Nevado Ausangate, situated in the heart of the Vilcanota mountain range, is one of the tallest mountains in Peru with a height of 6,398m above sea level. It is considered by many the most beautiful mountain in this part of the Andes of Peru. Though roughly a 4 hours drive from the Cusco, its snowy massif is visible from many parts of the city.
The Ausangate Trek offers a true wilderness experience. Many call it the most challenging hike on offer in the Cusco region. The Ausangate Trek is a great hike for nature lovers, with lots of wildlife to be seen. The scenery is stunning, white snow-capped peaks and bright blue and green lagoons are just some of the scenic highlights. There is also a cultural element to this trek, as it passes through several isolated Andean communities where the way of life has changed little since the reign of the Incas.
The Ausangate Trek is not as popular as the Inca Trail or the Salkantay Trek, but certainly a great option for the more experienced hiker with special interested in nature and culture.
The popular Rainbow Mountain is part of the Ausangate Trek and it is on the foot of the Ausangate, where the Qoyllur R'iti Festival takes places.
At around 5 am you will be picked up and transported to Tinke, 2 hours away and at 3,900masl. From there we have to walk around 4 hours until the lunch and another 3 hours to our camp in Upis. En-route we will see many small villages where you can see the stresses and strains of traditional rural life.
Today we will trek for around 6 hours to Ananta. Lunch will be next to the Pucaccocha lake. On route, we will see other lakes, birds, alpacas, condors, and a lot of other animals. In Ananta we make camp and spent the night.
We start our day with breakfast in Ananta. Today we will walk until the famous Rainbow Mountain. After enjoying the view from Vinicunca, we go back and have lunch. We will continue to Ausangate Qocha.
Today we will have some parts to go up, but also walking down. We will pass another beautiful brown colored lake. If you want to, there is also the opportunity to climb the Ausangate glacier. After lunch we walk to our new base camp called Phinaya.
After a good rest in a very quiet area, we will wake up at 6 am to enjoy our breakfast at 7 am. We will go over a pass today of 5200 meters above sea-level until we see the Jampa Glacier. We will go until the top to enjoy the amazing views on lakes and small villages. Before getting to our camp, we will have lunch close to the lake. It is around 5 hours walking in the morning. After lunch we walk around 2 hours more to reach Pacchanta. In this small village, there is the option to stay the night at a local hostal for an extra cost if you prefer the hostal over your tent.
After the breakfast in town, we will walk back to Tinke. The path is only used for walking and motorbikes, especially by local people to get around. It is around 4 hours walking to Tinke where you can buy a typical lunch (not included). In the afternoon our driver will take you back to Cusco where you will arrive in the early evening.
Special Discounts apply on fixed departure dates - Click here to check special departure dates.