The Peaks of Camino del Apu Ausangate Trek – 6 Days

Early in the morning, you’ll leave Cusco to begin this Peru adventure. On a bus ride along the Vilcanota River Valley, and on to the town of Checacupe. After a visit to its Colonial Church of the Immaculate Conception, you’ll start ascending the Pitumarca Valley, through the spectacular Japura Gorge that leads to Chillca, we will start the trek near the Ausangate Community, from there we will see the south face of the sacred Ausangate Mountain, as we continue towards the red sandstone formations of the “Nevado del Inca“.

🏚️ Accommodation: Camping Anantapata.

• Maximum Altitude: 4750 masl / 15580 fasl
• Approximate Walking Time: 3 hours
• Approximate Driving time: 4 hours

After breakfast, we take the trail to another mountain pass. Dropping down, we’ll hike by Lake Kayrawiri, surrounded by rugged mountain peaks and the great valley below. Striations of color are embedded in the hillsides. Then we go on to Cerro Laya Grande via the massive glacier del Inca and the most striking colors in the sediments of Yauricunca. This area is called ‘Montana Arcoiris’ by the locals and is often referred to as ‘Rainbow Mountain’ by visitors, the spectacular colors make for amazing photography. We lunch here in this unique landscape. On our way, we see hundreds of Andean geese nesting in the cliffs of Anta, and the flatiron formations of Apu Labrayani near Huampococha Tambo, where we will spend the night at the Camino del Apu Ausangate.

🏚️ Accommodation: Camping Huampococha.

• Maximum Altitude: 4980 masl / 16388 fasl
• Approximate Walking Time: 7 hours

After a last climb over the Anta pass, we will gradually make our descent. In this section, the first crops and houses come into view. The landscape changes quickly as the red sandstone formations are followed by the Carsten erosion of limestone, forming a one-of-a-kind stone forest, and a perfect habitat for “vizcacha” (members of the chinchilla family). By the time we get down the valley, we’ll continue to head towards Pacchanta.

🏚️ Accommodation: Campsite.

• Maximum Altitude: 4900 masl / 16100 fasl
• Approximate Walking Time: 4 hours
• Approximate Driving time: 3 hours

In Pacchanta, the following day we meet the muleteers and cook of the expedition, after lunch we start the hike 4 hours to the base camp, with impressive views of the main snowcapped Cusco region such as Ausangate (6384 masl), Cayangate (6110 masl) and others, always accompanied by llamas and alpacas. Already in the base camp, the personal high mountain equipment (harnesses, crampons, ice axes, helmets, leggings, gloves) will be delivered, the high mountain guide will teach you the correct way of using the equipment, how to act on a glacier, and have them ready for promotion.

🏚️ Accommodation: Qampa Nevado Base Camp. (Dinner is at 6 pm, then everyone can rest)

Leaving at 3 am you’ll have a light breakfast, it is necessary to attack a mountain at dawn. You’ll leave the base camp and in 2 hours of ascent by moraine arriving at the glacier, where we prepare ourselves with the mountain equipment to enter the glacier. Within about 3 hours on the glacier, you’ll reach the summit of the Qampa Mountain which is 5,500 meters above sea level. Taking half an hour on the summit to rest and enjoy the high Andean landscapes, surrounded by much of the snowy mountains of the Cordillera Vilcanota. The descent to the base camp will take a further 3 hrs, where lunch will be taken and you’ll have the whole afternoon free to rest after an intense day.

🏚️ Accommodation: Qampa Nevado Base Camp. (A special dinner will be prepared ready for 6 pm)

Leaving at 9 am for Pacchanta after breakfast, arriving at Pacchanta in about 3 hours where there’ll be the option to enter the thermal baths and buy handicrafts from Pacchanta and then have lunch and return to the City of Cusco whereby around 6 pm you’ll be dropped to your hotels, and you can spend the evening relaxing and recalling a great route!