Pallay Punchu is a rainbow mountain in the district of Layo, Canas province, about four hours south of Cusco. Unlike Vinicunca, its stripes are not horizontal but sharp vertical ridges, like the pattern of a woven poncho: that is what its Quechua name means. The viewpoint sits at about 4,700 metres (15,420 ft) and is reached with an hour and a half to two hours of moderate climbing. It gets a tiny fraction of Rainbow Mountain’s visitors.
What Pallay Punchu is
In Quechua, punchu means poncho and pallay the patterns woven into it. The name describes what you see: pointed ridges of rock with red, green and ochre stripes that look like an Andean textile made of stone. It lies in the rural area of Layo, above the Langui Layo lake. Andina, the Peruvian state news agency, reported that National Geographic Travel included it, together with Vinicunca, among the six most spectacular rainbow mountains in the world.
What the trip is like
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Departure from Cusco | 3:00 am |
| Drive | About four hours along the southern road, with breakfast on the way |
| Hike | An hour and a half to two hours of moderate climbing on community trails |
| Viewpoint | About 4,700 m (15,420 ft), with the coloured ridges and the lake behind |
| Total duration | About 14 hours, back in Cusco at nightfall |
This is the day on our private Pallay Punchu tour: unhurried free time at the viewpoint, the descent, lunch in the village and the drive back to Cusco. What it demands is not the hike but the early start and the hours on the road, which are easier in private because you stop where and when the group wants.
Pallay Punchu, Vinicunca or Palcoyo
| Pallay Punchu | Vinicunca | Palcoyo | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Altitude | 4,700 m (15,420 ft) | 5,200 m (17,060 ft) | 4,900 m (16,076 ft) |
| Hike | 1 h 30 – 2 h uphill | About 5 km uphill, 1 h 30 – 2 h | About 30 minutes, almost flat |
| Shape | Vertical ridges, like a poncho | Horizontal stripes on a slope | Three rainbow mountains and a stone forest |
| Crowds | Very few | Many | Few |
| Departure from Cusco | 3:00 am | 3:30 am | Around 5:00 am |
If it is your first rainbow mountain and you want the famous one, go for Rainbow Mountain. If you want the easiest, Palcoyo. If you have already done Vinicunca or want a landscape almost nobody has photographed, Pallay Punchu.
Altitude and preparation
At 4,700 metres, Pallay Punchu needs good acclimatisation: spend at least three days in Cusco first. The hike is moderate; go slowly, drink water and take short breaks. Our tour carries emergency oxygen and trekking poles. How to plan your first days is in the acclimatisation guide.
When to go and what to bring
From May to September the sky is usually clear and the colours are sharp, although early mornings drop below freezing. From December to March it can snow and the snow covers part of the stripes. Bring:
- Warm layers, gloves and a hat.
- High-factor sunscreen and sunglasses.
- Two litres of water.
- Trekking shoes with a grippy sole.
- Cash in soles for the community fee.
The full list, valid for all the rainbow mountains, is in what to pack for Rainbow Mountain.
Entrance fee
The community charges it at the entrance, in cash. It is not included in the tour or in the Cusco Tourist Ticket.
Frequently asked questions
How high is Pallay Punchu?
The viewpoint is at about 4,700 metres (15,420 ft) above sea level, some 500 metres lower than Rainbow Mountain and 1,300 above Cusco (Cusco altitude table). Spend at least three days in Cusco before you go.
Where is Pallay Punchu?
In the district of Layo, province of Canas, above Lake Langui Layo, about four hours by road south of Cusco.
What does Pallay Punchu mean?
“Adorned poncho” in Quechua, according to the Layo district municipality: its coloured ridges recall the patterns of an Andean poncho.
How is it different from Vinicunca?
In shape and in crowds: its stripes are vertical and pointed, and very few people visit. It is a little lower, at 4,700 metres.
Pallay Punchu or Palcoyo?
Palcoyo is the easiest rainbow mountain: the vehicle gets almost to the top and the day is shorter, about twelve hours. Pallay Punchu needs a moderate hike at about 4,700 metres and a day of about fourteen hours, in return for its poncho-shaped ridges and very few people. We compare Palcoyo with Vinicunca in Vinicunca or Palcoyo.
How much is a one-day Pallay Punchu tour?
Our private Pallay Punchu tour costs from USD 89 and includes private transport, a bilingual guide, breakfast, lunch, trekking poles and emergency oxygen. The community fee is paid separately, in cash.
How long does it take to get there?
About four hours each way from Cusco. That is why the day lasts about fourteen hours and departure is at three in the morning.
Is the hike difficult?
Moderate: an hour and a half to two hours uphill at 4,700 metres. You need good fitness and three days of acclimatisation.
Can I combine it with another rainbow mountain?
Not on the same day. Many travellers do Palcoyo or Vinicunca one day and Pallay Punchu two or three days later.
Book
- Private Pallay Punchu, with breakfast, lunch, oxygen and trekking poles.
- All rainbow mountains.
