AUSANGATE TREK 6D/5N

In this Vilcanota range you can hike at heights above 5000 m.a.s.l. and have fabulous panoramic views at crystalline lakes and nearby mountains. You can see the typical Andean animals as Lamas, Alpacas and Vicunas, meet local people who speak Quechua and know about their religion (their contact with the Apus, the mountain spirit), customs and life in the Andes.

ITINERARY

DAY 1: CUSCO – TINKI

We leave Cusco and start by private transportation until the town of T’inki (3800 m.a.s.l / 12464 ft). On the way we stop in Urcos, where we may visit a beautiful lake with the same name, then keep on and pass Cattca (popular town), agricultural and cattle raising community where we can appreciate the regions spectacular views and finally pass through Ocongate, capital of the district with the same name and only half an hour away from our destination. After an approximated 6-hour drive, we arrive in T’inki, where we sleep in a local lodge.

DAY 2: T’INKI – UPIS (trekking)

We leave T’inki initiating a slight climb that crosses through high land and dry area with little vegetation, after 4 hours walking; we already have beautiful views of the sacred Ausangate peak (6372 m.a.s.l. / 20900 ft). After lunch, we continue walking for 2 hours and a half to reach our campsite that is Upis at 4400 m.a.s.l. / 14432 ft. From this point, we may appreciate fabulous views of all the snow peaks in the area. We will camp directly in front of Ausangate Mountain.

DAY 3: UPIS - AUSANGATE QOCHA

as we can see every morning we can discover new things that the local people also will teach us, this day, we continue our hike ascending for two hours to reach “ Arapa” pass (4850 m.a.s.l. / 15908 ft), crossing an area of falcons and Vizcacha or Andean rodents. This area also boasts three beautiful lakes with tones of reds, greens, and turquoises (Pukaqocha, HatunPukaqocha, and Q’omerqocha) and spectacular views of the surrounding snow peaks. After lunch, we will continue the long and slow ascent that will take us, after about two hours, to the second mountain pass, the pass of Apuchata (4900 m.a.s.l. / 16072 ft), from which place, we will descend, for another half an hour, towards our campsite at Ausangateqocha (4440 m.a.s.l. / 14563 ft)

DAY 4: AUSANGATEQOCHA - QAMPA

Today, we depart early to climb for three hours towards the third mountain pass called Palomani (5200 m.a.s.l. / 17056 ft). This is the highest part of the trip, from which we descend for another 2 hours through an area of Llamas, Alpacas and Vizcachas to reach Pampacancha (4050 m.a.s.l. / 13284 ft). From here we follow an uphill trail until that lead us to our camp site in Q’ampa (4300 m.a.s.l. / 14104 ft).

DAY 5: QAMPA - PACCHANTA

We climb for 2 hours until we reach Q’ampa mountain pass (5000 m.a.s.l. / 16400 ft), where we may have the chance to spot the Andean deer. From here we descend towards the Q’omerqocha lagoon to finally arrive at Pacchanta (4100 m.a.s.l. / 13448 ft) after an approximated five-hour walk. Pacchanta is a little community with attractive hot spring where we can enjoy a relaxing dip. We camp and spend the night.

DAY 6: PACCHANTA – T’INKI - CUSCO

We leave Phaqchanta and start to walk our way back to T’inki, which will take approximately 2 hours. Once in T’inki, we will return by private transportation to Cusco at night.