Rainbow Mountain Astrophotography Trek 3-Day Stargazing Tour – Andes Night Sky & Landscape Photography Adventure
Rainbow Mountains and Sky Photography Tour 3 Days Photo Tours Peru
xperience one of the most spectacular astrophotography tours in Peru with our Rainbow Mountain Astrophotography Trek 3-Day Stargazing Tour — a premium blend of Andes landscape photography, exhilarating high-altitude trekking, and epic night sky captures. Tailored for photography enthusiasts, adventure travelers, and landscape storytellers, this immersive journey takes you deep into the Andes near Vinicunca (Rainbow Mountain) and away from crowds so you can shoot uninterrupted Milky Way vistas and dramatic sunrise landscapes.
This photography adventure is designed for travel photographers, adventurers, and astrophotographers alike — whether you’re shooting with a DSLR, mirrorless camera, or even high-end smartphone. You’ll capture raw natural beauty, vibrant mineral tones, and pristine night skies that few tours ever offer.
Day 1: Cusco – Quesiuno – Anantapata – Huampococha (4,200 m / 13,779 ft)
Trek time: 5–6 hours
Photography Focus: Wild landscapes, rolling red mountains, epic sunset, and pristine night skies
We begin early with a scenic drive from Cusco to Quesiuno, the gateway to the wild, color-rich terrain of the high Andes. As the trek begins, the landscape quickly transforms into a photographer’s dream: deep valleys, surreal red and ochre hills, herds of alpacas, and dramatic snow-capped peaks in the distance.
The route to Anantapata and onward to Huampococha offers continuous photographic opportunities—especially the layered textures and shifting tones of the terrain. Vibrant mineral hills contrast against the deep blue sky, making mid-day shots bold and colorful.
Landscape Tip: Use leading lines from winding trails and ridgelines to guide the viewer’s eye toward distant glaciers and valleys.
Nightscape Photography at Huampococha CampAs the sun dips behind the peaks, golden hour fades into a rich, crisp Andean twilight. Our camp near Laguna Huampococha provides an extraordinary location for night photography. With zero light pollution, the sky opens up in stunning clarity.
Night Photography Highlights:
The Milky Way arching over jagged peaks and calm lakes
Reflections of the stars in the still waters of Huampococha
Long exposures capturing star trails spiraling above glacier silhouettes
Illuminated tents under a star-filled sky for a dreamy alpine composition
Pro tip: Use the lake as your foreground. On a windless night, the water turns into a mirror—doubling the drama of the celestial show.
This is where the Andes reveal their true magic—not just in the mountains, but in the infinite sky above.
Day 2: Huanpococha – Rainbow Mountain Sunset & Sunrise (5,036 m / 16,522 ft)
Photography Focus: High-altitude landscapes, golden hour drama, and pristine night skies
Today is a dream come true for landscape and nightscape photographers. After trekking through isolated highlands, we reach our base camp near Rainbow Mountain, far from the day-tour crowds. Nestled above 5,000 meters, this is a place where silence rules and the sky feels almost within reach.
As the sun begins to dip, we hike to a hidden vantage point to witness Rainbow Mountain at sunset. The low-angled light brings out deep, earthy tones in the mineral-striped ridges—reds, oranges, greens, and yellows come alive under the golden sky. Shadows stretch long across the valley, adding depth and texture to every frame.
Sunset Shot List:
Layered compositions with Rainbow Mountain’s full face glowing in warm light
Wide-angle captures of sweeping ridgelines and high-altitude terrain
Telephoto details of mineral textures and patterns
Nightscape Photography at 5,000 MetersAs darkness falls, the real magic begins. With no artificial light and incredibly thin air, the stars explode across the sky. This is astrophotography at its rawest and most powerful.
The Milky Way arcs directly over Rainbow Mountain, and on a clear night, you can capture perfect galactic alignments with the jagged silhouettes of Ausangate and surrounding peaks in the foreground.
Night Photography Highlights:
Milky Way rise over Rainbow Mountain
Long-exposure star trails behind the Ausangate range
Light-painted ridges with subtle shadows and reflections
Silhouetted tents with glowing interiors under a sea of stars
Tip: Use a low-level light panel or red headlamp to gently illuminate foreground textures without overpowering the night sky. The mineral colors of Rainbow Mountain take on a completely different, mystical feel at night.
This is one of the most unique locations in the Andes for nightscape photography—raw, remote, and utterly unforgettable.
Day 3: Rainbow Mountain & Red Valley – Nightscape and Landscape Photography – Return to Cusco
Photography Focus: Vibrant mineral ridges, dramatic high-altitude light, Red Valley textures, and unmatched Andean night skies
We rise before dawn, headlamps on, to reach the summit of Rainbow Mountain (Vinicunca) in time for first light. Before the crowds arrive, you’ll have front-row access to one of Peru’s most surreal landscapes--a natural palette of reds, yellows, and turquoises painted across the Andes.
As the sun climbs over the eastern peaks, it casts long, golden rays across the striped mountain face, revealing textures and tones that constantly shift with the changing light.
📸 Morning Light Tip: Shoot wide angles during sunrise to capture the glowing ridge lines, then switch to a telephoto lens to pick out details in the mineral layers and shadows dancing across the slopes.
We then continue into the otherworldly Red Valley, a lesser-known but equally stunning landscape, where blood-red earth contrasts with soft green patches and dramatic rock formations. The isolation and silence here offer a perfect space for creative compositions
The Milky Way arches across the peaks
Snow-capped silhouettes anchor your compositions
Foreground options: stone cairns, jagged ridges, and even light-painted scenes
Night Shot Tip:
Use a wide-angle lens (14–24mm), shoot at f/2.8 or lower, and aim for a 15–20 second exposure. Try light-painting some of the terrain to add depth and dimension to your shots.
This is high-altitude photography at its finest, and a moment that truly connects earth and sky.
Photography Highlights (SEO Keywords Used Naturally)
Astrophotography & Nightscape Workshop: Capture spectacular Milky Way panoramas over Rainbow Mountain and long-exposure star trails far from light pollution.
High-Altitude Landscape Shots: Photograph the Andean highlands, glacial lakes & rugged ridges, with epic foregrounds like lakes and mineral-streaked hills.
Sunset & Sunrise Views: Golden hour on Rainbow Mountain at 5,000 meters—a must-shoot moment for landscape photographers.
Remote Campsite Astrophotography: Set up beneath star-filled skies near Huampococha and Rainbow Mountain Camps, perfect for silhouette compositions and Milky Way arcs.
Andean Flora & Wildlife: Opportunity for environmental portraiture with herds of alpacas and mountain scenes that tell a story.
Why This Tour Is Unique
This Rainbow Mountain Astrophotography Trek stands apart because it blends remote high-altitude trekking with serious astrophotography opportunities. Unlike standard one-day tours to Rainbow Mountain, this adventure takes you off-grid, camping in pristine locations with zero light pollution—ideal for stargazing and night sky photography.
You won’t just see Rainbow Mountain—you’ll photograph it in dramatic dawn and dusk light, capture the Milky Way above the Andes, and enjoy intimate landscape compositions that most travelers never experience. This is slow photography for those who want depth, quiet, and creative space.
What’s Included
Includes
Professional guide
Meals
Transport
Hotel pick-up and drop-off
Food and drinks
Optional ExtrasGroup Size1 – 8 Guests
Experience | Difficulty
Beginner, amateur, enthusiast and semi-pro photographers
DSLR, mirrorless, compact or iPhone cameras
Moderate schedule
Travel by car or minibus
Moderate elevation changes and lots of walking and hiking (none of our adventures have difficult hikes)
(non-photographers also welcome)
3 Days
Travel, landscape, nature, wildlife and people photography
Professional photographer | guide
Photo walks & discussions
Small group size (4-6 guests)
Camping
Breakfasts
All Meals
National Park Permits
Local transportation
Accommodations Camping.
Our photo tours peru trek
Our Peru photo trek will mainly focus on hiking and capturing the most iconic landscapes in the Rainbow mountain, the world’s highest tropical mountain ranges. This time of year is perfect for hiking, as it coincides with the dry season, and ideal for astro, as it’s the peak of Milky Way season in the Southern Hemisphere, with 10+ hours of Milky Way visibility at night.
Price per person: 2026
1 person : US$1050.00 per person
2 people : US$750.00 per person
3 people: US$700.00 per person
4 people : US$650.00 per person
5 people : US$600.00 per person
6 people : US$550.00 per person
7+ people : US$500.00 per person
