Trekking Ausangate 7 days / 6 nights

In the morning we pick you up from your hotel and leave the city of Cusco by local bus and drive along the Cusco – Puerto Maldonado truck road in the direction of Tinqui (3,800 m). On the way we stop in Urcos (major bus road junction) for some pictures of the colorful market. We then go on to Cattca, an agricultural and cattle raising community where we can appreciate the region’s spectacular views and finally pass through Ocongate, capital of the district with the same name and only half an hour away from our destination. After an approximated 6h drive we arrive in Tinqui, where we sleep in a local lodge and start the trek the next morning.

After breakfast we spend some time visiting the Tinqui public school and have the chance to meet the children of the neighboring communities that study at this place and eventually give them some useful presents** which are highly appreciated. We then leave Tinqui and start a 2,5h walk towards Pacchanta (4,100m), where we rest and enjoy lunch. Pacchanta is a rural community that boasts some well-known thermal baths where we can enjoy a nice dip, and the amazing view of Ausangate Mountain. In the afternoon we follow our trail through a slight climb up the Pacchanta valley, having the chance to spot Llamas and Alpacas, until we reach the beautiful Qomercocha lagoon where we set our camp and have dinner. Our campsite will be set in a spectacular spot with amazing views of Ausangate, Santa Catalina, Maria Huamantiqlla, Pucapunta and Colquecruz snow-capped mountains.

After a noutricous breakfast we leave our camp at around 7:00 am and start walking for around 4 hours towards the first mountain pass of our trek, the Abra de Q’ampa at 5,000m. We then descend towards the Ticllaqocha Lagoons, a beautiful group of little turquoise lagoons next to which we have lunch. In the afternoon we continue our hike for an additional 2-3h until we reach Yanamayo where we set our camp in an impressive valley overlooked by the huge and awesome Tres Picos, Colquecruz and Pucapunta peaks.

We leave our camp after breakfast and start a gradual climb up towards Yanaqocha or «Black Lagoon» its name being due to the dark color of its waters. In this area we can discover a soil of volcanic origin, its color turning to dark red and black, as well as moraines, showing the previous presence of glaciers in this region. We will go over Yanaqocha mountain pass (5,050m) to discover a surprisingly beautiful valley with an explosion of colored mountains, three spectacular lagoons and the presence of llamas and alpacas. We cross the valley to head towards our next mountain pass at 5,100m. From this point an additional hour of hike leads us to Condorpaso, our next campsite located very close to the mountain pass of the same name which will be our challenge for the next day.

After breakfast, we start with a approximated 2 hour walk with a slight climb up the valley that takes us to the mountain pass Abra del Condor (5,200m). From the pass the highest point of our trek, we may not only enjoy spectacular views of the Vilcanota mountain range and the Sibinacocha Lagoon, our next milestone, but also hopefully see vicuñas. We continue our hike for an additional 3 hours, crossing another mountain pass on the way and then descending into the valley of the Sibinacocha Lake’s source. We will camp next to the lagoon and very close from its source, where an impressive glacier stands and nourishes the lake with its turquoise waters that contrast with the dark blue pure color of the lagoon. The lagoon boasts wide bio diversity, we will most probably be able to spot Andean Coots, «Huallatas» or Andean Geese as well as Andean Ducks from our camp.

Today we depart early to walk along the shores of the Sibinacocha Lagoon for 3hours until we reach the Yayamari community, next to the mountain of the same name, an impressive rocky peak overlooking the lagoon (5,500m). We then continue crossing a pampa where we can see hundreds of llamas, alpacas and hopefully vicuñas. We follow the trail towards the Abra Ccascana at 5,000m  which will lead us to the lagoon of the same name, in this area we will set our last camp. In this spot, surrounded by impressive snow-capped peaks such as Montura and Chumpi and inhabited by small rural communities, we may have the chance to spot «Huallatas» or Andean geese.

After our breakfast we leave Ccascana to walk for three and a half hours towards Phinaya. This is a small Andean community with a beautiful little church and no presence of vehicles except bikes and horses. Here we will have lunch and rest. In the afternoon we drive back to Cusco, where we expect to arrive after nightfall.

Departure and arrival times are approximated. Campsites are subject to change according to our guide’s criteria and the group progress.