Vinicunca

Vinicunca, or Winikunka, also called Montaña de Siete Colores (literally: "mountain of seven colors"), Montaña de Colores ("mountain of colors"), or Montaña Arcoíris ("rainbow mountain"), is a mountain in the Andes of Peru with an altitude of 5,036 metres (16,522 ft) above sea level. It is located on the road to Ausangate mountain, in the Cusco region, between Cusipata District, Quispicanchi, and Pitumarca District, Canchis. Tourist access requires a two-hour drive from Cusco and a walk of about 5 kilometers (3.1 mi), or a three-and-a-half-hour drive through Pitumarca and a one-half-kilometre (0.31 mi) steep walk (1–1.5 hours) to the hill. As of 2019, no robust methods of transportation to Vinicunca had been developed to accommodate travelers. In the mid-2010, mass tourism arrived, attracted by the mountain's colorful stripes, which are caused by its mineralogical composition. The mountain used to be covered by glacier caps, but these melted in 2013.