Ausangate Rainbow Mountain Trek 6 Days

The Mountain Glacier Ausangate (6,377mts/20,921ft) is the highest and most sacred mountain in Southern Peru and importanat for the Inkas, which for centuries has been central to the religious beliefs of the Andean people, who still go on annual pilgrimages to its icy slopes.  With spectacular glacial vistas, uninterrupted beauty and solitude, this is a spectacular trip for seasoned trekkers who love a true outdoor adventure.

Hiking completely around this mystical mountain, you’ll camp near hot springs and turquoise lakes inhabited by numerous bird species, including Andean goose and the almighty Andean condor. As you trek, you’ll walk amongst herds of llamas and alpacas in remote native Quechua villages.

A new added feature to the itinerary of the Mt. Ausangate trek is a great opportunity to visit and wonder at the natural colors of the new Rainbow Mountain.  The Rainbow mountain trek offers a selection of wildlife; including soaring condors, vicunas, bobcats and pumas. The colorful sandstone mountains in the Vinicunca area is probably the coolest thing you’ll see in Peru.

During your adventure you’ll be well taken care of by our professional team of English speaking guides, cooks and horsemen with their mules. We also have some supporting saddle Emergency horses in case of emergency, or sickness.

Day 1: Cusco – Tinqui – Upis

Your guide will meet you in Cusco 6am in the morning, and take you via private transportation to the starting point of our trek at Tinqui where we load up your gear onto the pack horses. We’ll hike for the next 3 hours or so and then you will enjoy a local lunch, After lunch you will continue hiking to our first camp. This day we only hike for a few hours until we arrive at the village of Upis. Here you’ll have the opportunity to take a soak in the hot springs, while enjoying coca tea, and relaxing your muscles until dinner.

• Distance: 9.65km/ 6 miles
• Elevation: 4100m/ 13,450ft
• Hiking time: 5 to 6 hours
• Meals: breakfast, lunch & dinner
• Accomodations: camping

Day 2: Upis – Chillca

With two passes to cross today, we wake up early at 5am with coca tea brought to your tent and you will fuel up with a big breakfast for the day ahead. The morning starts with a hike up Arapa pass (4,958m/16266ft) before we descend a bit to our lunch spot near Lake Puma Cocha– a deep blue lake and a perfect stop for a break. Along the way you will see local herders and llamas, Ausangate mountain to your left, and you will have your expert guide explaining the history of the locals and talking about the landscape along the way. After lunch we continue uphill for our second pass, Pucacocha (5000m/16404ft) where if you’re lucky you may see condors and vicuñas. We descend to our campsite of chillca where you will be surrounded by high mountains and incredible hanging glaciers, where you can watch for the glacier crashing into the lake below! As always camp will be set up for you to change and rest your weary legs while dinner is being prepared.

• Distance: 15km/ 9.3mls
• Elevation: 4300m/ 14,100ft
• Hiking time: 7 hours
• Meals: breakfast, lunch & dinner
• Accomodations: camping

Day 3: Chillca- Rainbow Mountain (5200m)- Lake Ausangate

Today starts with Chillca pass (5051m/16571ft), a very colorful mountain but only a precursor of what is to come. After crossing the pass you enter into the Red Mountain valley, a wildly desert landscape with vibrant colors all around, and llamas roaming the ground below. When you approach the top of the pass you will see the beautiful Rainbow Mountain in the distance, but you are not quite there! From here you descend to circle lake and continue walking a Peruvian flat until we are presented with one final climb to the Rainbow Mountain. Soak in the sights and enjoy what you’ve worked so hard for. We will enjoy lunch in the surrounding area, and head back down the valley to make our way to the stunning Lake Ausangate where camp will be set up and waiting for you to take a rest.

• Distance: 20km/12.4mls
• Elevation: 4300m/14,107ft – 5200m/17,060ft
• Hiking time: 7-8 hours
• Meals: breakfast, lunch & dinner
• Accomodations: camping

Day 4: Lake Ausangate- Palomani Pass – Pampacancha

Covering less kilometers today, as yesterday was a big day, we pass beautiful glacial tarns, lush green pampas, and follow the edge of the river. Today is a great day for spotting wildlife so keep an eye out for condors, and vicuñas.

• Distance: 17km/10.5 mls
• Elevation: 4300m/14,107ft – 5400m/17716ft
• Hiking time: 7-8 hours
• Accomodations: camping
• Meals: breakfast, lunch & dinner

Day 5: Pampacancha – Qampa Pass- Pacchanta (hot springs/ Camping)

With only one pass to cross today, we will take our time today enjoying the deep blue lagoons, and alpine glacial colored lakes along the way. If you are brave enough you can even jump in to cool off or take a swim. Views of the massive Ausangate mountain are still visible, only today you will get to enjoy them from a new angle along with views of Pacchanta Valley. Our goal is the hot springs of Pacchanta where we will enjoy a nice soak and the views of the Ausangate Mountain above.

• Distance: 16k/10mls
• Elevation: 4300m/14,107ft- 5400m/17716ft
• Hiking time: 6-7 hours
• Accomodations: camping
• Meals: breakfast, lunch & dinner

Day 6: Pacchanta – Tinqui

Today is the easiest day of our trek as we make our way back to the starting point of Tinqui, walking on flat ground and celebrating our accomplishments. Once we arrive at the village you will have your last lunch while everything is packed up in our private transportation to make our way back to Cusco where. You will be dropped off at your hotel arriving around 5pm.

Note: This itinerary is subject to change without prior notice according to weather conditions, strikes, roadblocks, or other events which are beyond our control. We will always do our best to follow the itinerary as closely as possible.

• Distance: 16k/10mls
• Elevation: 4000m (descending)
• Hiking time: 3-4 hours
• Accomodations: camping
• Meals: breakfast, lunch

WHAT IS INCLUDED

• Private transportation to start the trek
•  Professional English speaking Guide
•  Meals as indicated
•  7kgs personal luggage allowance to put on the horses
•  Personal Duffle Bags for your extra luggage to put on the horses
•  Spacious tents; Sleeping mats; Dining tent, kitchen tent, latrine tent
•  Horses to carry the group equipment (food, tents, tables, etc.)
•  1 Emergency Horse
•  Emergency Oxygen bottle and first aid kit
• Tips for the crew, guide, cook and porters of MTE

WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED

• Sleeping Bag – US$25 per person per trek (It will be clean and warm)
• Air Mattress – US$25 per person per trek (Therm-a-rest mattresses)
• Walking Poles – US$20 per pair per trek (Professional Poles that can be extended)
• Personal tent: US $30 – (Please request when you book your Trek)
• Breakfast on the 1st Day
• Dinner on the 6th Day
• Tips

DISCOUNTS

• Group of 5 or more: US$30. – All you need is to book the trek together at the same time.

WHAT YOU HAVE TO TAKE WITH YOU FOR THE AUSANGATE TREK?

• Original Passport (it has to be the same you have used for booking your trek)
• Valid, GREEN ISIC card (if you booked as a student)
• Immigration Card (given on the plane as you enter Peru)
• Good daypack (the smaller, the better)
• Water storage:  2-3 litre Camelbaks are encouraged.
• Comfortable hiking boots with ankle support
• Sleeping bag (can be rented from MTE)
• Air matrasses (can be rented form MTE)
• Headlamp: essential
• Toilet paper

WHAT TO PUT IN YOUR DUFFLE BAG IN THE AUSANGATE TREK?

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 Celcious.
• Waterproof gloves (even if they are ski gloves, take them)
• Comfortable shoes for camp
• Quick dry towel. We provide small ones, you might prefer something larger.
• Small bottle of soap: we provide warm water each day to wash.
• Battery Charger: No electricity along the trek
• Large plastic bags will be provided at the office — Please ask for them.
• Sleeping bag: It has to be at least -15ºC – This can be rented from us.
• Swimming Suit

WHAT TO PUT IN YOUR BACKPACK

We highly recommend a small backpack 30 to 40Litres for hiking in the day. A big backpack will not be allowed into Machu Picchu. The remainder of your belongings will be in your duffel bag at camp.

• Water: Please supply your own water until the first lunch spot, then we will provide you with cold boiled water at every meal time. Please bring your canteens.
• Sun Hat
• Sunscreen
• Headlamp: essential
• Wool Hat
• Rain gear
• Rain poncho
• Fleece
• Snacks like chocolate bars, cereal bars or any dry fruits
• Coca leaves.
• Gloves
• Camera
• Hand sanitizer
• Toilet paper and small plastic bag for waste
• Extra Money for Souvenirs, Drinks & Tips
• Valuable items

The Ausangate Rainbow Mountain Trek is available to depart any day of the week as long as we have two people.

EXTRAS

• Sleeping Bag – US$25 per person per trek (It will be clean and warm)
• Air Mattress – US$25 per person per trek (Therm-a-rest mattresses)
• Walking Poles – US$20 per pair per trek (Professional Poles that can be extended)
• Personal tent: US $30 – (Tent for single trekkers only)

ADDED VALUES for FREE

•  Foam Mattresses
• Small pillow
• Transfer from the airport to your hotel (Cusco only)
• Boiled water for drinking purposes
• Personal porter included
• Duffle bags and trash plastic bags
• Thick warm blanket to put over the sleeping bag
• Hot water bottles to put into your sleeping bag so you can sleep like a baby.

PRICE – USD $857 per person Personal porter included!

***This price includes the extra porter who will carry your belongings up to 7kgs, we provide you a duffle bag, to put your things.

***We provide tents for each 2 trekkers.

DISCOUNTS

Group of 5 or more: US$30. – All you need is to book the trek together at the same time.

EXTRAS

• Sleeping Bag – US$25 per person per trek (It will be clean and warm)
• Air Mattress – US$25 per person per trek (Therm-a-rest mattresses)
• Walking Poles – US$20 per pair per trek (Professional Poles that can be extended)
• Personal tent: US $30 – (Tent for single trekkers only)

ADDED VALUES for FREE

• Thick Foam Mattresses
• Small pillow
• Transfer from the airport to your hotel (Cusco only)
• Boiled water for drinking purposes
• Personal porter included
• Duffle bags and trash plastic bags
• Thick warm blanket to put over the sleeping bag
• Hot water bottles to put into your sleeping bag so you can sleep like a baby.

PRICE

US$857perperson  Personal porter included

***This price includes the extra porter who will carry your belongings up to 7kgs, we provide you a duffle bag, to put your things.

***We provide tents for each 2 trekkers.

DISCOUNTS

Group of 5 or more: US$30. – All you need is to book the trek together at the same time.