Rainbow Mountain, Peru (June 3, 2026)
Stunning. That’s the first word that came to me as I looked in every direction seeing only epic views of indescribable beauty. To the north is one of Peru’s largest glacier mountains. To the south is the red valley. To the east is Rainbow mountain (what I came to see with my own eyes). And to the south are the beautiful alpacas dotting the landscape and a heart-shaped lake. Here, have a glimpse …
Tree pose in front of Rainbow Mountain (5,036 meters)
Glacier (6,400 meters tall) across from the red valley
Red valley in all its glory (5,047 meters) … like a painting, right?
And alpacas dotting the landscape
I agree, MORE alpaca pictures, please!
Here’s the thing, Rainbow mountain gets all the “glory”, but is easily 25% of the overwhelming beauty that surrounds this area. By the way, I know your asking, “So what makes up the rainbow colors?” It’s the minerals which, to the Peruvian government’s credit, they immediately banned any mining to protect the beauty of this area. So here are the minerals you’ll find blended beautifully in Rainbow mountain:
Pink/Fuchsia: A mixture of red clay, mud, and sand.
White: Quartzose, sandstone, and marls rich in calcium carbonate.
Red: Claystones (argillites) and clays rich in oxidized iron.
Green: Phyllites and clays rich in ferromagnesium (iron and magnesium) and copper oxide.
Purple/Lavender: A mixture of clay, calcium carbonate, and silicates (marga).
Yellow/Mustard: Limonite and calcareous sandstone enriched with sulfur.
Earthy Brown: Fanglomerates and magnesium-rich rocks.
How many minerals can you spot in this close-up picture?
Sometimes, there are no words.
I could feel the depth of my love for Peru as I stared awe-struck by this 360-degree view of mountains. Individually, each was beautiful. Collectively, it was breath taking. There are a few times in your life when you look out into nature and gasp. The first time I visited the Grand Cannon. Or Brice Cannon. Or Niagara Falls. Or Half Dome in Yosemite. Or Yellow Stone. Okay, more than a few times. And it never gets old.
Today, as I swept around in a circle, I was overwhelmed with the beauty that surrounds Vinicunca, Peru. Perhaps part of this is that this tourist destination has only been open since 2019. Before that, it was a 4-day hike to get here. I’m sure that was equally magical given the amount of effort to get here. I’m happy with our 4-hour drive each way. Yes, it makes for a long day, but they included a buffet breakfast and lunch all for 95 Soles (or $28 USD). It was an extra 50 ($15 USD) Soles for the entrance fees (not included), and totally worth it. Given the current state of gas prices, 8 hours of driving alone might cost this much if I was driving here myself.
And I didn’t stop here. I reached out to AA to find there’s a standing in-person meeting at 7pm not too far from my hotel. The whole meeting was in Spanish. This was the first completely foreign language AA meeting I’ve attended in the past 12 months. I loved reading the serenity prayer in Spanish along with the “Doce Pasos” or “12 Steps” of Alcoholics Anonymous. Some of the members spoke a little English and we all worked together. After more than 3 years of meetings, I’m familiar with the format and could chime in, despite “Mi espanol no es muy bueno.” I was able to listen and enjoy this Peruvian-led meeting with a group that has been meeting for more than 31 years. Amazing.
The serenity prayer in Spanish followed by AA’s “I am responsible”
