The Ausangate mountain is considered the holiest mountain in the Cusco region. Combine this special trail with the undiscovered Rainbow Mountain and you will embark on a trek that you will remember for a lifetime.
Spend your days soaking in the massive peaks, and your evenings enjoying the stars. Our guides will cater to your needs and explain all about the landscape that surrounds you.
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Camp: 4200m / 13,780ft
Your guide will meet you in Cusco early in the morning, and take you via private transportation to the starting point of our trek- Tinqui. Here you will enjoy a local lunch, while your gear is being loaded onto pack horses. After lunch you will begin hiking to our first camp. This day we only hike for a few 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.
We rise with the sun at 5:00 am with coca tea or coffee delivered to your tent, and enjoy a delicious breakfast for the day ahead. In the morning we begin hiking to the 7 lagoons of Ausangate. Along the way we will experience local farmers and alpacas, while your knowledgeable, english speaking guide explains what makes this region as incredible as it is. With some luck, we will see condors, chinchillas, and vicuñas. Here, you will have the chance to experience the majestic, colorful lakes as we reach our campsite of Ninaparayuc, where we will be surrounded by some of the tallest mountains in the region. As usual, tents will be set up for us to change, take a nap and have our lunch and dinner prepared by our professional chef. After our lunch, we urge you to explore the surrounding lakes nearby.
Day three of our trek is a challenging one, as we start with Qampa pass (5051). Challenging as it is, you are constantly rewarded with sweeping views of mount Ausangate. We will descend into the Qampa Valley, enjoying a landscape surrounded by glaciers and filled with grazing llamas. Soon we approach our lunch spot for the day(Surapampa). After lunch we descend through the ancient Moraine, keeping an eye out for mountain Chinchillas (Andean rabbits),as we have entered their habitat. After taking time watching for chinchillas and taking photos, we continue to our campsite called Huchuy Phinaya, where we will enjoy a much deserved dinner.
Another incredible day lies ahead, as we set off and marvel at the multi-colored hills next to the Ausangate Mountain. We will experience even more magnificent glacial lagoons, as the trail takes us to the next pass called Palomani, that sits at 5,130m / 16,831 feet, making this the highest pass on the trail! We will descend into the valley, where we will enjoy a delicious lunch. In the afternoon and after our hearty lunch, we will walk up for 2 more hours to the next camp called Puca Cocha, located at an elevation of 4,600m/16,120 feet. In the evening, we will have tea time, and yet another spectacular dinner.
After another breakfast amongst the towering mountains and rolling hills, we begin another challenging and rewarding day. We will begin with Puca Cocha pass (5051), taking in the colorful mountains which surround you. As we enter Red Mountain Valley, we will have a spectacular view of mount Ausangate and the colorful glacier lakes in our path. Then, we make our way to our second pass of the day, called Warmi Saya pass. As we climb, we are treated to views of amazing Rainbow Mountain in the distance! From here, we descend and finally reach our campsite, where we will enjoy a delicious lunch and much deserved rest for the next day.
Today is the day you have been waiting for. We will wake you up at 4:45 am with coca tea delivered to your tent, then you will hike for about 45 minutes before reaching Rainbow Mountain. You will have time to explore the area and take pictures, and we will spend approximately 30 minutes to 1 hour (depending on your trekking speed and weather conditions). After enjoying the epic Rainbow Mountain for about one hour, we go to visit the Red Valley, which takes another 30 minutes. Then we will head to the bus station to catch our van. Today after our farewell dinner, we say goodbye to our horseman and the chef, and head back to Cusco where you will be dropped off at your hotel around 03:00 pm.
We provide all high quality camping gear to keep you warm and comfortable in all conditions. Using the best equipment available - Mountain Hardwear tents and sleeping bags
*Horseback is available to hire through local horsemen. Horses are not the property of FlashpackerConnect. If you choose to hire a horse please note horsemen do not speak English nor do they always stick with the group of hikers and the guide as the horses walk faster than the hikers. Should you choose to hire a horse you assume all liability and ride at your own risk. FlashpackerConnect is not responsible for any accidents that occur from riding a horse.
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Weather in the Andes can be unpredictable ranging from hot and sunny to rain, wind and cold. Hikers should be prepared with proper gear and be ready for variable weather conditions throughout the day. Small changes in the itinerary are a possibility as well as trip cancellations due to bad weather. We reserve the right to cancel a trip prior to departing Cusco if we feel conditions are unsafe. If this happens you will be refunded your deposit in full, or have the opportunity to reschedule, however trips still depart when there is rain, snow or fog and refunds are not granted due to poor weather conditions. Temperatures can range from 0 degrees Celsius in the morning to 15 degrees Celsius in the afternoon. The sun can get intense in the afternoon and we highly recommend bringing sun protection.
Our treks take place anywhere from 10,000 feet up to 17,000 feet. It is essential to spend 2-3 days minimum in Cusco or similar elevation prior to taking any trek with us. We recommend staying well hydrated while you are in elevation and to get plenty of rest prior to your trek. FlashpackerConnect is not responsible if you get altitude sickness. Please consult your doctor is you are concerned with the altitude.
Our guides and staff are paid on a per trip basis based on the number of days they spend on the trail. While tipping is not required, it is a common practice in Latin America. If you feel your guide, and crew went above and beyond to make your trip special gratuity is greatly appreciated. A common tip is 10-15% of your total trip cost
We recommend booking 3-4 months prior to ensure availability. If your dates are flexible we can take reservations on short notice, however our treks tend to book out as we keep our group sizes very small. In order to book we send out an invoice for deposit via PayPal, and your final payment is due at least 30 days prior to your trip departure date.
Our treks depart everyday upon request with a minimum of 2 guests (Solo travelers can be matched up with existing groups)
We take pride in preparing a wonderful variety of food throughout your trek. You will always be served local Peruvian style dishes in a family style manner and you will never go hungry. We can cater to any dietary needs, but ask that you notify us of your request at the time of booking. If we are not informed during your booking we cannot guarantee that we will be able to accommodate.
Trekking in the Andes and in high altitude can be dangerous and because of this our staff always carries a proper first aid kit along with emergency oxygen for our guests to use if they are feeling ill.
All accommodation on multi-day treks is tent camping. We bring quality 4 person tents but sleep a maximum of 2 persons to each tent. For tours that require hotels, accommodation is based on double or triple occupancy. Solo travelers will be matched with another guest of the same gender unless a single supplement is paid.
Our treks depart everyday with a minimum of 2 guests and a maximum of 8 guests. We can also accommodate private trips and large group trips. Group pricing is available if your group is 4 or more people.
Travel protection is essential for your peace of mind and safety throughout the trip. Unexpected medical emergencies or illnesses prior to or during your trip could make you lose pre-paid, non-refundable payments. Emergency medical transport and air ambulances in remote locations can be extremely expensive and will probably not be covered by your medical health plan so it is compulsory that you purchase personal adequate travel insurance which is appropriate for your trip. This insurance must cover personal accident, medical expenses, air ambulance, loss of effects, repatriation costs and all other expenses which may arise as a result of loss, damage, injury, delay or inconvenience during your trip. We also suggest you purchase cancellation and curtailment insurance. When obtaining travel insurance, you must inform the insurer of the type of travel to be undertaken, especially when "adventure activities" are included in your trip. There are several insurance companies offering travel protection plans available for purchase online.
