The Ausangate Mountain, standing at 6,372 meters (20,905 ft), is one of the highest and most stunning peaks in Peru, located in the Vilcanota mountain range about 130 km from Cusco. Surrounded by breathtaking natural scenery and vibrant turquoise lakes, the region offers an unforgettable trekking experience for adventure and nature lovers.
Cusco Hotel
Moderate
This 5-day trek takes you through high-Andean landscapes filled with colorful valleys, snow-capped peaks, and traditional villages. While Ausangate is best known as the site of the annual Qoyllur Rit’i pilgrimage—a spiritual gathering drawing thousands of pilgrims—it remains open year-round for travelers seeking solitude, challenging terrain, and raw, majestic beauty in the heart of the Peruvian Andes.
Early in the morning, we will pick you up from your hotel and drive for approximately 3 hours in our tourist transport to the town of Tinki (3,800 m / 12,467 ft). Along the way, we will pass through the towns of Urcos and Ocongate. From Tinki, we begin our hike toward the small village of Upis (4,400 m / 14,432 ft), hiking for about 3 hours. A delicious lunch will be served along the route. In the afternoon, we arrive at our campsite located next to the thermal baths.
After breakfast, we begin a 3-hour ascent to Arapa Pass (4,850 m / 15,908 ft), enjoying panoramic views of the surrounding mountains. We continue past the emerald lake Puqa Q’ocha to the turquoise waters of Jatun Puqa Q’ocha. The trail leads us to the second pass, Apuchata (4,900 m / 16,072 ft), where we stop for lunch. Along the way, we’ll admire lakes surrounded by rock formations and puna landscapes. After approximately 6 hours of hiking, we reach our second campsite at Ausangate Cocha, a lake fed by the Ausangate Glacier.
After breakfast, we continue our trek with a 3-hour uphill hike to Palomani Pass (5,200 m / 17,060 ft), the highest point of the trek. From here, we enjoy breathtaking views of the surrounding snow-capped peaks. We then descend into a valley where we’ll stop for lunch. In the afternoon, we’ll enjoy views of the Tres Picos and Puca Punta mountains as we continue through the green Jutunpata Valley and into Pinaya, our third campsite.
After breakfast, we pass the small community of Q’ampa and head northwest toward the final pass of the trek: Q’ampa Pass (5,000 m / 16,400 ft). Along the way, we pass several colorful lakes and enjoy dramatic high-mountain landscapes. Lunch will be served beside Q’omer Q’ocha Lake. We then descend past lakes such as Pacacocha and Azul Cocha until we reach the village of Pacchanta. Here, we can relax in the hot springs for a couple of hours. We camp near Pacchanta and have the afternoon free to explore the local Andean village. (You may also opt to stay in a basic hostel this night.)
On our final day, we enjoy breakfast and then hike for 3 to 4 hours back to the town of Tinki. Our private transport will be waiting to take us back to Cusco, arriving around 6:00 PM. End of services.
The “Ausangate Mountain Trek 5 Days” was a truly unforgettable adventure. Trekking through the high Andes, surrounded by stunning snow-capped peaks and vibrant landscapes, was an amazing experience. The challenge of the trek was well balanced with breathtaking scenery and peaceful moments in nature. The local communities we met along the way added a rich cultural dimension to the journey. Our guides were excellent—knowledgeable, supportive, and attentive. If you want a deep and immersive trek in Peru, this is the perfect tour.
