Pallay Punchu

Pallay Punchu de Apu T'akllo is a ridge of sharp rock spires in the Layo district of southern Cusco, banded in reds, ochres and greys by the same mineral layering that produced Vinicunca, but shaped into fins and points rather than smooth slopes. The name means poncho of colours in Quechua, after the woven cloth the pattern resembles. The community of Layo opened it to visitors in 2021 after Vinicunca had shown what the traffic could be worth, and it is managed and charged for locally, with the money going to the village. The walk up from the parking area takes about an hour, climbing from around 4,300 to 4,700 metres, which is short but hard in thin air. Below is Laguna Langui-Layo, a large lake. It is a three-hour drive from Cusco each way, which makes it a long day, and it can be combined with the Four Lakes route.

What you actually see

• The striped spires - fins and points banded in red, ochre and grey.
• The lake below - Laguna Langui-Layo spread out beneath the ridge.
• The community management - opened and run by Layo village since 2021.
• The climb - about an hour from 4,300 to 4,700 metres.

When to go

April to October, the dry season. Mornings have the clearest light and least wind. Acclimatise in Cusco first - the ridge is above 4,700 metres.

Honest expectations

Three hours' drive each way from Cusco for a one-hour walk. The altitude makes a short climb genuinely hard. Exposed and cold at the top with strong wind. Community fee in cash at the trailhead.

Nearby

Laguna Langui-Layo is below; the Four Lakes route of Acomayo is north.