You still pay the entrance fee separately, along with any snacks, drinks, souvenirs, or other food not listed. That means the headline price is not the final spend, so carry cash in Peruvian soles as well as a payment method you normally use in Peru.

I see the value mainly in the time saved. Organizing transport, food, a horse, and a guide separately would take effort, especially when the pickup is before sunrise. The meals also matter. A hot breakfast in Cusipata gives you a proper start, and lunch there provides a comfortable stop after the mountain visit.

The price is less attractive if you only want a short ride. This is not a quick photo stop. You leave before dawn, spend much of the day on the road or mountain, and return in the late afternoon. For you, the value comes from combining several services into one long day rather than from the riding alone.

The pre-dawn pickup from Cusco

Pickup runs between 4:00 and 5:00 am from hotels near or inside Cusco’s historic centre. The exact time depends on availability and the day’s arrangements, so have your bag ready before bed and keep your phone available.

This early departure is part of the trade-off. It gives you a full day in the mountains, but it can be rough if you have just arrived in Cusco or have not adjusted to the altitude. I would avoid scheduling another demanding activity that evening.

The operator asks you to provide a correct phone number with country code and to have WhatsApp. That is practical advice, not needless paperwork. Early morning pickup changes are much easier to handle when the guide can reach you directly.

Transport is included, but the supplied details do not specify the vehicle type, group size, or exact drive time from Cusco to Cusipata. You should treat the morning as a long transfer followed by mountain activity, not as a quick excursion.

Breakfast in Cusipata before the climb

The first planned stop is Cusipata, where you eat a buffet breakfast. This gives you a chance to fuel up before the ride and use the stop to organize warm layers, sunscreen, water, and cash.

A buffet works well here because you can choose how much to eat before the uphill section. I would keep breakfast steady rather than heavy, since you will soon be riding and spending time in cold mountain conditions.

The meal is included, but the details of the menu are not provided. Do not count on a specific dish or special diet option unless the supplier confirms it. If you need food beyond the included breakfast and lunch, bring cash and ask the operator before departure.

Cusipata is also where you return for lunch. That makes the day easier than eating at the mountain itself, where food choices and comfort can be less certain. The planned return to a proper buffet gives the outing a useful rhythm: early meal, mountain visit, then a warm lunch before the ride back to Cusco.

One and a half hours on horseback

After breakfast, you continue to the tour starting point and mount your horse. The uphill ride takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes. During this section, you can watch for camelid species, a simple but memorable feature of the route.

The horse takes some of the strain out of the ascent, but it does not turn the day into a gentle sightseeing ride. You remain outdoors in cold conditions and at altitude, and you still need to be comfortable getting on and off the animal. Wear shoes with a secure sole, and leave high heels at home, since they are not allowed.

The wording of the inclusions says horse, one way. This is important. The information confirms a horse for the ascent but does not promise a horse for the descent. Ask the guide exactly how the return works before the group sets off, especially if you are booking mainly because you do not want to walk downhill.

One practical concern came up with the local horsemen. In one case, some riders were asked to pay 80 soles to the guide for a horse, then were paired with a horseman. At the end, the horseman expected a tip and believed the amount was not enough, while the guide said the main fare would be paid later. The result was an awkward misunderstanding.

You can help avoid this by asking three direct questions before riding:

• Is the horse fee already covered by my booking?
• Who receives the payment?
• Is a tip expected, and if so, how much?

If you are not comfortable with the answer, ask for a clear explanation before mounting. This is especially useful when your Spanish is limited.

Camelids and the climb toward the famous colors

The route includes chances to see camelid species. In the Cusco region, that can mean animals such as llamas or alpacas, though the exact species you see is not guaranteed. The animals add interest to the ride and make the journey feel like more than a direct run to a famous viewpoint.

The scenery is the reason most people make this early start. Rainbow Mountain offers strong bands of color and broad Andean views, but the experience depends heavily on weather. One person specifically found the top very cold, so pack for exposure rather than assuming a sunny day will feel warm.

Bring a sun hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen even if the morning begins dark and cold. You also need weather-appropriate clothing. Layers are the sensible choice, since the conditions can change during the long day, and you will want to remove or add clothing without stopping for a full change.

Oxygen is included, but that should not be treated as a cure for altitude problems. The tour is not suitable for people with respiratory issues, high blood pressure, recent surgery, or pregnancy. It also excludes wheelchair users, babies under one year, and anyone over 200 pounds, or 91 kilograms.

These limits are worth taking seriously. If you have a medical condition not covered in the information, ask a medical professional and the supplier before booking. A beautiful viewpoint is not worth turning a day trip into a health emergency.

Time at Rainbow Mountain for photos

At the arrival point, you have enough time to enjoy the scenery and take photos. The exact length of the stop is not stated, so do not assume you will have several hours. The published schedule suggests a focused visit before returning by the same route.

This is where the guide can make a real difference. Alex was praised for being friendly and informative, while Eber was singled out for guiding and good food. Wilfred was involved in one of the horse payment arrangements. Guide assignments can change, but these names give you an idea of the personal service associated with the operator, Zarate Adventours.

Use the photo stop wisely. Take your main pictures early, then put the camera away for a few minutes and look around. At a popular viewpoint, it is easy to spend the entire visit checking poses and miss the cold, open setting you came to see.

The return follows the same route. If your horse was for the uphill section only, confirm whether you walk back, use another arrangement, or return by horse under a separate payment. The supplied information does not settle that point clearly, and it is the one part of the day where a question before departure can prevent trouble later.

Buffet lunch in Cusipata and the ride back

After the mountain visit, you return to Cusipata for a buffet lunch. This is a welcome design choice. Instead of ending the active portion of the day and immediately beginning the long drive to Cusco, you get a planned meal and a chance to warm up and rest.

The food is described as delicious and comforting, but no menu is given. If you have allergies or dietary restrictions, ask what is available before booking. The activity includes only the listed breakfast and lunch, so snacks and extra drinks are your responsibility.

You are expected back in Cusco at about 5:00 pm. That arrival time is useful for planning, but it is still an estimate. Mountain roads, group pace, and the horse arrangements can affect the schedule, so I would not book a tight evening flight or an important appointment afterward.

The late return also explains why this tour suits a full free day rather than a packed Cusco itinerary. You may still have time for dinner, but the early wake-up and cold exposure can leave you ready for a quiet evening.

Guide service, organization, and small snags

The strongest part of the service is the overall organization. Pickup times, food stops, transport, and the mountain visit are laid out in a way that makes a complicated day easier to manage. Friendly, organized guiding was repeatedly praised, and Alex received particular credit for clear information and a good manner.

The tour runs in English and Spanish. If you need detailed explanations in English, state that when booking and confirm with the supplier. The guide may need to explain the horse arrangement, meeting points, timing, and return plan, so communication matters more here than on a simple city walk.

The horsemen are local workers who form part of the outing, but their payment should be handled clearly. I would not rely on an assumption that the guide will sort everything out later. Ask who has been paid, keep the receipt or booking confirmation if one exists, and carry small notes for any agreed tip.

The activity has a 4.1 rating from 10 reviews, which suggests a generally good experience with some room for improvement rather than a perfect operation. The praise centers on food, friendly guides, and organization. The one detailed complaint focuses on horse payment, not on the mountain itself. That is useful because it points to a fix you can make before the ride.

Who should book this horseback tour?

I would choose this trip if you want to see Rainbow Mountain but prefer help with the uphill section. It suits people who value an organized day, included meals, hotel pickup, and a guide who can manage the route and local arrangements.

It also works well if you want more than a single viewpoint. The camelids, breakfast in Cusipata, horseback ascent, photo stop, and lunch give the day several distinct parts. You are not simply driven to a lookout, handed a few minutes for pictures, and sent home.

I would think twice if you dislike early mornings, cold weather, horses, or long transport days. The tour is also a poor fit if you have respiratory problems, high blood pressure, a recent surgery, pregnancy, wheelchair needs, or a body weight above the stated limit.

Bring your passport, sunglasses, sun hat, sunscreen, cash, and clothing suited to changing weather. Drones are not allowed, and neither are alcohol, drugs, littering, baby strollers, or high-heeled shoes.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if the $75 package appeals to you and you want the uphill horse included with meals, transport, a guide, and oxygen. The food and organization receive the clearest praise, and the ride gives you a practical way to reach Rainbow Mountain without relying entirely on your own legs.

Before paying, confirm the entrance fee, the exact horse coverage, the descent plan, and how the horsemen are paid. If those details are clear, Zarate Adventours offers a useful, well-packed day from Cusco. If you need a slower schedule, a guaranteed long photo stop, or a full round-trip horse ride, ask questions first or choose a different format.

FAQ

What time does the tour pick me up in Cusco?

Pickup takes place between 4:00 and 5:00 am from hotels near or inside Cusco’s historic centre. You should provide a correct phone number with country code and have WhatsApp available.

How long does the tour last?

The activity lasts one day, with an expected return to Cusco at about 5:00 pm.

Is breakfast included?

Yes. The tour includes a buffet breakfast in Cusipata before you continue to the starting point.

Is lunch included?

Yes. A buffet lunch in Cusipata is included after the Rainbow Mountain visit.

How long is the horse ride?

The uphill horseback section takes approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes. The horse inclusion is described as one way, so confirm the descent arrangement with the supplier.

Is the entrance fee included?

No. The attraction entrance fee is not included in the $75 price. Food not mentioned and souvenirs are also extra.

Who provides the tour and which languages are available?

Zarate Adventours provides the experience. The live guide service is available in English and Spanish.