5Days AUSANGATE TREK
 & RAINBOW MOUNTAIN

Overview

The 5 days Ausangate trek is one of the most challenging and fantastic hikes that you can find in the Cusco region, the course is physically demanding, it is considered a high altitude hike on (5,000 m.a.s.l /16404 f) the camps are on (4,400 /14435 ft.) the hike will offer you an amazing Puna’s region landscape, where glaciers and colorful mountains and lagoons will surround you, as well as South Americans Camelids will escort you in parts of the hike, the prevailing climate will be cold, passing nights below -0°C / 32°F and during the day the temperature will reach approximately 15°C / 59°F cold wind most of the day but we know that the weather is unpredictable, this adventure will be something different and an unforgettable experience, Peru Ultimate Expedition will provide you with the proper camping equipment and highly trained staff to exceed all your expectations.
let us show you what we know and learned during years of hard work

USEFUL INFORMATION
Start: Hotel Cusco
Final: Hotel Cusco
Style: Trekking
Destination: Ausangate Mountain
Group size: Min. 2 Hikers
General grade: Difficult
Length: 52 km / 32.5 miles
Max Altitude: 5210 meters / 17010 feet
Temperature: Min. 0°C / 32°F
Weather: May to November sunny
Physical rating: good conditions
Frequency: All year

ITINERARY

Day 1
CUSCO - TINKI - PAJCHANTA - QOMERQOCHA

7:00 a.m. our professional mountain tour guide will pick you up from your hotel in Cusco then we travel in our private transportation towards Pajchanta community but before we hike we go to relax at the thermal medicinal waters after it we enjoy the lunch, later we start our 2 and a half hour hike towards to Qomerqocha Lagoon located between huge snow-clad mountains a very nice place for photographs but also is the area for us to have dinner and spend our first camping night.

Hiking length: 6 km /3.7 miles
Walking time: 2 and a half hour
Accommodation: Camping
Meals: lunch and dinner
Pajchanta: 4,320 meters / 14,173 feet
Qomerqocha: 4,590 meters / 15,059 feet

Day 2
QOMERQOCHA - PASO JHAMPA - HUCHUY PHINAYA

This day we wake up between the enormous snow-capped mountains and breathtaking panoramic views, 6:00 a.m. we have an energetic breakfast then we will be ready to start, on the first part we ascend the mountain following an ancient path to a slow pace to Jhampa pass, from where we get a beautiful views of the mountains chain and everything around, then we have to descend to Jhampa Pampa, another nice place to rest and enjoy a delicious lunch, later on we continue downhill for about 2 and a half hours through a deep valley where we will see hundreds of alpacas and llamas until we reach Huchuy Phinaya, where we spend the second camping night.

Hiking length: 12 km /7.5 miles
Walking time: 8 hours
Accommodation: Camping
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, and Snacks
Paso Jhampa: 5,010 meters / 16,437 feet
Huchuy Phinaya: 4,510 meters / 14,793 feet

Day 3
HUCHUY PHINAYA - PALOMANI PASS - AUSANGATE QOCHA - ANANTA

This day we wake up on the foothills of the highest mountain in Cusco region, Ausangate (6,370 meters) and also we pass to the highest point of the entire excursion, known as the Palomani Pass, the breakfast will be served at 6:00 a.m. then we start again with our adventure, we climb towards the Palomani pass, from where the view has an splendid 360° a fantastic place to see the Sacred Mountain (Inca’s time) from a distance and at this area it is very possible to witness the wild vicuñas in their natural habitat over 5 thousand meters, after admiring the beauty of nature, we start to descend to Ausangate Qocha where we take a break and get a hot lunch later on we do the last part a gentle hike to Ananta the next place to spend our third night of this exiting expedition, as every day at about 5:30pm - 6:00 p.m. we enjoy a hot drink until the team finishes preparing the dinner, later while we enjoy it, our tour guide talk about the next day hike.

Hiking length: 10 km / 6.2 miles
Walking time: 7 hours
Accommodation: Camping
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, And Snacks
Palomani Pass: 5,210 meters / 17,010 feet
Ananta: 4,650 meters / 15,252 feet

Day 4
ANANTA - RAINBOW MOUNTAIN - ANANTA - ABRA CHILLKA - YANA QOCHA

Today it could be a crucial day because we visit the busiest and most popular place in Cusco region, but to be the first group on the mountain, we have an early start, our breakfast will served at 5:30 a.m. then we will be ready for next adventure, to get the summit of the Rainbow Mountain it normally takes 2 and a half hours once we get there we have enough time to enjoy this marvelous place, without too many people, this allow us to get the best pictures of the Rainbow mountain to remember it forever finally we return by same way to Ananta camp where our expedition cook will be waiting for us with a delicious lunch, then at approximately 2:00 p.m. we have to continue with the second part of today’s hike towards Yana Qocha camp, while we hike along this stretch the nature will not fail to surprise us, from Chillca step we will get impressive views of colorful lagoons and behind them the Ausangate Mountain, and around 6:30 pm our dinner will be ready later at Yana Qocha camp, end of the day.

Hiking length: 15 km / 9.4 miles
Walking time: 9 hours
Accommodation: Camping
Food: Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks
Rainbow Mountain: 5030 meters / 16,502 feet
Abra Chillka: 4,990 meters / 16,371 feet
Yana Qocha: 4,490 meters / 14,727 feet

Day 5
YANA QOCHA - ABRA ARAPA - UPIS COMMUNITY - CUSCO

Today is the last day of our expedition so the breakfast will be served at 6:00 a.m. then we will be ready to start the last part of Ausangate Trek, the hike to Upis community will take about 4 hours at a slow pace, our plan is to visit the hot springs before lunch, as we consider it an excellent opportunity to relax our body, soul and mind after such an arduous hike, then it is time to enjoy the last lunch, once we finish it, we have to say good bye to our expedition team, then we will be ready to take our private transportation and take the 3 and a half hours journey to return to Cusco city, arriving at 6:00 pm approximately.

End of the excursion

Hiking length: 9 km /5.6 miles
Walking time: 4 hours
Food: Breakfast and lunch
Abra Arapa height: 4,740 meters / 15,551 feet
Upis Community height: 4,415 meters / 14,484 feet

Ausangate Trek plus Rainbow Mountain includes

· Brief information about excursions a day before the start
· Private transportation Cusco - Pajchanta / Upis community - Cusco
· Bilingual trekking specialist tour guide
· Professional chef (1 assistant for a group of more than 8 people)
· Muleteers
· Horsemen to drive the horses that will transport the camping equipment
· Horses to carry the camping equipment
· One emergency horse and an assistant
· Meals: 4 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 4 dinners, snacks (optional vegetarian without additional cost)
· Tents for the dining room and the kitchen
· Chairs and dining table
· 1 tent 4 stations for 2 people and mattresses
· First aid kit
· Oxygen bottle
· Entrance to the Ausangate Natural Park and Rainbow Mountain

This Excursion Do Not Include

X  Sleeping bags (we can rent it)
X  Travel insurance: we recommend that you take out travel insurance during the time of your hike
X  Personal stuff
X  Walking sticks
X  Breakfast on the first day, dinner on the last day
X  Tips to the tour guide and camp stuff

What do I need to bring?

Peru Ultimate Expedition will provide you with a duffle backpack where you can take all your things that are mentioned below

· Long pants
· Sweater and a thick jacket
· Sunglasses
· Personal medications
· Hiking boots
· Canes
· Hat or cap
· Gloves
· Thick socks
· Water bottle
· Raincoat
· Toilet paper
· Sunscreen
· Lipstick
· Appetizers
· Binoculars (optional)
· Flashlight
· Camera with extra battery
· Some cash in small bills (soles)
· A lightweight backpack for route

WE RECOMMEND YOU

It would be better if you come from another high place, such as Arequipa, Puno or Bolivia.

For a good acclimatization you must be in Cusco at least 2 days before the excursion starts

Book a tour that involves physical activity in height (Trekking, Mountain Biking) check our programs

Wear appropriate clothing for treks

Drinking coca tea during the day helps to reduce the effect of altitude (avoid drinking it before sleeping)

Inform us if you have setbacks or delays when arriving in Cusco

Leave your heavy suitcase in Cusco

OPTIONAL SERVICES

These services are not included in our price, If you want to add some of them please let us know at the booking time

· Comfortable feather sleeping bags of 20ºC below zero $30.00 for the entire tour
· Inflatable mats $5.00 for the entire tour
· If you think you have many things you can rent an extra mule, for reasonable price
· If you want to sleep in a single tent you need to add $30.00 for the entire tour
· A pair of canes $15.00 for the entire tour

NOTE

· The Superior Service is Private and the tour will be exclusive
· The Standard Service shares a group with other participants
· The times quoted in this itinerary are approximate
· The guide has power to change the lunch and camps sites depending on how the group progresses
· If you need an extra horse to ride or for your extra rucksacks, you can rent it for a reasonable price every day
· The expedition AUSANGATE TREK is a great adventure that you will never foget
· The rainy season is between (December - March)
· Very Good physical preparation is required
· Average group size 4 people, maximum 10 per group
· We start any day of the year with a minimum of two participants
· If you rent equipment and damage it, you are responsible for the price of replacement / repair. (Please do the right thing)
· We offer a Discount of $20.00 per person for foreign students under 25 years of age who have a student card with a valid expiration date at the time of their excursion and also for regular students between 8 and 17 years old
· This discount will also apply to people from countries belonging to the Andean Community (CAN) Colombia, Bolivia and Ecuador
· Special discounts for Peruvians $30.00 per adult and $35.00 per student
· NO discounts will be applied in the high season months (June, July and August)
· To receive the discount benefit, you need to send us the photo or high quality scan of the card, we also need to get a high quality image or passport scan of the student under 17 and children under 8 years old