AUSANGATE TREK

DURATION: 6 Days / 5 nights.
 

DIFFICULTY DEGREE : Challenging. (We recommended you 2 days for a cclimatazion.) 

Information about Ausangate

Ausangate (Quechua: Awsanqati) is a mountain of the Cordillera Blanca range in the Andes of Peru. With an altitude of 6,384 metres it is situated around 100 kilometres southeast of Cusco.

The mountain has significance in Incan mythology. Every year on the north side of Ausangate the feast of Qoyllur Rit'i (Quechua: "snow star") is celebrated before the feast of the Corpus Christi, during which thousands of Quechua pilgrims attend.

The mountain was ascended by Heinrich Harrer in 1953.
 

ITINERARY:

Day 1: Cusco to Tinki

We leave the city of Cusco in a private transportation, and drive along the Cusco – Puerto Maldonado highway in the direction of Tinki (3800m/12464ft). On the way we stop in Urcos, where we may visit a beautiful lake with the same name. We then go on to Cattca, an agricultural and cattle raising community where we can appreciate the region’s spectacular views and finally pass through Ocongate, capital of the district with the same name and only half an hour away from our destination. After an approximated 6-hour drive, we arrive in Tinki, where we sleep in a local lodge and start the trek the next morning.
Meals: L, D

Day 2: Tinki to Upis

We leave Tinki initiating a slight climb that crosses through puna (dry, high area with little vegetation) to then arrive at our lunch spot after a three-hour walk. From here we already have beautiful views of the sacred Ausangate peak (6372m/20900ft). After lunch, we continue walking for another hour and a half to reach our campsite in Upis at 4400m/14432ft. From this point, we may appreciate fabulous views of all the snow peaks in the area. We camp and dine directly in front of Ausangate.
Meals: B, L, D

Day 3: Upis to Ausangatecocha

After breakfast, we continue our hike ascending for two hours to reach La Arapa pass (4850m/15908ft). We then descend to our lunch spot, crossing an area of falcons and ¨vizcachas¨ or Andean rodents. This area also boasts three beautiful lakes with tones of reds, greens, and turquoises (Pukacocha, HatunPukacocha, and Qomerqocha) and spectacular views of the surrounding snow peaks. After lunch, we continue on a long and slow ascent that will take us, after about two hours, to the second mountain pass, the Abra de Apuchata (4900m/16072ft), from which we descend, for another half an hour, towards our campsite at Ausangatecocha (4440m/14563ft).
Meals: B, L, D

Day 4: Ausangateqocha to Q´ampa

Today, we depart early to climb for two hours towards the third mountain pass, the Abra de Palomani (5200m/17056ft). This is the highest part of the entire hike, from which we then descend for another 2h through an area of llamas, alpacas and ¨vizcachas¨ to reach Pampacancha (4050m/13284ft). From here we follow an uphill trail until that leads us to our campsite in Q´ampa (4300m/14104ft). Along this easy 3-hour climb we may have the chance to spot llamas, alpacas, and maybe even pumas. We will camp and dine at this place.
Meals: B, L, D

Day 5: Q´ampa to Pacchanta

We climb for 2 hours until we reach Q´ampa mountain pass (5000m/16400ft), where we may have the chance to spot the Andean deer. From here we descend towards the Qomerqocha lagoon to finally arrive at Pacchanta (4100m/13448ft) after an approximated five-hour walk. Pacchanta is a little community with attractive hot springs where we can enjoy a relaxing dip. We camp and spend the night at this place.
Meals: B, L, D

Day 6: Pacchanta to Tinki

We leave Pacchanta and start to walk our way back to Tinki, which will take approximately 2 hours. Once in Tinki, we board a private transportation that will take us back to the city of Cusco, where we estimate to arrive after nightfall.
Meals: B, L

What is included:

• Collection from your hotel in the morning and transfer in private bus to Tinki, starting point of the trek .
• Personal tents: 2 people in each 4-people-capacity tent, to allow for higher comfort and a safe keeping of backpacks. Our tents are 3-season, 2009-new, highly maintained to ensure an excellent performance in field.
• One foamy sleeping pad per person
• Dining tent with tables and chairs
• Kitchen tent
• English speaking professional guide (2 guides for groups over 8 people)
• Cook and cooking equipment
• Horsemen and horses (to carry tents, food and cooking equipment)
• 1 emergency horse every 6 persons
• Accommodation for our guides, cook and horsemen
• Meals (05B, 06L, 05D + daily morning snack + daily tea service except last day)
• Others: hot water every morning and evening for washing purposes / boiled water to fill in your water bottle every morning and night, and at lunch time if requested with enough time ahead
• First-aid kit
• Private transportation from Tinki to Cusco, including transfer to your hotel in Cusco

Not included:

• Breakfast on the first day
• Dinner on the last day
• Sleeping bag. ( you can rent with us )

OPTIONAL SERVICES TO BE HIRED

• An extra Horse to carry you US$ 50.00 / 5 days. A porter can carry up to 18 kg, which should be enough for 2 people.
• Sleeping Bag rent: US$ 5.00 / day. Our sleeping bags are –5ºC-comfort and mummy form and include a sleeping bag liner. They are cleaned after every use and have a maximum usage of 30 trips.
• Therm-a-rest inflatable mattress rent: US$ 7.00 / day.
• Massage sessions: US$60.00 per 1-hour session (US$50.00 per session if at least 2 sessions are booked). Our massage therapists have the highest recognition in Cusco, attending most 4 and 5-star hotels in the city. Our service includes pick-up from your hotel and transfer back after the session, as well as the service of our therapists in any of the following treatments: relaxing massage, stress-relieving massage, spinal column massage, energizing massage, Inca massage, altitude problems, aroma therapy, therapy with honey, therapy with glass, therapy with stones, foot reflexology, shiatzu, reiki and puddle of flowering. We recommend massage sessions before and after the trek. Sessions can be arranged both in Cusco and in Aguas Calientes.

WHAT WE RECOMMENED THAT YOU BRING.

• A backpack with a change of clothes for the whole period of the trek
• Rain gear (jacket and pants if available) or rain poncho (plastic ponchos can be purchased in Cusco)
• Strong footwear, waterproof trekking boots recommended
• Warm clothes, including jacket, fleeces. Thermal clothing is also recommended, especially for sleeping
• Sleeping bag (it can be hired at our agency for US$ 3.00 / day)
• Mattress: will be provided by the agency but is to be carried by you
• Flashlight and batteries
• Camera, films and batteries (batteries consume more quickly under cold conditions)
• Hat or cap to protect you from the sun, rain and cold
• Sun block
• After-sun cream or hydrating cream for face and body
• Insect repellent – minimum recommended 20% DEET – no malaria risk has been reported
• Handkerchiefs
• Toilet paper
• Snacks: biscuits, energy bars, chocolate, raw fruits, muesli, etc. Please beware that we do provide a daily morning snack and our meal service is very complete and well supplied. This recommendation applies for all clients being used to a specific snack, as it may happen that it is not included in our selection.
• Non-disposable canteen (Nalgene type) and water for the first morning. Optionally: water sterilizing tablets in case you pick up water from streams or rivers along the route. Otherwise, we provide filtered boiled water, which is safe to drink and has not reported any health problem so far.
• Small towel
• Optional: walking sticks or poles