Ausangate Trek Tinqui 5 Days/ 4 Nights
Duration
From
Overview
The Ausangate Trek will lead you to one of the highest and most beautiful mountains in southern Peru, while discovering amazing landscapes on this natural Andean level (Puna). You will see a great diversity of mountain formations, which make this region unique in the world, for example, the popular Rainbow Mountain, which formed after the last volcanic activity. Here, the minerals melted in bride colours! Also, you will enjoy the variety of Andean camelids such as the alpaca, llama, Vicuña, and Huanaco (Huanaco is not often seen) in their natural habitat. You will be amazed by the local people, their traditions and colourful clothing, as well as their beliefs and connection with the Apus (god mountains).
This trek is a lifetime experience and a challenging adventure where your expectations of the beauty of this area are beyond your imagination. We invite you to touch the sky!
Full Itinerary
On the first day, you will have a 4-hour bus ride through the wonderful Andes. The views are spectacular! From Tinqui, we take a taxi to the school of Urpis and then start our 2-hour walk to the campsite. In Urpis we will find natural hot springs and enjoy a fantastic view of the Ausangate. You will also be impressed by how local people live their simple lives, wearing traditional clothing and raising llamas and alpacas.
We start our second day very early to enjoy the sunrise over the snow peaks. After breakfast, we embarked on a 3-hour hike to Jatun Puqa Qocha, where we met our cook and enjoyed lunch, taking in the impressive view of the lagoon and the peaks. After teatime, we will continue our hike for another 3 hours, passing by a pass of 4850 meters and being surrounded by many alpaca herds. We then reach our campsite, where our staff will be waiting for us with warm tea and dinner.
Altitude: 4850 meters
Hiking time: 5-6 hours
Total distance: 13 km
After our early breakfast, we began climbing the Apuchata pass (4900 meters), from where we had a breathtaking view over the Ausangate lagoon, which is fed by the melting snow directly from the mountain. As we descend to lake level, we will head uphill again to the Palomani pass (5200 meters), the highest point of the trek. We then continue our trek to Finaya Pampa for our third camp.
Altitude: 5200 meters
Hiking time: 4-5 hours
Total distance: 10 km
After the rigorous climbs over the passes (Tres Picos and Puca Punta), the trek leads us on an easy trail along the Pampa Jutunpata valley, where the river Qampa provides an excellent home for wildlife. We might see vizcachas, vicuñas, and other local animals. After that, we might stop for a short break before heading to the final pass of this hike, the Qampa pass at 5000 meters. Here, from the very top of the mountain, we can see several different colored lakes. We will camp beside Lake Qoma Qocha, the last one on this trek. This lake is almost directly on the opposite side of the Puqa Qocha Lagoon.
Altitude: 5100 meters
Hiking time: 6-7 hours
Total distance: 12 km
After breakfast, we will start a 2,5 hour walk that takes you to the village of Pachanta and its hot springs. Here we soak away all the cold and sore muscles before getting back to Cusco. We have time to try a nice lunch from the local people – if we are lucky, they serve us fresh trout from the nearby lagoons. You can buy traditional handmade souvenirs before we start our 4-hour bus ride back to Cusco.
Altitude: 4400 meters
Hiking time: 2-3 hours
Total distance: 7 km
The times cited in this itinerary are approximate – the walking time depends on the group! The guide can change lunch spots and campsites, depending on the progress of the group. Each guide has its own preferred route, and it might not exactly correspond to the one described here.
The Ausangate region is very high, and you're also close to a snow-covered massif. Temperatures are cold and can fall far below freezing at night. You should travel well prepared for cold temperatures. Rent or bring sleeping bags for temperatures below freezing (minus 10 degrees Celsius or more). If required, riding horses or horses to carry luggage can be arranged at a reasonable daily rate.
Included/Exclude
- Pre-Trek Briefing
- 24-hour support from the company owner
- Pick-up from your hotel on the morning of the trek departure
- Public transport from Cusco to Tinqui (the trailhead) and private transport returning from Phinaya at the end of the trek
- Entrance ticket to the Ausangate mountain
- English/Quechua/Spanish speaking professional guide (you will have an assistant guide for groups of over eight people)
- Tents – 2 people in a 4-person tent, which allows for greater comfort and also storage of backpacks. All tents were purchased in 2015
- Inflatable mattresses
- Cook and Cooking equipment (assistants are provided for larger groups)
- Toilet tent
- Meals as indicated in the itinerary (optional vegetarian food). Our professional cooks prepare meals that incorporate elements of both the Western and the traditional diet
- Peruvian delicacies (Please communicate with your guide/cook during the trek if you have a preference for a specific type of dish). Salads, if served, are washed in boiled water
- Horses (for equipment and personal items), including horsemen. They carry camping equipment, food, and kitchen utensils. We provide duffel bags at your briefing for your personal items (up to 6 kg per person). If you wish to take more, you can hire an extra mule at US$15.00 per day
- 1 emergency horse that can be ridden if you are feeling ill or if you are a little slower
- Dining tent with camp tables and chairs & kitchen tent for the cook to prepare meals
- Tents for our staff to sleep in
- First-aid kit including an emergency oxygen bottle
- Breakfast on the first morning
- Sleeping bags (rentable from us for US$5.00 per day) are required for this trek, specifically those rated minus 10 or warmer.
- Tips for the guides, cooks, and porters
- Additional horses for passenger luggage. If there are any substantial items or backpacks, passengers will need to hire an extra mule at US$15 per day.
- Insurance of any kind
Recommendations, what to bring
- A light day pack with a change of clothes for the whole period of the trek – prepare for a vast range of temperature changes.
- Rain gear (jacket and pants if available) or rain poncho. Plastic ponchos can be bought for about US$1.00 in Cusco.
- Strong footwear, such as waterproof trekking boots, is recommended (extra socks are a must!)
- Sandals or plastic slip-on thongs are also good to give your feet a chance to breathe in the evenings.
- Warm clothes, including a jacket, fleece, gloves, and a scarf
- Thermal clothing is also recommended, especially for sleeping
- Sleeping bag
- Torch/ Flashlight and spare batteries
- Camera, films, and batteries (batteries consume more quickly under cold conditions)
- A hat or cap to protect you from the sun, rain, and cold
- Sunblock
- After-sun cream or hydrating cream for the face and body
- Toilet paper
- Snacks: biscuits, energy bars, chocolate, raw fruits, muesli, etc.
- Non-disposable canteen (Nalgene type) and water for the first morning
- We advise you to bring water sterilising tablets in case you collect water from streams
- Your own medical kit with any special medications that you might require
- Small towel or sarong
- Bathers/swimsuit (if you intend to swim in hot springs)
- extra money (in Soles)
- Walking sticks or poles
- Binoculars (if you have them)
Optional
- Sleeping Bag suitable for -10 °C. (US$5.00 per day)
- Deluxe Sleeping Bag suitable for -15 °C. (US$7.00 per day) RECOMMENDED FOR THIS TREK!!!
- Walking sticks, lightweight aluminium (US$1.00 per day) (two sticks are recommended for challenging hikes)
- Mule – US$15.00 per day: Most people carry their own backpack with up to 5-10kg. However, if you think you will have too much luggage and want a very light backpack (e.g., just a camera and water), then you should hire an extra mule.
What we need when you make a reservation
- Full name as it is written in your passport (please include a scan copy of your passport)
- Passport number
- Nationality
- Date of birth
- Tour departure date
- Send a deposit of 60% of the total price of your tour. (The remainder of your balance will be due upon your arrival in Cusco.) Payment can be made via Western Union, PayPal, or ABN AMRO Bank in Holland, or securely and directly through our website by selecting your desired tour and clicking the BOOK NOW button.
Prices
- Group price US$600.00 per person, based on 2 – 4 people.
- For over five people, the cost is US$550 per person.
“With every tour you book with Green Peru Adventures, you can request a free walking tour of Cusco’s mysterious and historical city, accompanied by one of our professional guides, who speaks several languages.”
We are looking forward to creating an unforgettable experience for you.
