INFORMATION
-
Cusco
-
Every Day
-
8
-
60
-
2 - 15
OVERVIEW
The Private Ausangate & Rainbow Mountain Trek is a thrilling 4-day adventure that takes you through some of Peru’s most stunning landscapes. This trek offers breathtaking views of the snow-capped Ausangate Mountain and the vibrant Rainbow Mountain.
You’ll experience the rich culture of local Andean communities, trek through high-altitude terrains, and explore colorful lakes and valleys. The trek is ideal for those seeking a unique and challenging experience away from the crowds.
Itinerary
Our trekking adventure to Apu Ausangate and Rainbow Mountain begins early in the morning. We will pick you up from your hotel in Cusco at 6:00 am. We will then drive for approximately 4 hours through the Urco Pass, located in the southern part of Cusco. Along the way we will admire incredible views of the surrounding valleys and snowcapped mountains. We will stop for a delicious lunch in the little village of Tinqui and then continue our journey, passing by beautiful farmlands with traditional houses and lots of grazing alpacas and llamas. After driving through the Upis Pass (4435m/ 14,550ft) we finally arrive at the hot springs of Upis. We will set up our camp and relax for about 2 hours in the hot pools, appreciating the tranquility of this incredible place with stunning mountain views. In the evening, we will enjoy a freshly prepared dinner by our local chef and stay overnight at the campsite.
On day 2, we will wake you up with a hot cup of coca tea or coffee. We will enjoy a nutricious breakfast together with the team, being surrounded by beautiful snow capped mountains. We will begin our hike through the high Andes Mountains and, if we are lucky, we can even observe condors flying nearby! Our local guide teach us more about the mountains, flora and fauna during the trek. As we begin to descend, we will see the beautiful Ausangate Lake. The landscape is beautiful, surrounded by forests of queuñas (Polylepis) and located between large mountains that belong to the Vilcanota mountain range. Later, we will arrive at our campsite and have a light afternoon snack. We will have enough time to rest and enjoy the wonderful natural landscape. In the evening, we will have a delicious dinner prepared by our chef and sleep well.
After a large breakfast, we continue our hike along the high Andes Mountains, ascending towards the pass of Abra Puca. We will pass by incredible turquoise lakes and face the magnificent Apu Ausangate. Our local guide will explain more about the history of the mountain and its spiritual meaning. Ausangate is the fourth highest peak in Peru (6,372m/ 20,905ft) and a powerful mountain spirit to the Quechua population of the Southern Andes. It is considered the source of all good things and the owner of the entire Cusco region. We continue our hike towards the Rainbow Mountain valley and enjoy an incredible view of the Chilca valley. We will descend gradually for 2 hours until we reach our lunch spot in Anantapata (4,400m/ 14,435ft). There, we will have enough time to rest and enjoy our delicious meal, and then continue uphill towards the Pitumarca pass (5,050m/ 16,570ft). We will go downhill for 20 minutes towards Lake Yanacocha. We will enjoy the beautiful landscape here and prepare our camp for the night. Later, we will take a short excursion to famous Rainbow Mountain to see the incredible evening colors of the red valley. After spending some time there, we will return to our camp (approx. 45 minutes) and have dinner.
We will begin our last day very early, waking up at 4:30 am for breakfast. We will return to the Rainbow Mountain to watch the sunrise there. Our local guide will share with us his knowledge about this incredible place. We will then start with the final part of our journey, descending towards the Red Valley. You will be surprised by the breathtaking beauty and immensity of this valley, especially because only few people visit this valley. After visiting a lookout, we will hike downhill for approximately one hour, passing by traditional houses and grazing llamas and alpacas. We will have our final lunch together and then take our private transport back to Cusco. After a 4-hour drive, you will be dropped off at your hotel in Cusco.
📋 Included
🏕️ Accommodation
- Instead of sleeping in small tents, we set up our 4-person tent for 2 persons for greater comfort.
🍽️ Meals
- Meals as indicated in the itinerary (3x Breakfast, 4x Lunch, 3x Dinner).
- Professional cook and cooking equipment. Dining tent and kitchen tent for the cook to freshly prepare your meals.
- Meals can be accommodated for dietary requirements such as vegetarian or vegan. Please let us know in advance if you have specific preferences.
- A hot cup of Coca Tea every morning.
- Boiled water provided for drinking at the campsites (to be carried in your own reusable water bottle).
🚗 Transportation
- Private transportation from your hotel in Cusco to the starting point of your trek.
- Private transportation back to your hotel in Cusco (on day 4).
🧭 Local Guides & Equipment
- English/Spanish speaking professional guide, plus an assistant guide for groups over 12.
- Horse and horsemen to carry camping equipment, food, and kitchen utensils.
- All our trekking guides have a minimum of 3 years of guiding experience and are certified. They carry a first aid kit and an extra oxygen bottle in case of emergencies.
- We provide duffel bags at your briefing for personal items (up to 5kg per person).
- Sleeping bag included.
🎟️ Tickets & Briefing
- Briefing: You will have a meeting with your guide in our office to go over all the details regarding your tour. The orientation will be between 17:00, 18:00 or 19:00 at our office in Cusco the day before departure.
- Entrance to Rainbow Mountain Vinicunca included.
- Entrance fee of Ausangate included.
- Ticket to Hot Springs of Upis included.
❌ What Is Not Included?
- Trekking poles (additional $20.00 per person).
- Personal expenses.
- Day 1 breakfast, Day 4 final dinner.
- Tips for our staff. While not obligatory, tips are appreciated if you wish to thank them for their wonderful service in the mountains.
FAQ
The best way to prepare yourself for this trekking experience is easy: spend at least 2 to 3 days at a high-altitude place like Cusco, so your body gets used to the high altitude. If you have already been to a high-altitude destination before arriving in Cusco, we still recommend you spend at least one full day in Cusco to rest, recuperate from your trip, and enjoy the beautiful views of the city before your trek.
Additionally, taking good care of your body helps deal with the extra pressures that altitude creates. We recommend you to eat healthy food, drink lots of water, and stay away from alcohol. Chewing coca leaves or drinking coca tea helps alleviate any discomfort associated with the altitude.
Congratulations, adventure awaits you! We sent you a confirmation e-mail with more details about your trekking adventure. The day before your departure at 17:00, 18:00 or 19:00, please stop by our office located in Portal Espinar Nro 163 to receive the informative briefing. Our professional guide will tell you everything about your trek and clarify any last questions you may have.
We serve a variety of local superfoods and traditional Peruvian dishes with rice, chicken, beef, salad, potatoes, vegetables, delicious soups, and fruits. Everything will be freshly prepared by our local chef.
We have a lot of vegetarian travellers, and our cooks have some great options for them to enjoy their meals. We can cater to all types of dietary requests with adequate preparation and clear communication.
Yes, you can leave extra luggage in our office free of charge.
The minimum group size is 2 people and the maximum group size is 15 people. There will be an assistant guide for groups over 12 people.
Please feel free to review our Terms & Conditions and let us know if you have any questions or requests regarding our cancellation policy, which is available on our website.
