Rainbow mountains in Peru

Most people find the Rainbow Mountain Trail to be pretty challenging due to the altitude. The hike itself takes around 2 hours and has an elevation gain of 20%, so it’s no walk in the park, but it’s not impossible, either.

However, the real challenge of Rainbow Mountain is the altitude. Rainbow Mountain is one of the highest treks in all of Peru, and even if you’re reasonably fit, you might find yourself struggling to catch your breath.

I won’t lie – I did struggle with the hike.

I got a pretty bad headache not long after we set off, and I definitely wasn’t the only one in the tour group experiencing altitude sickness. However, it was also an incredible experience and definitely worth the effort.