Ausangate Trek
Overview
Without a doubt the Ausangate trail offers some of the most wonderful scenery in the whole of the Cusco area, with many birds and wildlife and also glaciers and high alpine lakes. Its also one of the most challenging in the region with three high passes over 5,000 metres/ 16000 feet. On a clear day, Apu Ausangate dominates Cusco’s southern skyline. As we draw closer to this massive massif (6,380 metres/ 20 926 feet) one becomes increasingly impressed and understands fully why the ancient Incas held this spectacular mountain in such high regard. During the whole Ausangate trek circuit we pass local villages where the people dress in their typical attire – the women in beautiful flat-board hats with trimmings – and llamas graze freely.
Included/Exclude
- Private transportation to start of the trek
- Professional guide, fluent in English
- Meals as indicated in the itinerary
- 7kgs personal luggage allowance to put on the horses
- Personal duffel bags for your extra luggage to put on the horses
- Spacious tents ; sleeping mats ; dining tent, kitchen tent, toilet tent
- Horses to carry the group’s equipment (food, tents, tables, etc.)
- Emergency horse to ride if you are tired or ill
- Emergency oxygen bottle and first aid kit
- Breakfast on the 1st day
- Dinner on the 6th day
- Sleeping Bag –$20 USD per person per trek (It will be clean and warm)
- Air Mattress –$20 USD per person per trek (Therm-a-rest mattresses)
- Walking Poles –$15 USD per pair per trek (Professional Poles that can be extended)
- Personal tent -$30 USD – (Tent for solo trekkers)
Tour Plan
Day 1: Cusco – Pitumarca – Q’esuyuno – Kayrawiry
Your Andean mountain adventure begins at 4:00am when your guide will pick you up from your hotel in Cusco! We will drive for 2 hours until we reach the Pitumarca Village, where we will stop to collect supplies and then continue for 1 more hour to Q’esuyuno community. Along the way, we view amazing canyons, Inca farming terraces, rugged mountains and some isolated communities. Upon arrival, we meet our horsemen and horses. We begin our hike gradually heading up to the Kayrawiry community where we have lunch. After enjoying lunch and taking a little siesta, we continue our hike towards Rainbow Mountain! Once there, we will enjoy the amazing colored mountain, which is the highlight of the day. You may see the rare vicuñas or condors at the amazing glacial lakes that you visit. Finally, we hike downhill to Kayrawiry, where our camping tents will be ready. It is time to enjoy an afternoon tea and dinner.
- Elevation: 4800m/15,748ft
- Hiking time: 5 to 6 hours
- Meals: lunch & dinner
Day 2: Kayrawiri – Q’esuyuno – Ausangate Lake
We will wake you up early in the morning with a hot cup of coca tea to start one of the most beautiful days of the trek. You will enjoy the majestic views of some of the highest peaks in the Andes and the depths of the beautiful valleys. After an early breakfast, we will hike back to Q’esuyuno, then start a 2-hour steep climb to Condor Pass at (5100m/ 16732ft) in elevation. Along the way, you will always have gorgeous views of the blue lakes and the majestic views of Ausangate Glacier Peak towering over you. Sometimes you can see avalanches happening from the glacial hills with ice crashing into the lakes below. Once you reach the summit of this mountain, you will be located right in front of Ausangate. There you can really enjoy the valleys of alpaca grazing amongst the hills. It is so impressive! After time to enjoy the amazing views from the pass, we head downhill and reach our lunch spot. After a little siesta, we continue with our hike for 3 more hours to Ausangate Lake where you will enjoy our famous daily happy hour of hot drinks and settle into our campsite for the night.
- Elevation: 5100m/16,732ft
- Hiking time: 12 to 13 hours
- Meals: breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 3: Ausangate Lake – Qampa
After an early and nutritious breakfast with your trekking team, you will prepare for the third day of the hike. Today you will be hiking very close to the wonderful views of the Ausangate Glacier Peaks, experiencing spectacular views of lakes and waterfalls. You may even see some llamas, alpacas and wild vicuñas (the undomesticated ancestor of the alpaca) as well as condors soaring above. We will have a 3-hour ascension to reach the Abra Campo Pass, which is at (5000m/16404ft), where you will discover magnificent views of the surrounding areas. It is possible that in some months of the year, we will have snow hikes, but mostly in the dry season, you just get great views. This is an excellent place to look for vicuñas, which are the most important of the animals still living wild in Peru, they belong to the family of Andean Camellias. Their fleece is the most expensive wool in the world today. After taking a few amazing pictures we continue to our lunch spot, with a gradual descent for another 1.5hours to a beautiful area where you will enjoy your second day’s lunch. It will be another 2.5-hour hike to arrive at our campsite in Qampa.
- Elevation: 5000m/16,404ft
- Hiking time: 7 to 8 hours
- Meals: breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 4: Qampa – Pacchanta – Cusco
After 3 days of hiking and acclimatization, on Day 4 we are ready for another adventure! We take breakfast early and begin our hike of approximately 1 hour to reach the glacier base and then to the top of the mountain! After enjoying the spectacular views of the Vilcanota Range, we descend back down to enjoy a delicious lunch. In the afternoon, we descend towards the Qomer Lake just before arriving at Pacchanta after a 5-hour walk. Pacchanta is a little community with attractive hot springs where we can enjoy a relaxing dip. Then we take our transportation back to Cusco.
- Elevation: 4500m/14,763ft
- Hiking time: 5 to 6 hours
- Meals: breakfast, lunch
Recommended To Carry
- Passport or identity document (current)
- Small backpack (water bottle, snacks, and more).
- Extra cash (Soles) to buy souvenirs (optional).
- Hat or cap for the sun and sunglasses.
- Sunscreen.
- Comfortable sneakers for the visit.
- Light and warm clothes.
- Waterproof jacket/rain poncho if your visit is between October to March.
- Camera and extra batteries.
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