In the Cusco region, Ausangate and Rainbow Mountain come together in a new and fascinating route designed for trekking enthusiasts. This adventure perfectly combines two of the most iconic destinations in southern Peru. Don’t miss the chance to explore and connect with Mother Nature. On this journey, you’ll feel that we’ve thought of you and everything you love to do.
You’ll visit high Andean communities, capture vibrant landscapes that range from reddish hues to turquoise lagoons, and end the day relaxing in soothing hot springs. If you're passionate about remote places and have an adventurous spirit, this experience is made for you.
In the Cusco region, Ausangate and Rainbow Mountain come together in a new and fascinating route designed for trekking enthusiasts. This adventure perfectly combines two of the most iconic destinations in southern Peru. Don’t miss the chance to explore and connect with Mother Nature. On this journey, you’ll feel that we’ve thought of you and everything you love to do.
You’ll visit high Andean communities, capture vibrant landscapes that range from reddish hues to turquoise lagoons, and end the day relaxing in soothing hot springs. If you're passionate about remote places and have an adventurous spirit, this experience is made for you.
We’ll begin this adventure by waking up early and leaving Cusco toward the majestic Vilcanota mountain range. Our first stop will be the community of Upis, from where we’ll start the hike to the campsite of the same name. There, we’ll enjoy a delicious lunch prepared by our talented chef—perfect for recharging our energy. With renewed spirit, we’ll take a short walk to the pristine Huayna Ausangate Lagoon, a natural gem that will leave you speechless.
After a night's rest, we will climb the Arapa Pass; this place will offer you unique views that will never be repeated. We’ll begin the fifth day with gratitude, as conquering the highest point of the route was no easy feat. Today, the imposing Palomani Pass will reward us with its greatest treasure: a privileged view of the sacred Apu Ausangate. Afterward, we’ll have lunch in Hatun Phinaya and end the day at the Sorapata campsite, surrounded by the serenity of the mountains.
Beautiful landscapes await us and, as we descend, we will be able to contemplate the beauty of the area. Finally, it will be time to take a comfortable rest in the thermal baths of Pacchanta. We’ll return to Cusco with tired bodies but full hearts, knowing that a part of your soul will forever remain in these mountains.
Our adventure begins very early at 5:00 a.m. We will pick you up from your hotel to head on a two-hour drive to Ocongate (3,500 m / 11,482 ft.), a picturesque place full of joy. You will enjoy the first views of the great Vilcanota range with its majestic Apu Ausangate mountain. We’ll continue passing through high Andean villages, where we’ll see locals wearing colorful traditional clothing that reflects the colors of the mountains that protect these lands.
We will continue our journey to the Upis community (4,250 m / 13,944 ft). Here, we will have a good breakfast, and meet the cook and the muleteers, who will be part of this adventure. We will walk for three hours along a trail used by the local people until we reach the Upis Camp (4,400 m / 14,436 ft).
Later, we will delight our palate with a delicious lunch and, after a short rest, we will head to the lake Huayna Ausangate Cocha (4,500 m m / 14,764 ft), a charming place for the energy it transmits. Remember that on this short tour you can leave your things at the campsite.
We wake up early to head to Ocongate and start the tour. We will enjoy beautiful views of the mountains and the Apu Ausangate. We will continue our hike and arrive at the Upis community, where we will have breakfast and meet the cook and the muleteers. We will walk for three hours until we reach the Upis camp. We will have lunch and, after a well-deserved rest, we will explore the area for two hours until we reach Huayna Ausangate Cocha.
We will have breakfast and begin a two and a half hour ascent to the Arapa Pass (4,800 m / 15,748 ft). If we are lucky, we will be able to see the running of the vicuñas, South American camelids considered a symbol of the Peruvian Andes.
After taking amazing pictures in the surroundings, we will descend gradually for three and a half hours enjoying the views of beautiful lakes: Yanacocha and Pucacocha.
We will arrive at the lunch and camping site known as Hatun Pucacocha lake (4,400 m / 14,436 ft). After taking a short rest, we will have time to explore the nearby lakes. At night, we will have dinner and contemplate the beautiful constellations before going to sleep.
We will have breakfast and begin our ascent for two and a half hours to the Arapa Pass. After capturing the coveted photographs, we will descend for three and a half hours enjoying the beautiful views of the lakes: Yanacocha and Pucacocha. At the end, we will arrive at Hatun Pucacocha, where we will have lunch and camp. We will rest and have the opportunity to explore the lakes near the camp. We will conclude tasting a delicious dinner and contemplating the starry night.
A new day full of beautiful landscapes awaits us. We will have a nutritious breakfast to begin a two-hour ascent. Soon you will witness the perfect contrast of landscapes: impetuous desert mountains leading to green valleys and immense glaciers. After having a beautiful scenic experience, we will descend for an hour and a half to Anantapata (4,750 m / 15,585 ft), where we will enjoy a revitalizing lunch.
A well-deserved rest will be enough to continue walking uphill for another two hours until we reach Warmisaya (4,985 m / 16,355 ft), where we will be able to appreciate part of the immense chain of reddish mountains that welcome us to the Rainbow Mountain. Finally, we will descend for 45 minutes to Surinecocha (4,800 m / 15,748 ft) and set up camp.
Beautiful landscapes await us. We will have breakfast and begin the gradual ascent of two hours, we will be delighted with the beauty of the natural contrast of the mountains and glaciers, and then descend for an hour and a half to our lunch spot, Anantapata. After resting for a moment, we will be ready to ascend for two hours to Warmisaya, where we will be able to appreciate the Rainbow Mountain. After witnessing this beautiful panorama, we will descend for 45 minutes to Surinecocha to camp and spend the night.
We will start the day very early with a delicious breakfast. We will start with a two-hour hike, an ascent that will take us to enjoy an incredible natural wonder, the Rainbow Mountain (5,100 m / 16,732). Once there, we will contemplate the sunrise and take incredible pictures long before the other groups arrive. After a magical moment, your guide will explain the importance of this place in the Andean world.
Later, we will descend to the Red Valley viewpoint (5,050 m / 16,568 ft), where you will be able to see the immense valley disappearing into the distance. We will return by the same path and descend gradually until we reach Quesiuno (4,376 m / 14,357 ft), where we will have lunch. After a good rest, we will continue ascending for approximately two and a half hours. We will appreciate the view of a beautiful green valley with herds of llamas and alpacas. In the evening, our camp will be waiting for us at Ausangate Cocha (4,500 m / 14,764 ft) to rest comfortably after a delicious dinner.
After a refreshing breakfast, we will start hiking for two hours until we reach the wonderful Rainbow Mountain and enjoy the sunrise. Then, we will head towards the Red Valley viewpoint and have a full view of the immense valley. Later, we will return to the initial trail and descend gradually to Quesiuno, where we will have lunch and take a well-deserved rest. Afterwards, we will continue for two and a half hours to our campsite at Ausangate Cocha.
After a few days of acclimatization, the big challenge arrives: the highest point of the route—no less than 5,200 meters (17,060 feet) above sea level. We’ll start the day with determination and a hearty breakfast. Today, we’ll reach the summit and feel the sweet satisfaction of victory.
We will ascend for about two hours until we reach Palomani Pass (5,200 m / 17,060 ft), where we will have the most extensive view of the Vilcanota mountain range. After a brief rest appreciating the most amazing views, we will descend for an hour and a half to the community of Huchuy Phinaya (4,650 m / 15,256 ft) and have lunch.
Get ready because we will have a gradual ascent of two hours by the beautiful Jampa gorge. We will be accompanied by the immense glaciers of the Callangate chain until we reach the last camp in Sorapata (4,650 m / 15,256 ft.). Upon our return, the camp will be ready. After savoring an exquisite dinner, a peaceful night in the tranquility of the mountains awaits you.
Today we will reach the highest point. We will have breakfast and ascend for two hours until we reach Palomani Pass, where we will enjoy an extensive view of the Vilcanota mountain range. We will take a brief rest and then descend for an hour and a half to the community of Huchuy Phinaya to have lunch. Then, we will ascend gradually through the Jampa ravine to our campsite in Sorapata.
We will wake up to the impressive view of the snow-capped Tres Picos. Afterwards, we will have breakfast and get ready for one last ascent. It will take us two and a half hours to reach Jampa Pass (5,070 m / 16,634 ft), a wide, green valley, perfect for the Andean man who dedicates himself to agriculture and grazing his animals. This will also be a good time to capture the beauty of the surroundings.
We will begin to descend for about three hours to Pacchanta (4,100 m / 13,451 ft). Throughout this final stretch, we’ll admire a stunning succession of lagoons, deeply cherished by the Andean people. We’ll take a moment to perform a small gratitude ceremony for the mountains and Pachamama, as we have made it this far.
Hours later, we will head to Pacchanta, a small community with attractive hot springs, where we will enjoy a bath, ideal for relaxing our muscles. Here we will also have lunch. Later on, we will say goodbye to the appreciated group of servants who accompanied us on this journey and we will embark on a two and a half hour trip back to Cusco, thus culminating this incredible 6-day adventure.
The view of the snow-capped Tres Picos gives us the impulse to start the day. We will have breakfast and begin our last two-hour ascent to Jampa Pass. After appreciating the beauty of this scenic environment, we will descend for three hours to Pacchanta. Here, we will take a few minutes to perform a small ceremony of thanksgiving to the Pachamama and the mountains. After a few hours, we will arrive at Pacchanta, where we can relax in its thermal baths. Later, we will say goodbye to our team and return to Cusco, taking with us the best memories of this journey.
At Ausangate Peru, we specify the included and non-included services under all the tour itineraries listed on our website. We take care of all the logistics, but please pay attention to the details to avoid missing anything. Some items may differ for specific programs, so please read carefully before booking with us.
Your tour will be led by a trained and highly experienced professional with a very solid guiding background, years of hiking and wilderness experience, medical certifications, and a passion for leading people into unforgettable adventures.
After a challenging trek we know how important a good hot meal can be to prepare your body and warm you up. That’s why on every trek with Salkantay Trekking we employ chefs with years of experience cooking on the trails so that they provide filling.
All of our hiking tours include a diversity of tasty meals packed full of critical carbohydrates, proteins and fats. We carry foods that travel well in the backcountry – rice, pastas, lentils, beans, couscous, packaged meats, nuts, breads, oatmeal, granola.
Our Horseman and his horses are in charge of all our gear and will always await us within the safe and comfortable camp sites.
So you are planning to trek the famous Ausangate?
his Ausangate Packing List will help you to prepare for your outdoor adventure in one of the most stunning regions of South America.
In it we have provided as much detail on every piece of kit you will need for a safe and successful trekking. The packing list includes personal recommendations on gear that we own and use. We believe these recommended items of gear provide the best value for money and deliver the best performance.
The "The magic of nature: Ausangate and Rainbow Mountain" can leave any day of the week, from March through January. We do not run this trek in February because rainy season & maintenance.
This small-group journey is guaranteed to operate with just two guests.
Notice that PayPal charges a fee of 8%, which we ask the client to cover since it's due to the use of its service. This tax is just for online deposits so that you will pay the remaining in cash (the briefing day in Cusco) without charges.
lease, after your deposit, send us the transfer number to info@ausangateperu.com; only after that, we'll be able to confirm your deposit and reservation.
Extensions & Offers
There are several extensions you can include to your Peru Adventure.
Additional Items
There are additional items you can include in this trip. Below is a quick list of prices.
Price Guarantee
Once your booking has been confirmed, we guarantee the price won’t increase, whatever the circumstances. So please, before booking, ensure you’ve read all our important tour information.
Our collection of the most fabulous hiking trails in Peru bring you up close and very personal with the region’s most jaw-dropping highlights: from the snow-peaked Andes to turquoise lakes, waterfalls, and glaciers that seem to hang as if by magic, as well as an abundance of wildlife spotting and a breathtaking, unforgettable adventure in nature.
We did the 2-day tour through Ausangate, the rainbow mountain, and the red valley. The tour was private, the guide Jimmy was very friendly and professional, the whole trip has well organized the food was delicious during the excursion.
I thank the travel agency for this beautiful experience, and I recommend it.
-- NICHOLAS A