To start our 5 day Ausangate trek and Rainbow Mountain, our expert trekking guide will pick you up at 5 am from your hotel in Cusco and then, we will drive in our private vehicle for approximately 3.5 hours to the trailhead of Ausangate trek. Along the journey, we will pass through different colorful villages following the highway to Puerto Maldonado. After driving for 3 hours, we stop at Tinque (3815mt. 12513ft.) to use a bathroom and buy something we forgot to buy in Cusco and then continue driving for 30 minutes on a dirt road to reach the beginning of the trail.
Upon arrival to the trailhead, called Upis Village (4,350mt./ 14,272ft.). We will have time to organize our daypack and duffle bags while our trekking cook prepares the breakfast and then, we will enjoy the first breakfast with spectacular views of the Vilcanota mountain range and Apu Ausangate peak (sacred mountain) located just in front of our trekking trail, while our muleteers organize and pack the equipment for the hike. After breakfast, before starting the hike, the tour guide will introduce you to the staff of the company that will be on the Ausanagte Circuit with you.
Our trek to Ausangate begins on a small path that winds through the Andean potato and grain fields. The first three hours of hiking run over hilly pampa crossing some streaming and slight rise where you see some Andean row of houses built like in their ancestor’s time. As we hike through the spiky ichu grass of the pampa, we will have a chance to see some Andean gulls hovering on the wind, also we hike nearby of small ponds around Upis which is a perfect habitat for the Andean bird. Just before the community of Upis (4,600mt. / 15,088ft.), we will enter by broad valley heading towards the glacier where we’ll enjoy our lunch just right at the base of Ausangate Mountain (6,372 m. 20,900 ft.).
After eating the delicious lunch, we will continue ascending for 2 hours to Arapa Pass (4,800mt./15,748ft.). At the top of the pass, we will have stunning views of eroded mountains, highland valleys and wonderful view of the Ausangate Mountain behind it. From the pass, we trek across an arid hillside for 20 minutes and then we descend, sometimes quite steeply, for 1 hour and 30 minutes to get to the first campsite, called Yana Qocha (4,650 mt / 15,256 ft.), which is a place with amazing views around of the Ausangate mountain. Once we get to the Yana Qocha camp, we will have free time to take a rest or walk around the campsite before the happy hours (afternoon tea), followed by dinner. Durant the dinner, the trek leader will tell you the scheduled wake time for the next day.
Walking Distance – 15km
Hiking Time: (4 – 5 hours)
Campsite Elevation 4600m= 15091ft
Difficulty: Moderate
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner