We will pick you up at 5:00 am. Then, you will have a three-hour drive to the trailhead at Pukutuni School. At this place, you will have breakfast and meet your group, including a local chef and riders. We will then be on our way and start by hiking up an ample, ascending path to the northeast face of the impressive Ausangate Mountain. You will hike for three hours to your lunch location, enjoying stunning views of the Ausangate snow-peaks along the way. We will pass by some traditional houses where we can see the local people dressed in colorful traditional clothes while accompanying the grazing animals that are indigenous to this area: llamas and alpacas. Camp at Upis Hot Springs where we will have lunch surrounded by snowcapped mountains (Ausangate and Maria Huamantilla). There are thermal hot springs at Upis where we can enjoy a soak at the end of the day. After lunch, we will have the option to walk on a two-hour round trip to Ausangate Lake. We will return and have dinner.
We will wake you up today with a hot drink in your tent to give you the energy boost you need to get going. After breakfast, we begin our second day of the hike. You will hike very close to the Ausangate glacier peak, and on the way, you will enjoy breathtaking views of the mountain, just as beautiful lakes and waterfalls. We can see some wild llamas, alpacas, and vicuñas (the undomesticated ancestor of the alpaca) and perhaps a rare condor soaring above. We will have a 3-hour uphill hike to reach the first pass (4800m/15,748ft) where you will have magnificent views of the surrounding area. After taking a few amazing pictures we continue hiking gradually downhill for another 1.5 hours to our beautiful lunch spot.
After lunch, we hike for another 2 hours to arrive at our campsite at Puca Ccocha (Red Lake). This campsite is one of the most beautiful campsites located at the skirt of the Ausangate peak and the bank of the lake. Later, we will explore the surrounding lagoons and relax with a delicious hot drink. In the evening, a nutritious dinner will be waiting for you. you will then head to spend a comfortable night at your campsite.
Wake up early with a hot drink or hot water to start one of the special days of the trek, enjoying majestic views of some of the highest peaks in the Andes and depths of the beautiful valleys. This morning we will summit the Puca Pass. After an early breakfast, we begin our 2-hour steep climb to the Puca Pass at (5050m/16,568ft). During the hike, we have gorgeous views of turquoise lakes and the Ausangate glacier. Once you reach the summit of this mountain, you will be located right in front of the Ausangate Mountain and you can enjoy the views of Chillca Valley, with alpaca grazing along these hills. Also, from this pass, you will see the beginning of the Rainbow Mountain range with its strikingly striated colors. After you've taken a few great photos, we gradually continued downhill for 2 hours until we reached our lunch point at Anantapata (4400m/14,435ft).
After lunch and a little rest, we will hike gradually uphill for 1.5 hours until we reach the Warmisaya (aka Pitumarca) pass 5050m/16,568ft. After enjoying the views at the top, we descend for 20 minutes to our campsite at Surinecocha lake (4500m/14,764ft). After dropping our bags, we take our gradual 1-hour sunset hike to the Rainbow Mountain Pass and watch as the sun sets over the stunning Rainbow Valley. Once we have finished enjoying the view, we will walk 45 minutes back to the camp in Surinecocha to have happy hour (hot drinks and snacks) followed by a hearty dinner.
After a very early breakfast (5:00 am), we hike 1 hour up to the Rainbow Mountain Pass (Vinicunca Mountains or Montañas de Colores), the highest pass of the trek, again to see the beautiful Rainbow Valley at sunrise (5050m/16,568ft)! Enjoy the view for an hour without the crowds as we are one of the first groups to arrive. Your guide will walk you to the best spots to get the perfect postcard pictures of these incredible mountains and the other surrounding peaks. After enjoying this gem from the Peruvian Andes, we will begin our trek toward the spectacular Red Valley. Very few tourists visit this place which is very similar to the planet of Mars. You will be surprised not only by its incredible beauty but also by its immense tranquility.
After enjoying the sunrise view, we hike for 1.5 hours to the small community of Hanchipata or Cusipata (3800m/12,467ft), where we will have lunch and end our trek. After lunch, our private transport will drive us back to your hotel in Cusco – about a 3.5-hour drive that provides beautiful views of the Andes, passing some traditional villages along the way.
Me and my wife had a wonderful trek with Apu Ausangate. We opted for the 3 days 2 nights. We would be joining another couple that were doing the 4 day. Julio organised a transfer so we could join them for their 2nd day. The whole trek was amazing start to finish. Ricardo, Pascal, Walter, Pancho and he's wife made our 3 day trek the most memorable experience. We had the best food and service. 100% recommend.
Our 4-day, 3-night Ausangate Trek with Ruben was an unforgettable experience. Ruben was truly one of the highlights of our trek. From the very beginning, we felt that we were in good hands. His knowledge of the mountains, the local culture, and the history of the region made the experience so much more meaningful. He was always professional, attentive, patient, and happy to share his knowledge with us. Beyond being an excellent guide, Ruben was a genuinely kind and welcoming person. He made us feel comfortable throughout the trek and helped make some of the difficult moments easier. We will definitely remember the conversations, the incredible landscapes, and the moments we shared along the way. We were also very happy with Apu Ausangate. Everything was well organized, and we felt well taken care of from beginning to end. A huge thank you to Ruben for making this adventure so special. We couldn’t have asked for a better guide for such an incredible trek. We highly recommend Ruben and Apu Ausangate! 🏔️❤️
We had an absolutely incredible experience on our 4-day, 3-night Ausangate trek with Apu Ausangate and our guide, Ruben. Everything was exactly as it had been explained to us beforehand, and the entire organization was flawless from beginning to end. The food was excellent throughout the trek, the support with the horses was extremely well organized, and the setup and breakdown of the tents every day was handled perfectly. We were able to fully enjoy the trek without having to worry about any of the logistics. What really made this experience special, however, was Ruben. He is an exceptional guide and, more importantly, a genuinely wonderful person. He was kind, patient, attentive, knowledgeable and always made sure that we felt comfortable and safe. His calm and reassuring presence gave us a lot of confidence throughout the trek, especially during the more challenging sections at altitude. We are extremely happy and grateful that we were able to complete this trek. The Ausangate region is absolutely spectacular and, in our opinion, is an incredible alternative for people looking for a more authentic, peaceful and less crowded trekking experience in Peru. We have nothing but great things to say about Apu Ausangate and especially about Ruben. We would definitely recommend this company and this trek to anyone considering hiking Ausangate. Thank you Ruben and the entire Apu Ausangate team for an unforgettable experience!
This was the most spectacular hike I've ever been on and made all the more special by how remote it was - we barely saw any other groups and it felt like we had all the magical scenery to ourselves. Ruben was a fantastic guide, such an encourager and making sure we all were safe and comfortable. Mr Gere and Jonny cooked up such a feast for us each day and the horsemen Jonny and Santiago were fab too - cheering us along each step of the way. Also lovely to support the local community as the company's owner is from Upis, the tiny village where the trek begins. Would highly recommend Apu Ausengate to take you on this magical trek!
We did the Ausangate Classic Trek ind 5d/4n and had a wonderful time from start to finish. We were a group of six, and it turned out to be a really cool and easygoing bunch, which made the whole experience even better. The entire team, including the kitchen staff, was incredibly kind and hands-on, and helped us enormously with everything. The cooking was exceptional. The food, including the vegetarian options, was absolutely brilliant, far beyond what we had expected out on the trail. A special mention goes to our guide Ruben. He was outstanding. He shared a wealth of advice and local knowledge, kept a close eye on all of us and stepped in whenever someone was struggling, and handled the coordination with a calm flexibility that made everything feel effortless. He was a big part of why this trek was so memorable for the whole group. The outward journey went just as smoothly as the trek itself, and we really appreciated the meal on the way back as well as the overall organisation. The communication beforehand, about what to bring and how and where, was flawless, and the arrangements with the bags worked out perfectly. There is honestly very little we could fault. We were extremely satisfied and would happily recommend you.
We had a very nice and well organized 6 days tour around the Ausangate mountain including the rainbow mountains. Our guide Ruben was knowledgeable, flexible and pleasant. We had good conversations about many different topics including the Inca history. Food and tents were nice and we even had a toilet tent. I can highly recommend this company if you want to do the Ausangate trek.
Six days of hiking around this beautiful mountain range. All we had to do was walking. All the other things were taken care of. Wake-Up service with a cup of tea. Nice breakfast in the dining tent to wake up. We usually left early with our guide. Our camp would be loaded on the horses and the chef and horseman would pass us after some time. At lunchtime the tent was erected and warm lunch prepared. We never ate the same meal twice. Which is amazing considering the conditions in the mountains. Sometimes we stayed in the same place to enjoy the surroundings sometimes we continued a bit further. We could adjust the plan if we wanted after talking with our guide. The six day hike also offered the opportunity to see Rainbow Mountain twice. When we arrived in the late afternoon, we were the only visitors. Also early in the morning we were almost the only ones. One hour later we could see the crowd going up. Every day was different. We were well taken care off. Our guide was very pleasant and knowledgeable but he also gave us enough space to enjoy the silence. We can highly recommend Apu for this tailormade experience.
I did the 4 days Ausangate Trek with Apu Ausangate trek and it was a truly unforgettable experience! The landscapes along the way are spectacular, and the atmosphere is one of total immersion in nature – pure magic. Our guide, Ruben, was fantastic: always kind, helpful and very prepared. He accompanied us discreetly, also leaving us the freedom to enjoy the walk according to our rhythms and curiosity. The staff of cooks and horseman was simply exceptional. Every day they prepared breakfast, lunch, snack and dinner with an amazing variety and quality. We really missed nothing! And as if that wasn’t enough, on our way back to Cusco, when we were thinking of stopping at a restaurant, they even prepared us a last lunch at the time in a camping area. An extra attention that we really appreciated. At first I had some fears about fatigue and altitude, but with this type of support I would do it again right away. I recommend this experience to those looking for an authentic and unforgettable experience!
I did the Ausangate trek and it was fantastic. I will never forget the beautiful landscapes—from the glacier of Ausangate to the Rainbow Mountain (and also the Red Valley, which I highly recommend). Ruben, our guide, was attentive to our pace and gave helpful advice for dealing with altitude sickness. He also shared fascinating insights into Peru’s history, traditions, and nature. The chef’s cooking was a real discovery of the many facets of Peruvian cuisine, and it was a big surprise. After long walks and in the cold evenings, the soups and magnificent dishes were incredibly comforting. The whole team (guide, chef, horseman) made me feel comfortable and safe throughout the trek. I could feel the love for the mountains from everyone at Apu Ausangate Trek. PS: Nights can be cold, so I recommend bringing warm clothes!
After our Ausangate trek was canceled by one of the big agencies at the last minute, Apu Ausangate Trek saved the day and was able to organise a trek tailored to our needs in record time. We couldn’t be happier with our choice. From the very beginning, Julio and his team were incredibly helpful, responsive, and professional. Everything was perfectly organized and executed. Meeting Julio, the owner, in person was a real highlight – he’s not just running a business; he truly cares about your experience in Cusco. You immediately feel that he’s passionate about what he does and genuinely wants you to enjoy every moment. The trek itself was unforgettable. The food was outstanding and gave us a delicious window into Peruvian cuisine. The team created a warm, friendly atmosphere, and our guide Ruben was both extremely knowledgeable about local culture and traditions, and a genuinely kind person. Our driver was also excellent – always punctual and made us feel safe on the road. Although Apu Ausangate is a smaller agency and doesn’t have as many reviews as some of the bigger names yet, they offer the best service at a very competitive price. We wholeheartedly recommend trusting them with your adventures in and around Cusco!
It was a wonderfull experience! Thanks to our guide John we could do this trekking at or own tempo but still jad the opportunities to explore a lot. This tour is perfect for those who are searching for an off the beaten path crossing so much different landscapes. Truly wonderfull! Also a special thanks to our horseman Ilario and our chef Gerra who made our trekking really comfortable and took care of us in the best way. Food was a lot,various and delicious! Would definitely recommend!
We had an unique experience with Apu Ausangate Trek, they really provide a amazing service 100% recomended to all who is planning to hike in Ausangate.
I recommend 1000% Apu Ausangate trek they are just amazing, the organization with our amazing guide Julio and the team was just fantastic, was 5 starts service , our guide was local from the area which makes more comfortable and safe, he's really knowledge about all traditions, Flora and fauna of the area,the chef Oscar is the best I had in my entire trip in Perú making wonderful meals on the trek . The highlight of the trek is the rainbow mountain on the last day we received the sunrise there and took unique pictures without people.
This tour with Apo Ausangate was definitely the highlight of our trip. We are on our honeymoon and have gone on several treks as we enjoy hiking and nature. Apo Ausangate team especially our guide Julio made this trek truly a unique experience that left us with good memories that will last forever. During the trek Apo Ausangate team made sure we got everything we needed l7ke extra blankets when we were cold at night and were flexible with the hikes making changes according to our preferences. Finally, I can't finish this review without mentioning the delicious meals prepared by chef Oscar (he even prepared a cake in the middle of no where), and the horseman who made our convenience hos first priority. I Truly recommend to book with Apo Ausangate trek.
Our 4-day trek through Ausangate and Rainbow Mountain was the highlight of our honeymoon. The trip was absolutely incredible. Our guide was knowledgeable and incredibly accommodating, always ensuring our comfort even if it meant adjusting the schedule. He even provided us with hot water bottles and extra blankets because we weren’t prepared for the cold weather. The entire crew was exceptional. The chef impressed us daily with a variety of delicious meals, and the surprise cake in the middle of nowhere was a delightful and memorable touch. The horseman was also very helpful, taking great care of our belongings. This team made our vacation unforgettable. If I could give more than 5 stars, I certainly would. Thank you so much!
Our 4-day trek through Ausangate and Rainbow Mountain was the highlight of our honeymoon. The trip was absolutely incredible. Our guide was knowledgeable and incredibly accommodating, always ensuring our comfort even if it meant adjusting the schedule. He even provided us with hot water bottles and extra blankets because we weren’t prepared for the cold weather. The entire crew was exceptional. The chef impressed us daily with a variety of delicious meals, and the surprise cake in the middle of nowhere was a delightful and memorable touch. The horseman was also very helpful, taking great care of our belongings. This team made our vacation unforgettable. If I could give more than 5 stars, I certainly would. Thank you so much!
We had an amazing time with Julio and his team. The trip was very good organized. The company did a great job from the first contact to the great pictures and videos they send us afterwards. We wanted to do the Ausangate treck. But we did not have any camping gear. I read before that most companies have no or only low quality sleeping bags. So I was worried. But we were lucky to find Apu Ausangate Treck. The could provide us everything. Warm sleeping bags, double layers of matresses, Alpaka blankets, flashlights.... The tour combining Ausangate and Rainbow Mountain is perfect. We got a wide range of Perus fascinating countryside: Glaciers, lagoons, red and colerful mountains. We could bath in hot spring and saw a lot of animals. Julio is born in the region, so he was the perfect guide and could give us a lot of Information. He was also caring (in the beginning we had little problems with the altitude) and motivating. The whole team took very well care of us. We had a lot of fun during the delicious meals. So we can higly recommand this tour with Julio and the Apu Ausangate Treck Team.
We did the ausangate trek to the rainbow mountain with Julio. We had the best time! Everything was well organized and the food was great. Julio is amazing, he has great english and he's very professional. He has a great knowledge of the place and he is sensitive to struggles with the hike and altitude sickness. Highly recommended! A special trek with special people 😃
4 day 3 night Rainbow mountain + Ausangate trek - solo female It was the best experience of my life. The trek was beautiful all the way. My guide Julio was amazing, patience and well knowledge. Him and the team made my birthday so special, I felt like a princess all the way. The horseman Hilario was amazing and the chef the best he make a cake in the middle of nowhere. Thanks you so much for this wonderful experience.
We spent 4 days trekking with the Apu Ausangate Trek agency. Superb trek. Everything was well organized. Thanks to our guide Juan, the cook, and the 2 young men who took care of the horses. I highly recommend this agency
Thank you very much to the Apu Ausangate Trek Agency and to Maritza and Julio, thank you very much for organizing our trip to Cusco, which was very nice and well organized, so I am going to return to continue discovering more adventures in Cusco, everything was very nice, I recommend this agency. Trip guys. Thank you very much for everything M and J
The entire trip has been incredible, very good service, both the guide and the modality, highly recommended to be able to enjoy Cusco in its splendor. Thanks to the Apu Ausangate agency.
Ausangate, I still can't find words to describe how glorious my experience was. We embarked on an unforgettable journey full of emotions and pleasures that she and the pleasures it offers like crystallization and how to forget the calm that one can find, and a fresh and fun experience filled with beautiful natural corners. Greetings July!! The best guide and friend
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