Trip Overview
Tour Type: Hiking & Camping
Good For: Those who want to experience trekking in the andes with spectacular views of glacier peaks, lagoons, and the wildlife of the vicuña.
Difficulty: Challenging
Considerations: This hike does not require a special permit from the government so you can book any time but at least 7 days in advance.
Day 1: Cusco – Tinki - Pacchanta
We will leave the city of Cusco at 5:00 a.m. in our private bus, we drive along the Cusco – Puerto Maldonado paved road in the direction of the Tinki village (3700 meters above sea level). On the way we will stop at Huacarpay (look out point) to take some pictures of the colorful Landscape. We then drive gradually up to reach Ccascca where we will stop to have our breakfast where there is a magnificent view of the Ausangate glacier snow capped mountain, then we drive one hour and arrive at the trailhead where we meet our muleteers and horses, after we prepare our day packs we will begin the hike with an impressive view of snow capped mountains similar to Ausangate, Ccolque cruz and Caracol. We will stop along on the way to have lunch with our porters and maybe some local kids. Afterwards we begin the hike, on the way we will meet some local people with traditional, colorful Inca clothes, we will also see traditional Andean animals like Llamas and alpacas. Finally, by 5:00 p.m. we reach our first campsite where our tents will be already set up by our porters. Before dinner we will visit the most famous natural hot springs called Pacchanta where you can relax and enjoy an amazing view of the evening sky.
Walking distance: 12 km/ 7.45645 miles.
Altitude of the campsite: 3950m / 12959.32 ft.
Weather: Sunny – windy – dry and cold at night.
Meals: Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner – Snacks.
Day 2: Pacchanta – Ccampa Pass – Ausangate Camp
After breakfast, we begin our hike slightly uphill for 4 hours to our lunch spot, on the way we will have many breathtaking views of the snow capped mountains, beautiful lakes, one of them is called Ccomerccocha a green lake where in the month of August our Andean healers have special rituals for the mountain God of Ausangate and for the mother earth, requesting to receive the energy to cure the community with homeopathic Andean medicine. By 1:00 p.m. we will reach a place called Puca mocco (red mountain) to have our lunch with a spectacular view of many huge snow capped peaks which makes your food much more enjoyable. Afterwards we will begin over our hike with the company of Vicuñas and condors, here you will really feel as a part of the Andes because the snow capped surrounding mountains will be stunning like Catalina, Maria Huamantilca, Pucapunta, Ccolquecruz and the most famous Ausangate , finally we reach the first pass of our hike named Qampa (5000 m/ 16404.2 ft above sea level) where we will make an offer of our coca leaves for the mountain God (Apu), We will also have a magnificent view from this point of the surrounding glacier peaks , then we start descending to reach our camp site which is in the skirts of the Ausangate Mountain.
Walking distance: 16 km / 9.94194miles
Altitude of the camp site: 4100 m / 13451.44 ft
Weather: Sunny – Windy – dry and cold at night.
Day 3: Ausangate Camp – Wayracmachay Lake – Yanamayo Camp
After enjoying a very nutritional breakfast we will leave the camp site with a spectacular view of the valley, river and the waterfalls. It is also possible to observe some stunning mountains and some beautiful groups of small turquoise lakes, andean birds inhabit this area such as the Andean geese, Andean gull and some species of ducks. After hiking for about five hours we will reach Pampaccawa (panoramic look out point) to enjoy our lunch with some Andean tea to help our digestion. Afterwards we have some time for fishing in a beautiful river. Then we will begin our hike along the magnificent llama valley, at this time hundreds of llamas, alpacas and sheeps are taken back home through the mountains by the Quechua farmers, today is also possible to see the famous colorful mountain peaks across the valley. Finally at approx 5:15 p.m. we will arrive to our charming campsite near to one of the nicest waterfalls and overlooking the huge and awesome snowcapped Peaks, Colquecruz , Pucapunta and Puma mountains. After dinner we will organize a grand bonfire where we can sit around and enjoy some hot wine, sangria and have a look to the stars, the famous milky way and the southern cross.
Walking distance: 15 km. / 9.32057 m
Altitude of the campsite: 4.000 m / 13123.36ft
Weather: Sunny – Windy – dry and cold at night
Meals: Breakfast - lunch - dinner - snacks.
Day 4: Yanamayo Camp – Condor Pass – Sivinacocha Lake
This day will be the highest pass of our trek; therefore, we will be given a good breakfast by our porters. We begin our hike at 7.30 am with a gentle uphill walk for 2 hours on soft grass, by this time many animals such as Llamas and alpacas have already been taken up here for grazing, if you like you might be able to pet some of them. We then have one hour to walk uphill on soft sand and snow where you can see many wild vicuñas, finally we reach the CONDOR pass located at 5.400 meters above sea level. Here you will have plenty of time to enjoy the amazing landscape scenery, this day we will be located higher than the other mountains.
This will be a great spot to take photos. Our porters will also provide magic hot coca tea, we will also leave some rocks and coca leaves as a payment for the mountains for taking us to the summit. During the Inca’s time, people used to leave rocks, jewels, or clothes for success to the mountains and to get nice weather. Afterwards we will keep walking on the grassy and swampy trail with the company of hundreds of Llamas, Vicuñas and Alpacas, after hiking we will reach our lunch place next to a beautiful waterfall and near to the famous lake. After having a break we will keep hiking for 2 more hours to our campsite, along the way we will see some traditional houses, a lot of guinea pigs and hundreds of chinchillas. Finally, with spectacular views of glaciers in front of us, we will reach our camp place by 4.30pm.
Day 5: Sivinacocha Lake – Vicuña Mountain – Ccascara Lake
You will be awakened with a traditional hot drink and you’ll be able to enjoy great views of the lake and the glacier from your tent. When you are ready we will enjoy a tasty breakfast then, by 8.30 a.m. we will begin our hike, this part of the walk until lunch time is very easy, we will walk by the banks of the most famous and the biggest lake called Sivinaccocha (ducks lake). Along the way we will make several stops in order to observe and recognize the several kinds of local birds inhabiting this lake such as Andean goose and ducks. We may also be able to go fishing if the local people allow us. Then we will arrive to our lunch spot where our porters will serve us a three-course meal and have a short siesta. Then we will hike a gradually uphill for 2 hours to get to the vicuña mountain 5350 (meters above sea level), the weather changes quickly from sunny day to chilly winds here so it is better to take our group photos when we descend gradually down. There are amazing views of the Andean Puna ecological level where local people farm some types of potatoes. We can also see some natural rock formations and just follow one nice stream down and reach our campsite by 4pm near to the lake Ccasccara (5000 meters above sea level) where we will have plenty of time to relax after our 5 days hike. Some local people will come over to our camp and invite us to go fishing or they might invite us to cook a fresh, clean fish for dinner. This is the best camp site along the way due to the lake and the glacier just if front of us which makes it a more enjoyable and magic area.
Walking distance: 12 km / 7.45645miles.
Altitude of the campsite: 5000 m / 16404.2 ft.
Weather: Sunny - Windy - dry and cold at night.
Meals: Breakfast - lunch - dinner - snacks.
Day 6 : Ccascara Lake – Pinaya Village
Our wake up time will be at 7:30 am when we can see a stunning sunrise. Once we are ready we will enjoy our breakfast then we will visit a traditional family house to appreciate their life style and see how the farmers live up there at 5000 meters high. We will see some mud brick and stone houses still with Incan style architecture. The families have guinea pig in their kitchen to eat. Most of them are large families with many kids who have problems with their education system due to the location of the village, for this reason we might take some presents like pens, pencils, notebooks to encourage them to study. Since they have hundreds of llamas, alpacas and sheeps, their main economic activity is the textile activity. They use the original baby alpaca wool, hand made crafts using some natural flowers to get different colors. If you are interested in taking some memories home from the Andes this is the perfect place to buy crafts for a reasonable price. After we have spent time with the quechua speaking family and kids, we will keep going gradually down for 3 hours to reach our lunch place, along the way we will see for the last time some glacier mountains and nice valleys with a nice rivers and waterfalls, some red and green mountains which a long time ago were glaciers too but with a global warming the snow disappeared, here you will probably understand why the Andes are very important to us and why local people still practice the Inca customs, worshipping the sacred mother earth and the mountains. We will walk down gradually, we might see some more Andean fauna such us birds and llamas and then have the opportunity to take final photos with them. Finally, by 3:30 p.m. you will arrive at our last camp site of our trek in the little village of Phinaya (4000 meters above sea level) where you will have free time. We can organize some activities such as cooking class with your trekking chef or visiting the village.
Walking distance: 9 km / 5.59234 miles.
Campsite elevation: 4700m / 15419.95 ft.
Weather: Sunny - Windy - dry and cold at night.
Meals: Breakfast - lunch - dinner - snacks.
Day 7: Pinaya Village – Sicuani – Cusco
This day is the last day of our hike so we have to prepare our back packs. In the morning we organize extra walking up to the view point to see the village, or if you want you can just walk around the village and talk to the local people. We can also visit the school where you will see how the kids learn in the quechua language, you have an opportunity to give the kids some gifts you bought in Cusco. Later by 10:30 a.m. we will have a small ceremony to say goodbye to our porters, then we will have the last lunch with your guide and porters. By 11:00 a.m. your bus will leave and it will take about 4 hours on a non paved road to Sicuani, then you and all the porters and guides will take another bus to Cusco which will take 3 more hours so you will arrive to Cusco by 5-7 pm where we will take you back to your hotel.
Important note:
The Ausangate trek is one of the most beautiful treks in Cusco, especially if you are looking for something like trekking out of crowds , and seeing the amazing Andes with very colorful lagoons, then traditional animals like llamas, alpacas and the onyl wildlife still living in this area, Vicuñas which has the softest wool in the world will join us, our team will create a lifetime experience for you, with best guides, camping equipment and meals.
What is Included?
Included:
- Professional English Speaking Tour Guide
- Assistant Tour Guide for groups of 9+
- Chef
- Mules / Porters to carry cooking and camping equipment
- Mules / Personal porter to carry 10 kg of your personal effects
- Pick-up from your hotel.
- Transportation by bus from Cusco to Tinki and from Phinaya to Cusco
- Water (excluding the first 4 hours of the trek when you need to bring your own)
- 7 Breakfasts, 7 Lunches, 6 Afternoon Snacks and 6 Dinners. If you have a dietary request such as vegetarian food please let us know.
- Dining tent with tables and chairs
- 4 man tent for every 2 trekkers
- Sleeping mattress
- Oxygen bottle.
- First aid kit.
- Walking sticks.
Not Included:
- Sleeping Bag (You can rent one from us)
- Dinner on Day 7
- Tips
- Travel Insurance - you are strongly recommended to take out travel insurance for the duration of your trip.
What You need to Take:
- Original Passport.
- Comfortable walking shoes.
- Waterproof jacket / rain poncho.
- Warm jacket.
- Hat, scarf and gloves.
- T-shirts.
- Comfortable Trousers.
- Sun hat.
- Sunscreen (factor 50 or higher)
- Insect repellant.
- Toiletries and hand sanitizer.
- Personal medication.
- Camera.
- Torch with spare batteries.
Cost of the Trek Ausangate & Sivinacocha 7 Days / 6 Nights
Private service 1 passenger US$ 2344 per person.
Private service 2 passengers US$ 1385 per person
Private service 3 passengers US$ 1000 per person.
Private service 4 passengers US$ 820 per person.
Private service 5 passengers US$ 690 per person.
Private service 6 passengers US$ 630 per person.
Private service 7 passengers US$ 580 per person.
Private service 8 or more US$ 540 per person.
