Overview
This 4 Days Ausangate Hike to Rainbow Mountain takes you truly off the beaten path, by the skirt of the imposing Apu Ausangate (20,956 feet). And is hidden in the Vilcanota Mountain Range. The Ausangate Peak is the highest mountain in Southern of Peru and has long been considered as lord of the Inca Empire and now by the Quechua (Andean people) from Cusco.
The Ausangate Trek to Rainbow Mountain 4 Days is designed for a smoother and leisurely hike in the remote and untouched wilderness of the Ausangate. This beautiful multi-day Ausangate to Rainbow Mountain phenomenal route but challenging in altitude with some high passes to traverse. This 4 days hiking travel allow you to walk in the crown of the Andes savoring the incredible landmarks of shimmering glacial lagoons, some remote isolated communities of the Highland.
Overview for Vinicunca and Ausangate
Ausangate Red Valley 4 day Feel the pulse of snow-clad mountains and the Red Hills Mountains on this 4 day hiking through one of Peru’s most timeless and wilderness regions.
- Duration: 4 Days / 3 Nights – camping
- Distance: 42km/ 26.09 miles
- Elevation: 4200m (13,779ft) – 5080m (16,666ft)
- Difficulty: moderate/difficult
- Departure: all year around
- Acomodation: camping
Day 01: Cusco – Mallma – Singrena cocha
Day 02: Singrena cocha – Tarapata Pass – Añasñiyucpampa
Day 03: Añasñiyucpampa – Pupusayoc Pass – Pacchanta
Day 04: Pacchanta – Tinqui – Cusco
By booking Ausangate Rainbow Mountain 4 Days / 3 Nights with Guiding Machu Picchu you are choosing the best tour company from Cusco region. Don’t believe us? see our trip advisor reviews
HIGHLIGHTS
- Enjoy the most stunning and remote treks in Peru
- Trekking & adventure journey “off the beaten path”
- Hike along the large & small multi-color lagoons
- Visit the amazing painted Hill of Rainbow Mountain of Peru.
- Enjoy the wonderful landscape with glaciers, alpine lakes, and rugged mountains around the Ausangate Peak.
- Get touch with indigenous people in rustic rural villages of the highlands
- See some quite unique fauna such as Chinchillas, Condor “the largest Andean bird”, Vicunas “The only non-domesticated animal of the llama family” and many more.
Itinerary
for Our Ausangate Trek to Rainbow Mountain will leave from Cusco at 5 am in private van to the town of Urcos (capital of the province Quispicanchi) located southeast of Cusco. Driving we pass different beautiful villages through Oncongate to reach the trailhead of our trek. Along the way, we stop in one of the overlooking points to take photos. This amazing location overlooks the snow-capped mountain range of Vilcanota with Ausangate Glacier Peak (20,944 ft.) in the background. The mountain range is on the boundary between the regions of Cusco and Puno. After arriving at Tinque. This town is an excellent spot to buy any last minute supplies prior to arriving at the trailhead, known as Upis Community (12,464ft). After breakfast, our first-day hike begins in a beautiful high Andean plain facing the glaciers of Ausangate, as we continue our trekking, we can see impressive views and meet some farmers wearing their typical dress and also, plenty llamas and alpacas feeding in the highland valley. Upon Arrival to Upis hot spring which is at 13,776 feet, we will enjoy the lunch and then, we´ll get settled in a dramatic spot with the spectacular view to Ausangate in front of our camp. In the afternoon, we will go to relax and soak in a natural hot spring (it cost 10 soles) and see the sunset on incredible views of the snow-capped Ausangate range.
Hiking Distance: 11 km / 6,21 miles
Hiking Time: 6 to 7 hours
Campsite altitude: 4,600 mt. / 15,091 ft.
Meals – all Included
Level of difficulty: Moderate
This day, we begin the morning with hot drinks tea or coffee delivered to your tent and then, we enjoy fresh hot breakfast in the chilly high altitude camp. After breakfast, we begin the hike through a beautiful green high alpine valley towards Arapa Pass with phenomenal views of the Ausangate peak. At the Pass which is at 15,744 feet, we´ll be amazed by dazzling vistas of rugged mountains, as well as, if we are lucky, we might have an opportunity to see some Vicuñas graze free there, Condors, and Chinchilla where your expert trekking guide will explain about the landscape of the trail as well as about flora and fauna of the zone. After exploring, we descend towards the incredible lakes of Yana Qocha (Black Lake) and Puca Qocha (Red Lake). On our cross-Andes route, we will be surrounded by dazzling peaks and waterfalls! Subsequently, we get to the lunch spot and take a nap, Later, we will have more time to explore and walk around the lakes. In the late afternoon, you will enjoy the afternoon tea, followed by dinner.
Hiking Distance: 11 km / 6,83 miles
Hiking Time: 7 – 8 hours
Campsite altitude: 4,599mt. / 15,088ft.
Meals: all Included
Level of difficulty: Challenging
Today is an absolutely incredible day! We´ll have a relatively relaxed morning and big breakfast, after breakfast, we start making our way towards Pucaqocha Pass which is at 16,571 feet.,the uphill section is for about 1- 2 hours, that offers phenomenal views of colorful glacier lakes behind the Ausangate peak. Furthermore, At Pucaqocha Pass, we will have an extraordinary vantage point to look down both sides of the valley with colorful mountains and intact landscape, likewise, the awesome glacier Sacred Mountain (Ausangate). Continuing our trek, we descend to the campsite witnessing the beautiful views of the mountain range and llamas, alpacas eating grass right close to you. Eventually, arrive at last camping spot snapping pictures along the route to relax, eat lunch, knowing that this day is a short distance, after lunch, we stay there.
Hiking Distance: 7 km / 4,35 miles
Hiking Time: 4 – 5 hours
Campsite altitude: 4,599mt. / 15,088ft.
Meals: all Includes
Level of difficulty: Challenging
The last day, we start early for another exciting day in the mountains to reach / “Rainbow Mountain of Peru and red valley”, besides to leave early, we´ll try to be the first to get to the Vinicunca Mountain of Carolfull Valley and witness the beauty of the Rainbow Mountain before tourists arrive from Day tours.
On this day, we hike 2 hours to get to the Vinicunca Rainbow Mountain, after enjoying the spectacular landscape which surrounds you, we start walking downhill for about 2.5 hours to lunch site. Following lunch, we take our transportation and back to Cusco. Our Ausangate trek to Vinicunca / Rainbow Mountain service will end at your hotel.
Hiking Distance: 10 km / 6,2 miles
Hiking Time: 4 – 5 hours
Meals: all Included
Inclusions
Included
- A pre-trek briefing the night before the start of your trek.
- One English-speaking guide.
- Private transport from your hotel in Cusco to the trailhead.
- Private transport from Quesiuno to your hotel in Cusco.
- Horses and muleteers, horses carry your 7-kg / 14-pound personal items.
- Emergency Horse to escort us during the trek
- 3 nights camping along our trip.
- Entrance ticket to Rainbow Mountain
- 4 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 3-afternoon snacks, and 3 dinners, all prepared by our cook and his assistant.
- 4-person capacity tents. 2 people will be assigned per tent.
- Camping equipment, a dining tent with table and chairs, and a kitchen tent, manned by a professional cooking staff.
- Foam sleeping mattress.
- Water supply (boiled) after every meal.
- First Aid Kit & oxygen bottle
- Personalized service
- All local taxes.
Not Included
- Sleeping bag, (you might rent from us).
- Hiking poles (you might rent from us).
- Entrance to the hot spring in Aguas Calientes.
- Gratuities for the crew (muleteers, cook, guide).
- Hotel accommodations in Cusco.
- Personal expenses (Internet access along the trail, laundry personal taxis).
- Travel insurance, we strongly recommend you to bring copies with you of travel and health insurance to protect: