The Sacred Paths of Ausangate

Overview

Regions: Cusco

Tour Type: Adventure, Archaeological

Details

Ausangate according to the regional primitive languages means “The one that brings everyone together”

With an elevation of 6,384 m /20944 ft, located to the southeast of Cusco City

The region is inhabited by llama, alpaca and vicuña herding communities, and constitutes one of the few remaining pastoralist societies in the world. High mountain trails are used by these herders to trade with agricultural communities at lower elevations. Currently, one of these trails, “the road of the Apu Ausangate”, is one of the most renowned treks in Peru.

In 2019 the Peruvian government stablished it as a Conservation Regional Area to protect the Andes Puna ecoregion of Cusco.

The area has four major geological features, the Andean uplift formed by granite mountains, the hanging glaciers and glacial erosional valleys, the Permian formation with its singular colors: red, ochre, and turquoise and the Cretaceous, limestone forests.

Nowadays became one of the most beautiful treks in South America, still not that crowded by tourists, Inkati Peru is directly connected with the culture and people of these areas who are our main partners during our operations.

Be ready for your lifetime experience.

Day by Day

With a very early start, we will begin the four-hour drive from Cusco to Kairahuire, stopping enroute for breakfast in a local restaurant. Kairahuire is the beginning of our trek, and after a forty-minute hike we arrive at the stunning and unique Rainbow Mountain ranges, to enjoy the experience of walking on this multicoloured mountain range. We spend some time here enjoying the scenery, then continue to Huarmisaya for lunch, where we’ll camp for the night under the stars in the rolling, rugged mountains.

Total distance hiking: 8 km / 5.5 ml

We get the cam site around 4:30 pm

This day we start at 8:00 am with a nice uphill to Pucaqocha pass (4930/ 16 174), amazing views beautiful landscapes until we get in Huchuypukacocha (4760/ 15 616) for our lunch, along the way we see a lot of Alpacas and high chances to see vicuñas around the Ausangate Mountain, then we continue to Pukacocha and then to Ausangatecocha (4640/ 15 223)

Total distance: 9.4 km / 5.4 ml

We get the camp site around 4 pm

Today is the most challenging day, because of the altitude and because of the distance as well.

Your trek will begin early at 7:00 am and you’ll begin by passing herds of alpacas and llama, always keeping the view of Ausangate Mountain on your left.

After reaching the top of the pass you’ll be rewarded with breath-taking views across the southeast mountain range.

This is a great location to spot solitary condors and marvel at their enormous size! After descending back down you follow the Jampamayo River through the small village of Jampa before arriving at your camp site.

Total Distance: 12km/ 7.5 Miles

We get around 4 pm to camp site

Today is a slightly easier trek as you follow the Hampa valley.

The valley is a great place to spot wildlife, so look out for vizcacha, vicuñas and bobcats. Another pass (5000 m.) awards with amazing views of other mountains and landscapes.

From the pass you can see several lovely colored lakes glimmering in the sunlight. You then descend down the other side and camp beside the Ninaparayoq lake.(4600/15200)

Distance: 12 km / 7.5 miles

Today is very easy and relaxing day, after some three or four hours of hike we get to Pacchanta where our crew will prepare for us the famous pachamanca (Andean barbeque), after lunch free time to relax in the hot springs.

After some time there, we´ll get back to Cusco.

End of our services.

Distance: 5.5 miles or 8 km

Driving time: 3 and a half hours approx.

We get in Cusco around 7:00 pm

General Information

Transportation.
All meals.
Camping Equipment.
Tickets to all sites.
Bilingual guide in Spanish and English.

Sustainable Travel

Low-impact Tours

On this program we strive to preserve and protect delicate routes and natural habitats in order to not enhance mass-tourism in remote areas and minimise the effects of our presence in such areas. We therefore choose routes for the program that are specific for Tourism and trekking and avoid exploring remote places.

Cultural Awareness

It generally works best when there is smaller scale, slower growth, and greater involvement by our local communities in all steps of the tourism development process. We work mainly with small business and communities ensuring that most of the profit benefits actual people, and not just big organizations.