Ausangate Trek + Rainbow Mountain Tour 6 Days

ITINERARY:

Day 1: Cusco – Tinqui – Upis

• Distance: 8km/ 3 miles
• Elevation: 4100m/ 13,450ft
• Hiking time: 2 hours

Your guide will meet you in Cusco early in the morning, and take you via private transportation to the starting point of our trek- Tinqui. Here you will enjoy a local lunch, while your gear is being loaded onto pack horses. After lunch, you will begin hiking to our first camp. This day we only hike for a few hours until we arrive at the village of Upis. Here you can take a soak in the hot springs, while enjoying coca tea, and relax your muscles until dinner.

Day 2: Upis – chillca

• Distance: 15km
• Elevation: 4300m/ 14,100ft
• Hiking time: 7 hours

With two passes to cross today, we wake everyone up at 5 am with coca tea brought to your tent and you will fuel up with a big breakfast for the day ahead. The morning starts with a hike up Arapa pass (4958m) before a slight decline to our lunch spot near Lake Puma cocha – a deep blue lake and a perfect stop for a break. Along the way, you will see local herders and llamas, Ausangatemountain to your left, and you will have your expert guide explaining the history of the locals and talking about the landscape along the way. After lunch, we continue uphill for our second pass for the day (Pucacocha pass-5000m) where if you’re lucky you may see condors and vicuñas until descending to our campsite of chillca where you will be surrounded by high mountains and incredible hanging glaciers- watch for the glacier crashing into the lake below! As always camp will be set up for you to change and rest your weary legs and dinner will be prepared.

Day 3: Chillca- Rainbow Mountain (5200m)- Lake Ausangate

• Distance: 20km
• Elevation: 4300m- 5200m – 4300m
• Hiking time: 7-8 hours

Today starts with Chillca pass (5051), a very colorful mountain but only a precursor of what is to come. After crossing the pass you enter into the Red Mountain valley, a wildly desert landscape with vibrant colors all around, and llamas roaming the ground below- as you approach the top of the pass you will see the beautiful Rainbow Mountain in the distance, but you’re not quite there! From here you descend to circle the lake and continue walking a Peruvian flat until we are presented with one final climb to the Rainbow Mountain. Soak in the sights and enjoy what you’ve worked so hard for. We will enjoy lunch in the surrounding area, and head back down the valley to make our way to the stunning Lake Ausangate where camp will be set up and waiting for you to take a rest.

Day 4: Lake Ausangate- Palomani Pass – Pampacancha

• Distance: 17km (10.5 miles)
• Elevation: 4300m – 5400m – 4300m
• Hiking time: 7-8 hours
• Covering fewer kilometers today, as yesterday was a big day, we pass beautiful glacial tarns, lush green pampas, and follow the edge of the river. Today is a great day for spotting wildlife so keep an eye out for condors, and vicuñas.

Day 5: Pampacancha – Qampa Pass- Pacchanta (hot springs/ Camping)

• Distance: 16k
• Elevation: 4300m- 5400m – 4000m
• Hiking time: 6-7 hours

With only one pass to cross we will take our time today enjoying the deep blue lagoons, and alpine glacial colored lakes along the way. If you are brave enough you can even jump in to cool off. Views of the massive Ausangatemountain are still visible, only today you will get to enjoy them from a new angle along with views of Pacchanta Valley. Our goal is the hot springs of Pacchanta where we will enjoy a nice soak and the views of the Ausangate Mountain above.

Day 6: Pacchanta – Tinqui- Cusco

• Distance: 16k
• Elevation: 4000m (descending)
• Hiking time: 3-4 hours

Today is the easiest day of our trek as we make our way back to the starting point of Tinqui walking on flat ground and celebrating our accomplishments. Once we arrive at the village you will have your last lunch while everything is packed up in our private transportation to make our way back to Cusco where. You will be dropped off at your hotel arriving around 5 pm.