Ausangate Sibinacocha Trek 6D/5N
Ausangate Sibinacocha Trek is perfect for those seeking a break from the tourist crowd and has close contact with nature. The trekking route runs through the snow-capped peak of Ausangate Mountain (6372 meters / 20,900 feet). Ausangate Mountain has a great significance among Cusqeñans. To us, this is a sacred peak and we call it “Apu”. Although this peak can be seen pretty much from most parts of Cusco, only a handful enjoy the view from close.
Ausangate Sibinacocha Trek will take you the closest to the peak. The area around Ausangate is dotted with alluring views of turquoise lakes, hot springs, and traditional Andean villages. On this trip, you will be visiting the unspoiled lake, Lake Sibinacocha. This lake is a highlight of the wondrous trek. It is a fairly challenging route and trekkers should be acclimatised well before the trek. We usually suspend this trek from December to February due to adverse weather conditions.
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Destination
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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 – Tinqui – Pacchanta
You will be picked up in our private vehicle from your hotel in Cusco. We will start our journey towards Tinqui on the Cusco – Puerto Maldonado highway. Tinqui is a remote village nestled at t(3800 meters / 12,464 feet). It serves as a gateway to Ausangate. On the way to Tinqui, we will be stopping at a couple of places to click some photos. After getting a glimpse at the colourful market in Urcos and pristine views of the region of Ccattca, home to the cattle raising community, we will pass through Ocongate.
It is a capital of the district of the same name. From here, we will be about half an hour drive away to our destination. Once in Tinki, we will have lunch before starting a three hours walk to our campsite at Pacchanta (4100 meters / 13,448 feet). Pacchanta is known for its thermal baths. You can take a dip here with a blissful view of the Ausangate Mountain.
(Total hiking time – 3 hours)
Day 2: Pacchanta – Qomerqocha – Jampa Pampa
At the daybreak, we will start our hike with a gentle climb up the Pacchanta valley. We will be hiking through a scenic route towards Qomercocha lake, where we will see plenty of Andean camelids – Alpacas and Llamas grazing. On the shores of Qomercocha lake, we will stop for lunch. From here, you will have a spectacular view of the snowcapped peaks of Ausangate, Maria Huamantiqlla, Santa Catalina, Colquecruz and Pucapunta. After lunch, we will start our three hours hike towards our first pass, Q´ampa (Jampa) at 5080m/ 16400ft. From here we will start our two hours descend to the campsite at Jampa Pampa. Jampa Pampa is a valley with stunning views of Pucapunta, Tres Picos and Colquecruz peaks.
(Total hiking time – 6-7 hours)
Day 3: Jampa Pampa – Condorpaso
We will start our day with a gradual ascend towards the “Black Lake” or Yanaqocha. It is named after the colour of the soil which is of volcanic origin. Its color ranges from dark red to black. We will pass through moraines that serve as a testament to the glacial history of this part of the country and cross Yanaqocha pass (5050 meters /15,564 feet). From here we will have pristine views the picturesque lakes, mountains, and herds of llamas and alpacas grazing below the pass. We will be camping at Condorpaso at (5100 meters / 16,728 feet).
(Total hiking time – 6-7 hours)
Day 4: Condorpaso – Sibinacocha
Today we will reach the highest point of the whole trek. It is a 2-hour walk from our campsite at Condorpaso to the next pass (5200 meters / 17,056 feet), from where we will get our first views of Lake Sibinacocha and the Vilcanota mountain range. This area receives very few visitors, making it perfect for those interested in unspoiled natural scenery and wildlife. Here it is possible to spot the rare and reclusive vicuña (a wild breed of camelid renowned for its fine wool). From this pass, it is a 5-hour walk down to our next campsite, on the shores of Lake Sibinacocha. Just a short distance away from our camp is the source of the lake, a large glacier with turquoise ice that provides a sharp contrast to the dark blue of the lake.
(Total hiking time – 6-7 hours)
Day 5: Momorani – Ccascana
We will start our hike along the shores of Lake Sibinacocha for about three hours towards Yayamari. It is a village right beneath a mountain that towers to 5500 meters / 18,040 feet, after which it is named. We will then continue across a broad plain, where you will spot herds of llamas, alpacas and hopefully vicuñas. From the plain, we will ascend to the Ccascana high pass at 5000 meters / 16,400 feet. This trail will take us to our camping area just around Ccascana Lake.
(Total hiking time – 6-7 hours)
Day 6: Ccascana – Phinaya Cusco
After breakfast, we will hike for roughly three and a half hours towards a small town Phinaya. This town is home to an Andean community with a little church in the center. There are no vehicles in the town, people here use bicycles and horses to commute. We will stop here for lunch. In the evening we will start our journey in our mini-van back to Cusco. It will take approximately six hours to reach Cusco.
Tour Location
Make Your Own Memories
Itinerary – Ausangate Sibinacocha trek
- Times mentioned in this itinerary are approximate. Walking times will depend on the group and the guide may change lunch spots and campsites depending on how the group progresses. All guides have their own preferred route which might not correspond accurately to the route described here.
- Ausangate region is characterised by high Andean scenery. You will be close to snow-covered peaks. Temperatures are low and can fall to well below zero at night. You should be well prepared for low temperatures. Sleeping bags are available for hire in Cusco.
- This region is not frequently visited by tourists and therefore tourist infrastructure is limited. On this tour, we use local facilities. Visitors should be aware that conditions may change and that not everything may go exactly according to plan. This is all part of the adventure. We recommend visitors to keep an open mind and be receptive to the different ways things are done in another culture.
The following 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 copy required for all bookings.
Departure date
Departures are available throughout the year, although weather conditions mean that the best time to do this trek is from April to November.
Ausangate Sibinacocha Trek includes:
- Pre trek briefing.
- Pickup from your hotel on the day of departure.
- Transport from Cusco to the trail head in a private vehicle.
- Return private transport to Cusco at the end of the trip. (from Phinaya)
- English/Quechua/Spanish speaking professional local guide. (you will have an assistant guide if you are in a group of over 6 people)
- Tents – 2 people in a 4 person tent which offers a greater comfort and also enough space to store your backpacks.
- Basic foam mattress. If you require greater comfort during the trek you can hire an inflatable mattress. (eg. Therma-rest)
- Toilet tent, toilet paper, pack-in & pack out.
- One recyclable cotton snack bag per person. We tend to avoid usage of plastic bags that contaminate our environment.
- Bio-degradable personal hand soaps.
- Horses (for equipment and personal items) including horsemen. They carry camping equipments, food and kitchen utensils. We provide duffel bags at your briefing for your personal items. (up to 7 kg/15 lbs. per person)
- If you are ill or are a bit slow, we will have a horse for emergency purpose.
- Tents for our staff.
- First aid kit including emergency oxygen bottle.
Meals
- Chef and Cooking equipments. (Assistants are provided for larger groups)
- Meals as indicated in the itinerary (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 water.
- Warm water every morning and evening for washing purposes / boiled water to fill in your water bottle every morning and night and at lunch time if requested with enough time ahead.
- Dining tent with camp tables and chairs & kitchen tent for the cook to prepare meals.
Ausangate Sibinacocha Trek Does Not Include:
- Breakfast on the first morning.
- Dinner on the last night.
- Sleeping bags – If you haven’t one then you can hire from us.
- Tips: Please note that our agency staff are well paid so please feel free to tip or not as you wish.
What we recommend you to bring:
- 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.
- Rain gear (jacket and pants if available) or rain poncho. Plastic ponchos can be bought for about $1 in Cusco .
- Strong footwear, waterproof trekking boots recommended. Extra socks are a must.
- 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 for sleeping. *This is a particularly cold trek, you should make sure you have plenty of warm clothes.
- Sleeping bag. (we can hire these to you)
- Torch/ Flashlight and spare batteries.
- Camera, films and batteries. (batteries consume more quickly under cold conditions)
- 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, dry fruits, muesli, etc.
- Non-disposable canteen (Nalgene type) and water for the first morning.
- We advise you to bring water sterilizing tablets in case you collect water from streams.
- Your own medical kit with any special medications that you might require, paracetamol, second skin for blisters etc.
- Small towel or sarong.
- Bathers/swimsuit. (if you intend on swimming in hot springs )
- Cash – sufficient for snacks and souvenirs.
- Original passport & ISIC (International Student Identity Card) if you have one.
- Walking sticks or poles.
- We can hire the following to you – please contact your Travel Consultant / or our booking forms for the current rates.
- Sleeping Bag suitable for minus 15 degrees celcius.
- Thermarest inflatable mattress.
How to make a booking
If you would like to make a reservation for this trek, please e-mail us.
- Once you have chosen your tour, please read the Terms & Conditions, as your booking is subject to these terms.
- Then fill out and submit the reservation form that you will find in the Online booking section of this website.
- We request you to pay 50% of the booking amount in advance to confirm the booking.
- We will be sending you a confirmation message with all details of the trek.
In case you have any doubts, queries or require additional information, please contact us we will be glad to assist you.
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 | 1185 | 860 | 795 | 720 | 640 | 610 | X |
|---|