Ausangate Vinicunca Trek overview:
- First day: Cusco – Tinki – Upis hot – spring
- Second Day: Upis – Puccacpcha Pass – Anantapata
- Third day: Anantapata – Rainbow Mountain – Lake Ausangate
- Fourth Day: Lake Ausangate- Palomani Pass – Surapampa
- Fifth Day: Surapampa – Jampa Pass- Paqchanta
- Sixth Day: Pacchanta – Tinqui – Cusco
Duration: 6 days/ 5 nights
Distance: 92km/ 57.5 miles
Elevation: 4200m/13,200 ft- 5200m/17,000ft
Difficulty: moderate/ difficult
Full Itinerary of Ausangate Vinicunca trek:
First day: Cusco – Tinki – Upis
Your guide will meet you in Cusco early in the morning, and take you via private transportation to the starting point of our trek – Tinki. Here we will enjoy our breakfast provide by our chef, while all the gear for the trip is being loaded onto pack horses. After hiking through some farming lands and home of alpaca herds we will arrive 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.
- Distance: 8km/ 3 miles
- Elevation: 3800m- 4200m
- Hiking time: 2-3 hours
- Camp: 4200m/ 13,780ft
Second Day: Upis – Puccacocha Pass – Anantapata
With two passes to cross today, we wake everyone up at 5am with coca tea brought to your tent and you will fuel up with a big 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 and llamas, 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 until descending to our campsite of Anantapata where you will be surrounded by high mountains and incredible hanging glaciers- watch for the glacier crashing into the lake below! As always camp will be set up for you to change and rest your weary legs and dinner will be prepared by our cook.
- Distance: 15km
- Elevation: 4200m- 4930m- 4700m
- Hiking time: 7 hours
- Camp: 4700m/ 15,420ft
Third day: Anantapata – Rainbow Mountain (5050m) – Lake Ausangate
Today starts with Chillca pass (5050m), a very colorful mountain but only a precursor of what is to come. 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!
From here you begin descending to a wide valley and continue walking gentle uphill until we are presented with one final climb to the Rainbow Mountain. Soak in the sights and enjoy what you’ve worked so hard for. We will enjoy lunch in the surrounding area, and head back down the valley to make our way to the stunning Lake Ausangate where camp will be set up and waiting for you to take a rest.
- Distance: 20km
- Elevation: 4700m- 5050m – 4650m
- Hiking time: 7-8 hours
- Camp: 4650m/ 15,255ft
Fourth Day: Lake Ausangate- Palomani Pass – Surapampa
Covering less kilometers today, as yesterday was a big day, we pass beautiful glacial tarns, lush green pampas, and follow the edge of the river. Today is a great day for spotting wildlife so keep an eye out for condors, and vicuñas.
- Distance: 17km (10.5 miles)
- Elevation: 4650m – 5100m – 4600m
- Hiking time: 7-8 hours
- Camp: 4600m/ 15,090ft
Fifth Day: Surapampa – Qampa Pass- Paqchanta (hot springs/ Camping)
With only one pass to cross we will take our time today enjoying the deep blue lagoons, and alpine glacial colored lakes along the way. If you’re brave enough you can even jump in to cool off. Views of the massive Ausangate Mountain are still visible, only today you will get to enjoy them from a new angle along with views of Pacchanta Valley. Our goal is the hot springs of Pacchanta where we will enjoy a nice soak and the views of the Ausangate Mountain above.
- Distance: 16k
- Elevation: 4600m- 5050m – 4300m
- Hiking time: 6-7 hours
- Camp: 4300m/ 14,110ft
Sixth Day: Pacchanta – Tinqui- Cusco
Today is another early morning as we make our way back to the starting point of Tinqui walking on flat ground and celebrating our accomplishments. Once we arrive at the village you will have your last lunch while everything is packed up in our private transportation to make our way back to Cusco where. You will be dropped off at your hotel arriving around 5pm.
- Distance: 16k
- Elevation: 4300m (descending)
- Hiking time: 3 hours
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.
