Ausangate and Rainbow Mountain Trek 4 Days
The Ausangate trek 4 days is one of Peru best options to explore the native life of the Andes. It is recommended for nature, mountains and remotes area lovers away of the crowds. On this incredible Ausangate tour you will visit the highlands of Peru, relax in the Andean hot spring with 35º C, and explore the turquoise glow of beautiful lagoons in the middle of the Andes. Be impressed by the Nevado Ausangate 6385m/20942ft the highest peak in Cusco region, nowadays it represents as "Apu" the spiritual entity of the Andean people who believe that this mountain watch over the communities and their animals.
- Overview
- Itinerary
- Inclusions
- Recommendations
- Faqs
- Pricing
- Enquire Now
During this four-day Ausangate trek, you will have the opportunity to enjoy one of the hardest treks that can be done in the Andean mountain range and even a high-Andean landscape. With the Ausangate mountain as the highlight, there will also be many impressive mountain landscapes, almost dreamlike images such as the Rainbow Mountain also known as Seven color mountain, with charming Andean villages. It is surrounded by beautiful flora and fauna proper from the Andes. The Ausangate trek is an exceptional experience in the most authentic nature, during this journey you will marvel at brilliantly colored landscapes, turquoise high mountain lagoons, imposing white glaciers, rolling farmlands, and ice dunes, all part of the majestic Vilcanota mountain range.
Highlights: Ausangate and Rainbow MountainHiking distance: 48 km / 29.8miles
Considerations: Prior acclimatization required
Season: May to November
Itinerary at a Glance
- Day01
Cusco - Tinki - Pacchanta - Qampa Pampa
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Day02
Qampa Pampa - Phinaya - Palomani Pass - Ausangate Qocha
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Day03
Ausangate Qocha - Anantapata - Wamisaya pass- Suriniqocha
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Day04
Suriniqocha - Rainbow Mountain - Red Valley – Cusco
Our expeditions will start with a briefing a night before of the departure date, where you will meet with you trekking guide at your hotel or in our office, here he will provide you the specific details about the tour, also will provide you the duffle bag which you can keep it to fill with your personal items.
Tinki - Pacchanta - Qampa Pampa
Walking Distance:12km /7.4miles
Starting Elevation: 4200 / 13779ft
Campsite Elevation: 4400m / 14436ft
Highest Elevation: 5060m / 16601ft
Difficulty: Moderate
Accommodation: Camp
Highlight of the day: Lakes and Ausangate
The first day of this expedition will begin with the pick-up from your hotel, your trekking guide will come searching for you with our van then we head to the south of Cusco by the Inter Oceanica high way towards Tinki, it takes 3 hours drive, here we will have a short stop to explore this last village before heading to the begin of the trail, from here we will keep driving another 40 minutes to Pacchanta, where we’ll meet with a rest of our team, the chef, horse driver, and his assistant.
Here we have the last time to pack all our stuff, then we begin our path gradually ascending between picturesque landscapes, after 2 our hike we will arrive to Azulqocha lagoon, its turquoise colors surprised to everyone who explore this area, you will enjoy the incredible views with the background of the Ausangate mountain, here also you will see some high Andean birds proper from this altitude, after this we will continue hiking for one more hour to Pachaspata where is our first lunch spot, Our team will prepare great Andean meals.
After a deserved rest we will continue ascending to the first pass Qampa 5040 meters, this is the highest pass for this day, from here you will see the incredible views of Puca Punta, Caracol and Pacchanta mountains, and Qampa cocha at the bottom of these mountains, take your time to enjoy the view from here.
Then we’ll follow our route descending along the valley for two hours until to reach the Qampa pampa campsite, here we’ll spend the first night.
Qampa Pampa - Phinaya - Palomani Pass - Ausangate Qocha
Walking Distance:10km /6.2miles
Starting Elevation: 4400 / 14436ft
Campsite Elevation: 4580m / 15026ft
Highest Elevation: 5210m / 17093ft
Difficulty: Challenging
Accommodation: Camp
Highlight of the day: Lakes and Ausangate
This day our team will wake you up with a hot coca tea to motivate you, because it will be one of the challenging days of this expedition, an energetic breakfast will be waiting for you then we will start with our hike towards Uchuy Phinaya where some local people still keep the Inca’s traditions with their lamas and alpacas, you will have various opportunities to capture excellent photos while they are still inside of the corrals. Beside of the river we will have our lunch. From here we’ll head up gradually for 3 hours to reach the Palomani pass 5210m / 17093ft. Along this way up section, you will see some wild camels such as Vicuñas, Alpacas and Llamas, also you can join the famous chocolate lagoon on your left side. Once you arrived to the summit, your tour guide will make some ceremonies for Pachamama, with some coca leaves, and candies. This is the most spectacular views of Ausangate also the nearest one, now you can understand why this mountain is considerate as deity for the Andean people. After enjoy the magical moment, our hike will continue descending to our campsite in Ausangate qocha via the switchbacks on the trail about an hour and a half, along the way you will appreciate the south face of Ausangate mountain, we will arrive to the camp site while our tents will be already set up and waiting for you. Here we spend the second night.
Ausangate Qocha - Anantapata - Wamisaya pass- Suriniqocha
Walking Distance: 13km /8miles
Starting Elevation: 4580 / 15026ft
Campsite Elevation: 4570m / 14993ft
Highest Elevation: 5100m / 16732ft
Difficulty: Challenging
Accommodation: Camp
Highlight of the day: Ausangate Mountain
Today our hike begin with gradual uphill towards Anantapata, along the path you will meet with some local families, where you can see how is the way live on this remote area and take care their llamas and alpacas, The path goes on the site of the Pucachocha pass, with a great view of Alccatauri valley, after three hours hiking we’ll reach to Anantapata lunch spot where you can enjoy our nutritive meals to recharge your energy to the next three hours, After the lunch you have little rest to explore the area and capture great photos, afterwards we will continue heading up to the Warmisaya pass 5100m /16732ft, the paths goes up gradually with incredible views of the valley and the Inca mountain located on your backside. Once you reach the summit you will have another view of the together with the Rainbow mountain, here you will take your deserved rest, then we will descend for one more hour to Suriniqocha where our campsite is already set up, you will enjoy your tea time and then you can relax before to take your dinner.
Suriniqocha - Rainbow Mountain - Red Valley – Cusco
Walking Distance:13km /8miles
Starting Elevation: 4570 / 14993ft
Campsite Elevation:
Highest Elevation: 5100m / 16732ft
Difficulty: Challenging
Accommodation:
Highlight of the day: Rainbow Mountain
You are in for another early start today as our trek reaches a climax, after having an energizing breakfast, we will head out to explore the famous Rainbow Mountain. We’ll start ascending about two hours to the view point of this amazing mountain 5100m / 16732ft. from here you will have an excellent view of the spectacular Rainbow Mountain. Your guide will explain you why the colors and you will have enough time to capture the best moment with this colorful mountain before it turned crowd. After enjoyed this phenomenal area we will continue our trek to the red valley which will surprise you with its spectacular landscapes where you will feel as you are in another planet. From here we descend to our lunch spot where our bus will be waiting for us to return to Cusco.
At Vidal Expeditions we are transparent and provide the specific details of what is included and excluded in our tours. We know this is very important so that you know what exactly to bring and you don’t miss anything. We provide this information to ensure that you have an incredible experience during your trek.
WE INCLUDE
Vidal Expeditions Team Provide
Pre-departure briefing
Once you book the tour with us, you will get a notification about the pre-departure briefing, where you will meet with your trekking guide and the tour group in our office the night before your Ausangate trek departure. During this briefing, you will receive important details of the trek. After this time, you will receive your duffle bag for your extra luggage, which will be carried by the horses while you are hiking
Professional Adventure Guide
All our tour guides have a great reputation in customer service, our tour guide have graduated with tourism career from National University San Antonio Abad of Cusco, they have also studied English in a private language institute. Through to their patience, responsibility, knowledge, passion for trekking and proud to have been born in the land of the Incas, we ensure our guides provide an excellent experience for you when you explore the Magic Machu Picchu.
Entrance Fees to Ausangate park, Rainbow Mountain & Red Valley
Once we receive your details and the deposit for your tour, we purchase all the necessary tickets for your trek it will be for a specific date and will be in your name
Accommodations
At Vidal Expeditions we include accommodations 3 night along the Ausangate trek, with a suitable camping equipment to make sure your trek is an experience of the life time. Our tents are Mountain gear or Doite pro Aconcagua for 4 people, which will be shared only for 2 people to ensure you comfort and enough place for your luggage. The same way we include Inflatable mattress. There will also be a spacious dining tent for you to enjoy each meal along this tour.
Transportations
Private Transport
We included all the transportations during your tour, we will pick you up from your hotel in Cusco and take you to the beginning of the trail, the bus returning from Ausangate to Cusco will drop off you at your hotel.
Horses
We include horses to transport all the duffle bags and equipment during this tour also will be a horse man. At Vidal Expeditions we know safety is first, is for that we include an emergency horse in case someone feels tired or get altitude sickness.
Equipment
Personal Duffle bag
We included a personal duffle bag for your 4 days Ausangate trek. You will get this duffle bag at Vidal Expeditions office during your pre-departure briefing the night before of your trek. This bag will be carried by horses during the trek. You will find it in your tent every afternoon you arrive to the campsite. It can be filled with your personal items, sleeping bag and mattress but the maximum allowable weight is 7kg/17lb. The duffle bag must be returned to our office no later than one day after your trek.
Toilet Tents
During our trek to Ausangate we bring our own portable toilet tent because we know how important is to protect our environment and we are trained to don’t leave no traces along the route.
Medical First Aid Kit
All tour guides of Vidal Expeditions are very well trained in First aid. They received training courses every 6 months how to assist to someone who is in an emergency situation. Also, they are trained how to supply a balloon oxygen in the case if someone requires it.
Meals
Meals
At Vidal Expeditions, we know food is such an important part of any vacation and getting the right fuel on an active holiday is crucial… We include 3 breakfast, 4 lunch and 3 dinner. And of course, we cater to all dietary restrictions Vegetarian, Vegan, Gluten free and others just let us know. Our chefs are well-trained to prepare the best food ever you’ve had with local and organic ingredients.
Water
Vidal Expeditions will provide you water from the first lunch to the last breakfast. This water will be filtered, boiled and cooled by our Chef. You must bring your own water container, bottle or camelback that can hold water for hiking for a few hours. We recommend a capacity of 2 liters.
WE NOT INCLUDED
Sleeping bag
Every trekker along the Ausangate trek needs a proper sleeping bag which has to be for -20°C / 2° F. We recommend you bring your own, but if you don’t want to bring your own or you don’t have one, you can rent a sleeping bag from us.
Walking Sticks
Hiking with trekking poles has its benefits, protect your knees while you are hiking downhill, especially on the remote area which are many up and downhill, trekking poles help you during the ascent, increased stability, if you don’t have a pair of trekking poles you can rent them from our office.
First Breakfast
We do not provide breakfast on the day of your departure. However, most hotel offers breakfast during your stay there. In case your hotel does not provide breakfast, we will stop at a restaurant near to Ocongate where you will be available to purchase a breakfast.
Travel Insurance
Tips for our team
We recommend to buy a travel insurance before to leave your country in case something happen along your visit to Peru.
Tips are not included. Tipping the team is usual on any excursion to Ausangate, although we pay good salaries to our entire team, tips are welcome as a token of your appreciation for the team hard work.
At Vidal Expeditions we focus to make your trip an unforgettable experience and we want to provide all details which you need to know before to leave your country and start your life experience in Peru.
What you need to pack?
Important
Passport
Immigration Card (given on the plane as you enter Peru)
Good daypack (the smaller, the better)
Water storage: Water reservoir like Camelback is encouraged - but enough for at least 2-3 liters.
Comfortable hiking boots (lightweight with good soles)
Trekking poles
FOR YOUR DUFFEL:
Horses will carry up to 7 kg of your personal items. This must include your sleeping bag and air matt (if you bring/rent one). From us these two items weigh 3 kg.
2-3 wicking t-shirts
2-3 hiking pants
3 sets of undergarments.
1 Fleece
1 Warm, down jacket: gets very cold at night
1 Rain jacket and pants
1 sun hat
1 wool hat
Bathers / swimsuit for the hot spring
Small towel
Headlamp: essential
Waterproof gloves
Comfortable shoes for camp or flip flops
Walking boots
Waterproof jacket/rain poncho
Battery Charger: There is no place to plug in while trekking!
Large plastic bags: to help organize and keep clean from dirty.
Sleeping bag: Recommend down bags for -10C at least
INSIDE YOUR DAY BACKPACK:
Daypack can be any size for hiking, but we always say the smaller, the better. If it is larger try to bring it as lighter as possible.
Water: we supply clean water at each meal. You are responsible for your first morning of water only as we won't have time to filter water until your first lunch.
Sun hat
Rain gear
Fleece
Camera
Music (iPhone)
Hand sanitizer
Toilet paper and small plastic bag for waste
Extra Money for Souvenirs, Drinks & Tips
Earplugs
Snack (Chocolate, dry fruits, energy bars, etc.)
TOILETRIES:
Sunscreen
Face moisturizer
Bug spray
Hand sanitizer
Wet wipes
Toothbrush and paste
Toilet paper
Personal medication
First aid kit: band aids, moleskin, etc.
BOOKING SYSTEM
At Vidal Expeditions, we try to make the best of us to booking system works as easy as possible for you, once you decided to do this trek, we will send to you a booking form where you need to complete all the required detail which are important to book your tickets, we need a previous deposit of 50% per person. Once as soon as you paid it, we immediately book a spot for this tour once we have done with it, we will send you your invoice and confirmation form that all the booking process has set up satisfactorily.
IS VIDAL EXPEDITIONS TEAM CONTACTING US BEFORE FLYING TO PERU?Yes, our work policy is to be in contact with our customers as long as necessary to inform them of all the details and changes that could occur after have confirmed the reservation, please you ask to check constantly your e-mail, also if you have some issue let us know to solve as soon as possible.
WHERE TO STAY IN CUSCO?Cusco is a big city enough to find different categories of hotels from 2 stars to 5 stars also there are Airbnb places where you can stay without any problem. Cusco streets are narrow especially near to the main square and some streets are pedestrian with some stairs, we will send you a notify for the pick up if is not possible the access with our car and arrange another place to pick you up and drop off also a night before your tour you will meet with your tour guide who will tell you all the details about the tour. In case you want some recommendations please ask to Vidal Expeditions sales team.
ALONG THE TREK IS THERE ELECTRICITY ALONG THE TREK?Not, because this trek is located in remote place where there is not electricity some local village located along the trek has solar panels your guide can talk with some of them in extreme cases to recharge your cellphone, we recommend to bring your extra power bank for the days you are on the mountains.
HOW CHALLENGING IS THE TREK?This trek is particularly challenging specially for people who does not has experience hiking on the mountains, we recommend to training with some exercises a few times per week to don’t have problem, also is recommendable to spend some days in Cusco to acclimatize to the altitude because part of the segment along this trek are located over 4000m/13123ft
WHAT HAPPEN IF I GOT ALTITUDE SICKNESS?No worry, our guide and team are professional and they know how to solve any issue during your trek, your guide will have a first aid kit all the time with some medications for these, also will be there an extra emergency horse to take you to the best place where you can recovery. Our team always has radio and they are trained for any emergency happen during our tours.
DO YOU NEED HIKING BOOTS?Definitely, it is always recommendable to wear a light hiking boots if possible. Ones with ankle support are extra helpful, especially for the inexperienced hiker. Because you will be climbing down so many steps created by the Incas, crossing some rivers especially the day 2 some of them are slippery, now uneven and at varying heights, the extra support helps from twisting your ankles.
SHOULD I USE WALKING STICKS?Yes. Walking sticks are always helpful to trekkers, especially if is raining along the trek. Using walking sticks can help take the pressure off your knees while doing some portion of the trek. Plus they will help you get up the mountain as well.
WHERE DO I STORE MY LUGGAGE?In case you have extra luggage which you not need to bring to the trail all the hotels in Cusco has storage where you can leave your luggage completely free, if you will change your hotel after the trek we have available our storage in Vidal Expeditions office, get more info with from our office team.
WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT AS FAR AS WEATHERThe weather in Cusco regions and part of the Andes is unpredictable even if the weather forecast says it’s sunny we can’t trust in it. It is an impossible question for us to answer. Historically April through September is the dry season, November through February is the rainy season and March and October and bridge months - a mixture of both. But the clouds have not followed these rules in the last few years. Prepare for sun and rain no matter when you come. As far as temperatures go, that is consistent throughout the year. Mornings and evenings are always cold. Make sure to bring a fleece jacket for the mornings and a down jacket for the evenings. Once the sun is up you should be comfortable hiking in short sleeves. Long pants (yoga or hiking) are encouraged to help from the mosquitos which can be a nuisance in some part of the trail.
From: USD 460.00 per person
USD 420.00: from 4 people to more
*Sleeping bag -15°C / 5°F for the entire trip: $20USD
Thank you for your interest in having an adventure travel experience in Peru curated by Vidal Expeditions. Please take a moment to complete our short form, so one our friendly Adventure Consultants could provide you all the information for your trip of a lifetime in Peru.
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4 days 3 Nights
Ausangate Trek
What's it like
Ausangate 4 Days / 3 Nights Map
WHAT MAKES US DIFFERENT?
At Vidal Expeditions we offer the best service for all our customers and here is what makes us different than others.
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Small groups: Along our excursion group size is a capped at 8 people. This guarantees that you will enjoy every step of our excursion
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Hotel: During our excursion to Machu Picchu, we offer a 3 stars hotel stay for the last night. This ensures you are well rested and ready to explore Machu Picchu.
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Bus to Machu Picchu: To enjoy Machu Picchu, we provide a round trip ticket on the bus from Aguas Calientes to the main entrance of the archaeological site.
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Local Tour guides: Our team consists of 100% local tour guides, who have expert knowledge in our ancient culture.
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Best Camping Equipment: We have the state-of-the-art camping equipment for our excursion. The equipment is thoroughly cleaned and sanitized before and after every excursion.
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Best Trekking team: At Vidal Expeditions we focus to create the best experience during our excursions. Our team that consists of tour guides, cooks, porters, horse drivers are handpicked. We train our team to offer you the best service. We take care of our team by providing them with good equipment and paying them fairly.
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