Ausangate Trek
to Rainbow Mountain

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 Highway towards Tinki, which takes 3 hours to drive. Here we will have a short stop to explore this last village before heading to the beginning of the trail. From here, we will keep driving another 40 minutes to Pacchanta, where we’ll meet with the 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 is our first lunch spot with a stinning views, after we continue hiking for one more hour to Pachispata 4620m / 15,157ft where is our campsite, Our team will set up our tents and have time to rest.

Our chef will prepare pur happy hour to celebrate the first day is done.

This day, our team will wake you up with a hot cup of coca tea to motivate you because it will be one of the more challenging days of this expedition. An energetic breakfast will be waiting for you, then we'll start our hike the first section will be ascending to reach the first pass Qampa at 5,000 meters, (16,404 feet) then, we descent to Uchuy Phinaya communitty where some locals 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 the corrals. we will have our lunch around the area next to a stream. From here, we’ll head up gradually for 3 hours to reach the Palomani Pass (5210m; 17093 ft). Along this way-up section, you will see some wild camels such as Vicuñas, Alpacas, and Llamas, you can also appreciate the famous chocolate lagoon on your right side. Once you arrive at the summit, your tour guide will perform some ceremonies for Pachamama with some coca leaves and candies. This is the most spectacular view of Ausangate. Now you can understand why this mountain is considered a deity by the Andean people.

After enjoying the magical moment, our hike will continue descending to our campsite in Ausangate Qocha via the switchback trail, which will take about an hour and a half. Along the way, you will appreciate the south face of Ausangate Mountain. Here we spend the second night.

Today's hike begins with a gradual uphill climb towards Anantapata. Along the path, you will meet with some local families, where you can see how people live in this remote area and take care of their llamas and alpacas. The path goes on the site of the Pucachocha pass, with a great view of the Alccatauri valley, and after three hours of hiking, we’ll reach the Anantapata lunch spot, where you can enjoy our nutritive meals to recharge your energy for the next three hours. After lunch, you have a little time to explore the area and capture great photos; afterwards, we will continue heading up to the Warmisaya Pass (5,100 m/16,732 ft), where the path 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 Rainbow Mountain. Here you will take your well-deserved rest, and 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 taking your dinner.

You are in for another early start today as our trek reaches a climax. After an energizing breakfast, we will head out to explore the famous Rainbow Mountains. We’ll start ascending in about two hours to the view point of this amazing mountain (5,100 m; 16,732 ft). From here, you will have an excellent view of the spectacular Rainbow Mountain. Your guide will explain why the colors are there, and you will have enough time to capture the best moment with this colorful mountain before it turns crowded. After enjoying this phenomenal area, we will continue our trek to the Red Valley, which will surprise you with its spectacular landscapes and make you feel as if you are on another planet. From here, we descend to our lunch spot, where our bus will be waiting for us to return to Cusco.