There are many reasons to visit Peru, from its diverse natural geography to its cultural festivals and the remnants of an ancient civilization. Millions of tourists flock to the Andean country every year to see the ruins of the Inca citadel Machu Picchu — but in 2015, a newly discovered geological wonder was added to the country’s list of must-see destinations.

Located in the Peruvian Andes in Cusco just 3 hours away from the historical center, Rainbow Mountain is becoming the main attraction to see after or before Machu Picchu. As you could guess, the mountain is famed for its natural, multi-colored beauty at a staggering 5,200m above sea level. This rainbow-like appearance is created by the sediment of minerals throughout the area giving the mountain the turquoise, lavendar, gold and other colors.

It was only recently discovered due to the snow melting revealing the hidden gem that’s still considered holy by many until this day. Since its discovery, Rainbow Mountain as slowly started gaining popularity and has even been listed in National Geographic’s “Top 100 Places To Visit Before You Die”.

The color of Vinicunca is because a geological formation accumulated over time by the mixture of marine, lake and river elements. This gathering of minerals dragged by the waters of the mountain range, the winds and the humidity, has caused the oxidation of the place and has made that the mountain acquire that magical diversity of tones. Geologists and experts in the field affirm that this phenomenon has been discovered thanks to the melting of the glaciers that formerly covered the mountain and that constantly received snow until the early nineties.

Once the mountain’s existence was known outside of the local communities, it started attracting locals and travelers alike, first having a couple of dozen of people to now taking in hundreds of visitors a day. The first thing that caught everyone’s attention was the colors seen nowhere else. But that wasn’t the only thing. It’s one of those places where the whole journey is as amazing as the destination. Llamas, horses, and alpacas are dispersed all over the range, with local communities still living almost the same life as before but now also helping visitors discover the colored mountain.

The popularity of Vinicunca expanded only five years ago thanks in large part to trekking and mountaineering lovers who were amazed by this unique phenomenon. The majesty of its colors and the peculiarity of its landscape began to be posted on social networks.

On Instagram, for example, thousands of Internet users reacted to the publication and shared it on their own social networks, creating a multiplier effect. The American site Business Insider included Vinicunca as part of a list of the 100 essential places to visit in the world.

To go to Vinicunca you must take a transport from the city of Cusco that takes you to the town of Checacupe. From there, you must continue the journey to the town of Pitumarca to finally reach Pampachiri This whole journey will take you about two or three hours. In this town, you can buy the ticket to enter the Vinicunca area, which has a cost of ten soles for foreign tourists and five soles for Peruvians.

Pampachiri is the starting point of a hike that lasts approximately three hours. It is important that, before your trip, you start doing some type of cardiovascular exercise to be able to sustain the physical demands that the trip requires.

Remember that the Vinicunca mountain is located at a height of more than 5000 meters above sea level, so it is advisable to condition the body. Also, don't forget to bring non-perishable food and a bag to store your waste. Follow these tips to have a pleasant moment that you will never forget.