This trek takes you on a journey through the bases of Ausangate Mountain, an area renowned for its striking geographic beauty and deep cultural significance. Every day, you’ll cross a new mountain pass, each revealing a different, breathtaking landscape.
From high-altitude passes to serene valleys, this trek offers a daily surprise as you transition from one awe-inspiring scenery to another. Along the way, you’ll pass through timeless villages, witness the shimmering turquoise of high-altitude lakes, and perhaps even soak in natural hot springs.
You may also be interested in: Trekking to Vinicunca and the Red Valley
Your journey begins in Cusco, from where you’ll travel through the Southern Valley, crossing communities, lakes, agricultural fields, and cattle ranches until you reach the small village of Tinki. Here, the local muleteers will welcome you warmly. These skilled guides, with their horses, will accompany you along the route, carrying the equipment and sharing their millenary beliefs and traditions, deepening your connection to the sacred landscape.
The trek officially starts with a gradual ascent, offering stunning views of the snow-capped Ausangate, a sacred mountain for the local inhabitants. As you trek through the Andean puna, characterized by its expansive grasslands and rocky formations, you’ll reach Upis, where you’ll set up camp and relax in the serene remoteness of the Andes.
On the second day, you’ll ascend to the Arapa Mountain Pass, where you’ll be greeted by a series of stunning lakes—Pukacocha, Hatun Pukacocha, and Qomerqocha. These lakes, with their vivid red, green, and turquoise waters, lie at the feet of snow-capped peaks, creating a surreal and picturesque landscape.
After taking in the beauty of the lakes, a new ascent will lead you to the second mountain pass, the Abra de Apuchata, where you’ll set up camp for the night.
Day three brings the most challenging and rewarding part of the trek—the ascent to the Palomani Mountain Pass, the highest point of the entire journey at over 5,200 meters (17,060 feet). Standing at this altitude, you’ll feel as if you’re on top of the world, surrounded by an incredible panorama of snow-capped peaks and vast Andean plains.
After soaking in the views, you’ll begin your descent through a high Andean plain, where llamas and alpacas graze peacefully. Your day ends at Q’ampa, where you’ll spend the night under a sky filled with countless stars, far from the lights of civilization.
You may also be interested in: Inca Trail, the final stretch to Machu Picchu
Refreshed from a night under the stars, you’ll ascend to the Q’ampa Pass, the second-highest on the route. Once again, you’ll be struck by the remote beauty of this place, guarded by the towering snow-capped Colquecruz.
The descent takes you to Qomerqocha, a lake whose name means “the green lake” in Quechua. As you walk along a trail near the lake, you’ll eventually reach Pacchanta, a small community where you can reward yourself with a well-deserved soak in its natural hot springs.
The final day of your trek is a bittersweet farewell to the magnificent mountains that have been your home for the past five days. You’ll walk the last stretch of the route, descending gently until you arrive back at the village of Tinki, where this unforgettable journey concludes.
As you leave, you’ll carry with you not just the memories of the stunning landscapes, but also a deeper understanding of the Andean way of life and the spiritual connection that the people of this region have with their land.
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To ensure the well-being and safety of our travelers and staff throughout our operational chain, Terra Explorer will comply with the health and safety measures and protocols established by the Peruvian Association of Adventure Tourism and Ecotourism (APTAE), and implement the Covid-19 health and safety guidelines for adventure tourism developed by the Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA).
Our experiences are designed considering the least possible exposure, where the final destinations are usually remote places. By their very nature, our adventure activities are considered to be low risk, mainly because they are performed outdoors where ventilation is constant and making it easy to achieve social distancing.
During these times we are working together with a small staff of honorable people who have been part of the Terra Explorer family for many years. They and their families are aligned with the established health and safety measures. Employing these staff members also seeks to reactivate the local economy.
We guarantee a safe, soul-fulfilling trip to all our travelers for whom we make these adventures possible.
Terra Explorer will strictly comply with the safety, cleaning, and hygiene protocols during our internal processes, third parties, and throughout your trip. This involves:
Follow the instructions related to health and safety given by the Terra Explorer team and your guide, before and during your trip.
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With the intention of delivering the most flexibility at the time of confirming your trip, we will determine the amount of the initial deposit individually and according to your itinerary characteristics.
Secure your trip with a deposit and pay the rest in one or more payments, at a time that suits you best. Please make sure you adhere to our policy and pay in full at least 31 days prior to your trip date.
If you need to cancel your trip, we will apply the following flexible policies.
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