Testimonials
Excellent trip! well organised - sun gate tours were reliable, trustworthy, thoughtful (eg going through menu prior to departure: proper alternatives for the vegetarian in our group) and reasonably priced. guide maria (contact above) fun, friendly, knowledgeable, sensitive to the needs of the group and spoke excellent english. terrain varied - challenging but not too strenuous, interesting local communities. thoroughly enjoyable!. I would recommend both her and the trek highly.
Introduction: The chain of Mountains of the Ausangate situated in the Vilcanota is one of the most desolate and fantastic high Andean areas in Peru. The Ausangate is the most representative mountain in the Andes of Cusco. It is part of a strong group of mountains whose tops reach up to 6,372 m.a.s.l. The turquoise lagoons, large fields and stone forests become the area into a moon paradise completely separated from the modern world. Walking around Ausangate is an fantastic adventure in which it is possible to get amazed in front of such beautiful sunset and eternal snow. You often find needles of rocks going up to more than five thousand meters high and also pieces of ice falling giddily and forming glacial lagoons.
We used a track with a part asphalted who is access to this solid, taken the route from Tinki. You need to be in good fitness for this ramble because it could be around seven or twelve days and you suffer heights and temperatures changes too.
The experience as an agency tour operator are becoming into a confident company and you always can trust in our services at the same way as local guides. You can see both an Andean spectacular scene and Quechuas villages that continue living as a typical way (developing communal agriculture and raising llamas, alpacas, vicuñas).
Duration of the trek: 9 Days / 8 Nights.
DAY 1: CUSCO - TINQUI TOWN. We leave Cusco at about 9:00 a.m for 7 hours bus ride to the small village of Tinqui. We pass through beautiful countryside and several traditional villages including Urcos, Cattca and Ocangate, where we have the opportunity to stop for a while and take some pictures. We spend the first night in a rustic hostel which is in the andean community of Tinqui (3,800m) (12,470 ft).
DAY 2: TINQUI - UPIS. We'll set off on the trek at about 8:00 a.m this days we have direct contact with the local families, where we can appreciate very close the Andean's life, traditions and costumes even we can enjoy the magnificent scenery of the Cordillera Vilcanota, with great views of the Ausangate glacier (6372 m.a.s.l) (20,945 ft). After lunch we walk 02 hours reaching the hot springs of Upis (4,400 m.a.s.l) (14,436 ft)
DAY 3: UPIS - JATUN PUCA Q'OCHA LAKE. During the 3 hours trek in the morning we hike the first pass which is named Arapa pass (4,850m.a.s.l) (15,912 ft) from this pass we go down the valley until we reach the turquoise Lake Jatun Puqa Q'ocha passing the green lake of Puqa Q'ocha on the way. We will set up camp here. From campsite you can climb the small ridge north of the camp to see Lake Vino Q'ocha the views of Ausangate are particularly close up and spectacular. Camping beside Jatun Puqa Q'ocha you may find that you are kept awake at night by the sound of dramatic ice falls into the lake, but do not worry its quite safe.
DAY 4: JATUN PUCA Q'OCHA LAKE - PAMPACANCHA.In the morning we ascend the second pass of Apuchata (4,900 m.a.s.l) (16,077 ft) with the turquoise Lake Ausangate Q'ocha below. This lake is fed from the melting snow of Ausangate. From the lake we ascend to the Palomani pass (5,200m) (17,060 ft) which is the highest point of the trek. From the pass we follow the trail into the valley where we'll rest and have lunch. Another hour of trekking brings us to our campsite at Pampacancha.
DAY 5: PAMPACANCHA - Q'OMER Q'OCHA.Adventures hike during the morning we'll see the snowy peaks of Tres Picos and Puca Punta. We will continue east through the broad green valley of Pampa Jutunpata and up the Rio Q'ampa valley. After passing through small community of Q'ampa we will north west to the last pass of this hike, Q'ampa pass (5000 m.a.s.l) (16,405 ft). We will see several different colored lakes, the final lake being Q'oma Q'ocha. We will camp beside this beautiful green turquoise lake.
DAY 6: Q'OMER Q'OCHA - PACCHANTA.We'll have an easy days trekking for only about 3 hours, until we arrive at the small village of Pacchanta. You will have the opportunity to rest and relax in the hot thermal springs for a couple of hours, and even have a well-deserved beer! We will set up camp near Pacchanta and you will have the afternoon free to explore this interesting Andean village.
DAY 7: PACCHANTA - CUSCO.It's a 3 hours trek back to Tinqui where we'll say goodbye to our arrieros (muleteers) and take the bus back to Cusco, aarriveing at about 6:00 p.m. You'll have just enough time to have a hot shower and a meal before hitting the nightclubs!
The tour includes:
optional items:
Recommendations things to bring:US$ 410 per person (adult). US$ 10 Discount for student with INTERNATIONAL STUDENT CARD (ISIC).
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