Pallay Punchu
The coloured mountain shaped like a woven poncho, and nobody on it
- 1 day
- 4,700 m max
- Moderate
- Cusco to Cusco
The newest and least visited of Cusco's coloured mountains, 190 km south near the Langui-Layo lagoon, where stripes of iron oxide, copper and quartz trace the geometric pattern of an Andean poncho. A long drive, a short climb, and a ridge to yourself.
Pallay Punchu is the newest of Cusco’s coloured mountains and still the least visited, for one reason: it is 190 km south of the city, nearly twice as far as Vinicunca.
That distance is also the whole point. The stripes here come from iron oxide, copper and quartz rather than Vinicunca’s minerals, the ridge is jagged rather than rounded — hence the name, which compares it to the woven geometric pattern of an Andean poncho — and on a normal day you will cross paths with a couple of other vehicles rather than a couple of hundred.
Be clear-eyed about what it costs you: a half past three start and thirteen or fourteen hours door to door, most of it driving through the Canas province. In exchange you get a coloured mountain to yourself, which around Cusco is now a rare thing.
What you'll see
A mountain named after a textile
Pallay is the art of weaving geometric patterns and punchu means poncho. The mineral stripes on the rock trace the same design, which is why the name stuck.
Almost nobody goes
Vinicunca takes over a thousand people on a busy day. At Pallay Punchu it is normal to see two other vehicles the entire day, and the distance is the only reason.
Langui-Layo from the ridge
The lagoon spread out below the viewpoint, mirror-flat against the red and ochre of the rock.
Different minerals, different colours
Iron oxide, copper and quartz here, rather than Vinicunca's mix — so the tones and the pattern are genuinely different rather than a repeat.
An hour and a half of walking
Four to five kilometres there and back on a moderately steep path, with viewpoints along the way.
Raqchi on the way home
The Temple of Wiracocha, one of the best-preserved Inca sites in the region, is on the return route and can be added to the day.
Pallay Punchu: day by day
Times are what we actually aim for, not a best case. Traffic into Cusco and the train timetable move them by a little.
Day 1
Cusco to Layo and back
Thirteen to fourteen hours door to door, most of it driving. The walking is only an hour and a half, but the day is the longest of our Cusco excursions and it starts at half past three.
- 03:30We collect you from your hotel or flat in Cusco. Pick-ups run until about 04:00 and the drive south begins.
- 06:30Breakfast in Sicuani, a town on the road into the Canas province.
- 07:00On towards the district of Layo, skirting the Langui-Layo lagoon as the highlands open out.
- 08:30The trailhead, and a safety briefing with your guide.
- 09:00The climb to the Pallay Punchu viewpoints, about an hour and a half on a moderately steep path.
- 10:30Free time on the ridge for the rock formations up close and the lagoon stretching away below.
- 11:15The descent and the drive back to Layo.
- 13:00Buffet lunch, with vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free on request.
- 14:00The road back to Cusco, with an optional stop at Raqchi, arriving between about 17:00 and 17:30.
- Meals
- Breakfast and buffet lunch
- Night
- Not applicable — you sleep in Cusco
What the price covers
Transport
- Collection from your hotel or flat in Cusco between 03:30 and 04:00
- A private round-trip tourist van with a professional driver
On the mountain
- Small groups, sixteen at most
- A certified bilingual guide, English and Spanish
- A first-aid kit and an oxygen cylinder
Meals
- Breakfast in Sicuani
- Buffet lunch in Layo or Sicuani, with vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free on request
Not included
- The Pallay Punchu entrance fee, about 10 soles, paid in cash at the community checkpoint
- Raqchi, about 20 soles, if you choose to stop on the way back
- A horse at the trailhead, about 140 soles, for anyone who would rather not walk up
- Travel insurance
- Tips, which are genuinely optional
What to bring
Papers and money
- Your original passport
- Cash in soles for the entrance fee, Raqchi and a horse if you want one
- Any medication you take
What to carry
- A small daypack
- A refillable bottle with one to two litres of water
- Snacks for a very long day
- A camera and a power bank
Clothes
- Walking shoes or boots with grip — some of the ground is uneven
- A windproof jacket and warm layers
- A hat and gloves for the ridge
Sun and skin
- High-factor sun cream
- Sunglasses with UV protection
- A sun hat and lip balm
Questions we get asked
Why is it so empty compared with Vinicunca?
Distance, and nothing else. Pallay Punchu is 190 km from Cusco, nearly double the drive to Vinicunca or Palcoyo, which is why most agencies and most travellers still take the closer options. The mountain is not less impressive. It is just further away.
How long is the day?
Thirteen to fourteen hours door to door, with a 03:30 pick-up. That is the honest cost of the trip and it is worth knowing before you book. Most of it is spent in a vehicle.
Is it the same as Vinicunca or Palcoyo?
No — three separate coloured mountains with different mineral compositions. Pallay Punchu's stripes come from iron oxide, copper and quartz, and the ridge is jagged rather than rounded, which is where the poncho comparison comes from.
How hard is the walk?
Moderate. An hour to an hour and a half up a moderately steep path, four to five kilometres there and back, finishing at about 4,700 m. The altitude matters more than the distance, and some of the ground is uneven.
Can I hire a horse?
Yes, at the trailhead, for about 140 soles in cash, for anyone who would rather ride up.
Should I add Raqchi?
If you have any interest in Inca architecture, yes. The Temple of Wiracocha is one of the best-preserved sites in the region and it is directly on the road home, so it costs you about 20 soles and not much time.
Do I need to acclimatise first?
At least one or two nights in Cusco, since the high point is above 4,700 m. If you have already done Vinicunca or Palcoyo earlier in your trip, you will find this one straightforward.
When is the best time to come?
April to October. The access road matters as much as the weather here — in the dry season it is in far better condition, and clear skies are much more likely.
Ask us about Pallay Punchu
Tell us your dates and we'll come back with availability, the circuit we'd recommend, and a firm price. No deposit to ask, and we answer within one working day.