Ausangate Route

Description Trekking to the Ausangate snow-capped mountain in Cusco

With the Ausangate Trekking in Cusco or “Ausangate Route”, you can walk one of the least visited tourist circuits of Cusco but also one of the most beautiful. The best time to do this route is from May to October, in the dry season.

THE AUSANGATE ROUTE, This mountain is the fifth highest mountain in Peru, its maximum altitude is 6,385 meters above sea level and is located about 100 kilometers southeast of the city of Cusco. In Inca mythology, from this mountain and the nearby lakes – among which Sibinacocha stands out – is born the masculine energy that fertilizes the mother earth Pachamama; after a long flow, the waters are lost in the unknown lands of the Amazon to return to fill the lakes and glaciers every night converted into the river of stars or Willkamayu known in the west as the Milky Way.

The Chillca Community made up of llama and alpaca herders is known as the guardian of these pristine landscapes, from where you can hike in the mountains. The Ausangate mountain trek is considered adventure tourism because the trail presents rock formations at an altitude of more than 5,000 meters above sea level covered by tongues of ice, it is a fantastic adventure.

The Ausangate Trek Circuit, is a beautiful tour where we will know several turquoise green lagoons, belonging to the Cordillera de Vilcanota and also be close to the mountains of Ausangate and Qayangates. APU is a Quechua word that means: mountain and God. Therefore the Apus are the spirits of the mountains that protect the people of the Andes since the time of the Incas. The most powerful Apus were usually the highest mountains of the region and the way to communicate with them was through rituals, sacred prayers or offerings, in which they requested protection and prosperity for the coming year.

One of the most important Apus in Cusco, was the AUSANGATE, located in the Cordillera de los Andes, in the Cordillera de Vilcanota, its main peak reaches 6,372 meters above sea level. And it is the fifth highest mountain in Peru. Even today it is one of the most important pilgrimage centers for the descendants of the Incas and an obligatory stop for adventure lovers.

MAIN POINTS OF VISIT

• Cusco (3,390 masl)
• Tinki (3,600 masl)
• Abra Arapa (5,200 masl)
• Ausangate (6,384 masl)
• Pachanta (6,372 masl)

Day 1: Cusco – Tinki – Upis

• 04.00 hrs We will pick you up very early at your hotel, we will head south of the city of Cusco, travel time 2h 30 min.
• We will arrive at the village of Tinki, we will present the income and from here we will start the hike. We descend from Tinki to the south by a slight slope that will allow us an excellent view of the snow-capped Apu Ausangate.
• We will make a brief stop for breakfast. The puna scenery, framed by ichu and the icy wind will be present during our 8 hour trek, that is to say 10 km.
• We will rest throughout the route and we will get to travel this first day 10 km. We will be able to observe diverse animals of the zone until we arrive to the pampas of Upis, here in the skirts of the Apu Ausangate we will set up camp. We will have lunch listening to some traditions and stories of this beautiful mountain.
• Dinner and overnight.

Camp: UPIS

BREAKFAST and LUNCH – AGENCY / DINNER – PASSENGER

Day 2: Upis – Abra Arapa – Soncocoha

• After breakfast, we will begin the ascent under the watchful eye of the most important Apu of the southern Andes. on the way, we will appreciate the beauty and grandeur of this geography.
• When we arrive to Abra Arapa, you will have an exceptional view of this mountain range, then we will cross the Abra to Sonccococha, Pukacocha, Ccomercocha, beautiful high Andean lagoons.
• Here we will stop for lunch, then we will ascend gradually to cross the Abra de Ausangate, a magnificent view of this mountain scene, then cross the pass to Sonccococha, Pukacocha, Ccomercocha, beautiful high Andean lagoons and descend to camp in Ausangatecocha.
• We will rest after having walked 16 km, dinner and overnight.

Camp: AUSANGATECOCHA

BREAKFAST & LUNCH – AGENCY / DINNER – PASSENGER

Day 3: Ausangatecocha – Abra Palomani – Hatunpampa

• This will be a day of much effort, important to walk at a good pace to palm the 16 km and reach the highest Abra: The Abra Palomani, here we will take some of the best views, Andean landscapes, lagoons, alpacas, llamas.
• We will enjoy a unique scenery at 5,200 meters above sea level. After a short rest we will descend to the village of Huchuy Phinaya where we will have lunch.
• After a short rest, we will continue the hike descending a gentle slope until we reach the next camp in Hatunpampa. After this challenging hike we will reach a high Andean plain surrounded by snow-capped peaks. Here we will spend the night.
• Dinner and overnight.

Camp: HATUNPAMPA.

BREAKFAST and LUNCH – AGENCY / DINNER – PASSENGER

Day 4: Hatunpampa – Abra janca – Pachanta

• Another challenging day, although less kilometers than the last few days. We will hike to the second highest pass above 5,200 masl: Abra Janca. Here you will enjoy a beautiful Andean landscape where Andean camelids coexist with the high mountains, watched over by the spectacular snow-capped Colquecruz.
• Following this trail and with the trembling of the legs downhill, to rest and have lunch.
• Then we will continue to the town of Pacchanta, what a joy it will be to reach this point to enjoy a rich bath in the hot springs of this place. It will be the end of our adventure of this hard day of trekking.
• Free time to relax, dinner and overnight.

Camp: PACHANTA.

BREAKFAST and LUNCH – AGENCY / DINNER – PASSENGER

Day 5: Pachanta – Tinki – Cusco

• This will be the last day with a delicious breakfast, then we will say goodbye to this place and we will head to the town of Tinki.
• The reward for this adventure will be a delicious Pachamanca, a typical dish of Peruvian gastronomy, prepared by cooking beef, pork, chicken and guinea pig meat, previously seasoned with ingredients such as chincho, huacatay, aji and other spices, along with additional native Andean products such as potatoes, sweet potatoes, corn, beans in pods and eventually yucca.
• More than just a meal or an agape, it is a community ritual in the Andes. Then we will board the transportation to take us back to the city of Cusco to the hotel.

Hotel: PRINCIPE III/MAYU WASI

BREAKFAST and LUNCH – AGENCY / DINNER – PASSENGER