Ausangate Trekking 7days/6Nights

Season : April-November
Departure Dates: On Request
Prices Start at : $880.00 USD
Minimum :  2 Trekkers

Inca Trail Availability:

The Inca Trail is subject to availability. You can check the official number of spaces on the Inca Trail for the whole year 2016.

TOURIST INFORMATION AUSANGATE TREK:

Machu Picchu Trekking - Tour Operator.- presents Because of  Ausangate, we are here, we all exist.  We give him offerings and he gives us everything in return.  Ausangate takes care of  everything, animals and people.  Thanks to Ausangate, there are plenty of  animals and food, because we make offerings to him. Ausangate has always been like that. He gave us all those things.  He gives us potatoes and chuño.  In ancient times, the shamans gave the best offerings, k’intus to the Apus.

In the Andes of  Southern Peru, the high mountains are considered the most powerful of  the traditional deities.  Ausangate is the highest and the most respected mountain worshipped from Cuzco to Lake Titicaca - Puno.  From its snows, sacred waters flow past Machu Picchu to the Amazon in Peru.

Quechua people who live on the slopes of  Ausangate trekking have maintained their way of  life largely unknown to the outside world and in close relationship to the mountain, much as their ancestors did before them. Ausangate trek, at 20,800’ is a sacred peak or Apu, a powerful mountain inspiring the lives and rituals of  the Quechua.

Qoyllulr Rit’I, the largest pilgrimage in Peru, draws thousands of  people to Ausangate trek each year to make offerings and in return to receive the mountain’s blessings. Well, I grew up looking at Ausangate Trek, since my childhood knowing that it is the most important peak that all the people watch for signs to find out what is going on.  Is the snow too deep? Is the snow too low?  We observe the relationship of  the sun’s direction in specific times of  the year, like this.  But most important it is the Apu of  the Cusco region, and the owner of this entire region Cusco - Peru.

Ausangate Trekking 7days and 6Nights

Note: This is a very difficult trek of high-altitude. You MUST allow yourself several days of acclimitazation.

Trekking Day 1: Cusco - Tinki

We leave the city of Cusco by local bus and drive along the Cusco – Puerto Maldonado truck road in the direction of Tinki (3,800 m/12,467 ft). On the way we stop in Urcos to take some pictures of the colorful market. We then go on to Cattca, an agricultural and cattle raising community where we can appreciate the region's spectacular views. After passing through Ausangate, the capital of the region, we arrive in Tinki after approximately six hours in the bus. In Tinki, we sleep in a local lodge and start the trek the next morning.

Trekking Day 2: Tinki - Pacchanta – Qomerqocha Lagoon

After breakfast, we spend some time visiting the Tinki public school. We will meet the children of the neighboring communities that study at this school and we will give them some useful presents such as notebooks or pencils, things that are highly appreciated. Then we leave Tinki and start a 2.5 hour walk towards Pacchanta (4,100 m/13,451 ft) where we stop for lunch.

Pacchanta is a rural community and is well-known for its hot springs. There you have the option to take a dip while enjoying the views of Ausangate Mountain. In the afternoon we continue our hike through a slight climb up the Pacchanta Valley, where llamas and alpacas can be spotted. When we reach Laguna Qomercocha, we will have a nice dinner and spend the night. Our campsite will be set in a spectacular spot with amazing views of the Ausangate, Santa Catalina, Maria Huamantiqlla, Pucapunta, and Colquecruz snow-capped mountains.

Trekking Day 3: Qomerqocha Lagoon – Yanamayo

After breakfast we leave around 7:00 AM to begin a four-hour hike to the first mountain pass of our trek, Abra de Q´ampa (5,000 m/16,404 ft). We then descend towards the Ticllaqocha Lagoons, a beautiful group of small turquoise lagoons where we will have lunch. In the afternoon we continue our hike for an additional two to three hours. We will reach Yanamayo, a beautiful valley shadowed by the Tres Picos, the Colquecruz and the Pucapunta peaks.

Trekking Day 4: Yanamayo – Condorpaso

We leave the camp after breakfast and start a gradual climb up towards Yanaqocha (Black Lagoon). The name is referring to the dark color of its waters. In this area the soil is volcanic and varies from dark red to black. Moraines, which are evidence of glacial activitiy, can also be found in this area. We will traverse the Yanaqocha pass (5,050 m/16,568 ft) to discover a beautiful valley filled with vibrant mountains and amazing lagoons. After crossing Yanaqocha, we ascend to our next mountain pass (5,100 m/16,732 ft). An hour after the last mountain pass, we will arrive at our campsite Condorpaso.

Trekking Day 5: Condorpaso - Lake Sibinacocha

After breakfast, we begin a two-hour climb up to the Abra del Condor pass (5,200 m/17,060 ft), which is the highest point of our trek. From the pass, we enjoy spectacular views of the Vilcanota mountain range and Lake Sibinacocha. If we're lucky, we'll also see vicuñas. Then we continue hiking for three hours. During that time, we will cross another mountain pass and descend into the valley of the source of Lake Sibinacocha. We will camp next to a lagoon where an impressive glacier stands and nourishes the lake. The lagoon boasts of its vast bio-diversity; we will be able to spot Andean coots, geese, and ducks.

Trekking Day 6: Source of Lake Sibinacocha – Ccascana

On day six, we depart early for a three-hour long walk along the shores of the Lake Sibinacocha. We will arrive at the Yayamari community, which lies next to the mountain of the same name. Yayamari is also an impressive peak that overlooks the lake (5,500 m/18,044 ft). Then we cross a pampa where we will likely see hundreds of llamas, alpacas and maybe even more vicuñas. The day ends at Abra Ccascana (5,000 m/16,404 ft). This campsite is surrounded by small rural communities and snow-capped peaks.

Trekking Day 7: Ccascana – Phinaya Cusco

After our breakfast, we leave Ccascana and start hiking for three and a half hours towards Phinaya for lunch. Phinaya is a small Andean community with a beautiful little church and no motorized vehicles. In the afternoon, we drive back to Cusco, where we expect to arrive after sunset.

Campsites are subject to change according to our guide’s professional discretion and hiker progress.

Trek Price Includes:

• Professional, bilingual (English and Spanish) tour guide
• Collection from your hotel on Day 1 to the start of the trail
• Return transportation to your hotel
• Spacious, personal tents
• Sleeping mat
• Excellent meals (6 breakfast, 6 lunch, 6 dinner)
• Horsemen and mules (to carry equipment and 8 kg of your personal items)
• First aid kit including emergency oxygen bottle

What You Need to Bring:

• Original passport
• Travel insurance (strongly recommended but not required)
• Sleeping bag (also can be rented from us)
• Walking boots
• Waterproof jacket/rain poncho
• Warm jacket
• Hat and gloves
• T-shirts
• Comfortable trousers
• Sun hat
• Sun protection cream (SPF 35 or higher recommended)
• Insect repellent
• Re-usable plastic or metal water container or a hydration pack such as Camelbak
• Water (only for first 4 hours of trek, then we will provide you with previously-boiled drinking water throughout the trek)
• Toiletries (including toilet paper)
• Personal medication
• Camera and film
• Torch with spare batteries (headlamps are useful)
• Cash in local currency (Peruvian Soles) for tips for porters

Optional Items to Bring:

• Shorts
• Walking sticks or trekking poles. Trekking poles used on this trail are required to have rubber tips.
• Bandages or moleskin
• Bathing suit for hot springs
• Sandals

Optional Services (Not Included):

• Sleeping bag rental, $30
• Breakfast on Day 1 and lunch/dinner on Day 7
• 1 extra Horse to carry personal items, $30 per day
• Walking sticks, $12.00

Prices for 2013:

Cusco Native is a company comprised of certified and licensed local tour guides. All tours booked with Cusco Native are led and staffed by Cusco Native employees. We will never pass you onto another tour company for your trek. We are a local company with professional employees and guides who are knowledgeable in all of the main (like the Inca Trail) and alternative (Lares to Machu Picchu) treks.

Cancellations

In the event of a cancellation we need to be informed in writing. Cancellation charges plus forfeiture of the non-refundable deposit will be applied as shown below calculated from the day written notification is received by Cusco Native.

Our cancellation table is as follows:

In the event of partial cancellations, the remaining passenger may have to pay any remaining charges (e.g. single room supplements or double-occupancy).