Ausangate Trek to Rainbow Mountain – 6 Days

The Ausangate Trek 6 Days 5 Nights is considered one of the most beautiful snow-capped mountains of the Andes. The region around the mountain offers impressive scenery of mountains, glaciers, lagoons, and streams. Furthermore, the Andean people are very hospitable and preserve respect for nature. The farmers have excellent knowledge of raising cattle, vicuña, alpaca, and llama, which are all valued for their fine quality wool and meat. The 3-hour drive from Cusco to Tinqui is excellent preparation for adjusting to the differences in temperature and altitude.

We will come and pick you up from your hotel in Cusco at around 4 am and drive to the starting point of our trek Upis (3hours). At this place, we will have our delicious breakfast prepared by our Cook, and then we will pack our gear onto pack horses; everyone will have a duffle bag of 7 kilos to put it on the horse this duffle bag will be provided a night before your departure so beside of this you need to bring a daily backpack for your things.

After breakfast and packing our gear onto the horse, we gradually star-ruled up to our first campsite called Pampa Arapa (4,200m / 13,779 feet). Later on, immerse into the highland valley inhabited by llamas and alpacas with dramatic views of Ausangate in backdrops.

After eating a delicious meal, we hike for about 20min to enjoy one of its beautiful lakes that show us the Apu Ausangate and then back by the same trail to Pampa Arapa to have our tea and later on dinner.

With two passes to cross today, we wake up everyone at 5 in the morning with the coca tea they bring to your tent, and you will have a great breakfast after 30 min. The morning begins with a walk along the Arapa Pass (4958 m) before a slight descent to our place to have lunch near Puma Lake, a deep blue lake, and a perfect stop for a rest.

On the way, you will see local shepherds and llamas, the Ausangate mountain on your left, and you will have an expert guide who will explain the history of the locals and talk about the landscape along the way.

After lunch, we will continue climbing for our second pass of the day (Pucacocha pass-5000m), where, if you are lucky, you will see condors and vicuñas until you descend to our Anata camp, where high mountains and incredible hanging glaciers will surround you.

A camp will always be set up for you to change and rest your tired legs and prepare dinner.

Today is the day that we will wake you up very early at 3:30 am; this is to beat the crowd in the rainbow mountain and have very nice pictures.

After our breakfast, we start hiking during the night to Warmisaya Pass (4990m / 16,371 feet), from where we will have a stunning view of the sunrise.

From here, we begin descending for about 40 minutes and then walk by a gradual uphill enjoying some lakes on the way and finally reach the Vinicunca Rainbow Mountain. Soak in the sights and enjoy what we’ve worked so hard for.

After, we will go back by the same trail to Ananta, where we will enjoy our lunch and head up to Ausangate Lake, where camp will be set up and waiting for you to take a rest and finally dinner.

Another fantastic day to experience the brilliant hills of colorations next to Ausangate mountain (6,381 m / 20,930 feet), the heights mountain in Cusco, and see more glacial lagoons; after breakfast, we will begin again with our trekking, the path takes next pass known as Palomani which is at 5,130 m / 16,826 feet, the highest pass on the whole trail.

From here we will start to take a look at the big mountain and some different hills of colorations that are still nearby, then we will walk downhill to reach the section of the valley, where we will have lunch, in the afternoon we will walk for two more hours till the next camp placed at the height of 4,750 m / 15,580 feet. In the afternoon, we will have tea time, then dinner.
All foods included.

We begin the day with a beautiful breakfast given by our gourmet expert; at that point, we will walk step by step to get the last pass called Jhampa, a pass that is at 5,030 m/16,498 feet, where we will, in any case, have unimaginable perspectives of the ice sheet crests directly in front of us.

We will walk step by step downhill for 2 hours from this last pass until the last camp called Ninaparayoq 4,700 m/15,416 feet, where we will see a few big lakes. Upon arrival, we will eat and, after that, throughout the evening to unwind in the last camp.
All meals are incorporated.

Wake up with hot coca tea in the first part of the day to have another incredible day, subsequent having breakfast, we’ll hike downhill for 2 hours and 30 minutes to Pacchanta village, the last part of the trail, where we’ll get an opportunity to enjoy of the hot springs.

At this place, we’ll have our last lunch. After lunch, we will say goodbye to our muleteers, cooks, and aides. We will inevitably drive back to the inn in Cusco.

Finally, we will return to your resort in Cusco.

All food included, except the last dinner.

• Pre trek Briefing (briefing at the hotel).
• Pick up from your hotel on the morning of departure.
• Transportation from Cusco to the trailhead at the beginning of the hike by private car.
• English / Quechua / Spanish professional guide speak.
• Second Tour Guide over 12 people.
• Tents – 2 people in a 4 person tent which allows for greater comfort, and also storage of backpacks.
• Thermarest air-inflate comfortable sleeping Mattress.
• Cook and assistance of the Cook.
• Cooking equipment.
• Snacks.
• Daily tea service.
• Dining equipment including chairs and tables.
• Portable environmental Biodegradable toilet (The Pett).
• Food service in the campsites (6 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 5 dinners, 6 snacks) – nutritionally balanced menu.
• Vegetarian and free gluten food for no extra cost.
• Personal trekking food – nutritionally balanced menu (Buffet).
• Horseman and Horses. (to carry our camping equipment, food and 8 kilos of your stuff like sleeping bag and mat as well as clothes) We never overload our horses (well Animal Welfare).
• Ausangate & Vinicunca Rainbow Mountain entrance fees.
• Camping spots fees.
• First-aid kit.
• Emergency oxygen bottle.
• Insurance policy for our Guide, Cook & Horseman.

• Extra expenses.
• Dinner – Day 6.
• Pillows.
• Not detailed meals.
• Travel and health insurance (bring copies with you please).
• Sleeping bags (it can be rented from us for US$ 30 for the entire trip).
• Walking sticks (it can be rented from us for US$ 20 for the entire trip).
• Tips (optional).

• Original passport.
• Travel insurance.
• Sleeping bag.
• Walking sticks.
• Rain gear (jacket and pants) or poncho.
• Strong footwear, waterproof trekking boots are recommended.
• Extra socks are a must.
• Sandals or plastic slip thongs are also good to give your feet a chance to breathe at night if you want to take them.
• Warm clothes include jackets, fleeces, gloves, scarf, and knit / tour beanies.
• Thermal clothing is also recommended, especially for sleeping.
• Flashlight and extra batteries.
• Camera, films, and batteries.
• Hat or cap to protect you from sun, rain, and cold.
• Sunblock.
• Toilet paper.
• Snacks: biscuits, energy bars, chocolate, raw fruits, muesli, etc.
• Non-disposable canteen (Nalgene type) and water for the first morning.
• We recommend bringing water purification tablets in case you pick up water from streams.
• Your own special medicines you may need, paracetamol, second skin blisters, etc.
• Small towel.
• Cash – sufficient for snacks, tips, and souvenirs.
• Eager and adventurous spirit to enjoy your hike.

We also offer a special service only for you or your group, you have the power to choose the size of your group and the date of departure, we will never add other people since it will be organized only for you.

Our Ausangate Trek to Rainbow Mountain – 6 Days private service, includes additional items such as:

• Extra horse to ride.
• North Face 4 season tents.
• 02 waking poles per person.
• 1 duffel bag to carry all your sleeping bags, self-inflating pad as well as your clothes.
• Private Transportation round trip
• Sleeping bag / Silk Liner included.
• The tour guide is just for you. And of course, we pay a little bit more to our Staff and Guide.

We offer 3 kinds of service, each with different price ranges and you can book in any of these services according to your convenience, we just need you to be a minimum of 02 people to organize your trip on the date that suits you, all our services are 100 % guaranteed.

We are a direct TOUR OPERATOR that never passes clients to other agencies as most agencies do it here in Cusco to save operating costs with poor quality.

We will make the trip even if there are only 02 people in your group.

What if I suffer from altitude sickness?
Our tour guide is professional, he will treat you accordingly with the oxygen tank, we always provide an oxygen tank for this kind of tour.