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
Freezing dawns, strong midday sun and wind at 5,090m — what the day actually feels like, hour by hour and month by month.
Travellers often pack for the forecast in Cusco and then spend the day cold. The city sits at 3,350m; the Vinicunca viewpoint is at 5,090m, and the trailhead where you step out of the vehicle at dawn is at 4,650m. At that hour, in the dry season, it is commonly below freezing. Two hours later, climbing in direct sun, people are peeling off layers. At the top the wind puts them straight back on. Nothing about this is unusual for the high Andes — it just needs the right clothes.
Below 0°C at the trailhead before sunrise in the dry season. Gloves and a hat matter more than a thick coat.
UV at 5,000m is extreme even when the air is cold. High-factor sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat are not optional.
The ridge is exposed. A windproof shell and a buff for your face make the 40 minutes at the top far more pleasant.
| Period | Days | Rain | Nights at altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| April | Clearing, green slopes | Occasional showers | Cold |
| May – June | Clear and dry | Very unlikely | Coldest of the year |
| July – August | Clear and dry, windy | Very unlikely | Well below freezing |
| September | Dry, slightly milder | Occasional | Cold |
| October – November | Mixed, first rains | Afternoon showers | Milder |
| December – March | Cloud and rain, possible snow | Frequent | Milder but wet |
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💡 Note: the dry season is colder at dawn but far more reliable for seeing the colours. See best time to visit for how that affects your choice of dates.
Snow is the one condition that genuinely changes what you see. A fresh fall covers the mineral stripes completely and the mountain turns white until the sun melts it off, which can take a day or two. It is most likely between December and March but possible in any month. The tour still runs, and a snow-covered Vinicunca with Ausangate behind it is spectacular in its own way — just not the photograph most people came for.
In the wet season the path turns muddy and slippery in sections, which is why shoes with grip matter more than in June. A light rain poncho packs down to nothing and is worth carrying from November to March. The vehicle is never far, and turning back is always an option.
Almost never. We run in rain and snow. The exceptions are conditions that make the mountain road or the trail unsafe, and then you choose between another date or a refund, as set out in our cancellation policy. What we will not do is push a group up the trail when the guide judges it unsafe.
The full list is on our what to bring page.
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