The majestic Apu Ausangate is the most imposing one from the Vilcanota Mountain range (Cordillera Vilcanota). Located southeast of the Cusco region this sacred mountain is the highest in the region.
It towers to an altitude of 6,384 m above the sea (20,940 feet) and it is Peru’s fifth-highest snow-capped mountain and you can see it from the Sacsayhuaman fortress.
Apu Ausangate Trek is a high-altitude experience. It takes you mostly through high elevations and mountain pass . There are over five high passes. We highly recommend you to spend a few days in Cusco and acclimate to avoid altitude sickness.
Our Nevado Ausangate trek first will take us around the base of the Apu (Ausangate Mountain).
While hiking Ausangate Trek, we will pass two natural hot springs, where it is possible to bathe and relax. These thermal springs are conveniently located at the beginning and end of the trek. You will be able to experience a really relaxing time before and after the hike.
This five day trip will take you through amazing and glorious places such as turquoise lakes, rainbow mountains, and desert cliffs. Besides having the chance to see flocks of llamas and alpacas that will make this beautiful outdoor trail unforgettable.
The hike is one of the most challenging treks in the Andes. The weather Condition here is unpredictable. The best time to trek is between the months of May to September (dry season). It is also possible to do it during the rainy season (April and October), even though it might rain, it’s warmer.
The agency will provide you with a packing list of the essentials you will need for the trip.
Why Minka Peru Expedition?
We are a fully local tour operator based in Cusco, Peru. We offer daily departures to Nevado Ausangate Trek from Cusco. At Minka Peru, we have an excellent team of local guides who have excellent proficiency in the English language and have in-depth knowledge of Andean traditions and customs. They are also experienced hikers.
Do take a moment to check our reviews on Trip Advisor.
Also, take a look at our exclusive Inca trail to Machu Picchu and Sacred Valley Tour itineraries.
FAQs
How tall is the Ausangate?
The Ausangate Mountain has an altitude of 6,384 meters (20,945 feet).
What is Apu Ausangate?
The Apu Ausangate is a snow-capped mountain located in the Cusco region, in Peru. The Quechua word “Apu” means “sir” or “lord”, and it’s used by the local population to named something that is sacred.
How to get to Ausangate?
In order to visit the Ausangate Mountain, travellers must take a car or bus from Cusco to the small town of Tinki, where the Ausangate Trek starts.
-
Destination
-
Departure
Pick up from your Hotel -
Departure Time
5:00 AM. -
Return Time
Approximately 6:00 PM. -
Dress Code
Warm clothes, including jacket, fleeces, gloves, scarf and beanie/touk -
Included
AccommodationEntrancesFirst aid kit and emergency oxigenMealsPick up from your HotelProfessional GuideTransportation -
Not Included
Walking Stick
Day 1: CUSCO – TINKI – UPIS
Day 2: UPIS – AUSANGATE – Q´OCHA
Day 3: LAKE AUSANGATE – JAMPA
Day 4: JAMPA – PACCHANTA
Day 5: JAMPA – TINKI – CUSCO
Tour Location
Make Your Own Memories
Reviews
Comments
Leave a Reply:
NOTES ON THE ITINERARY
- The times given on this itinerary are approximate.
- Hiking times depend on how the group progresses.
- The trip offers plenty of adventure.
AUSANGATE TREK INFORMATION
- For complete information, please send us an email.
- We will have a meeting at your hotel before leaving to give you complete trek details and to answer any questions.
Available discounts these discounts are not cumulative
- Students: US$ 29 students require a valid International Student Identity Card. Please note that Youth Travel Cards are not valid
- Teenagers: US$ 20 up to 16 years of age, passport copy required for all bookings
- Children: US$ 46 up to 10 years of age, passport
DEPARTURE DATE
We operate this tour around the year.Ausangate Trek Includes:
- Pre trek briefing.
- Pickup from your hotel on the morning of trek departure.
- Transport from Cusco to the trailhead at the beginning of the trek in a private car.
- Entry fee to Ausangate.
- English/Quechua/Spanish-speaking professional guide. (you will have an assistant guide for groups over 6 people)
- Tents – 2 people in a 4 person tent which allows for greater comfort, and also storage of backpacks.
- Basic foam mattress.
- Cook and Cooking equipment. (Assistants are provided for larger groups)
- Toilet tent.
- Toilet paper, pack in &pack out.
- Meals. (optional vegetarian food) Our professional cooks prepare meals that incorporate elements of the western diet and also traditional Peruvian delicacies. (Please communicate with your guide/cook during the trek if you have a preference for certain types of dishes) Salads, if served, are washed in boiled wáter.
- Bio-degradable personal hand soaps.
- Horses (for equipment and personal items) including horsemen. They carry camping equipment, food and kitchen utensils. We provide duffel bags at your briefing for your personal items. (up to 7 kg/15lbs per person)
- 1 emergency horse which can be ridden if you are feeling ill or if are a little slower.
- Dining tent with camp tables and chairs & Kitchen tent for the cook to prepare meals.
- Tents for our staff to sleep in.
- First aid kit including emergency oxygen bottle.
- private transport form Tinki to Cuzco.
- One textile snack bag per person, to avoid the usage of plastic bags that contaminate our environment.
- Others: hot water every morning and evening for washing purposes / boiled water to fill in your water bottle every morning and night, and at lunchtime, if requested with enough time ahead.
Ausangate Trek Does Not Include:
- Breakfast on the first morning.
- Dinner on the last night.
- Travel Insurance
- Entrance to the thermal springs.
- Sleeping bags – If you haven’t got a sleeping bag or you don’t want the hassle of bringing one all the way to Peru with you, then we have sleeping bags for hire.
- Tips: please note that our agency staff is well paid so please feel free to tip or not as you wish.
Recommended Things To Carry:
- A light day pack with a change of clothes for the whole period of the trek – prepare for a vast range of changes in temperature.
- Sandals or plastic slip on thongs are also good to give your feet a chance to breath in the evenings if you wish to carry them.
- Warm clothes, including jacket, fleeces, gloves, scarf and beanie/touk. Thermal clothing is also recommended, especially for sleeping.
- Sleeping bag. (we can hire these to you)
- Hat or cap to protect you from the sun, rain and cold.
- Sun block.
- After-sun cream or hydrating cream for face and body.
- Insect repellent – minimum recommended 20% DEET – although no malaria risk has been reported.
- Snacks: biscuits, energy bars, chocolate, raw fruits, muesli, etc.
- Non-disposable canteen (Nalgene type) and water for the first morning.
- Your own medical kit with any special medications that you might require, paracetamol, second skin for blisters etc.
- Small towel.
- Swimsuit (if you wish to go to the hot springs.
- Cash in soles and/or US$.
- Original passport.
- Rain gear (jacket and pants if available) or rain poncho. (plastic ponchos can be purchased in Cusco)
- Strong footwear, waterproof trekking boots recommended.
- Flashlight/headlamp and batteries.
- Camera and batteries. (batteries consume more quickly under cold conditions)
- Water container and water for the first morning. Important notice: plastic water bottles are no longer allowed into Machu Picchu. Plastic water containers (ie. Nalgene) or metal ones are recommended.
- Optionally: water- sterilizing tablets in case you pick up water from streams or rivers along the route. Otherwise, we provide filtered boiled water, which is safe to drink and has not reported any health problem so far.
- Original International Student Identity Card (in case you have applied for a student discount.
- Optional: walking sticks or poles. (rubber covers required in order not to damage archaeological sites)
How to make a booking
If you would like to make a reservation for this program, please e-mail us.- Once you have chosen your tour, please read the Booking Terms & Conditions, as your booking is subject to these terms.
- Then fill out and submit the Reservation Form that you will find in the Booking Online section of this website.
- In case your reservation is confirmed, a money deposit will be requested to secure your reservation.
- Once we confirm the deposit reception, your booking is confirmed. A Service Confirmation Form will be sent to you including all the details of your program.
Optional Extras
- Sleeping bag USD 5 per day.
- Inflatable mattress USD 5 per day.
- Walking Sticks USD 2 per day.
PRICE $USD PER PERSON
Private Group| Person | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5-6 | 7-8 | 9-12 | Per Person USD | |
| $ USD | 1100 | 800 | 700 | 600 | 500 | 450 | X |
|---|
mitchmcmahon
Could not more highly recommend Minka Peru and this trek. It has to be one of the most pristinely beautiful and remote treks in the world. Challenging and rewarding. It was made possible by the guides at Minka Peru who were wonderful, genuine people of Quechuan descent.
Highlights: Everywhere. Wild vicunas, Andean Geese, Eagles, Trout. Glacial Lakes. Glacial plains. Llamas. Herders. You’ll probably be the only tourists you see for a week. You’ll basically wake up to tea, eat, hike, eat, hike, eat, sleep.
Lowlights: I didn’t handle the altitude on day 1, but the guides took care of me and nurtured me to heath.
Some notes and thoughts. Acclimate yourself in Cusco, because you drive from there to 14k feet, then hike to 18k in three days. There is good risk of altitude sickness. Prepare and bring pills.
Physicality: It’s a hard trek, but not a death defying experience. The biggest challenge is altitude. Again just acclimate.
Clothes/Equipments: Minka has terrific equipment–tents, a lunch tent, a bathroom tent—but bring your own good apparel. It gets cold at night, below freezing, so layer it up. I brought a -15 bag and was happy I did.
You’ll carry just your water and a day pack for your layers and a snack. They have horses to carry the heavy equipment.
Food: OMG you won’t believe it. The cook is like a 4 star chef. Twice they pulled a wild rainbow trout out of the lake and cooked it with homemade sauce. The food is outstanding and better than most of what you’ll eat in Cusco.
Camera: a Point and shoot is probably sufficient. Landscape pics are insane.
A5063HRhelenab
I did the Mount Ausangate – Lake Sibinacocha trek with the amazing crew of Minka Peru. It was a 6 days, 5 nights tent trekking trip outside of Cusco and an incredible trek for those who want to avoid big crowds. You probably won’t see any other hikers. Minka Peru did an excellent job in organizing this trip. The crew was amazing and taking great care of my group. They were professional, very knowledgeable, nice, helpful, and funny. And the equipment was superb. I can’t recommend them enough. During the hike we crossed several high passes. Saw many snow capped peaks, herds of llamas, alpacas and vicuñas, glaciers and turquoise lakes, all set within an incredibly beautiful mountain range. I’ve been on enough hikes in Europe and Asia and this one was one of the best. Minka Peru did a great job and our guide Fredy was one of the best guides I ever had. Minka Peru definitely deserves the highest rating!