Ausangate Trek + Vinicunca Rainbow Mountain 5D/4N

Overview:

Day 1:  Cusco – Tinqui Village – upis

Day 2:  Upis – ananta pass

Day 3:  Ananta pass – rainbow mountain – Ausangate lake

Day 4:  Ausangate lake – surapata

day 5 :  Surapata – pacchanta – tinqui – cusco

• Total Trek Distance: 46 km / 28 ½ miles
• Starting Altitude: 3,800 m / 12, 464 ft
• Maximum Altitude: 5,023 m / 16,479 ft
• Overall trek difficulty: Challenging***

We set off early from Cusco traveling by private van to the small village of Tinqui. We will see the impressive mountain range of Vilcanota and pass through several traditional Andean villages en route and take time to stop to take some photos. When we arrive at Tinqui (our trailhead), we will have a delicious breakfast prepared by our master chef. Then our horsemen will arrange all the group gear and packs on the horses and our trek officially begins. We begin our walk through farming communities and enjoy the breathtaking views of the mountains. We will walk for around 3 hrs and then its time for a lunch stop. After lunch we continue for another 2 hours to reach Upis (4,100 m / 13,448 ft). There we will have the opportunity to soak in the local hot springs before dinner, and camp for the night.

• Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner + snacks
• Minimum Elevation: 3,800 m / 12, 464 ft
• Maximum Elevation: 4,400 m / 14,432 ft
• Walking Distance: 12 km / 7 ½ miles
• Approximate Walking Time: 6 – 7 hours
• Level of Difficulty: Moderate

After a big breakfast we are ready to leave our camp and get started on our hike for the day. We will climb to the ananta Pass (4,850 m / 15,908 ft). From this vantage point we will enjoy the contrast between dry desert like hills and breathtaking snow capped views of Mt. Ausangate and Pucacocha. This area also boasts three beautiful lakes with tones of reds, greens, and turquoises (Pucacocha, Hatun Pucacocha, and Qomercocha). Our second campsite is close to Ausangate glacier.

• Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner + snacks
• Minimum Elevation: 4,100 m / 13,448 ft
• Maximum Elevation: 4,850 m / 15,908 ft
• Walking Distance: 12 km / 7 ½ miles
• Approximate Walking Time: 7 – 8 hours
• Level of Difficulty: Challenging

Today, you will be woken up with “room service” (a hot cup of coca tea). This is going to be one of the most beautiful days of the trek. We will see the Rainbow Mountains in the distance. Also, on today´s journey, we will pass through Alccatauri Village. This is where we will see their traditional village life. There are no trees in the area, 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, a.k.a. manure. J.

The day begins with a 1 ½ hour uphill climb until we reach the Ausangate pass (4,930 m / 16,170 ft). At this pass, we will see red mountains and also have the opportunity to see Vicuñas, chinchillas and alpacas.

After we enjoy the pass, we descend for 1 ½ hours until we reach the Alccatauri Village (4,400 m / 14,435 ft). During our time at the village, in return for their generous hospitality, we will give them offerings of coca leaves. This is extremely valuable because this treasurable Peruvian staple can not be grown in this climate.

Following this incomparable experience, we will hike a further 30 minutes uphill to our lunch .

After a satisfying lunch, we will begin our voyage uphill to the second pass. After 1 ½ hours, we will follow Llama trail to Minasniyuq Pass. Here we will have our first views of the Rainbow Mountains (5,020 m / 16,469 ft). At this pass, we will make offerings to Pacha Mama (Mother Earth).

The remainder of the day´s journey is a 1 hour downhill hike to our camp, ausangate lake  (4,800 m / 15,748 ft). The camp is on the banks of the gorgeous Surine Lake (pictured above).

• Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner + snacks
• Minimum Elevation: 4,400 m /14,435 ft
• Maximum Elevation: 5,023 m / 16,479 ft
• Walking Distance: 12 km/ 7 ½ miles
• Approximate Walking Time: 8 – 9 hours
• Level of Difficulty: Demanding

After breakfast we hike gradually uphill for 2 hours until  (5,020 m / 16,469 ft). Your guide will walk you to the best spots to get the perfect pictures of these incredible mountains and the other surrounding mountains. Your guide will explain what makes these mountains so unique: they are composed of various minerals, which make different colors of stone striations. Not only is this one of the most stunning places in Peru and South America, these type of mountains are seen in only one other country in the world, China.

our camp, surapata  (4,800 m / 15,748 ft).

• Meals: Breakfast/Lunch
• Minimum Elevation: 5,020 m / 16,469 ft
• Maximum Elevation: 10 km /6.2 miles
• Approximate Walking Time: 5-6 hours
• Level of Difficulty: Moderate

After our walking and acclimatization on Day 4 – we are ready for another adventure! We take breakfast early and then 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 take a delicious lunch. In the afternoon we descend towards the Qomerqocha lagoon before arriving at Pacchanta after an approximated 5 hours walk. Pacchanta is a little community with attractive hot springs where we can enjoy a relaxing dip.

Once in Tinqui, we board our transportation that will take us back to the city of Cusco, where we estimate to arrive after nightfall.

•  Meals: Breakfast/Lunch
• Lowest Elevation: 3800 m
• Highest Elevation: 4250 m
• Distance to walk: 7 km
• Approximate walking time: 3 hours
• Level of Difficulty: Easy