DETAILED ITINERARY:

Day 1: Cusco – Tinki – Upis

At 4:00 a.m., we´ll pick you up at your hotel, to leave the city of Cusco, on a private transportation vehicle, and travel on the Cusco – Puerto Maldonado Road, in the direction of Tinki (3,800 m./12,464 ft.). On the way, we´ll stop in Urcos, where there is a beautiful lake bearing the same name. Then, we´ll move on to Cattca, an agricultural and cattle raising community, where we´ll appreciate some of the region’s spectacular views, and finally, we´ll go through Ocongate which is the main locality of the district with the same name, situated only half an hour away from our destination. So, after journeying for about 3 hours, we´ll arrive in Tinki, to start our adventure trek around Mount Ausangate.

After a short stopover, we´ll leave Tinki, and will begin our hike with a light climb across the “puna” which is a dry and arid highland area, with little vegetation. After walking about 3 hours, we’ll reach our lunch spot, from which we´ll already be able to enjoy beautiful views of the Sacred Mount Ausangate (6,372 m./20,900 ft.). After lunch, we´ll keep on hiking for another hour and a half, to reach our first campsite in Upis, at an altitude of 4,400 m./14,432 ft., and from that point, we´ll contemplate fabulous views of all the snow-capped peaks in the area, as we´ll be setting our campsite up, to have dinner, right in front of Mount Ausangate.  (L D)

Day 2: Upis – Ausangatecocha.

After breakfast, we´ll continue our hike, ascending for a couple of hours, to reach the La Arapa Mountain Pass (4,850 m./15,908 ft.). Then, we´ll descend to our lunch spot, crossing an area, where we might sight falcons and “vizcachas” which are Andean rodents that look like rabbits, but with short ears. This area also displays 3 beautiful lakes with red, green and turquoise tonalities (Pukacocha or Red Lake, Hatun Pukacocha or Great Red Lake and Qomercocha or Green Lake), as well as spectacular views of the surrounding snow-capped peaks. After lunch, we´ll be hiking uphill on a long and slow 2-hour ascent that will take us to the second mountain pass, the Abra de Apuchata (4,900 m./16,072 ft.), and from that high point, we´ll descend for another half hour, towards our campsite at Ausangatecocha (4,440 m./14,563 ft.).

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

Day 3: Ausangateqocha – Q´ampa

We´ll leave early, to hike uphill, for about two hours, towards the third mountain pass, called the Abra de Palomani (5,200 m./17,056 ft.). This is the highest part of the entire hike, from which we´ll descend, for another 2-hour hike through an area in which we´ll have plenty of opportunities to see herds of lamas and alpacas grazing on “ichu” which is a coarse and wild tall grass that grows in altitude, and if we are lucky, we´ll sight “vizcachas”, before reaching Pampacancha (4,050 m./13,284 ft.). Then, we´ll follow an uphill trail, leading us to our campsite, in Q´ampa (4,300 m./14,104 ft.). Along this easy 3-hour climb, we may have the chance to spot lamas and alpacas, and, who knows, even pumas. Once in Q´ampa, we´ll set our campsite up and will have dinner, before catching some sleep.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

Day 4: Q´ampa – Pacchanta

This morning, we´ll hike uphill, for about 2 hours, until we reach Q´ampa´s Mountain Pass (5,000 m./16,400 ft.), where we may spot some Andean deer. Then, we´ll descend towards the Qomercocha Lagoon, to finally get to Pacchanta (4,100 m./13,448 ft.), after an approximated five-hour walk. Pacchanta is a little community with attractive natural hot water springs in which we´ll enjoy a relaxing dip, since we´ll set our campsite up, right there, to spend the night.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

Day 5: Pacchanta – Tinki

After breakfast, we´ll leave Pacchanta, and will start walking our way back to Tinki, which will take a couple of hours. Once in Tinki, we´ll board a private transportation vehicle that will take us back to the city of Cusco, where we should arrive after nightfall.

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch.