Ausangate High Peak Trek (6 Days)

Your adventure begins with a 6:00 AM pickup from your hotel in Cusco. We travel by private transportation for approximately 3 hours to the small Andean village of Tinqui (3815m / 12,513ft), nestled at the base of the majestic Vilcanota Range. Along the scenic drive, you’ll pass through traditional villages like Urcos, Ccatcca, and Ocongate. In Tinqui, we’ll meet our horsemen and prepare our gear. Our trek starts around 10:00 AM, leading us across a bridge and through grassy meadows below the impressive stone flanks of Mount Ausangate (6350m / 20,828ft), the highest snow-capped peak in Southern Peru. After roughly 6 hours of trekking, we arrive at the relaxing Upis Hot Springs (4400m / 14,432ft), where we’ll set up our campsite for the night.

After breakfast, we begin a challenging 2-hour hike to reach our first major ascent: the Arapa Pass (4750m / 15,580ft). The trail leads us up a valley, along the right slope, before climbing a rocky terrain. As we ascend, we’ll be continuously surrounded by the majestic presence of Mount Ausangate. From the pass, enjoy breathtaking panoramic views. We then descend, passing several beautiful, multi-colored lagoons, including the larger Yanacocha Lake (Black Lake), where we’ll have lunch. Following lunch, a one-hour trek brings us to our next campsite near the serene Pucacocha Lagoon (4500m / 14,760ft).

This morning, we undertake a short but steep ascent to our second pass, Apacheta (4850m / 15,908ft). From there, we descend to Ausangatecocha Lagoon, where we will enjoy lunch amidst stunning surroundings. After our meal, we begin a two-hour climb towards the trek’s third and highest mountain pass, Abra de Palomani (5200m / 17,056ft). This is the highest point of our entire journey, offering unparalleled views of Ausangate and the sprawling Vilcanota Range. We then descend for another two hours through landscapes dotted with llamas, alpacas, and vizcachas, finally reaching our incredibly scenic campsite at Pampacancha (4050m / 13,284ft).

After breakfast, we gently ascend the Qampa side valley, crisscrossing a stream and passing ancient rockfalls where Andean vizcachas often leap among the boulders. This less-traveled southern side of the mountain increases our chances of spotting wildlife; condors frequently soar along the slopes, and elusive herds of rare vicuñas might appear on the ridge tops, maintaining a safe distance. Beyond the tiny hamlet of Qampa, we traverse a vast, grassy shoulder of Ausangate, with the icy crags of Collque Cruz (Silver Cross) and Tres Picos (Three Peaks) to our right, as we climb to Qampa Pass (5000m / 16,400ft). This is our fourth and final pass, marked by tall cairns (apachetas) built by generations of travelers. We then descend to the broad, rolling plains of the upper Mapacho basin, reaching our campsite at the cluster of beautiful Qomercocha Lakes as evening approaches.

Reluctantly, we depart from our spectacular camp at Qomercocha, but not without many backward glances at these lonely lakes – some deep and crystal clear, others shallow and bubbling with exotic algae. Nestled beneath sharp, towering peaks, it’s easy to understand why this powerful yet peaceful location became a site for ceremonies for Quechua shamans of the region. We follow a series of rolling ridges across open grasslands, encountering child shepherds and women hand-spinning wool, as we approach the village of Pacchanta (4100m / 13,448ft), the largest settlement on our trek. Here, delightful natural hot springs offer a sublime soak, with the entire panorama of snow-capped Ausangate filling the southern horizon, providing a perfect opportunity to relax and reflect on our journey.

After a final breakfast surrounded by the stunning Andean scenery, we depart from Pacchanta and begin our approximately 2-hour walk back to Tinqui. Once in Tinqui, our private transportation will be waiting to take us back to the vibrant city of Cusco. We anticipate arriving in Cusco after nightfall, concluding our unforgettable Ausangate High Peak Trek.