Información útil
- Lugares a visitar
- Cusco
- Altitud
- 2100 masl = 6890 feet
- Tamaño del grupo
- Maximo 10 Paxs
- Dificultad
- Media
Description
If you are an adventurous hiker and love to go off the beaten track to discover the amazing natural beauty and visit small communities, don’t miss this experience! The Ausangate to Rainbow Mountain hike is one of the best treks in Peru and will take you through some of the most breathtaking landscapes of the Andes.
Not only will you be amazed by the gigantic Ausangate mountain and the surrounding landscape, but you will also visit the mountain of colors (Vinicunca), an extraordinary creation of mother nature. During this incredible adventure, you will observe glaciers, crystal clear lagoons, and herds of llamas, alpacas, and other animals.
Itinerary
DAY 1: CUSCO – TINQUI – UPIS
We start by picking you up from your respective accommodation in Cusco at 4:00 am. We then travel in our private transportation to the village of Tinqui to begin our trek through the Rainbow Mountains of Peru. We will see the impressive Vilcanota mountain range and pass through several traditional Andean villages along the way and have time to take some photos. When we arrive in Tinqui, we will have a delicious breakfast prepared by our cook.
Then, our horsemen will organize all the group’s equipment and backpacks on the horses and we will begin our trek, start our journey through the farming communities and enjoy the breathtaking views of the mountains. We will hike for about 3 hours and then we will have 1 hour for lunch, after lunch we will continue for 2 hours to reach Upis 4,100 m. / 13,448 ft. There we will have the opportunity to soak in the local hot springs before dinner and camping for the night.
DAY 2: UPIS – ARAPA PASS – PUCACOCHA
After a great breakfast, we are ready to leave our camp and begin our trek, we will climb to Arapa Pass (4,850 m. / 15,908 ft.). From this point we will enjoy the contrast between the dry desert-like hills and the impressive snowy views of Ausangate and Pucaccocha mountain, this area also has three beautiful lagoons with shades of reds, greens and turquoises (Pucacocha, Hatun Pucacocha and Qomercocha). Our second camp is near the Ausangate glacier on the rainbow mountain.
DAY 3: PUCACOCHA – AUSANGATE PASS – MINASNIYOC PASS – SURITE COCHA
Today, waking up with a cup of coca tea, will be one of the most beautiful days of the trek and we will see the Rainbow Mountain in the distance. The day begins with a 1:30 minute climb to the Ausangate pass. At this pass we will see red mountains and also have the opportunity to see vicuñas, chinchillas and alpacas. After enjoying the pass, we will descend for 1:30 minutes until we reach the village of Alccatauri. During our time in the village, we will give offerings of coca leaves, this is extremely valuable because this precious Peruvian treasure cannot be cultivated in this climate.
After this incomparable experience, we will walk 30 minutes uphill to our lunch spot in a rustic lodge. After a satisfying lunch, we will begin our journey uphill to the second pass. After 1 hour, we will follow the trail to the Minasniyuq pass. Here we will have our first views
of the colorful mountains. At this pass, we will make offerings to Pacha Mama. The rest of the day is a 1-hour hike downhill to our campsite, Surine Cocha.
DAY 4: SURITE COCHA – COLORFUL MOUNTAIN -QUESIUNO – CUSCO
After breakfast, we will climb gradually for 2 hours until we reach the famous Rainbow Mountain (5,020 m. / 16,469 ft.). Your guide will show you the best places to get the perfect photos of these incredible mountains and the other surrounding mountains.
Your guide will explain what makes these mountains so unique, they are composed of various minerals, which produce different colors of stone striations, this is not only one of the most impressive places in Peru and South America, but this type of mountains is only seen in one other country in the world, China. After taking pictures and enjoying the view, we will continue walking until we reach the village of Quesiuno. This is a 2:30 minute downhill hike and we will have lunch there.
Our transportation will be waiting to pick us up in this village after lunch, then we will drive for 3:30 minutes back to Cusco. After one of the most rewarding experiences of your life.
Includes
INCLUDES
- Bilingual and certified tour guide.
- A briefing about the trek with your guide the day before.
- Pick up from your accommodation in Cusco
- Private transportation to the starting point of the hike
- Andean ceremony, offering to mother earth at Ausangate Pass
- Entrance fees to Ausangate Park, Rainbow Mountain and Red Valley
- A duffel bag where you can put inside 07 kilos of your personal belongings (the horses or mules will carry it).
- Horses or mules and muleteer to carry camping equipment and cooking utensils.
- Private transportation back to Cusco.
- Four season tents (2 trekkers in each one) you will have enough space to put things inside.
- Camping equipment (kitchen tent, portable chairs and table)
- Mattresses
- 3 meals per day during the trek (food served buffet style)
- Professional cook
- Snack for each day of trekking
- Boiled water to drink during the trek
- Availability of meals according to your preference (vegetarian, vegan, gluten free, vegetarian, etc.)
- First aid kit, with oxygen balloon.
- One Survivor T – shirt, for each member of the group.
NOT INCLUDED
- Extra expenses if you want to buy things along the way.
- Sleeping bags (you can rent with us, which cost $20 for a professional one, which can withstand up to -15 degrees Celsius or 5 degrees Fahrenheit)
- Walking poles (you can rent with us, which cost 20 dollars for a professional pair of black diamonds)
- Mineral water (you can buy a bottle of mineral water at some campsites)
- First breakfast and last lunch and dinner
- Extra horse or mule to carry extra backpacks or to ride, each horse costs ($150 per Horse or mule)
- Tips for equipment (Not mandatory, but if you wish to do so you are welcome).
WHAT TO BRING:
WHAT TO BRING:
- Original passport.
- A valid student card if you are booking this trek as a student (25 years old maximum)
- Travel insurance card (you must inform the name of your travel insurance company and your travel insurance number)
- Rain coat or rain poncho
- Cold clothes (For the first and second day)
- T-shirts and trekking pants
- Waterproof hiking shoes
- Water bottle
- Flashing light
- Towel
- Toilet paper
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses
- Caps or Hats
- Gloves (for the first and second day)
- Insect repellent (30% DEET recommended)
- Sleeping bags
- Walking sticks
