Ausangate Trek and Rainbow Mountain

We know how important this vacation is for you, so we do not want you to have any doubts or lack anything during your trip to this wonder of the world. Therefore, all of our tours have a briefing at your hotel 1 to 2 days prior to departure.  Our guide or office staff will provide you with a detailed description of your trek including their professional recommendations to ensure your comfort and enjoyment. They will answer all of your questions and address any last-minute concerns you may have. You can trust their expert suggestions because they’ve made this trek many times, with many groups, and with many types of people!

Our briefing is held at 7:00 pm in your Hotel, however you may change it by coordinating with us a week prior to departure.

We will start the trip by picking you up from your hotel in Cusco at 05:00 am to head to the small village of “Tinke” (3,700m / 12,140 ft) at 122 km southeast. Then, we will drive along an unpaved road to the starting point of the Ausangate trek (4,136m / 13,570). Here, we will meet all the staff of “Allyn Pacha Cusco” and we will have a delicious breakfast prepared by our talented chef before start the adventure. We will begin with a slight ascent (also known as Peruvian flat), hiking through communities surrounded by herds of llamas and alpacas under the care of local shepherds dressed in traditional clothing. After 3-hours of trekking, we will arrive at the “Upis” camp (4,447 meters / 14,590), located at the foot of the Ausangate mountain. After lunch, we will have the opportunity to take a dip in the natural hot springs; a great place to relax! Then we will have a delicious dinner. We will rest under the spiritual and beautiful snow-capped Ausangate in our comfortable camping tents.

• Meals                      : Breakfast, Lunch, coffee break and dinner
• Accommodation   : Camping facilities
• Distance                 : 8 km / 5 miles
• Walking time         : 3 hours
• Physical difficulty  : Easy 2/5.

You will start the day with a steaming cup of coca tea and nourishing breakfast, which will help us acclimatize to the altitude. Then, we will go up the mountain to the “Arapa” pass (4,750 meters / 15,590 feet), a good spot to catch clean air.

The trek continues following a gentle downhill path around Ausangate mountain until we arrive at viewpoint that overlooks lakes Pucacocha and other lakes with intense turquoise colors. Along the way, we’ll see Quechua people herding their llamas and alpacas, and we may even see herds of wild vicuñas, and condors flying above us.

Our evening camp (4,600 meters/ 15091.86 feet) is surrounded by colorful lakes with the spiritual guardian Ausangate mountain in the backdrop. Perfect place to rest! and listen to your guide talk about the history, culture and geography around you.

Our staff will set up the tents so you can enjoy the rest of the day and taste the delicious lunch and dinner prepared by our trekking chef.

• Meals                      : Breakfast, Lunch, coffee break and Dinner
• Accommodation   : Camping facilities
• Distance                 : 10 km / 6.2 miles
• Walking time         : 6-7 hours
• Physical difficulty  : Moderate 3/5.

Today the hike is arduous and high altitude as we make our way over 2 high passes. From the camp we ascend to the “Pucacocha” Pass (4,920 meters / 16,140 feet). There, we will have a breathtaking scenery and we will fell tiny by the sheer size of the “Ausangate” glacier. Its 360 ° panoramic view is simply amazing!

Then we will descend to the “Anata” valley; a beautifully vivid green valley with countless alpacas and llamas. This is nice place to have lunch. After a relaxing siesta, we will follow the ascending path where we will discover a small mountain with the colors of the rainbow.

Once in the Warmisaya Pass (5,000 meters / 16,405 feet) we will be able to see below us Surine Cocha camp and appreciate the view of “Vinicunca” rainbow mountain, and red hills in the distance.

Our Surine Cocha” evening camp sits on the shore of this beautiful lake at 4,800 meters / 15,748 feet.

• Meals                      : Breakfast, Lunch, coffee break and dinner
• Accommodation   : Camping facilities
• Distance                 : 10 km / 6.2 miles
• Walking time         : 8 hours
• Physical difficulty  : Challenging 4/5.

On our last day we will arrive at the very popular “Rainbow Mountain” in South America and the second most visited tourist attraction in Peru. Here we go “mountain of colors”!

We will get up early to enjoy a warm breakfast, to head straight to the rainbow mountain for a gentle climb until reach the Vinicunca viewpoint (5,036 meters / 16,522 feet). From here, we can contemplate the extravagant natural beauty of the “rainbow mountain” and the red valley in its maximum tranquility. It is an absolutely mind-blowing sight!

Then we will head downhill, where our transport will take us to have lunch, we will return to Cusco city with and drop off at your hotel. The bus ride lasts approximately 4 hours.

• Meals                      : Breakfast and lunch
• Accommodation   : Camping facilities
• Distance                 : 6 km / 3.8 miles
• Walking time         : 3-4 hours
• Physical difficulty  : Moderate 3/5.