Ausangate Hike
Day 01
5 days Ausangate trek
Trip Itinerary
Day 1
Day 1: CUSCO – TINKI – UPIS
Highlight of the day: AUSANGATE PEAK , BEATIFUL CAMPSITE .
We start at 5:00 a.m. (pick-up at your hotel) and leave the City of Cusco via bus. Heading to the “Cusco-Puerto Maldonado Highway” towards Tinki (3,800 m/12.464 ft.).
On the way, we will stop at Urcos, where we can visit a beautiful lake with the same name. Then we will pass to CATTCA, a farming community. Here, we’ll appreciate several spectacular views of the region and finally pass through Ocongate.
After our 3-hour drive, we finally arrive at “Tinki”. We begin with a light to moderate climb crossing “The Puna” (high dry area with little vegetation) and arrive at our lunch area (3-hour hike). While enjoying your lunch you’ll have a wonderful view of the Ausangate Peak (6, 372 m/20,900 ft.).
After lunch, we continue hiking for an hour and a half to get to our campsite called “Upis” (Elev. 4,400 m). Here you’ll have a fabulous view of all the snowy peaks in the area. We’ll camp and dine right in front of the Ausangate Mountain.
DETAILS:
- Hiking Distance: 7 km/4 miles
- Approx. Hike Time: 4-5 hours
- Highest Altitude: 4,400 – 14,435 ft.
- Lowest Altitude: 3,800 m/12,467 ft.
- Level of Difficulty: Moderate
B,L,D
Meals
CAMPING
Accommodation
MODERATE
Difficulty
7 KM / 4 MILES
Walking Distance
4,400 – 14,435 ft.
Highest Elevation
4,400 – 14,435 ft.
Campsite Elevation
Day 2
Day 2: UPIS – PASO LA ARAPA – AUSANGATE COCHA
Highlight of the day: AUSANGATE LAKE , STUNNING VIEWS.
After an appetizing breakfast served by our chef, we ascend hiking for two hours to reach “La Arapa Pass” (4,850 m/15,908 ft.). Then descending to reach our lunch area. We’ll view Falcons, Vizcachas or Andean squirrels and three beautiful lakes with shades of red, green and turquoise (“Pukacocha”, “Hatun Pukacocha” and “Qomerqocha”). Let’s not forget the spectacular landscape of the snow-capped peaks.
After lunch, we continue a slow steady climb (2 hours) taking us to the footstep of the “Abra de Apuchata” (4,900 m). Where we will finally descend to our camp in” Ausangate Cocha” (4,440 m).
DETAILS:
- Hiking Distance: 13 km/7 miles
- Approx. Hike Time: 6-7 hours
- Highest Altitude: 4,900 m/16,076 ft.
- Lowest Altitude: 4,440 m/14,566 ft.
- Level of Difficulty: difficult
B,L,D
Meals
CAMPING
Accommodation
DIFICULT
Difficulty
8-9 HOURS
Walking Distance
4500 MASL / 14764 FEETS
Highest Elevation
4400 MASL /14436 FETTS
Campsite Elevation
Day 3
Day 3: AUSANGATECOCHA – PASO PALOMANI – Q´AMPA
Highlight of the day: REALLY GOOD LUNCH , ALPACAS , LLAMAS .
Early morning climb, after breakfast, to the third mountain pass called “Abra de Palomani” (5,200 m). This is the highest part of the trek, which descends down for (2 hours) to an area commonly grazed by Llamas, Alpacas and Vizcachas – “Pampacancha” (4,050 m).
From here, we’ll ascend towards our camp in “Q’ampa” (4,300 m/14,104 ft.). In this 3 hour climb we will have an opportunity to see llamas, alpacas, and maybe even pumas. We’ll reach our campsite and have dinner.
DETAILS:
- Hiking Distance: 17 km/10.5 miles
- Approx. Hike Time: 8-9 hours
- Highest Altitude: 5,200 m/17,060 ft.
- Lowest Altitude: 4,050 m/13,286 ft.
B,L,D
Meals
CAMPING
Accommodation
DIFFICULT
Difficulty
16 KM / 10 MILES
Walking Distance
5200 MASL /17O60 FETTS
Highest Elevation
4700 MASL / 15200 FEETS
Campsite Elevation
Day 4
Day 4: Q’AMPA- PACCHANTA
Highlight of the day: DISCOVER THE GEORGES LAGOONS .
Our hike in the morning is uphill (2 hours) until reaching the “Q’ampa Mountain Pass” (5,000 m/16,400 ft.), where you’ll find Andean deer roaming. From here, we descend towards “Qomerqocha Lake” to finally reach Pacchanta (4,100 m) (5-hour total hike).
Pacchanta is a small community with an attractive hot spring where you can enjoy a soothing swim. We’ll camp at Pacchanta.
DETAILS:
- Hiking Distance: 11 km / 6.7 miles
- Approx. Hike Time: 6-7 hours
- Highest Altitude: 5,070 m / 16,404 ft.
- Lowest Altitude: 4,100 m / 13,451 ft.
B,L,D
Meals
CAMPING
Accommodation
DIFFICULT
Difficulty
11 KM / 6.84 MILES
Walking Distance
5070 MASL / 16634 FEETS
Highest Elevation
4100 MASL / 1451 FEETS
Campsite Elevation
Day 5
Day 5: PACCHANTA – TINKI – CUSCO
Highlight of the day: RELAX THE HOY SPRING.
We depart from “Pacchanta” hiking towards Tinki (3 hours). Once we arrive at Tinki, we will board the private transport that will take us back to the City of Cusco, arriving at night.
DETAILS:
- Hiking Distance: 7 km/4 miles
- Approx. Hike Time: 2 – 3 hours
- Highest Altitude: 4,100 m/13,451 ft.
- Lowest Altitude: 3,800 m/12,467 ft.
B,L
Meals
CAMPING
Accommodation
MODERATE
Difficulty
7 KM / 4 MILES
Walking Distance
4100 MASL / 13451 FEETS
Highest Elevation
4100 MASL / 13451 FEETS
Campsite Elevation
Inclusions
Ausangate Trek 5 Days included
The Most Important Things Items for 5 days Ausangate
- Bilingual English-speaking tour guide (additional tour guide for groups of nine people or more)
- SLEEPING BAG
- HIKING POOLS
- BLANKET
- Pre-Departure Briefing at your hotel 1 or 2 days before your trek.
- TRANSFER FROM AIRPORT TO HOTEL
- TRANSFER FROM HOTEL TO AIRPORT
- Four-person tent for every 2 people.
- Chef
- Excellent meals:
- Food includes pancakes, omelets, soups, fresh fruit, avocado, pasta, chicken, fish, meat, and rice, foods that are rich in carbohydrates and suitable for trekking. (Vegetarian, vegan or special diet meals upon request)
- Tea time before dinner (tea, coffee, coca, biscuits, popcorn).
- Boiled water provided from 2nd day (for drinking)
- Wake up to coca tea in your tent
- Buckets of hot water for washing in your tent every day
- Biodegradable soap and hand cleansing gel
- Oxygen Tank & First aid kit
- Wranglers and horses to carry all the equipment (food, tents, chairs, table, etc)
- Horse to transport 8 kg of your gear
- Duffle bag for your gear
- Four breakfasts, four lunches, and four dinners
- Emergency oxygen bottle and medical kit.
- Entrance to ausangate trek
- snacks. water every day to drink
- Tips: Guide, Cook, Horseman.
- Water on Day 1
- First breakfast and last lunch
Pricing
Cost Ausangate trek 5 days
Permits are needed for your chosen start date. Tour prices are based on the number of people in a group. Prices are valid from March 2022 through January 2023. All prices quoted are $USD
- group service: $550 per person
Important: Price includes up to 7 kilos of your personal belongings to be carried by the mules (NO need of extra Porter hire!).
Discounts:
- Student Discount 20$ dollars
- Those under 15 years will pay as a student: US$20.00
- Under 7 years Discount: US$35.00
Trip Details
Trip Details Ausangate Trek 5 Days
Ausangate trek 5 Days and Rainbow Mountain Trip Details
- Tour Name: Ausangate Trek 5 Days
- Tour/Trek Duration: 5 Days/4 Nights
- Location/Terrain: Rainbow mountain, Snow capped , Lagoons
- Accommodation: beautiful campsites
- Acclimatization: Due to the high altitude, we recommend 2 days in Cusco before embarking on our 5 days Ausangate and Rainbow Mountain hike
- Adventure Rating Very Strenuous trek
- Activities: Trekking/ Camping
- Altitude: 3600m/12,139ft
- Departures: every day with 2 or more people
- Customizable: Yes!
What to Pack
WHAT TO BRING FOR AUSANGATE 5 DAYS
As a Professional Direct Local Tour operator, we provide you with a duffle bag at your briefing and INCLUDE an extra porter who will carry up to 7 kgs or 14 pounds including your 2.5kg sleeping bag, mattress, and extra clothing.
- 2 t-shirts
- 2 hiking pants at least
- 4 sets of undergarments
- 3 sets of hiking socks
- Bathing Suit for the thermal waters
- Couple Fleece/ Thermals
- Warm clothes, down jacket — 2nd campsite temp around 3º Celcius.
- Waterproof gloves (even if they are ski gloves, take them)
- Comfortable shoes for camp
- Quickdry towel. We provide small ones, you might prefer something larger.
- A small bottle of soap: we provide warm water each day to wash.
- Battery Charger: No electricity along the trek
What To Bring
- A good day pack: such as Eagle Creek Afar Backpack (Appropriate pack to carry your personal belongings.)
- Original passport (International Student Identity Card “ISIC” if applicable)
- Travel insurance (strongly recommended but not required
- Lighter trekking boots (with good ankle support)
- 3 pairs of trekking pants (not jeans), 1 hiking, 1 cotton–which is just enough. Please spray both pairs with an insect repellent spray before the trip.
- Layers for variable temperatures especially at night.
- 1 rain jacket: The first night the temperature can be as low as – 5 degrees Celsius/23 degrees Fahrenheit. A rain jacket can be helpful because there are rainy days even in the dry season!
- 1 warm/winter jacket (Thermals: wool socks/gloves, scarf and woolen hat for cold nights).
- 4 pairs of underwear, 6 pairs of socks (Bamboo or cotton/nylon-blend socks dry faster than 100 percent cotton, which lose their softness when air-dried.) It is nice to have a couple of extra pairs of socks to change into at night when you’re not hiking. Also, we recommend bringing both heavy hiking socks and lighter socks as well as the weather is variable, so you want to make sure you’re not too cold or too hot.
- 4 t-shirts, 2 long sleeve shirts
- 1 good sleeping bag liner which is super lightweight and easy to pack. This does its job!
- Travel-size tissues and wet wipes.
- Iron tablets and pills for altitude sickness. Several people on the hike have varying degrees of altitude sickness and both of these remedies (in addition to the coca tea) are very helpful in alleviating the symptoms.
- Sun protection cream (SPF 45 or higher recommended).
- Bug spray with 30% DEET in it–which you need, but it doesn’t work very well. The issue with Cusco outdoor is that most of the bugs are not mosquitoes. They are these small flies you can’t even see that leave weird bites that first look like you pricked your finger and then blow up into itchy red bumps. Unfortunately, these bugs seem to bite you no matter what kind of spray you put on, so bringing some anti-itch ointment could be helpful.
- Re-usable plastic or metal water container or a hydration pack such as Camelback
- Water (Only for the first day of the hike, as we will provide you with water throughout the rest of the hike).
- Camera
- A headlamp to navigate camp in the evenings and pre-dawn mornings with spare batteries
- Bandages or moleskin
- Flip flops to change into at night. Your toes will thank you!
- Toiletries
- Medication (Imodium AD or something for your stomach) because some people get an upset stomach on the trek. Also, Ibuprofen or Acetaminophen can be helpful to help with aches and pains after 8-10 hours of hiking each day.
- Plastic bags for dirty and wet clothes
- Something to read in the evenings
- Extra money for drinks, tips in Soles for cooks, horsemen, guides. (USD$60-70).
- Emergency money at least 300-450 extra soles (USD$ 220)
