Vinicunca, also known as the Rainbow Mountain, is currently one of the most important tourist attractions in Cusco. Among its most impressive features, its difficult access takes the spotlight, since tourists must walk for approximately 2 hours, from 3800 meters above sea level to 5000 meters above sea level, to get to the main viewpoint.
For this reason, this trip isn’t suitable for everyone. However, a very different unfortunate event occurred due to a thunderstorm. On December 7, 2023, it was reported that a foreigner died halfway along the route after being struck by lightning.
The victim, of Guatemalan nationality, was a traveler named Otoniel Castellanos Góngora, 65 years old. At the time of impact, he was accompanied by his wife and son, who were identified as Mirna Lorena Melgar Pellecer (63) and Derick Castellanos Melgar. The tourist guide who accompanied this family, named Miriam Vargas Huanca, was also seriously injured.
According to reports, the tourists and the guide were hit by a heavy rain followed by strong thunders. However, no one expected that a lightning bolt would cause the death of Castellanos Gongora.
