Hiking
Classic · VinicuncaUS$ 29
Red Valley + VinicuncaUS$ 29
Quad · ATV
Vinicunca quadUS$ 70
Red Valley + quadUS$ 75
Classic · VinicuncaUS$ 29
Red Valley + VinicuncaUS$ 29
Vinicunca quadUS$ 70
Red Valley + quadUS$ 75
A crimson basin on the far side of Rainbow Mountain, reached on walked on your own — what it is, how it works and who should attempt it.
Take the path that branches away from the main trail, and the landscape changes completely. The Red Valley — Valle Rojo in Spanish — is a wide basin whose slopes are stained a deep, uniform crimson by iron-rich clay, with none of the stripes that make Rainbow Mountain famous. It is quieter than the main viewpoint, often almost empty, and it is managed directly by the local community, which charges its own entrance fee at a gate on the path. On our hiking tours it is an optional, self-guided leg walked before meeting the group at Vinicunca, rather than a separate excursion.
The guide shows you the path and the meeting point at Vinicunca, then stays with the group. You walk the valley on your own.
Plan for roughly one more hour of walking than the classic route, above 4,900m the whole time.
Only take it if you are a confident walker at altitude. If you are unsure, stay with the guide on the classic route.
The whole Vilcanota range is built from sedimentary layers laid down over millions of years, each carrying different minerals. At Vinicunca they alternate, producing the stripes. In the Red Valley a single layer dominates — iron oxide, the same compound that makes rust red — and it covers the slopes almost uniformly. Sparse ichu grass grows in patches over it, which is why the red looks darker after rain and almost orange in strong midday light.
The valley is at its most striking:
| Feature | Vinicunca | Red Valley |
|---|---|---|
| Landscape | Striped mineral ridge | Uniform deep red basin |
| Guided | Yes, with the group | Self-guided |
| Altitude | 5,090m | Above 4,900m |
| Extra walking | — | About 1 hour |
| Entrance | Ticket added at booking or paid on site | Community fee, paid on site only |
| Crowds | Busy at midday | Usually very quiet |
| Reachable by quad | Yes | Yes, on the Complete quad plan |
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💡 Note: the tour price is the same US$29 whether or not you take the detour, so you can decide on the trail itself.
Ask yourself how you handle walking alone at altitude. If a well-marked path at 4,900m sounds fine, you will enjoy the Red Valley. If you would rather have the guide beside you, take the classic route — the extra hour at that altitude is not a small thing, and there is no shame in skipping it. The guide will tell you honestly if the group is running late or the weather is turning.
The same kit as the main hike, plus cash in soles for the community fee, since there is no card payment at the gate. Water, sun protection and a windproof layer matter more here than on the main trail, because the basin is exposed. See what to bring for the full list.
Same price as the Classic plan — decide on the trail, book in under two minutes.
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