Description
The Ausangate trek 5 days offers an array of wildlife including soaring condors, Alpacas, Viscachas, vicuñas, Condors, bobcats, and pumas. Our private campsites are located with an amazing view of Ausangate Mountain from different angles and you will also have the chance to take a bath in 2 hot springs along the way and enjoy the trek’s signature rainbow mountains! The colorful mountains in the Vinicunca area are probably the most amazing thing you are going to see in our country!
WHAT IS INCLUDED?
• Pre trek briefing
• Collection from your hotel on the morning of trek departure.
• Transport private from Cusco to Phinaya to Cusco.
• English/Quechua/Spanish-speaking professional guide (you will have an assistant guide for groups of over 6 people).
• Tents – 2 people in a 4-person tent which allows for greater comfort, and also storage of backpacks.
• Basic foam mattress. If you require greater comfort during the trek we can hire you an inflatable mattress (eg. Thermarest). Cook and Cooking equipment (Assistants are provided for larger groups) Toilet tent.
• Meals as indicated in the itinerary (optional vegetarian food). Our professional cooks prepare meals that incorporate elements of the western diet and also traditional Peruvian delicacies. (Please communicate with your guide/cook during the trek if you have a preference for certain types of dishes). Salads, if served, are washed in boiled water.
• Horses (for equipment and personal items) including horsemen. They carry camping equipment, food, and kitchen utensils. We provide duffel bags at your briefing for your personal items (up to 7 kg/15lbs per person).
• 1 emergency horse which can be ridden if you are feeling ill or if are a little slower
• Dining tent with camp tables and chairs & Kitchen tent for the cook to prepare meals
• Tents for our staff to sleep in
• First aid kit including emergency oxygen bottle
WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED:
• Meals
• Breakfast on the first morning.
• Sleeping bags If you haven’t got a sleeping bag or you don’t want the hassle of
bringing one all the way to Peru with you, then we have sleeping bags for hire. For this trek, you should hire minus 15 or warmer bags.
• Tips for the guide, cook, and porters
• Additional horses for passengers’ luggage.
Recommendations for Ausangate Trek (Optional Services):
• First aid & emergency oxygen bottle You should be prepared to provide your own:
• Sleeping bag comfort 10 celsius below cero
• Day back
• Rain jacket or poncho
• Strong footwear
• Warm clothes, including jacket, fleece, and sweaters. Buy woolens in Cuzco and help the economy while you get your souvenirs
• Flashlight
• Camera, films
• Extra batteries – they fade faster in the altitude and cold
• Hat or cap to protect you from the changeable weather
• Sunblock
• Insect repellent
• Toilet paper – please don’t litter
• Snacks
• Non-disposable canteen and sterilizing tablets (ie. Micropur)
• Cash in soles and/or US$.
• Walking sticks or poles.
Ausangate Trek 5 Days Itinerary
- DAY 1: CUSCO – TINQUI – UPIS: We depart Cusco early in the morning for our three-hour ride in private transport to the small village of Tinqui (3800 meters/ 12 464 feet). As Tinqui is located on the new Interoceanic highway we can now arrive here much more quickly than in previous years. We pass through beautiful countryside and several traditional villages including Urcos, Cattca, and Ocangate. After lunch in Tinqui, the first 3 hours on the trail are a wonderful prelude to the magnificent scenery of the Cordillera Vilcanota, with great views of Ausangate. We will trek for two hours more until we reach the hot springs at Upis (4,400 meters/ 14432 feet) which offer fantastic views of Ausangate Trek at the end of the valley. We will camp here for the night.
- DAY 2: UPIS TO LAKE AUSANGATE Q’OCHA: During our morning’s trek, we will cross the Arapa pass (4,850 meters/ 15908
feet). From here, we continue 3½ hours down the valley, passing the green lake of
Puqa Q’ocha until we reach the turquoise Lake Jatun Puqa Q’ocha. We then ascend the second pass of Apuchata (4,900 meters/ 16 072 feet) with the stunning turquoise blue Laguna Ausangate Q’ocha below. This lake is fed from the melting snow of Ausangate. We will camp here for the second night. - DAY 3: LAKE AUSANGATE Q’OCHA TO QAMPA: From the lake, we ascend to the Palomani pass (5,200 meters/ 17 056 feet); the highest point of the trek. From the pass, we follow the trail into the valley where we’ll rest and have lunch. During the afternoon we can enjoy views of the snowcapped Tres Picos and Puca Punta. We will continue through the broad green valley of Pampa Jutunpata and up the Rio Q’ampa valley. We will spend night 3 in this vicinity.
DAY 4: Q’AMPA TO PACCHANTA
After passing through the small community of Q’ampa we will head Northwest to
the last pass of this hike is the Q’ampa pass (5000 meters/ 16400 feet). We will see several different colored lakes and have lunch beside Q’oma Q’ocha. We hike for several hours before arriving at the small village of Pacchanta. We can soak in the thermal springs for a couple of hours, and even have a well-deserved beer! We will set up camp near Pacchanta and you will have the afternoon free to explore this interesting Andean village. (You have the option of staying in a basic hostel this night)
DAY 5: PACCHANTA TO CUSCO
It’s 3 hours trek back to Tinqui where we will have time to explore this traditional
Andean village before taking our private car back to Cusco, arriving at about 18.00.