Ausangate Trek & Rainbow Mountain (5 Days)

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From$537
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From$537
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Ausangate Trek 05 days – 04 nights

$537 per person
Tour Details

Ausangate Trek the true image of the high Andes, the Incas worshipped mountains. Apu Ausangante is located in the Mountain Range of Vilcanota (6,342 masl). In our trek, we’ll cross spectacular passes, explore a radiant landscape below ice peaks and enormous glaciers. Ausangate is a stronghold of traditional Quechua culture/world immersion, the native who live at 14,000 ft. tending their herds of Llamas and Alpacas surrounded by colourful glacial lakes, deep red cliffs and relaxing hot spring with Andean atmosphere. You will also have a good chance of encountering condors, the largest flying bird in the world, and other Andean fauna such as Vizcachas, Andean fox and Vicuña, practically extinct elsewhere. Although, you will be hiking at altitudes of 3,800 masl, once you are acclimatized, the trek is considered as a moderate one. Ausangate is considered one of the highest mountain in south of Peru.

AUSANGATE TREK

Type of Tour

Archaeological, cultural, ecological, hiking and camping

Duration:

05 Days / 04 Nights

Starting point:

Cusco

Ending point:

Cusco

GROUP SERVICE: (2 to 8 people MAX): Our most popular Ausangate Trek is recommended for everybody who likes the adventure, families, honeymooners and couples.

PRIVATE SERVICE: All inclusive for families with children, honeymooners and couples. Special trek program just for you, and you can depart any day you wish and choose the group size, we don’t add any people, is arranged just for you. All private groups include additional services, such as: extra porters, horses to ride and to carry your personal gear (for alternate treks).

Inclusions

  • Transfer in/out from your hotel
  • Tourist Transportation Cusco to Tinki Town
  • Professional English-Spanish Speaking Tour Guide
  • Assistant Tour Guide for groups of 10 people
  • Horses and muleteer
  • Professional Chef and Assistants
  • Food: 4 Breakfasts, 4 Lunches, 4 Afternoon Snacks and 4 Dinners. If you have a dietary request such as vegetarian food, please let us know.
  • Vegetarian food option
  • Camping Equipment Tents for 2 people ,dining tent with tables and chairs
  • Sleeping mattress
  • Emergency horse
  • Oxygen bottle, first aid kit
  • Transport back to Cusco

Not Included

  • Personal trekking gear, sleeping bag, tips to the guide and support staff, city services.
  • First breakfast (first day) is normally provided at your hotel before leaving.
  • Last lunch at the end of the tour on the 5th Day.
  • Extra horse and muleteer $120 USD
  • Single tent supplement: $20 USD
  • Sleeping bag (optional): $20 USD

We Recommend that You Bring

  • Trekking daypack with a change of clothes for the whole period of the trek.
  • Rain gear (jacket and pants if available) or rain poncho.
  • Strong footwear, waterproof trekking boots recommended.
  • Sandals or plastic slips on thongs are also good to give your feet a chance to breath
  • Warm clothes, including jacket, fleeces, gloves, scarf. Thermal wear is also recommended, especially for sleeping.
  • Torch/ Flashlight and spare batteries
  • Camera, films and batteries (batteries consume more quickly under cold conditions)
  • Hat or cap to protect you from the sun, rain and cold
  • Sun block cream
  • After-sun cream or hydrating cream for face and body
  • Insect repellent – minimum recommended 30% DEET – although no malaria risk has been reported
  • Toilet paper, pack in & pack out
  • Snacks: biscuits, energy bars, chocolate, raw fruits, muesli, etc.
  • Non-disposable canteen (Nalgene type) and water for the first morning.
  • We advise you to bring water, sterilizing tablets in case you collect water from streams.
  • Your own medical kit with any special medications.
  • Small towel or sarong
  • Bathers/swimsuit (if you intend swimming in hot springs )
  • Enough cash for snacks, tips and souvenirs.
  • Original passport.
  • Walking sticks or poles (we can hire these to you. Please note poles with metal tips cannot be carried into Machu Picchu and should be left at your hotel on the final day).
Itinerary

Day 1Cusco – Tinki – Upis

 

We’ll depart from Cusco early in the morning for our three-hour ride in private transport to the small village of Tinki (3,800 masl / 12,464 ft.). As Tinki is located on the new Interoceanic highway, we can now arrive here much more quickly than in the previous years. We’ll pass through beautiful country sides and several traditional villages including Urcos, Cattca and Ocongate. After lunch in Tinki, the first 3 hours on the trail are wonderful prelude to the magnificent scenery of the Vilcanota Mountain Range, with great views of Ausangate. We will trek for two hours more until we reach the hot springs at Upis (4,400 masl / 14,432 ft.) which offer fantastic views of Ausangate at the end of the valley. We will camp here for the night (total trekking time: 4-5 hours).

(L) = Lunch / (D) = Dinner.

Day 2Upis – Lake Ausangate Q’ocha

 

During our morning’s trek, we will cross the Arapa pass (4,850 masl / 15,908 ft.). From here, we’ll continue 3 and ½ hours down the valley, passing the green Lake of Puqa Q’ocha until we reach the turquoise Lake Jatun Puqa Q’ocha. Then, we’ll ascend the second pass of Apuchata (4,900 masl / 16,072 ft.) with the stunning turquoise blue Lagoon Ausangate Q’ocha below. This lake is fed from the melting snow of Ausangate. We will camp here for the second night.

(B) = Breakfast / (L) = Lunch / (D) = Dinner.

Day 3Lake Ausangate – Q’ocha – Qampa

From the lake, we’ll ascend to the Palomani pass (5,200 masl / 17,056 ft.); the highest point of the trek. From the pass, we’ll follow the trail into the valley where we’ll rest and have lunch. During the afternoon, we could enjoy views of the snow-capped “Tres Picos” and “Puca Punta” mountains. We will continue through the broad green valley of Pampa Jatunpata and up the Rio Q’ampa valley. We will spend 3 nights in this vicinity.

(B) = Breakfast / (L) = Lunch / (D) = Dinner.

Day 4Q’ampa – Pacchanta

 

After passing through the small community of Q’ampa, we will head North West to the last pass of this hike, the Q’ampa pass (5,000 masl / 16,400 ft.). We will see several different coloured lakes and lunch beside Q’oma – Q’ocha. We’ll hike for several hours before arriving at the small village of Pacchanta. We could soak in the thermal springs for a couple of hours, and even have a well-deserved beer! We will set up camp near Pacchanta and you will have the afternoon free to explore this interesting Andean village (you have the option of staying in a basic hostel this night).

(B) = Breakfast / (L) = Lunch / (D) = Dinner.

Day 5Pacchanta – Cusco

 

Its 3-hour trek back to Tinki where we will have time to explore this traditional Andean village before taking our private car back to Cusco, arriving at about 06:00 p.m.

(B) = Breakfast 

Gallery

Note: Horses will carry the heavy gear; you will hike carrying only your personal pack, sleeping bag and pad.

If you are considering to bring special photography equipment or other heavy accessories, or just simply don’t want to carry anything, please request an additional horse and horse man ($120 USD) to carry your personal belongings, this way you will freely enjoy the hike (this is highly recommended if you have never hiked over 10,000 ft.). Chefs will deal with all the kitchen chores.

Frequently Asked Questions-(FAQ)

How difficult is the Ausangate Trek?

You just need to remember that you are able to go at a speed that is comfortable for you. Take your time, pace yourself, and enjoy. Ausangate Trek is considered as a moderate hike; not a technical hike but high altitude may affect some people.

Are trekking poles or sticks necessary?

We recommend the use of trekking poles, especially for those passengers with known knee problems. There are multiple times during the trek that a trekking poles is handy, be it ascending a mountain or walking along the rough trails.

Is altitude sickness common? And how high is the Ausangate Trek?

It’s impossible to predict who will be affected by altitude. Your ability to adapt to high altitude is determined by your genetic makeup and has little to do with fitness or health. Most people will have no problems as long as they take the time to acclimatize properly. A full 2-day trip spent in Cusco (3,399 masl), taking it very easy and drinking plenty of water is enough for some people but if you can arrange to have minimum 2-3 days in case of any travel disruptions as well, then this is what we recommend as there is also so much to do here! The highest point you will get to while hiking Ausangate reaches 5,280 masl on the 2nd day.

Will I need to bring water?

We recommend that you purchase a 1.5 – 2 liter bottle of water to take with you on the first day. Every night during the trek, we will boil water so you can refill the same bottle every morning before setting out. If you are planning to drink from any streams or waterfalls, we strongly suggest you bring water purification tablets or filters. Also, you will be able to buy water along the way on Day 1, for the first few hours of Day 2, then again on the afternoon of Day 3, and of course at Machu Picchu.

Is the Ausangate Trek still good during the rainy season?

Some people actually like to go during the rainy season because there are fewer tourists but we say please be prepared for wet weather and have suitable clothes and equipment. Possibly snow, so be prepared for a possible change of route if a pass is deemed impassable by the guide. We do not recommend this trek in the months of January, February and March.

Will I be able to witness the sunrise at Ausangate?

You first encounter Machu Picchu as the sun rises over the high mountains encircling it. It is already dawn but this impressive moment of Machu Picchu coming out of the shadows of the looming mountains is awesome.

Will I need any extra money?

Yes or yes we recommend taking extra money, tips for the trekking staff, souvenirs, snacks, bottled water, drinks, etc. You should take at least 300 soles as emergency money.

Do Tour guides speak English?

Completely fluent in English. Our guides are also one of the most popular aspects of our tours some of them being historians and archaeologists and all demonstrate a great passion for their culture and heritage.

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