The sacred mountain of the Andean community
The Ausangate trek 5 days, is completely different from other treks we have in Cusco, mainly because this trekking does not visit Machu Picchu. However, what stands out the most in this trekking are the natural attractions, which include beautiful snow-capped mountains, local people, lagoons of different colors, halfway through you will visit the Rainbow Mountain (the second most visited attraction in Peru) also the beautiful wildlife, such as llamas, Alpacas, Vicuñas, Condor, Viscacha etc. In addition, you will walk through remote Andean villages that still preserve their traditions.
Day 1: Cusco – Ocongate – Tinki – Upis.
Day 2: Upis – Puca Cocha- Ananta.
Day 3: Ananta – Rainbow Mountain – Alqatari.
Day 4: Alqatari – Palomani Pass – Jampa.
Day 5: Jampa – Pacchanta – Cusco.
The seasons in Peru are divided into dry season and rainy season.
The dry season, which runs from May to September, is the best time to do the Ausangate trek. During this time, there is more likely to be clear trails, blue skies, and warmer weather.
The rainy season is between October and April and with it comes, you guessed it!, lots of rain. This can turn to snow in the mountains and can cause the trail to close for short periods of time.
We went in mid-June and had the most amazing weather, every day was sunny and blue skies and we only experienced hail/rain once just as we were setting up in our tents one night. The nights were cold, but the days were nice and warm and many times I was just in a tank top and leggings.
The beauty of this trek comes at a price: this is a high-altitude alpine hike that doesn’t go below 14,000 feet for a long time. While the hike itself can be quite strenuous, it’s the altitude that makes this hike challenging.
Properly preparing for such a high altitude is the key to having a successful hike.
Hikers should not only be in excellent physical condition before attempting this hike, but they should also have taken adequate time to acclimatize in Cusco (at least 3 days is recommended).
There were many times where I had to walk feeling out of breath for 30 minutes straight. You learn to overcome the feeling, but it can cause you to lose more speed than expected.
Taking frequent breaks and learning to pace yourself is key.
The equipment and packing list for the Ausangate trek is similar to that for other treks in Cusco.
For more information, see our Ausangate trek packing list. You will need more changes of clothing, as the Ausangate trek is longer. It is also worth investing in thermal underwear for an extra layer of protection.
There are several types of walks in Ausangate, depending on the days and the difficulty that one wants to add to their walk, below we present the following:
This package features the best of the best when it comes to the Peruvian Andes. Combine the most amazing places in Cusco; Machu Picchu, Ausangate and Rainbow Mountain. If you want to visit all these places when you come to Peru, why not combine them in a fantastic 7-day adventure where every last detail is planned for you?
