Ausangate Trek To Rainbow Mountain 4 Days
Day 01
Ausangate Trek To Rainbow Mountain 4 Days
Trip Itinerary
Day 1
Day 1: CUSCO – TINKI – UPIS
Highlight of the day: EXPLORE AND DISCOVER THIS AMAZING PLACE .
AUSANGATE TREK 4 DAYS ITINERARY
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 of 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” (a high dry area with little vegetation) and arrive at our lunch area (a 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 two hours to get to our campsite called “Upis Alto” 4400 masl (14400 fasl). Here you’ll have a fabulous view of all the snowy peaks in the area. We’ll camp and dine right in front of Ausangate Mountain and really close to the hot spring.
DETAILS:
- Hiking Distance: 7 km/4 miles
- Hike Time: 4-5 hours
- Highest Altitude: 4,400 – 14,435 ft.
- Lowest Altitude: 3,800 m/12,467 ft.
- Level of Difficulty: Moderate
L,D
Meals
CAMPING
Accommodation
MODERATE
Difficulty
7 km/4 miles
Walking Distance
4,400 – 14,435 ft.
Highest Elevation
3,800 m/12,467 ft.
Campsite Elevation
Day 2
Day 2: UPIS – PASO LA ARAPA – AUSANGATE COCHA
Highlight of the day: DISCOVER THE AUSANGATE LAKE .
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: 17 km/10.5 miles
- Hike Time: 8-9 hours
- Highest Altitude: 4,900 m/16,076 ft.
- Lowest Altitude: 4,440 m/14,566 ft.
- Level of Difficulty: easy
B,L,D
Meals
CAMPING
Accommodation
DIFFICULT
Difficulty
17 km/10.5 miles
Walking Distance
4,900 m/16,076 ft.
Highest Elevation
4,440 m/14,566 ft.
Campsite Elevation
Day 3
Day 3: AUSANGATE COCHA-AUSANAGATE PASS-AUQUi
Highlight of the day: AMAZING AUSANGATE PEAK AND LAKE .
Today, you will be woken up with (coca tea). This is gonna be one of the most amazing days of the trek. We will see Rainbow Mountain from far away. Also, on today´s journey, we will pass through Alccatauri Village. This is where we will see their traditional local life., so there is no wood to make houses or build fires. The residents are extremely enterprising and make their adobe houses out of mud and build fires with nature´s fertilizer,
The day begins with a 2-hour descent until we reach the Ausangate pass (4,930 m / 16,170 ft). At this high point, we will see red Vinicunca Rainbow Mountain and also have the opportunity to see Vicuñas, chinchillas, and alpacas. originally from this área.
After a while, we descend for 1 ½ hour until we reach the Alcatauri Village (4,410 m / 14,455 ft). During our time in the village, in return for their generous hospitality, we will give them some presents (toys, books some pencils). This is extremely valuable because this treasurable Peruvian staple can not be grown in this climate.
Following this amazing experience, we will walk a further 30 minutes uphill to our lunch spot at a rustic spot
After enjoying lunch, we will begin our hike uphill to the second pass. After 2 hours, we will follow the Llama trail to Minasniyuq Pass. Here we will have our first views of the Vinicunca Rainbow Mountain(5,023 m / 16,489 ft). At this pass, we will make offerings to Pacha Mama (our universe).
The remainder of the day´s hike is a 1 hour downhill hike to our camp, Surine Cocha (4,800 m / 15,748 ft). The camp is on the best of the gorgeous Surine Lake
DETAILS:
- Hiking Distance: 17 km/10.5 miles
- Hike Time: 8-9 hours
- Highest Altitude: 5,000 m/16,076 ft.
- Lowest Altitude: 4,410 masl
- Level of Difficulty: easy
B,L,D
Meals
CAMPING
Accommodation
DIFFICULT
Difficulty
17 km/10.5 miles
Walking Distance
5,000 m/16,076 ft.
Highest Elevation
4,410 MASL / 15123 FEETS
Campsite Elevation
Day 4
Day 4: AUQUi-RAINBOW MOUNTAIN-CUSCO
Highlight of the day: ENYOY THE FAMOUS RAINBOW MOUNTAIN .
Wake up gonna be with coca tea, After breakfast, we hike gradually uphill for 1 and 45 hours until we reach the Georges Ausangate Trek to Rainbow Mountain (5,030 m / 16,480 ft). Your guide will hike to the best spots to get amazing pictures of these incredible vinicunca rainbow mountains and the other surrounding mountains. Your tour guide will explain why is the colors of these mountains so unique: in this área but we have in some parts of the world like China, Argentina
After taking pictures and enjoying the view, we will continue on the hike until we reach the end of the trek. This is a 2 hour downhill hike. We will have lunch there.
After lunch Will takes our transportation to get Cusco and your hotel.
DETAILS:
- Hiking Distance: 10 km
- Hike Time: 5-6 hours
- Highest Altitude: 5,030 m/16,076 ft.
- Lowest Altitude: 4,410 masl
- Level of Difficulty: easy
B, L
Meals
CUSCO
Accommodation
MODERATE
Difficulty
10 KM / 6 MILES
Walking Distance
5,030 m/16,076 ft.
Highest Elevation
3400 MASL / 11154 FEETS /
Campsite Elevation
Inclusions
Ausangate Trek 4 Days
- Bilingual English-speaking tour guide (additional tour guide for groups of nine people or more)
- SLEEPING BAG
- HIKING POLES
- BLANKET
- Pre-Departure Briefing at your hotel 1 or 2 days before your trek.
- Four-person tent for every 2 people.
- Chef
- Wranglers and horses to carry all the equipment (food, tents, chairs, table, etc)
- Horse to transport 8 kg of your personal gear
- Duffle bag for your personal gear
- Four breakfasts, four lunches, and four dinners
- Emergency oxygen bottle and medical kit.
- One-night hotel accommodation in Aguas Calientes (double occupancy)
- Entrance to Machu Picchu
- Round trip bus from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu
- Choquequirao Machu Picchu Hiking Tours 9 days
- Trek briefing with your guide
- Professional guide
- All entrance tickets to the attractions
- Private transport and professional driver (round-trip transfer from the hotel to the starting point of trek)
- 1 train ticket service from Hydro to Machu Picchu Pueblo
- 1 train ticket service from Machu Picchu Pueblo to Ollantaytambo Village (Expedition Tourist Train)
- 2 bus tickets from Aguas Calientes Village to Machu Picchu.
- 7 nights camping/1 night hotel
- Choquequirao guided tour
- Machu Picchu guided tour
- Spacious tent/Sleeping mat.
- Horses or mules and indigenous horsemen to carry camping equipment: client tents, dining and cooking tents, tables, stools, cooking gear, stove, gas container, cutlery, plates, food, and fresh vegetable
- Personal items to carry: 10 kg/22 lb. (So you just need to carry your day backpack with everything you will need during the day.)
- We provide a duffle for personal items.
- One cook, and assistants
- Excellent meals: 8 Breakfasts, 7 Lunches, 7 Dinners
- 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, coco, 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
- tips for the stuff
- water 1 day
- 1 breakfast, last lunch
Pricing
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: $400 per person
Important: Price includes up to 7 kilos of your personal belongings to be carried by the mules (NO need of extra Porter hire!).
Discounts:
- Student Discount 20$ dollars
- Under 15 years will pay as a student: US$20.00
- Under 7 years Discount: US$35.00
Trip Details
Trip Details Ausangate Trek To Rainbow Mountain 4 Days
Ausangate Trek 4 Days details
- Tour Name: ausangate trek to the rainbow mountain 4 days
- Tour/Trek Duration: 4 Days/3 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 ausangate trek to the rainbow mountain 4 days
- Adventure Rating Very Strenuous trek
- Activities: Trekking/ Camping
- Altitude: 4700m/14,139ft
- Departures: every day with 2 or more people
- Customizable: Yes!
What to Pack
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 (An appropria
- 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,
- Emergency money at least 300-450 extra soles (USD$ 220
FAQ´s
AUSANGATE TREK 4 DAYS FAQS
is probably one of the most beautiful and complete trails that Cusco has, there is 55 km in total that you can do in 4 or 5 days, along this hike you can see turquoise lagoons, glaciers, llamas, alpacas running, chinchillas, and the imposing snowy Ausangate with an altitude of 6385 meters above sea level.
It is one of the best experiences to connect with nature and its enigma.
The perfect combination is to do this trekking with the famous mountain of 7 colors where you will spend 4 5, 6, and 7 incredible days.
AUSANGATE TREK PREPARATION
without any doubt, the best recommendation is to do physical exercises before doing this trekking running ravines, going up and down hills if you have it in your country, or running at least 10 km per day, and thus be prepared to not have problems, and for people who suffer from the heart is not recommendable to do it because this trail is the highest in Cusco.
To be able to acclimatize is good to be in Cusco for 1 day or 2 days, and also the other option is to start your plans from Arequipa, Puno, and then come more acclimatized to Cusco and be better adapted to the altitude.
BEST TIME TO HIKE AUSANGATE TREK
the best time for hiking is between the months of April to September, with very sunny days and perfect for taking good pictures and seeing the mountains more clearly in all their glory these months are the high season, and the months of October to March are the months of the rainy season and there are companies that still offer this trail and is not recommended because during the day is cloudy with rain and the road is slippery.
AUSANGATE TREK WITHOUT TOUR GUIDE
the answer is of course, yes, having good camping and trekking equipment and a GPS, with maps where that can help you in the right direction where to go, camp, etc.
The ausangate trail is not well marked and unfortunately, you can get lost when it is cloudy.
The best option is to book with a company expert in this trekking and also to have a better experience as GO TREKS PERU has the best professionals.
In general, this trekking is to be able to learn and know more about the Inca culture.
WEATHER ON AUSANGATE TRAIL
The weather in the Andes is very unpredictable because of the geography that we have, in the Ausangate trek trail during the day are sunny days so you will need to use sunscreen, and during the night can reach temperatures below 0 degrees.
in general, is to have Good trekking equipment to not have problems with the cold and heat and it is always necessary to have enough water to drink, the recommendation is to have 2 liters per person to avoid dehydration.
CHOOSING AUSANGATE TREK
The Ausangate trail is divided into two well-marked categories: short (2-4 days) and long (5-7 days) with colorful mountains. If you have time, we recommend that you choose a 5-7 day route. This option is the most complete because in this trail you will be able to visit beautiful lagoons and the snow-capped Ausangate and the incredible mountain of colors.
Short Ausangate Trek (2-4days)
Also known as small Ausangate Treks, these shorter trails are intended to offer hikers a sort of “best of” sample of the Ausangate region in a shorter period of time. These routes usually focus on Lake Puca Cocha, the Ausangate glacier, and the Arco Iris mountain is somewhat complete.
Full Ausangate Trek (5-7 days)
The longer treks will take you through mountains and places that are rarely seen by hikers, a complete circuit so you can appreciate some of the high peaks from multiple angles and take amazing pictures. During the day you will see breathtaking views of glaciers and during the night, the milky way at its best from 4,000 meters to 5,200 meters.
INCREDIBLE VIEWS EVERY DAY?
For people who love to take pictures, this amazing trail will give you incredible gifts of turquoise lagoons, snow-capped mountains, llamas, alpacas, and the popular colorful mountain
WHERE TO LEAVE THE LUGGAGE DURING THE TREK?
Different hotels have a place to leave your luggage when you go out for a day trip, the other option is to leave it at the GO TREKS PERU office and when you come back you can pick it up without any problem.
HOW HARD IS AUSANGATE TREK?
The main reason Ausangate is considered difficult is that the entire hike is at a high altitude. This route is probably not suitable for novice hikers. It is considered one of the most difficult, however, if you have done other treks before you should have no problem.
RENTING TREKKING AND CAMPING GEAR FOR AUSANGATE TREK IN CUSCO
there are many places to rent in Cusco, the best option is to rent around the square and the best known for quality and price is the famous speedy Gonzales that is on procuradores street.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Put your smartphone on airplane mode. no phone signal and to save battery life.
Drink enough water, it is very important to hydrate yourself as we will be walking at 4000 masl and during this trek, there are streams where you can recharge water and important to have purifying tablets is important when walking at high altitudes.
Be very attentive to the weather. Conditions can change for hours at high altitudes in the Andes. Always have warm layers and waterproof layers on hand. This is especially important when climbing and traversing high passes.
Carry a first aid kit, an equipment repair kit, and a blister treatment kit in your backpack, but we have them too.
Carry a good amount of your favorite sunscreen, lip balm, and sunglasses, and wear a buffalo to protect your head and neck and help block the wind.
This hike is not recommended for children because they may have trouble walking, but if your child enjoys hiking at high altitudes, you can do it.
The higher altitude also means colder, near-freezing temperatures, so be prepared. If you decide to hike for several days, be sure to bring very warm clothing.
The best time to visit Rainbow Mountain will be in the morning or early afternoon, just after sunrise or before sunset.
Do not go to Rainbow Mountain in the afternoon during the rainy season because of the lighting. Due to the high concentration of minerals. There is a high probability of being affected by lighting.
