Ausangate Trek
4 Days to
Rainbow Mountain

Our Ausangate adventure will start with the pick-up from your hotel at 5:30 a.m. in private transport and heading in the direction of the village of Tinki, at 3800 m (12,467 ft), where you'll be able to buy the last items that you could need along the trek. After we continue driving to Rodeana (Upis) Village, where our hike begins, here you'll meet with the rest of our trekking team, and you'll have some time to prepare everything for your hike. Our walk this day will be easy, ascending through a wide path with a spectacular view of the north face of Ausangate Mountain. After 3 hours of walking through herds of alpacas, rivers, and green valleys, we will reach Upis Community, where our lunch spot and camp are.

In the afternoon, we will have the option to hike towards Upisqocha Lake, where our guide will do an offering for Apu Ausangate and Pachamama. The hike will take around 2 hours round-trip. Once you return to the camp, you will join the happy hour tea time, and later, before lunch, you can join the thermal baths.

Have dinner in the evening, after which you will have the option of stargazing at the Milky Way, which is amazing, and spend the night in front of the sacred mountain of Ausangate.

You will be woken up by our team with a hot tea and admire the beauty of Ausangate Mountain once you open your tent. Then, you will join a delicious breakfast prepared by our professional Andean chef. We will begin our hike by ascending through a picturesque path for about 2 hours towards the Arapa Pass, 4,800 meters (15,748 feet), which offers a spectacular view of Ausangate Mountain. Along the way, you'll be able to see some wild Vizcachaz and some wild birds, including the famous condor, one of the largest birds in the Andes. Take a time to rest and admire the georgeous landscapes and the gigantic Ausangate peak.

Then, we start descending for about an hour and a half. Along the way, we will see some different lakes, Yana Qocha and Pucaqocha lakes, which are created by the snow melt from Ausangate and surrounded mountains. We continue walking to reach our campsite, where you will also have lunch. Be ready to have one of the most impressive views of the south face of Ausangate Mountain.

After lunch, you will walk around and capture the stunning view of the different lakes located at the bottom of Ausangate. These have different colors, and your guide will take you to one of the lakes where you can enjoy the immense tranquility in front of this huge mountain. Later, you will have tea time, followed by a delicious dinner. Spend the night while the Apu watches over you while you sleep.

Ready to explore the most captivating views? You'll be woken up by our trekking team with a hot Coca tea, which will give you an energy boost. Enjoy the Andean breakfast with a spectacular view of Ausangate. Then we will go uphill for about an hour to reach Apacheta Pass, which is 5,000 meters (16,404 feet). While you reach higher, you'll be amazed by the most stunning views that you've ever seen. Your guide will show you the best angles from which you can capture epic photos of Apu Ausangate and the green lakes at the bottom.

Once you have reached the pass, you'll have breathtaking views in front of you. Different red mountains and green valleys created impressive landscapes. At the backside, you can feel the immense energy it boasts and understand why the locals call it the creator of life. Have a moment to catch your breath and say thank you to this impressive mountain for an incredible day.

From here, we will walk down to the Anantapata Valley. On the way, you'll see some herds of alpacas grazing quietly. Get your cameras ready for some great photos. Anantapata is our lunch spot, where we will enjoy our Andean buffet lunch prepared by our chef. Rest a little. Then we start ascending for an hour to reach Warmisaya Pass, which is 5,010 meters (16,437 feet). From here, you'll see the iconic Rainbow Mountain, and we are getting close; in the background, it is still possible to see the gigantic Ausangate Mountain.

Afterwards, we descend to Surineqocha, where our camp is. All your tents will be already set up, and we will have time to rest. Around 3:30 p.m., we will hike to Rainbow Mountain and observe the wonderful sunset on the horizon after everyone has already left the area. In the evening, enjoy the delectable dinner and spend our last night surrounded by mountains.

After our Andean breakfast, we make our way to the Rainbow Mountain to explore its natural colors and have a chance to admire the sunrise early in the morning before the large groups arrive. Our expert guide will explain to you all the information concerning the colors, history, and local traditions of the area, and of course he will take you to the best spots to capture stunning photos.

After having explored this such a nice spot, we will continue our hike towards the Red Valley. It takes only 30 minutes to get there, and not many people go there. This place seems like another planet; you'll be surprised by the reddish color coming from the iron existing in the place. Definitely, you will take your time to admire all the red mountains around you and enjoy the tranquility of the area.

Finally, we will make our way back towards the bus station, where our delicious lunch awaits us, then board our bus and drive back to Cusco.