Referred to as the Rainbow Mountains, the Vinicunca mountains in Cusco made it to Travel & Leisures’ vibrant list.
Despite receiving some 1,500 daily visitors, the colorful Vinicunca mountains continue to shine. Late last month, Travel & Leisure published a list of the 10 Most Colorful Destinations in the World. The first destination listed? The Vinicunca mountains in Cusco, Peru.
Highlighted for its colors, of course, the high-altitude beauty was listed in the popular travel magazine next to international destinations such as the Rainbow Stairs in Istanbul, Turkey and the Caño Cristales River in La Macarena, Colombia.
Located in the Ausengate mountain region of the Peruvian Andes, the Vinicunca mountains prove you don’t always need rain and sunshine to see rainbows. The multi-colored stripes that characterize the unique Peru travel destination are formed by sedimentary mineral layers exposed to the high altitude climate thanks to erosion. The name, Vinicunca, reflects this natural occurrence as it means ‘seven color mountain’ in the native Quechua language.
Just last month, The National Geographic Traveler magazine dedicated an issue to Peru, and highlighted the the colorful mountains. This is just one of the many times the Vinicunca mountains in Cusco have appeared in print, though just as much publicity has been done on social media. In recent years the Rainbow Mountains (as they are also referred to) have become an immensely popular backdrop for travel bloggers’ Instagram photos.
Travelers aiming to get that perfect photo opp should be aware of the climate. During rainy season (November-March) the colors will appear darker, while dry weather will result in softer (and more visible) colors. As well, arriving to this area requires a three-hour drive from Cusco city, followed by a three-hour hike up to 5,000 m.a.s.l. But as Travel & Leisure puts it, “it’s well worth it simply for the view.”
Source: Travel & Leisure
