Our Ausangate Trek 3 Days 2 Nights has been designed for those who do not have much time and are looking for an unforgettable adventure that is challenging but rewarding. If you are really up for a challenge, focus on this route and travel through beautiful natural landscapes with stunning views of snow-capped Ausangate, glaciers, lagoons, off the beaten track to one of the most timeless and wild regions and reach the famous Rainbow Mountain of Vinicunca, also called Mountain of the 7 Colors.
This 3-day Ausangate hike will take you to explore the best part of the classic Ausangate Circuit route, crossing three mountain passes, experiencing diverse landscapes with alpacas and llamas, entering the remote Andean culture and contemplating an unforgettable night sky.
We will also explore the spectacular Rainbow Mountain and the red valley in all their splendor before the site becomes crowded.
The Ausangate Trek is one of the best and most rewarding experiences that guests can include in their trip to Peru. This Ausangate Trek 3 Days 2 Nights adventure will guide you through towering mountain passes and stunning lagoons, wildlife and finally take you to the popular Rainbow Mountain.
Enjoy a unique and unforgettable travel experience with us. Our team such as guides, cooks and local muleteers are excellently prepared to exceed all your expectations.
You will have an in-depth briefing with your guide 1 or 2 days before your Ausangate trek 3 Days 2 Nights. Your guide will meet you at your hotel and you can take this opportunity to ask questions and make any final preparations.
We will pick you up from your hotel at 5:00am to begin this amazing adventure. We will have private transportation to the trailhead at Upis. Upis is an small Andean village located near Ocongate (3900 m/12795 ft). It is here you will meet your horsemen and horses.
After you will have wonderful views of the Ausangate glacier peaks since you will be hiking very nearby. You will also have amazing views of the lakes and waterfalls – perhaps see some llamas, alpacas and wild vicuñas as well as condors soaring above.
We will have a 3 hour uphill hike to reach the first pass which is (5000m/16404ft). where you will have magnificent views of the surrounding area. Perhaps in some months of the year we will have some snow hikes, but mostly in dry season you always get great views. Likely you will get to see vicuñas, which are the most impressive animals still living wild in Peru and belong to the family of Andean camelids.
Their fleece is the most expensive wool today the world over. After taking a few amazing pictures we will continue on to our lunch spot, with a gradual downhill hike for another 1½ hours to a beautifull area where you will enjoy your second day’s lunch.
It will be another 2½ hour hike to arrive at our campsite at Pucacocha. This campsite is one of the most beautiful campsites located at the skirt of the Ausangate peak and at the bank of the lake. You can see amazing sunsets from here and perhaps some condors and eagles flying nearby.
After an early breakfast we will start with a 2-3 hour steep climb to Alpaca Pass (5100 m/16732ft). Along the way you will always have gorgeous views of the blue lakes and the majestic views of Ausangate Glacier Peak surrounding you.
You can even sometimes see avalanches in process happening from the glacial hills with ice crashing into the lakes below. Once you reach the summit of this mountain, you will be located right in front of Ausangate and you can really enjoy the Chilca Valley, with many alpaca grazing along these hills.
Honestly, it is so impressive to be right at this point – at times you have the feeling that you are in The Kilimanjaro Trails in Africa! After taking some great pictures you will continue for another 2 hours gradual downhill trek – in some sections the trail is still a bit difficult to see – and then we reach our lunch spot, located in Chilca Valley.
The views are always amazing of the waterfalls, the green hills and snow-capped peaks located far away, on top of the mountains. After enjoying your lunch and a little siesta, you will continue on to the second pass of the day, Vicuña pass (5300m/17388ft) . It will be 1½ hour slow pace to reach the summit of this highest pass of the trek. Along the way it is possible to see some condors, and vicuñas if we are lucky enough.
Once we are on top of the mountain we will enjoy a cup or two of traditional coca tea which will be provided by your porters. Then it will be another 1 hour downhill hike to arrive to our campsite at the banks of yanacocha lake where you will enjoy our famous daily happy hour of hot drinks.
This campsite is located few hours away from our final destination which is The Rainbow Mountain!, This is a perfect place at night to spot the famous Inka constellations and do some stargazing!
After an early final breakfast with your trekking team and enjoying the famous traditional warm drinks such as coca tea, it will be about 1½ hours gradual uphill trek until we reach the famous rainbow mountain and the Red Valley (5200 m/17060ft). Your guide will walk you to the best spots to get the perfect postcard pictures of these incredible mountain and the other surrounding mountains.
Your guide also will explain why these mountain are special and really are something quite different from any other mountains in the Vilcanota Range. This is due to a composition of various minerals which make different colors of stone striations formed right in the middle of the red mountains. This is definitely one of the key tourist highlights in South America and one of the most beautiful natural attractions in Peru. There is nothing else like it!
After taking your photos and enjoying the views which you have come so far to see, you will continue the expedition to the end of the trail. This is all downhill along the Llacto Valley for about 1 hours where you will enjoy your final lunch with your team. We will then drive back to Cusco – about 3 hour max drive and we will drop you off at your hotel. The drive itself provides really nice views of the Andes, passing some traditional villages along the way. You will be arriving into Cusco around 4pm.
Hiking to Ausangate Trek 3 Days 2 Nights is like any other high altitude trek, so it is essential to be well prepared. As it begins in the dead of night morning, consider to pack the following Items:
Prices are valid from March 2024 through January 2025. All prices quoted are $USD.
Important: Price includes up to 7 kilos of your personal belongings to be carried by the mules (NO need of extra Porter hire!).
