The Extended Ausangate Rainbow Trek 7 days
General description
The EXTENDED AUSANGATE – RAINBOW TREK is our most epic high altitude adventure!
Enjoy stunning views of snow-capped mountains, glaciers, lakes, wildlife, and the amazing Vinicunca Rainbow Mountain. You’ll see the highest peak (Ausangate 6,385 m/20,948 ft) in the Cusco region. This adventurous trek is approximately 100 km/62 mi and goes up to 5,400 m/17,716 ft. Ausangate is an excellent and quiet/remote trekking circuit offering stunning features such as spectacular mountain scenery, snow-capped peaks, hot springs, turquoise lakes, glaciers, herds of llamas, alpacas, and wild vicuña, picturesque villages, and traditionally dressed Quechua people.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 01: Cusco – Tinqui Village – Upis (Camping At Hot Springs)
Early transfer from your hotel in Cusco with 6:00 am departure. We drive for 4 hours on a new highway to Tinqui, passing Urcos Pass (4,000 m/13,123 ft) along the way. Tinqui is a village on the high plains “altiplano” east from Cusco and is where we will start our trek. We follow a wide, gently ascending path toward the northwest face of the impressive Ausangate mountain. We will have a small lunch around noon by the side of the trail.
We will continue walking through fields and by scattered stone farm houses, and later in the day we will begin to see llamas and alpacas. We ascend gently to the Upis pass (4,435 m/14,107 ft) and camp at Upis Hot Springs (4,250 m/13,779 ft) where we will be surrounded by snow capped mountains (Ausangate and Maria Huamantilla).There are thermal springs at Upis where we can enjoy a soak at the end of the day. Happy hour at 4:00pm and dinner at 6:00pm.
- Walking distance approximately 16 km/9.9 miles (6 hour acclimatizing hike)
- Camping Elevation: 4,250 m/13,779 ft
- Meals: box breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks on the trail, boiled water at lunch and camp
- Overnight: Mountain Tent (double occupancy)
Day 02: Upis – Arapa Pass – Pucaccocha
After an early breakfast we begin our second day of the hike. You will hike very close to the Ausangate Glacier Peak and will have incredible views of this mountain as well as beautiful lakes and waterfalls. We may see some llamas, alpacas and wild vicuñas (the undomesticated ancestor of the alpaca) and perhaps a rare condor soaring above. We will have a 3-hour uphill hike to reach the first pass (4800m/15,748ft) where you will have magnificent views of the surrounding area. After taking a few amazing pictures we continue hiking gradually downhill for another 11⁄2 hours to our beautiful lunch spot. After lunch we hike for another 21⁄2 hours to arrive at our campsite at Puca Ccocha (Red Lake). This spot is one of the most beautiful campsites located at the skirt of the Ausangate peak and at the bank of the lake.
- Approximate walking distance: 12km/7.5 miles (7-8 hours)
- Campsite elevation: 4300m/14,100ft
- Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks on the trail, boiled water at breakfast, lunch and camp
- Overnight: Mountain Tent (double occupancy)
Day 03: Pucaccocha – Puca Pass – Anantapata – Warmisaya – Yanacocha (Sunset Hike To Rainbow Mountain Pass)
Wake up early with a hot cup of coca tea to start one of the most beautiful days of the trek, enjoying majestic views of some of the highest peaks in the Andes and depths of the beautiful valleys. This morning we will summit the Puca Pass. After an early breakfast we begin our 2-hour steep climb to the Puca Pass at (5050m/16,568ft). Along the way we have gorgeous views of turquoise lakes and the Ausangate glacier. Once you reach the summit of this mountain, you will be located right in front of the Ausangate Mountain and you can enjoy the views of Chillca Valley, with alpaca grazing along these hills. Also, from this pass you will see the beginning of the Rainbow Mountain range with their strikingly striated colors.
After taking some great pictures we continue gradually downhill for another 2 hours until we reach our lunch spot located at Anantapata 4400m/14,435ft with amazing views of green hills and snow-capped peaks. After lunch and a little rest and relaxation, we will hike gradually uphill for 11⁄2 hours until we reach the the Warmisaya (aka Pitumarca) pass 5050m/16,568ft. After enjoying the views at the top we descend for 20 minutes to Yanacocha lake where we set up camp for the night. After dropping our bags we take our gradual 1 hour sunset hike to the Rainbow Mountain Pass and watch as the sun sets over the stunning Rainbow Valley. Once we have finished enjoying the view, we hike 45 minutes back down to camp at Yanacocha to have happy hour (tea and snacks) followed by a hearty dinner.
- Approximate walking distance: 17.7 km/11 miles (about 7.5-8 hours)
- Campsite elevation: 4400m/14,435ft
- Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks on the trail, boiled water at breakfast, lunch and camp
- Overnight: Mountain Tent (double occupancy)
Day 04: Yanacocha – Rainbow Mountains (Sunrise Hike) – Quesouno – Ausangatecocha
After a very early breakfast (5am) we hike 1 hour up to the Rainbow Mountains (Vinicunca Mountains or Montañas de Colores) again to see the beautiful Rainbow Valley at sunrise! Enjoy the view for an hour without the crowds as we are one of the first groups to arrive. Your guide will walk you to the best spots to get the perfect postcard pictures of these incredible mountains and the other surrounding peaks. Your guide will explain what makes these mountains so unique: they are composed of various minerals, which make different colors of stone striations. This is definitely one of the most stunning places in South America and one of the most beautiful natural attractions in Peru. There are Rainbow Mountains in only a few other locations in the world. After enjoying the sunrise view we hike downhill for approximately 3.5 hours until we reach Quesouno where we stop for lunch.
After a hearty lunch and a well-deserved rest, we hike 2 hours uphill to
Ausangatecocha (part of the Ausangate Trail). Along the way you will see beautiful mountain scenery, small streams, herds of llamas and alpacas and snow-capped peaks. At Ausangatecocha we camp by a beautiful dark blue/green lake for the night with views of the Ausangate Mountain.
- Approximate walking distance: 16 km /9.95 miles (about 6.5 hours)
- Campsite elevation: 4300m/14,108ft
- Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks on the trail, boiled water at breakfast, lunch and camp
- Overnight: Mountain Tent (double occupancy)
Day 05: Ausangatecocha – Palomani Pass – Comercocha
After breakfast we begin a steep climb for 2-3 hours on glacial moraine to the Palomani Pass (5,350m/17,552ft). From the pass there are extensive views of all the peaks in the Cordillera Vilcanota. We then descend for 2 hours on a steep trail into the Huchuy Finaya Valley where we will stop for lunch, surrounded by beautiful mountain views. From our lunch stop we will
have a view of “Las Dos Gemelas” or the two twin mountains. After lunch we hike another 2 hours to our campsite, 45 minutes of which is a steep climb and the rest is a gradually uphill trail. Along the way you see streams and a small waterfall, chinchillas, llamas, alpacas, and snow-capped mountains (the three peaks). We camp tonight at Comercocha 4400m/14,435ft.
- Approximate walking distance 16 km/ 9.9 mi (7-8 hour hike)
- Campsite elevation: 4400m/14,435ft
- Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks on the trail, boiled water at breakfast, lunch and camp
- Overnight: Mountain Tent (double occupancy)
Day 06: Comercocha – Pampacancha – Qampa – Pacchanta (Hot Springs)
After some hot coca tea and a good breakfast we hike for 1 hour on a varied path through the Pampacancha Valley 4,300 m/14,107 ft where you will see wide open spaces and lots of llamas and alpacas. Once we pass through this valley we begin climbing up to the highest point of the trek, the Qampa Pass (5,400 m/17,716 ft) for 2 hours. At this pass we have incredible views of The Three Peaks, the Pacchanta Valley, and will hopefully get a glimpse of some wild vicuña and deer, and if we are really lucky, a condor. We then descend gradually through the Pacchanta Valley, walking between Ausangate Mountain and the Two Twin Mountains for 3 hours until we get to our campsite at Pacchanta (4200m/13,780ft). Along the way we see glacial moraines, beautiful lakes, and snow- capped peaks. This campsite is near the Pacchanta hot springs where you can take a well-deserved soak with stunning views of the Ausangate Mountain if you wish to (entrance fee – 10- 20 soles).
- Approximate walking distance: 15 km/ 9.3 mi (6 hour hike)
- Campsite Elevation: 4200m/13,780ft
- Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks on the trail, boiled water at breakfast, lunch and camp
- Overnight: Mountain Tent (double occupancy)
Day 07: Pacchanta – Tinqui – Cusco
After a good breakfast we begin hiking on a wide dirt trail (village road) for 3- 4 hours until we reach the small town of Tinqui (3600m/11,811ft). Along the way you will see a lot of local people, farms, farm animals and many children will come running up to greet you. Please do not give them sweets as they do not have access to dental care, but you are welcome to share other items with them (fruit, pencils, etc). At Tinqui we enjoy a nice lunch, after which we take our private transport back to your hotel in Cusco (arriving around 4pm) – about a 2.5 hour drive that provides nice views of the Andes, passing some traditional villages along the way.
- Approximate walking distance 9 km/5.6 mi (3-4 hour hike, 2.5 hour drive)
- Meals: breakfast, lunch, and snacks on the trail, boiled water at breakfast, lunch
- Overnight: N/A
Included
- Pre-Trek briefing the night before the trek to go over the itinerary, meet your guide(s) and answer any questions
- Collection from your Cusco hotel on the first morning
- Private bus transport to start of the trek (day 1) and back to Cusco (day 5)
- Personal porter to carry your overnight gear up to 8kg/17.6lbs
- Dry bag in which to put your overnight gear so it won’t get wet or dusty on the trail
- 3 person, 4 season tents (2 people in large and comfortable Mountain Hardwear Expedition tent)
- One inch thick mattress pad
- English speaking professional guide
- Full meals on trek (3 meals per day, tea time every afternoon, and snacks on the trail)
- First-aid kit including emergency oxygen tank and emergency horse
- Dining tent with tables and stools
- Chef and cooking equipment and kitchen tent
- Dietary needs: able to cater to any dietary preference/need
- Toilet, toilet tent, and toilet paper
- Horsemen and horses (to carry tents, food, cooking equipment, and your duffel bags)
- Hot water every morning and evening for hand washing purposes
- Boiled water to fill your water bottle every morning and afternoon
- Entrance to the Ausangate trail
Not Included
- Flights
- Hotel before/after trek
- Dinner on the last day (day 7)
- Sleeping bags and walking poles (poles must have intact rubber bottoms)
- Entrance to hot springs
- Travel interruption & travel medical/evacuation insurance (required)\
- Items of a personal nature and souvenirs
- Tip for your guide(s) and trek staff are optional but highly encouraged if you enjoy your trek
Recommendations
Everything you need for the day should be kept in your daypack that you carry because all the items you leave with your porter will not be available to you until the evening at the campsite. It is recommended not to hike in cotton or jeans in the event of rain as cotton takes a very long time to dry. It is also recommended to bring true hiking boots or trail running shoes as regular running shoes do not get very good traction, especially when it has rained.
- Sleeping bags and walking poles (poles must have intact rubber bottoms)
- Recommend a sleeping bag rated for 20F/-7C or below for this trek
- Sleeping bag liner (for your sleeping bag if you wish)
- Mattress pad – while we provide a mattress pad, being rested is essential for a great hiking experience and we find that sleep habits are very individualized. Therefore we recommend bringing your own pad that you know you are comfortable sleeping on, as well as any other sleep items you might want to have (camp pillow, etc).
- Sunscreen: the sun is very strong in Cusco
- Sun hat
- Sunglasses
- Lip balm
- Hiking shoes/boots with good, grippy tread
- Optional: microspikes in case of excessive snowfall (rare)
- Hiking pants (or shorts) and shirts (layers)
- Layers – long underwear and/or warm sleep pants for cold nights
- Hand warmers if you wish
- Warm hat, gloves, scarf and thick warm socks (or you can buy a traditional Peruvian hat and scarf – they are beautiful!)
- Daypack and rain cover
- Rain gear – rain jacket and rain pants (optional for the pants), can buy an inexpensive poncho before the trek
- Cash for tipping porters (USD or Peruvian Soles are fine), cooks, horsemen, guides, buying items along the trail, for in town, emergencies, etc. Note: Cash should be in perfect condition (ripped, damaged bills of any kind are NOT accepted anywhere in Peru)
- Swim suit, flip flops, towel for any hot springs you may visit (not every trek/trip has this) if you wish to go
- Sandals
- Torch/flashlight/headlamp (and batteries)
- Insect repellent for Machu Picchu
- Extra snacks if you wish (beyond snacks provided by us)
- E.g. if you have a favorite protein bar as Cusco doesn’t sell items like this
- First aid kit, including blister protection (though your guide will have one, you may wish to carry one of your own)
- Personal medication and toiletries you might want/need
- Camera, extra memory cards, batteries and solar panel/power bank
- Water bottle or water bladder to refill
- Passport (must be valid 6 months past your final travel dates for most countries)
- Copies of passport (keep copies separate, give to travel friends to keep, etc)
- Power plug adapter
- Travel lock(s) approved by TSA (or they cut them off – US only)
- Tickets, itinerary, emergency contact information
- Any medications you currently are taking or need/may need (see suggestions below)
- Small quick-dry pak towels and/or compostable wipes for a quick wipe down at the end of the day
What to bring: medications – medications are optional and depend on your specific needs
- Antibiotic for travelers diarrhea or UTI
- Antibiotic for a severe bacterial infection
- Medication for upset stomach/indigestion
- Medication for prevention of altitude sickness (requires a prescription from your physician and has contraindications for certain people and potential side effects)
- Anti-inflammatory medication (some people find this is useful for prevention of altitude sickness as well. Speak with your physician for more information)
- Anti-diarrhea medication
- Anti-nausea medication for motion sickness/altitude sickness if needed
- Cold/flu medication
- General pain killer/fever reducer
- Vaccinations – recommend bringing all boosters up to date (MMR, tetanus, etc)
Prices
PRICE AND NUMBER OF TREKKERS
A minimum of 2 trekkers required for this trek. Maximum of 10 trekkers in a group.
- 6-10 trekkers: 850 per person
- 3-5 trekkers: 950 per person
- 2 trekkers: 1050 (per person)
Private treks, single trekker, custom treks, large groups, and packages welcome! Please email us to customize!
Extra information:
DIATARY NEEDS
Yes, we do cater to any dietary restriction. We have had many people join our trips who are vegan, vegetarian, gluten free, dairy free, and have various other intolerances and/or allergies. Just inform us well in advance of your specific needs!
WHEN TO GO AND DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY
March/April to November or the dry season. (Dec to Feb/March or wet season: rainfall and snow can block the pass and cancel the trek though we can arrange the trek during the wet season). This trek is rated as a moderate to challenging (intermediate to advanced) hike considering the high altitudes and length of walking especially on the 2nd Day. It is recommended that you acclimatize in Cusco for at least 3 days before trekking.
WHAT TO CARRY – DAYPACKS
On the trail you should carry a day pack with your camera, water bottle or bladder, snacks, hand sanitizer, face mask, cold weather clothing and rain gear or poncho in case of rain (unlikely in dry season – May to October) and anything you will need before dinner as horses do not walk alongside you. A recommended packing list is sent after you book the trip and can be found below under the “what to pack for your trek” tab. We will provide you with a dry bag for your overnight gear to be carried by horses. Your bag will be waiting for you at every campsite. Yes, we can store your luggage for you during the trek. Most hotels/hostels also provide this service.
WEATHER & WHAT TO BRING ON YOUR TREK
Weather on the trek and in Cusco
The weather varies a lot across Peru, having 28 climates and 84 of the worlds 104 ecosystems. Cusco is set high up (3,380 mts, 11,089 ft) in the Andean Mountain Range and the dry season (winter) is from Mar/April to October/November with the wettest part of the year (summer) being December through March. The weather for trekking is pretty much the same year round, with the main difference being the amount of rainfall. During the dry season, most days are dry and clear, but high- altitude mountains always have the potential for rain and/or snow so it is essential to come prepared for all types of weather regardless of the time of year.
The Ausangate trek is very high altitude, therefore the weather can be quite cold and unpredictable. The nights on this trek are usually around 20F/-7C. During the day it can get quite warm if the sun is out; anywhere from 60-75F/15-24C. Keep in mind, if the weather is rainy or cloudy it will be colder, and that the weather can change in an instant, particularly when up at the high-altitude passes. It is often quite windy at the top of the passes as well. As with any high-altitude trek you’ll need to bring plenty of layers to adjust to the fluctuating temperatures and conditions as well as appropriate sun/rain protection.
Cusco weather: Cusco is always very cold at night due to the high altitude. It is regularly around 40F/4.4C at night so bring a nice warm jacket for nighttime walking in town. It is warmer in Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley and Aguas Calientes as these areas are lower altitudes than Cusco and the trek.
DONATING/VOLUNTEERING
Helping Local Children or Andean People (Optional) Along certain treks we may encounter some local children and Andean people. If you wish to lend a helping hand you may bring some clothes, toys, books and school equipment (used or new), toiletries and other essentials, and new/sealed medication for a variety of ailments. You will be rewarded with their
gratitude and beautiful smiles. Please do not give candy or sweets as they do not have access to dental/medical care and tooth decay can lead to serious illness.
For those who wish to help but take a trek that does not pass local people or villages you can leave your donated items with a Cachi Life Peru representative and we will distribute them to one of the local communities that we support. You can also set up a day to visit a local community to donate your items personally! There are a variety of other ways in which to lend a helping hand to local communities (charity events, building schools, and much more). We support several local communities so if interested please get in touch!
Starting from
Duration
7 Days
Destination
Cusco
Type of activity
Trekking in Cusco
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