Have you ever wanted to go somewhere over the rainbow? You might never make it to Oz, but you can definitely visit a place where you’ll be surrounded by amazing colors. Just head to the Rainbow Mountain, also known as Vinicunca.
Vinicunca, also called the Mountain of Seven Colors, is in the Andes, in the Cusco region of Peru. To get to the start of the hike, you need to drive about three hours from Cusco. Then, you’ll have to walk around nine kilometers to reach the viewpoint. The hike is pretty tough, so it’s not the best choice for beginners.
But what makes the Rainbow Mountain so colorful? Well, first off, be careful with the photos you see online. A lot of them are edited to look super bright and vivid, but don’t worry—the real view is still stunning. The mountain’s slopes look painted in shades of yellow, green, red, and purple, just a bit more natural in person.
The colors are caused by minerals in the soil, which were exposed when ice that used to cover the area started melting, according to HuffPo. As the water mixed with the earth, it created all these colors. Red areas come from iron oxide, yellow from iron sulfide, purple from goethite or oxidized limonite, and green from chlorite.
It’s also important to know that the weather really affects your visit. It’s best to go when it’s not raining or snowing, since that makes the trail harder and the colors look duller—just like one blogger experienced. On the other hand, super sunny days or taking photos at noon might also make the colors look washed out. The best time to visit is early in the morning or late in the afternoon—right after sunrise or just before sunset.
