Ausangate Mountain is the highest mountain in the Cordillera Vilcanota, towering in the southeast sky from the city of Cusco. It is a long, rugged mountain, with two high peaks rising from its jagged summit. The lower peak rises just east of the higher peak, and is separated by a small saddle. There is no easy route to the summit of Ausangate, and the normal route is a technical climb up the steep ice wall of the south face. The Vilcanota is one of the most impressive of Peru's mountains, with several peaks over 6,000m/20,000ft peaks including sacred Ausangate (6,372m./20,900ft).
The mountain trek around Ausangate circuit following lovely Andean valleys which are home to Quechua herdsmen and some of Peru's most spectacular wildlife, including vicuñas and Andean birds. Traversing this pristine and beautiful region, we enjoy a series of wonderful lakeside camps and cross several high passes (5,000m/16,400ft) each providing far-reaching mountain views.
Ausangate mountain is considered an Apu, a holy mountain, traditionally a place of worship & offerings from pre-Inca times. The apu Ausangate is also famous for the celebration of El Señor de Qoyllur Ritti, held annually in June in the Sinaq'ara glacier. Celebrated in Cusco & Colq'ecruz, the celebrations merge Christian & ancient rituals in homage to Corpus Christi and the ancient cult of the sun. Shamanic pilgrimages are made throughout the year to the mountain.

• Duration: 6 days/5 nights.
• Starting point: Cusco/Ocongate/Tinqui.
• Ending point: Ausangate/Tinqui/Cusco.
• Physical Demands Rating: Moderate/Challenge.
• Age Restriction: 12 years old.
• Trip Code: MTS - 007.
• Tour Type: Trekking, Cultural, Adventure.
• Accommodation: Camping/5 nights.
• Service Level: Standard - Deluxe.
• Guarantee: Departure is Guaranteed.
• Style: Personalized.
• Carbon Emissions: 350 CO2-E.
• Group Size: 2 Minimum, 10 Maximum.
• Transport: Horse, walk, Mini-Van.
• Price From: 500 US$

Ausangate Trek itinerary:

Day 1:  Cusco - Tinqui - Upis
We leave Cusco at about 6 in the morning. We take our private bus to the village of Tinqui at 3,800m. On the way back, we pass through beautiful landscapes and several traditional villages including Urcos, Ccatcca & Ocongate. We take our lunch in Tinqui while our luggage is being arranged on the mules. We take off after lunch going towards the hot springs in Upis (4200m), in total about 5 hours walking. On the route we can enjoy the majestic Cordillera Vilcanota, and the beautiful Ausangate mountain getting closer. In the Upis valley we can see the very traditional lifestyle of the Quechua-speaking population living in the wet ground.

Day 2:   Upis - Jatun Q'ocha
After a solid breakfast, we will start the walk towards the first crest, the Arapa Pass at 4,850 masl where the view of Ausangate is amazing. From here, we have a quite hard descent course by the thick layer of gravel on the trail. Soon we will be on the mountain base and new views appear as the green lake of Pukacocha and later, we reach the turquoise lake of Jatun Pukacocha. We pitch camp by the lake. From the campsite we will make the climb up to see the lake Vinococha & Ausangate lake on close hold.

Day 3:  From Jatun Puqa Q'ocha to Phinaya
In the morning, we walk up to the second pass of Apuchata at 4,900m with the turquoise lake Ausangatecocha below. Fish lives in the cold water of this lake. Passing the lake we have a short but steep ascent to the Palomani Pass at the amazing altitude of 5,200m. Surrounded by flocks of llamas & alpacas, we walk down from the pass towards the village of Phinayapampa, where we will pitch our camp.

Day 4:  From Phinaya to Q'omercocha
We cross green swampy areas in the valley of Phinayapampa and later we start walking up the valley of rio Q'ampa. From the valley we have great views of the snow-covered peaks of Tres Picos & Puca Punta. From the small community of Q'ampa and onwards to the pass of same name at 5,000m. We have good chances to see the small vicuñas, famed for their valuable fleece. After making a small "apacheta" at the pass, we walk down to the turquoise lake of Q'omercocha (4,580m) where we pitch our camp.

Day 5:  From Q'omercocha to Pacchanta
We get up early in the morning, enjoying the view while having breakfast. Then we start our short day-walk to the village of Pacchanta. On the route, we have a good time to look at the small settlements along the way and to watch the long-tailed vizcachas – a cousin of the rabbit. After lunch, we will go to the hot thermal springs to relax the tired muscles and in the late afternoon, there is a good chance to see an Andean village on close hold.

Day 6:  Pacchanta - Tinqui - Cusco
We leave our last campsite and the village of Pacchanta walking about 3 hours back to the village of Tinqui. Here our transport back to Cusco will be waiting for us.

Tour includes

• Transport from the hotel to Tinki (starting point of trek).
• Tourist train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes & bus back to Cusco.
• Professional bilingual guide (Spanish/English).
• High-quality camping equipment (Pro tents; Doite Cima 4, extralight-4,5kg for 2 persons), mattresses, eating tent with table & chairs, bathroom tent.
• Meals during the excursion (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner & snacks/Vegetarian option).
• Cook and cooking equipment.
• Horseman & mules for all camping & personal equipment (up to 7 kg).
• Emergency horse (minimum 2 persons).
• First-aid kit, including Oxygen bottle and safety rope.

Not including:

• Breakfast on the first day and last day lunch.
• Sleeping bag (if you don’t have a sleeping bag, there is the possibility of renting one).
• Lodging in Cusco.

What do I need to bring ?

Backpack with rain shelter, sleeping bag, clothing for warm & cold weather like a waterproof jacket, rainpants & lightweight pants, trekking shoes, slippers/sandals (for showers & hot springs), woolen/synthetic socks, a sweater, long- & short-sleeved T-shirts, a rain poncho, a hat, bathing suit (for the hot springs in Aguas Calientes), sunscreen, insect repellent, disinfecting alcohol & Gel, water bottle and sterilizing tablets, toiletries & toilet paper, camera (wrapped in plastic bag), a flashlight & batteries, some snacks like chocolate bars & dry fruits, original passport, original ISIC student card and extra money in Soles.
Note:
1. We will climb up to 5,200m/17,060ft. Combined with the extreme weather, this trek can be hard work. We want you to remember this trek with a smile on you face, therefore; please ensure that you are well acclimatized, in a good shape and healthy.

2. Since the weather can be very cold and moisty, your clothes (once gotten wet) won't dry at night. So take some extra clothes to change.

Lodging & Prices : Our team of travel consultants has carefully selected the Hotels based on their excellent value and high standards. (Lower Prices + Top Service = Best Value). We can book any hotel for you at competitive rates, but published prices are based on the Qeros Tours Peru Top Hotel Picks.   

Occupancy Hotel Category

Double/triple               Tourist 2-star                 Superior 3-star                Deluxe 4/5-star

Price From:                   000 SS$                         000 SS$                           000 SS$

Prices may vary according to season, availability & client preferences. Certain transport costs may not be included. Please contact one of our expert Travel Consultants for more information.

What makes this trip responsible ?

Environmental Impact

Qeros Tours Team is promoting the environment conservation in the Inca Trail and in other trails to Machu Picchu. We operate a minimal impact policy in our Peruvian trips, this can include different cooking methods, packing out the group waste, and taking less invasive routes. On all of our Inca Trail trips, 100% of the group waste is removed and in many other trips, all non-biodegradable waste is removed and we never build fires at our campsites. Also, all of our guides will talk about the local environment conservation and some of the challenges facing it. All the guides work to minimize the group's impact to share their knowledge of it. Our camp staff, porters, cooks & mule wranglers where used are paid their wages and receive all accommodations, transport & food. Regular training courses about cultural & environment conservation are held for all the staff.

Community Projects

We contribute directly to many community projects in the Cusco region. Last year we have been responsible for the organization of one medical mission in the traditional village of Cacacollo located on the Sacred Valley (Pisac) giving medical attention to 1,000 locals with the cooperation of Orange Adventist Medical Mission-USA. We are promoting the local & traditional textile & handicrafts market with the local people of Cacacollo, inviting our customers to visit that market and help the economy of the locals.

Please, feel free to ask about our volunteering programs and social projects that you could visit on your trip, and if/how you could help support them.

How difficult is the trek ?
We recommend that trekkers have a good physical health and a taste for adventure. The level of enjoyment that clients get out of an alternative trek depends on numerous facts, such as the amount of time you have had to properly acclimatize to high altitudes before departing, your age, your general fitness level and your trekking experience.

How far in advance should we reserve our trekking tours ?

We recommend that you make a reservation for the Inca Trail treks as far in advance as possible. We suggest booking 4-6 weeks in advance.

Will we need any documentation in order to get on the trail ?

Yes, the documents which you used to book the trip can be made with personal IDs such as original passports (preferred).

What is the situation with drinking water during the trek ?

The water is collected from local streams and is boiled throughout the trip. You can also buy water purification tablets. Another option would be to buy mineral water for the trek in Cusco and bring it with you (but that will add some weight to your luggage) or buy mineral water on the trail, that will be a little more expensive.

Is there a toilet tent and shower ?

Yes, there is a toilet tent for all the alternative Inca Trail routes but on the Classic Inca Trail, at all campsites there are public toilets that you can use. All campsites have cold shower with only the last campsite at Wiñaywayna having warm showers for a small additional cost.

How much luggage can I bring on the trek ?

For the trekking tours you should only take the items you are willing to carry during the hike. Other belongings can be left in storage in your hotel in Cusco. Horses will carry provided equipment such as the tent, while you are responsible for your sleeping bag, clothing & other personal items. You are able to hire an extra horse to carry your belongings up to the weight of 20kg.

How many other travelers can we expect will be on the Inca Trail with us ? How many support people (porters, cooks, guide) in total ?

The maximum number of people in a group is 10. There is one guide & assistant for every group and 1 cook, 5 horses & 2 Emergency horses. The majority of the people on the trail are not trekkers, but the support teams of guides, porters, horsemen & cooks.

Is it customary to tip the guides & porters ? If so, how much is recommended ?

Again, it depends on the number of people that are going to be on the trek and it is also very hard to estimate the proper tip that you could give. On the last night of your trek, there is a tipping custom: all the hikers put their tips together and give them to the guide. The guide will then distribute that money among all the Inca Trail personnel. We advise anything from $10 to $40 per hiker but you should only tip according to the level of service you believe you have received.

I was going to bring just a small backpack for my 5 days in Peru. Please let me know the minimum amount of clothing & items I can bring.  I don't want to overpack ?

You are able to leave the majority of your personal belongings in storage at your Cusco hotel, so you only need to carry what you need for the trail. If you only have a suitcase you can rent a backpack for the trail.

List of recommended Inca Trail clothing items:

Head: a hat to protect you from the sun, a knitted hat for the cold nights & mornings, sunglasses, sunblock, lip cream (Chap Stick).
Upper Body: 3-4 T-shirts (1 for hiking, 1 for sleeping, 1 for emergency), 1 good warm all-terrain sweater/jacket for cold weather, 1 thick sweater for sleeping, insect repellent, gloves/mittens for your hands.
Lower Body: 1 pair of hiking pants (old comfortable jeans are fine, the lighter the better), 1 pair of shorts (not necessary but comfortable), 1 pair of sweatpants for sleeping, socks (important; 4 pairs of socks, always try to keep dry, clean socks for sleeping), Band-aids (or special blister aids) for your feet (better safe than sorry), comfortable sneakers or hiking boots.

How much does it cost to rent equipment ?

There are two types of sleeping bags for rent:

A feathered type costing $ 5,00 per day.
There are two types of backpacks available for rent, a 35-liter & a 40-liter available for $4,00 per day.

You can also hire an extra horse for the duration of the trek for $20 per day to carry your bag up to the weight of 20kg.

Rentals can be arranged by your travel advisor. Other equipment you might want to rent such as boots, flashlights & coats can be arranged in Cusco.

Is it possible to walk from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes instead of the bus ? If there is a road, how far is it ?

Yes, it's possible; you can follow the same road as the bus and it will take you about 40 minutes to go down from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes.

What are the restrictions on access to Huayna Picchu ?

Only 400 people a day are allowed on the short trail, with access from inside Machu Picchu itself. From 7AM to 9AM, 200 people can enter and then another 200 at 10AM. Entrance is on a first come-first serve basis.

Are there any ATMs ?

Yes. It is best to get the money you want from Cusco and you'll find them around Plaza de Armas inside some stores & shops. ATMs are widely available in Peru and most hotels & restaurants accept payment by credit card as long as you can also show your passport/ID.

What sort of food can I expect on the trail ?

Each tour is accompanied by a chef who will prepare all your meals for you. The food is hearty, plentiful & filling to keep you energized for the journey. Please notify us if you have any special requirements. Below find an example menu for the trek: