The Ausangate Trek is in Cordillera Vilcanota is an impressive mountain range that includes the enormous Nevado de Ausangate (6,385 m) and three others over 6000 m. It is an excellent trekking trek that offers the traveler everything he could wish for: spectacular mountain scenery, snow-capped peaks, hot springs, turquoise lakes, glaciers, herds of llamas and alpacas, picturesque villages and traditionally dressed Indians. It’s also high, hard and cold, so be prepared.
This 5-day expensive Ausangate trek starts and finishes in the small Andean village of Tinqui and takes you around the Ausangate massif and over three high passes (two of them at over 5000m). It is essential to be properly acclimatized for this trek and to spend at least three days in Cusco (or equivalent altitude) before starting.
As with all private treks, the price of the Ausangate Trek depends on the number of people in your group. Email our company first for a price and a list of services included in the trek.
Generally, the Ausangate Trek Cusco takes 5 days, using a combination of trekking and horseback riding. Well acclimatized hikers can complete the trek in 4 days if desired, including all transportation for horse rental and travel from Cusco. The best months to do the Ausangate Trek are from April to November.
We pick you up early at your hotel and transfer you by bus to Tinki, a small rural community that is the starting point of the Ausangate trek. In Tinki we will meet the horseman and horses that will transport our staff during the expedition.
On the route we will pass picturesque villages such as Urcos. We will continue to Catca and then Ocangate. In these villages we will see people dressed in the traditional clothes of the country.
Then we continue through the communities until we reach Tinki. The bus ride will last after 2 hours and 30 minutes. through spectacular green mountain pastures where the Andean people live maintaining their traditions and customs. The impressive mountain scenery will make for an extraordinary Ausangate hike. You will see many llamas and alpacas that are used by people to transport their crops and belongings. We will continue to Upis camp.
We leave Upis early in the morning and start hiking through the ichu grass of the plains and then the trail climbs up to the Arapa pass (4900m). Then we continue hiking between Ausangate and Queullacocha observing attractive lagoons and spectacular mountain scenery with great wildlife. After this, the trail descends to Hatun Pucaccocha lake. Then we walk to the second pass called Paso Pucapunta (5000m). Later we have a short descent to the camp next to the Ausangate lagoon.
A fascinating day of trekking. We pass the highest point on our Ausangate Trek (Palomani 5200 m). At this point, you will be rewarded with splendid views. We then descend to the ancient agricultural area of Finaya where people live herding their llamas and alpacas. We will see native crops and see friendly families. Later we will take a short walk until we reach our campsite in the community of Hampa.
Today the trail climbs up to the Hampa pass the last of our hike before descending through the ancient moraine and rock site. This area is habitat for mountain chinchillas (Andean rabbits).
We continue the Salkantay Trek in the middle of the beautiful lagoon (Qomercocha) until we reach our campsite located in a colorful country community (Pacchanta) where people live in harmony with nature.
In this place there are natural hot springs where you can relax your muscles, which they will deserve after this challenging trip.
We leave our camp early in the morning and continue to Tinki. Then we continue downhill through a pasture with beautiful agriculture where we will see native crops such as potatoes, oxalis, beans, quinoa, etc.. The trail descends passing past pastures and several communities of friendly people who will welcome you in their native Quechua language. In Tinki, the bus will be waiting to take you back to Cusco and transfer you to your hotel.
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