The Red River is one of the newer cool spots to check out around Cusco (sitting at about 3,400 meters / 11,152 feet above sea level). It’s located south of the city in the famous Vilcanota mountain range. This is the same mountain area where you find the famous Rainbow Mountain (Vinicunca). As the name suggests, the water in this river actually turns red, but this only happens during the rainy season, mostly in January, February, and March. The rest of the year, you won’t see this color. Not a lot of visitors know about this place yet, but the scenery is pretty amazing.
Where to Find the Red River
The Red River is about 100 kilometers (around 62 miles) away from Cusco. Geographically, it’s in the Vilcanota mountain range, not far from the Rainbow Mountain and the Red Valley of Pitumarca. To get to the Red River, you often start from the town of Pitumarca, which is located at 3,570 meters (around 11,713 feet) above sea level. From Pitumarca, it’s usually a walk of about 2 or 3 hours to reach the river.
Why the River Turns Red
The reason the water gets its unique red color is due to the rain eroding the nearby red mountains and valleys. The rainwater washes down reddish clay and minerals, called argillites and clays, into the riverbed. These colored sediments then dye the water, creating a vibrant and pretty spectacular sight in the valley.
The Surroundings and Nature
The Red River is set in a natural landscape surrounded by mountains and snowy peaks, many of which are over 4,000 meters (around 13,124 feet) high. A standout feature is the imposing presence of Ausangate, the tallest snow-capped mountain in the Cusco region and one of the biggest in Peru, reaching about 6,384 meters (around 20,945 feet) at its peak.
You’ll also notice clear lagoons formed by melting glaciers. Some notable ones include the Amayuni, Singrenacocha, and Challpacocha lagoons (all high-altitude lakes, Singrenacocha is around 4,450 meters / 14,599 feet, Sibinacocha, the largest, is around 4,873 meters / 15,988 feet). In these cold, high places, you see tough Andean grasses like ichu growing. These vast mountains are home to some wildlife, including the Andean condor, foxes, vizcachas (small rodents), and even the Andean puma.
What Makes the Red River Red
The specific red color comes from minerals that get washed into the river. This happens because of the heavy rains common in the Peruvian highlands during the wet season. The rain causes landslides on the mountain slopes and nearby hills. The water then washes the color from these minerals, and it builds up in the riverbed. So, to see the river looking red, you need to be there during the rainy season, typically from November to the first few weeks of March. After the rainy period, the water goes back to its clear color.
Best Time to See It
Since the red color is caused by rain washing minerals into the river, the best time to see this amazing sight is during the Andean summer, which is the rainy season (December to April). In the dry season, the water doesn’t have that red color.
Getting to the Red River
First off, it’s good to know there are actually a couple of spots with a “Red River” feel in the Ausangate mountain range area. One is near the famous Rainbow Mountain, and the other is on the route to the Palccoyo mountain.
Getting to the Red River near Vinicunca (Rainbow Mountain)
The Rainbow Mountain is in the area of the Pitumarca district. To get towards this Red River, you first need to take a bus from Cusco (around 3,400 meters / 11,152 feet) heading towards Sicuani. These buses leave pretty often, about every 20 minutes, from the bus stop on Av. Huayruropata in Cusco. This first bus ride takes about 2 hours. Then, you switch to a collective car (a shared taxi or van) for about 10 more minutes to get to the town of Pitumarca (around 3,570 meters / 11,713 feet). Once you’re in Pitumarca, you need to hire a car to take you to the Japura community. The road here is not paved, so be prepared for a bumpy ride.
Another way to see the Red River near Vinicunca is by hiring a tour agency. Some tours to Rainbow Mountain will make stops at scenic points where you can see the Red River on the way back. To make sure you see the Red River with a tour, ask your agency specifically if they take the Cusco – Pitumarca – Vinicunca route.
Getting to the Red River via the Palccoyo Route
To reach the Red River near the Palccoyo mountain (around 4,900 meters / 16,076 feet), you follow a similar start but head towards a different town. Instead of getting off the bus in the Checacupe district (around 3,446 meters / 11,306 feet), you go a bit further to the town of Combapata (about 3,475 meters / 11,401 feet). The bus ride to Combapata takes around 2 and a half hours. From Combapata, you need to find local transport to get to the Palccoyo community, which is where this Red River is located.
Just like with the Vinicunca route, you can also hire a tour agency to visit the Red River near Palccoyo. These tours often include transport, food, and a guide who will make planned stops so you can see the Red River.
Can You Go On Your Own?
Yes, you can visit the Red River independently. To do this, take public transport (a bus heading towards Sicuani) from Cusco, catching it at the bus stop on Huayruropata avenue. The bus fare is usually around $3 USD. Once you get to Pitumarca (around 3,570 meters / 11,713 feet), you can walk for 2 or 3 hours to reach the Red River, depending on how fast you walk. Locals in Pitumarca can usually point you in the right direction. You can also hire a local guide or get breakfast and lunch in Pitumarca. For many travelers, going on their own to see the “Yawar Mayu” (Red River in Quechua) is the cheapest way.
Tips for Your Visit
- Bring a good camera: The Red River and the surrounding landscapes are really photogenic.
- Timing is key: Remember the red color is only visible during the rainy season (January to March being the peak). Since it rains a lot then, bring a rain poncho and waterproof shoes.
- Be mindful of the environment: The Vilcanota mountain range has some remote and beautiful areas. Take care of the environment and don’t litter. The water from the Red River is important for the people living nearby.
Other Cool Spots Nearby
Besides the Red River, there are other amazing places to see in this area:
- The Rainbow Mountain of Vinicunca: This famous peak is the second most visited spot in the Cusco region after Machu Picchu (around 2,430 meters / 7,972 feet). Its slopes show off various colors – pink, white, red, green, lavender, and yellow – which made it famous worldwide. Getting there usually involves a hike of about 2 hours from the trailhead near Pitumarca.
- The Red Valley of Pitumarca: Very close to the Red River is the Red Valley. The hillsides here are also a striking reddish color, creating an incredible view. Just like the river, the red color comes from minerals in the soil, like clay and argillites that formed ages ago. You can visit the Red Valley with a tour or on your own. The Red Valley viewpoint is located at a high altitude, around 5,050 meters (around 16,568 feet).
- The Rainbow Mountain of Palccoyo: This mountain is similar to Vinicunca but not as crowded yet. It might not have quite the same single dramatic peak color effect, but Palccoyo (around 4,900 meters / 16,076 feet) offers awesome views, including multiple colorful mountains and a stone forest. The big advantage is the hike is much easier, only about 1 hour max. You can visit Palccoyo with a tour or independently.
More About the Colors of Vinicunca
If you’re curious about how the Rainbow Mountain (Vinicunca), located near the Red River in the Vilcanota range (around 3,400 meters / 11,152 feet generally for the range area, with peaks much higher), got its colors, it’s due to a long geological story. The colors come from layers of marine, lake, and river sediments that were deposited millions of years ago (between 65 and 2 million years back). These layers were lifted up over time by the earth’s tectonic plates moving. The different colors you see are the result of minerals in these layers oxidizing (reacting with oxygen and moisture) and eroding over time.
Here’s a breakdown of what minerals cause which colors in Vinicunca:
- Pink: Comes from red clay, mudstone, and sand.
- Whitish: Due to sandstone with quartz and marl, which is rich in calcium carbonate.
- Red: Made of claystone (iron) and clays from an older geological period.
- Green: Caused by minerals like phyllite and clays rich in iron and magnesium.
- Earthy Brown: From a type of rock formed from compressed gravel and mud containing magnesium from a more recent geological era.
- Mustard Yellow: Comes from sandstone rich in sulfur minerals.
This combination of geological processes and minerals created the unique spectacle you see today at Vinicunca and contributes to the red color seen in the river during the rainy season.