This great Ausangate trek 6 day, boasts a totally unique jaw-dropping views on the way to Vinicunca Mountain Peru. This wonderful destination offers you massive snow-capped peaks, glacial Lakes, herds of roaming Alpacas and lots of reddish colred hills as some of the distinct features of the area. After a couple of days of great hiking in the quiet scenery of the Peruvian Andes, you will explore the colourful Rainbow Mountains in Peru. This great natural wonder is part of the cordillera of Ausangate in Cusco region.
In the earlier years, the Rainbow Mountains Cusco were a less traveled places; only recently have they started gaining a lot of interest among travelers and trekkers in Peru. It became a must visit place and now is a bucket-list destinations in Cusco – Peru. At Top Peru Trips we offer this Ausangate trek with Vinicunca expedition as the best trek option in Cusco for experienced hikers.
The Rainbow Mountain is variously known as the Vinicunca Mountain. Which is formed by many different colors of mineral layers that comprise the sand rock formation set between other multi-color hills. After the great Vinicunca Expedition you will continue with the Ausangate trek.
Our unique Ausangate trek gets you into the remote, untouched quietness of the Ausangate region, long famous for its stunning high altitude scenery. This rugged and adventurous Ausangate trail connects to Vinicunca Expedition and hikers may require at least 3 days of acclimatization to the altitude, in Cusco or at another higher-altitude location
Your guide will meet you in Cusco at the lobby of the hotel. You then start traveling in a private van to the trail-head at Tinqui. Here you can buy some last minute supplies for the trek, is the last shopping option. Once all the gear for the trip is being loaded onto pack horses the trip starts. The trail takes you through some farming land and home of alpaca herds, you will get constant views of Mt Ausangate until to reach the first camp. This day we hike only for some hours until we arrive at the village of Upis. Here you can take a soak in the hot springs, while enjoying coca tea, and relax your muscles until dinner.
With two passes to cross today, we wake everyone up with a cup of coca tea brought to your tent. Then after you fuel up with a good breakfast for the day ahead. The morning starts with a hike up Arapa pass (4958m) before a slight decline 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 of alpacas, 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 for the day (Pucacocha pass-5000m) where if you’re lucky you may see condors and vicuñas. Then we have 2 hour gentle hike to our campsite in Anantapata. Where you will be surrounded by reddish mountains and incredible scenery including the view of Apu Ausangate. As everyday camp is set up for you by our staff, at your arrival you can change and rest your weary legs and dinner will be prepared by our expert cook.
After an early breakfast we start hiking up to Warmisaya pass (5050m), a very colorful mountain but only a precursor of what is upcoming today. After crossing the pass you enter into a bright red valley, a wildly desert landscape with vibrant colors all around, and llamas roaming the ground below- as you approach the top of the pass you will see the beautiful Rainbow Mountain in the distance. But you’re not quite there yet! From here you begin descending to a wide valley and continue walking gentle uphill until we are presented with one final climb to the Mt Vinicunca, hopefully arriving before the people coming for one day Rainbow Mountain trek. Soak in the sights and enjoy what you’ve worked so hard for.
You will enjoy lunch by the Surine cocha, and head back to Warmisaya pass to make our way to the stunning Lake Ausangate. Again the camp will be set up by our expert team (optional to go to visit the Lake).
After a nutritious breakfast provided by our chef, we will start hiking uphill close to the glaciers visible in the opposite side of Mt Ausangate, the trail from the camp lead us to Palomani pass (5100m), one of the higehst passes in the entire Ausangate trek, we will have beautiful views of the snow-capped peaks around, after a few hour of down-hill hike, we get to Pinaya valley with some lush green pampas, and follow the edge of the river. Today is a great day for spotting wildlife so keep an eye out for vicuñas, Chinchillas and hopefully spotting the majestic Andean Condors. After lunch you will follow the valley upwards for a few hours.
Today we have only one pass to cross, we will take our time to enjoy some of 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. Views of the massive Ausangate Mountain are still visible, today you will hiking in the opposite side of Mt Ausangate as we descend along the picturesque trail with views of Pacchanta Valley. Our goal is the hot springs of Pacchanta where we will enjoy a nice soak, by the same token our team will set up the camp here with nice views of Mt Ausangate.
Today is another great morning as we make our way back to the starting point of Tinqui walking a gentle down-hill and celebrating our accomplishments. Then at our arrival to the village the chef will provide us the final lunch while all our camping equipment is packed up in our private transportation to make our way back to Cusco city, where you will be dropped off at your hotel.
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.
