Ausangate Trek 4 Days

We pick you up from your hotel in Cusco at 6:00 am and drive for approximately two hours to the town of Tinqui. Here, you’ll stretch your legs and observe local families who still wear traditional Andean clothing. Afterward, we continue for about one hour along a dusty mountain road until reaching Upispampa, the starting point of our hike.

After breakfast and meeting our horsemen, we begin trekking through remote Andean communities, crossing small streams and walking alongside herds of alpacas. The trail is mostly gentle with gradual ups and downs. After about three hours, we arrive at Upis, where comfortable private cabins await us.

Following lunch, you have the option to hike to Upis Lake (approximately two hours round trip). From the lake, you’ll enjoy beautiful views of Ausangate Mountain. Back at the cabins, you can relax with hot tea and admire the glacier views before dinner. At night, step outside to witness an unforgettable Andean sky full of stars.

We wake you at 5:00 am with coca tea or coffee delivered to your cabin. After breakfast, we begin ascending toward Arapa Pass (4,753 m). Along the way, you’ll enjoy stunning views of Ausangate’s snow-capped peak, colorful high-altitude lagoons, and vast alpaca grazing lands. Your guide will explain the local flora, fauna, and mountain culture. With luck, we may spot condors, vicuñas, or chinchillas.

After crossing the pass, we descend toward Puca Cocha, surrounded by dramatic glaciers and turquoise lakes. We camp near the lake inside mountain huts, offering shelter from the cold winds. After lunch, you may explore the nearby lagoon, home to Andean geese and native birdlife. Dinner is served in a rustic stone dining shelter.

Today is the most challenging day. We begin ascending toward Apacheta Pass (4,915 m), surrounded by colorful mountains and glacier-fed lakes. The views of Ausangate from this section are spectacular.

We continue into the Red Valley area, a surreal landscape painted in deep red and orange tones. After lunch, we climb the second major pass, Warmi Saya Pass (4,981 m), where you’ll see Rainbow Mountain in the distance for the first time.

From here, we descend gradually to our campsite at Queulla Qocha. If weather conditions allow, we may hike up for a sunset view of Rainbow Mountain.

After an early wake-up with hot coca tea, we hike approximately 45 minutes to Rainbow Mountain (5,034 m). Arriving early allows us to enjoy the colorful landscape before the larger crowds arrive.

You will have time to explore, take photos, and appreciate the geological formations. Afterward, we continue to the Red Valley viewpoint, a less-visited but equally impressive area.

Following our final hike, we meet our private transport and return to Cusco, arriving at your hotel around 3:00 pm.