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Ausangate Trek to Rainbow Mountain 4 days / 3 nights
Ausangate Trek 4 Days offer you a real taste of the Andean life, as you will find and see modest communities where natives still speak the Inca language (Quechua) and where traditional methods of life are still used. Also, you will see hundreds and hundreds of alpacas So if you are wishing to do a genuine Peruvian trek out of the beaten track then this is the right excursion for you.
And what better way to do this wonderful walk with us because we were born in Ausangate and we know the best of our land, the entire family of the treks ausangate company is from the area.
The Ausangate trek 4 days is different from other treks, mostly because you don’t visit Machu Picchu or any other Incan ruins. Instead, its highlights are natural attractions, including beautiful glaciers, colorful lakes, precious wildlife, and colorful mountains and on the last day, you will enjoy the famous Rainbow Mountain (the second most visited attraction in Peru). In addition, you will hike through remote Andean villages that still keep their traditions.
The Rainbow Mountains or Vinicunca Mountains are composed of stratified layers of sandstone. These fine-grained rock layers contain large amounts of iron and other minerals which give the mountains the pigments for the various colored stripes. You will see turquoise lakes, glacial mountains, llamas, alpacas, chinchillas, and maybe even a wild vicuña. Come and be one of the first adventurers to trek with us.
It is essential to be properly acclimatized for this hike, spending at least two or three days in Cusco (or equivalent altitude) before starting. The campsites are at high elevations and therefore will be quite cold in the evenings. Minimum passengers necessary for trek departure: 2 people (1 person or private/custom treks possible with extra fee). Maximum trekkers per group: 10 people (special, private party groups can exceed the maximum).
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What’s included
Not included
What to expect
Itinerary
Day 1: Cusco -Upis community- Upis campsite – Upis lake
The team from treks Ausangate will pick you up at 05:00 am from your hotel and go by private van for about 2 hours to Tinki where we will get off to stretch our legs and we will take advantage of visiting the Tiki town where we will see people still wearing their typical dress.
Then we drive for about 1 hour on dusty and bumpy roads. Once we get to the trailhead of our hike, we will have our delicious breakfast and then meet our horsemen. We will start the hike From Upispampa through many remote villages with many stream crossings until you get to the small town of Upis. The trail is almost flat with some ups and downs. We will hike for about 3 hours until we get to our campsite. Here we have our local hotel where you will spend the night.
Our cook will prepare a delicious lunch. After enjoying our meal, you have the option to hike to Upis Lake which takes 2 hours round trip. The trail to this beautiful lake is flat for about 40 minutes and the last 20 minutes is a gradual uphill. Once we come back from the lake, we will enter our dining room where we will have a chair to sit in and enjoy the tea looking at the amazing Ausangate through .
Then we will have our dinner then we will go out to enjoy the first starry night, you will remember it.
- Accommodation: Camps
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner & snacks on the trail, boiled water at lunch and camp
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Minimum elevation: 4250m/13,944ft.
- Highest elevation: 4480m/14,698ft.
- Walking Distance: 10km/6.21mi
- Walking time: 5 hours
- Campsite elevation: 4250 m/13,779 ft.
Day 2: Upis campsite – Arapa Pass -Pukaqocha
We will wake you up at 05:00 am with coca tea or coffee delivered to your tend and you are given a delicious breakfast for the day ahead. In The morning start hiking up to Arapa Pass Along the
(4800m/15,748ft) way we are going to observe local farmers and alpacas, Ausangate snow-capped to your left side, and you will have English- a speaking guide explaining about flora, and fauna and talking about the landscape along the trail. if we are lucky we might see condor, chinchillas, and vicuñas.
Also, we will enjoy colorful lakes and get to our campsite of Puca Cocha where we are going to be surrounded by high mountains and unbelievable hanging glaciers, watch and hear the glacier crashing into the tarns below! As usual, tents are going to be set up inside the mountain huts for us to change, take a nap, and have our lunch. Since this campsite is close to Puca Cocha Lake, you will go to the lake where you will see many types of ducks, Andean geese, and many other types of birds.
Then you will have dinner at our dining room which is built with rocks and mud.
- Accommodation: Camps
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner & snacks on the trail, boiled water at breakfast, lunch and camp
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Minimum elevation: 4250m/13,944ft.
- Highest elevation: 4800m/15,748ft.
- Walking Distance: 11km/6.84mi
- Walking time: 6 hours
- Campsite elevation: 4500 m/14,764 ft.
Day 3: Pukaqocha- Pucca Pass-Ananta – Warmisaya – Surinecocha
Wake up early with a hot cup of coca tea to start one of the most beautiful days of the trek, enjoying majestic views of some of the highest peaks in the Andes and depths of the beautiful valleys. This morning we will summit the Puca Pass. After an early breakfast we begin our 2-hour steep climb to the Puca Pass at (5050m/16,568ft). Along the way we have gorgeous views of turquoise lakes and the Ausangate glacier.
Once you reach the summit of this mountain, you will be located right in front of the Ausangate Mountain and you can enjoy the views of Chillca Valley, with alpaca grazing along these hills. Also, from this pass you will see the beginning of the Rainbow Mountain range with their strikingly striated colors. After taking some great pictures we continue gradually downhill for another 2 hours until we reach our lunch spot located at Anantapata 4400m/14,435ft with amazing views of green hills and snow-capped peaks.
After lunch and a little rest and relaxation, we will hike gradually uphill for 1.5 hours until we reach the Warmisaya (aka Pitumarca) pass 5050m/16,568ft. After enjoying the views at the top, we descend for 20 minutes to Surinecocha lake (4500m/14,764ft) where we set up camp for the night. After dropping our bags, we take our gradual 1 hour sunset hike to the Rainbow Mountain Pass and watch as the sun sets over the stunning Rainbow Valley. Once we have finished enjoying the view, we hike 45 minutes back down to camp at Surinecocha to have happy hour (tea and snacks) followed by a hearty dinner.
- Accommodation: Camps
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner & snacks on the trail, boiled water at breakfast, lunch and camp
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Minimum elevation: 4500 m/14,764 ft.
- Highest elevation: 4985m/16,355ft
- Walking Distance: 11km/6.84mi
- Walking time: 7 hours
- Campsite elevation: 4800m/15,748 ft.
Day 4: Surinecocha – Rainbow Mountain (Sunrise walk)-Red Valley -Cusco
After a very early breakfast (5am) we hike 1 hour up to the Rainbow Mountain Pass (Vinicunca Mountains or Montañas de Colores), the highest pass of the trek, again to see the beautiful Rainbow Valley at sunrise (5050m/16,568ft)! Enjoy the view for an hour without the crowds as we are one of the first groups to arrive. Your guide will walk you to the best spots to get the perfect postcard pictures of these incredible mountains and the other surrounding peaks. Your guide will explain what makes these mountains so unique: they are composed of various minerals, which make different colors of stone striations.
This is definitely one of the most stunning places in South America and one of the most beautiful natural attractions in Peru. There are Rainbow Mountains in only a few other locations in the world.
After enjoying this gem from the Peruvian Andes, we will begin our trek towards the spectacular Red Valley. very few tourists visit this place that seems to be taken from another planet almost like mars. you will be surprised not only by its incredible beauty but also by the immense tranquility that will surround you, take your wonderful pictures in that point.
After enjoying the sunrise view in rainbow mountain and red valley we hike for 40 minutes to the bus station to catch our van. Today after our last supper we say goodbye to our horseman and the chef and get back to Cusco where you will be dropped off at your hotel around 04:00 pm.
- Accommodation: None
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch & snacks on the trail, boiled water at breakfast
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Minimum elevation: 4630 m/15,190ft.
- Highest elevation: 5030m/16,568ft
- Walking Distance: 6.5km/4.04mi
- Walking time: 7 hours
Additional information
What to bring
Everything you need for the day should be kept in your daypack that you carry because all the items you leave with your porter will not be available to you until the evening at the campsite. It is recommended not to hike in cotton or jeans in the event of rain as cotton takes a very long time to dry. It is also recommended to bring true hiking boots or trail running shoes as regular running shoes do not get very good traction, especially when it has rained.
- Sleeping bags and walking poles (poles must have intact rubber bottoms) Recommend a sleeping bag rated for 20F/-7C or below for this trek
- Sleeping bag liner (for your sleeping bag if you wish)
- Mattress pad – while we provide a mattress pad, being rested is essential for a great hiking experience and we find that sleep habits are very individualized. Therefore, we recommend bringing your own pad that you know you are comfortable sleeping on, as well as any other sleep items you might want to have (camp pillow, etc.).
- Sunscreen: the sun is very strong in Cusco
- Sun hat
- Sunglasses
- Lip balm
- Hiking shoes/boots with good, grippy tread
- Hiking pants (or shorts) and shirts (layers)
- Layers – long underwear and/or warm sleep pants for cold nights
- Hand warmers if you wish
- Warm hat, gloves, scarf and thick warm socks (or you can buy a traditional Peruvian hat and scarf – they are beautiful!)
- Daypack and rain cover
- Rain gear – rain jacket and rain pants (optional for the pants), can buy an inexpensive poncho before the trek
- Cash for tipping porters (USD or Peruvian Soles are fine), cooks, horsemen, guides, buying items along the trail, for in town, emergencies, etc. Note: Cash should be in perfect condition (ripped, damaged bills of any kind are NOT accepted anywhere in Peru)
- Swim suit, flip flops, towel for any hot springs you may visit (not every trek/trip has this) if you wish to go
- Sandals
- Torch/flashlight/headlamp (and batteries)
- Insect repellent if you visit Machu Picchu
- Hand sanitizer and face covering (for COVID-19 Pandemic)
- Extra snacks if you wish (beyond snacks provided by us)
- E.g., if you have a favorite protein bar as Cusco doesn’t sell items like this
- First aid kit, including blister protection (though your guide will have one, you may wish to carry one of your own)
- Personal medication and toiletries you might want/need
- Camera, extra memory cards, batteries and solar panel/power bank
- Water bottle or water bladder to refill
- Passport (must be valid 6 months past your final travel dates for most countries)
- Copies of passport (keep copies separate, give to travel friends to keep, etc.)
- Power plug adapter
- Any medications you currently are taking or need/may need
- Small quick-dry pack towels and/or compostable wipes for a quick wipe down at the end of the day.
Please note
When to go and degree of difficulty
March/April to November or the dry season. (Dec to Feb/March or wet season: rainfall and snow can block the pass and cancel the trek though we can arrange the trek during the wet season). This trek is rated as a moderate to challenging (intermediate to advanced) hike considering the high altitudes and length of walking especially on the 2nd Day. It is recommended that you acclimatize in Cusco for at least 3 days before trekking.
Weather on the trek and in Cusco
The weather varies a lot across Peru, having 28 climates and 84 of the world’s 104 ecosystems. Cusco is set high up (3,380 mts, 11,089 ft) in the Andean Mountain Range and the dry season (winter) is from Mar/April to October/November with the wettest part of the year (summer) being December through March. The weather for trekking is pretty much the same year round, with the main difference being the amount of rainfall. During the dry season, most days are dry and clear, but high-altitude mountains always have the potential for rain and/or snow so it is essential to come prepared for all types of weather regardless of the time of year.
The Rainbow trek
Is very high altitude; therefore, the weather can be quite cold and unpredictable. The nights on this trek are usually around 20F/-7C. During the day it can get quite warm if the sun is out; anywhere from 60-75F/15-24C. Keep in mind, if the weather is rainy or cloudy it will be colder, and that the weather can change in an instant, particularly when up at the high-altitude passes. It is often quite windy at the top of the passes as well. As with any high-altitude trek you’ll need to bring plenty of layers to adjust to the fluctuating temperatures and conditions as well as appropriate sun/rain protection.
Cusco weather
Cusco is always very cold at night due to the high altitude. It is regularly around 40F/4.4C at night so bring a nice warm jacket for nighttime walking in town. It is warmer in Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley and Aguas Calientes as these areas are lower altitudes than Cusco and the trek.
The Departure point for the trek
Our meeting point to depart is at San Francisco Square at 05:30 am. There are fixed pickup points to help reduce time going to numerous hotels.
- If you are near Sol Avenue, Cultura Avenue or center of town be ready at 05:20 am.
- In any Hotel in San Blas please wait for us in front of the Church of San Blas for your transfer departing from 5.00 am.
- If you are at Loki Hostal, Niños Hotel, Meloc or Arcopata area please waits at the lobby of the hotel at 5.40 am.
- This information will be clarified by your guides at the briefing the night before the trek.
Left Luggage during your trek
It is best to leave extra luggage in your hotel in Cusco since you will arrive back around 8:00 pm on the 4th day.
Passport
We recommend that you bring your original passport.
Drinkable water on the trail
Bring 2 or 3 Lt of water for Day 1 and 2, there will be hot and cool drinks at mealtimes provided by our staff, we provide boiled water from 2nd Day at lunchtime, bottled water and drinks are sold by locals on Day 1 and 2.
Temperature
- Day temperatures vary from -7 to 22 degrees Celsius
- you must always use layering to manage the temperatures well. Night temperatures, (in the coldest season May to Sept) average -7 to -5 degrees Celsius.
Environmental issues
Please carry your personal rubbish to each campsite where the porters will pack it out. There are toilets at points along the trail and in campsites. At other points please leave the trail on the non-river side at least 30m and burn or bury toilet paper. Please encourage your group and staff to protect the environment.
Tips for the porters, cooks and guides and emergencies
We recommend considering $40-50 this is not mandatory but it is a tradition. You need to have your own money for bottled water or other drinks if wanted along the route. As for all American countries, tipping is common practice and is a part of the experience but not obligatory. Generally, groups prepare a collective tip that is shared out between the porters, trekking crew and cooks on the third night. It is customary to thank the guides with a voluntary tip after the Tour in Ausangate on the fourth day. Please only use this information as a «guideline» requested by some trekkers but don`t let it cause you, or any other person in the group discomfort.
Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend that full Travel Insurance is taken, which includes cover, under certain circumstances, against the loss of deposit or cancellation charges. Please note that no reimbursements are given when cancellations occur or for any unused services.
Price
Price varies by group size. Click on the link to see our rates.
24/7 Assistance
We will contact you as soon as possible, approximately 10 minutes by WhatsApp and up to 5 hours by email.
