If you’re looking to be dazzled by a rainbow right here on land, head to the Montaña de Siete Colores, also called the Mountain of Seven Colors, which is located in the Andes, Cusco region of Peru. The mesmerizing color effect was created when the ice on the mountain melted and washed away the minerals in the mountain. This Insta-famous region is a vision to behold with its array of light. So, how do you get there? Here is everything you need to know.

How to Get There

Getting to the site might be a task, but the end view is worth it. First, when you get to Cusco in Peru, you have to get transport to Checacupe, either by hiring a taxi or by public transport. For public transport, you’ll get buses from Avenida Tomasa Tito Condemayta to Ocongote. From Checacupe, you’ll find taxis for hire for a round trip to Vinicunca. Once you reach your destination, you’ll start the hike in the colorful hills. The whole trek takes around three hours, with an added hour to make a stop and gaze into the astonishing views. The total trail is around 6.2 miles long.

The Reason for the Colors

According to a CNBC report, the coloring of the mountains is because of weathering, environmental conditions, and sedimentary deposits. All of these reasons have created layering mineralogy, causing the marble-like effect of yellow, turquoise, and purple colors in the hills, in layers. According to a report, the mountain of seven colors was discovered in 2015, in Peru, when the snow covering the geological wonder melted and the beauty underneath was unveiled.

Precautions to Take While Hiking

If you want to trek up the mountain, be prepared for altitude sickness while hiking Vinicunca. The Rainbow mountain stands over 16000 ft above sea level. From the beginning, the trek isn’t very difficult and it’s easy to locate the trail and hike but the final part of the hike is quite steep and has an incline. Tour companies in Peru are always conducting guided trekking tours to this local spiritual place. There are alternative options, including horseback riding, available for those who aren’t fond of trekking. For the adventure seekers, mountain biking through the beautiful vista is another available option. While going for the trek, always try to bring light layers, rain jackets, plenty of water, some snacks, and sunscreen to have a safe and enjoyable journey.

The Best Times to Visit

According to the locals, the best time to visit VInicunca is between June and November, June to August being the perfect season with blue skies and sun rays reflecting upon the clear layered rocky mountain. The natural beauty of the Vinicunca is far from picture-perfect if you end up there in the wrong weather. Depending on the weather of the place, if it gets cloudy you may not even be able to see the peak. Most photos on the internet are heavily edited. Many visitors have left the trek disappointed due to poor unpredictable weather. So plan well if you want the perfect shot for the ‘gram of these beautiful colorful mountains of Peru.

When planning a vacation, booking a hotel is an inevitable part of the process – but it can be stressful. Even though you are submerging yourself in tons of hotel reviews from strangers, it’s easy to still find yourself stuck. What you need in order to pick the right hotel is a recommendation from someone who knows your travel styles. Now, you can act as a hotel agent for your friends and family and get rewards in the process.

Recommend Hotels, Get Rewards

Benny is an invite-only platform for well-traveled individuals who are serving as hotel agents. As an agent for your friends and family, you can recommend your favorite hotels, share tips, and even invite their social network to book the hotel at discounted rates.

The incentive for the agent is a 5% commission on each booking referral that they make along with the opportunity to take advantage of the same exclusive booking rate.

Jimmy Suh is the President and founder of the platform, who has over 20 years of experience when it comes to the hospitality industry. He came up with the idea when he saw a pattern in people asking him what some of his favorite hotels were since they knew he traveled often. He believes that having hotels recommended by your friends who know you are a better fit than getting recommendations from strangers.

How to Get Started

Before you get accepted and start earning rewards, the potential agent has to fill out a questionnaire which details their favorite hotels, some of the preferred destinations, travel history, and other information that can gauge whether or not they align with the hotels on the platform.

The platform is looking for people who truly understand the city along with its hotels. Hotels, mostly independent ones, are also required to apply.

You can take advantage of the Benny platform without knowing an agent by signing up for the waitlist and being matched with an agent.