Ausangate and Rainbow Mountain Trek

Arrive in Cusco, Peru at the Cusco International Airport. Transportation to your hotel is included, and at your hotel you’ll meet your guide for tour briefing. Depending on what time you arrive, you will probably have time to explore the city. The city of Cusco, high in the Andes mountains, was the capital of the ancient Incan Empire. There are many remains left from the Incas and you can also see Spanish mansions and churches. Cusco also offers a vibrant nightlife and wonderful Peruvian restaurants.

Today is free for you to explore Cusco at your own pace, wherever your interests take you. It’s also great to acclimatize to the elevation, as you’re at 3,399m (11,200’). There is so much to see, do, and learn here in South America’s oldest, continuously inhabited city. What was once the Inca’s capital city has now become the archaeological capital of South America.

To help you make the most of your visit, one additional tours is available. You have the choice between the Sacred Valley Tour and the Maras Moray Tour.

The Sacred Valley Tour is a full day of experiences. You’ll visit an Indian market in Pisac to experience this colourful tradition. You can barter with the local craftsmen to purchase unique, handmade souvenirs. You’ll then travel to the town of Ollantaytambo, a town of narrow streets and canals that are largely unchanged since the time the Incas inhabited it. Finally, visit the Chinchero market. This market is more authentic and less geared toward tourists. According to legend, Chinchero is the birthplace of the rainbow. When you are finished in Chinchero, return to Cusco.

The Maras Moray tour begins with a drive from your hotel to Moray (approx. 1.5 hours). Moray is known as the “Inca agricultural greenhouse or laboratory.” Here, the Incas carved amphitheatre-like terraces in a bowl shape. It is thought that these were used to test and determine optimal growing conditions for different crops. After exploring Moray, continue another two miles to visit the Maras salt mines. In this area, you can see a series of tiny channels carved so that the highly salty water coming from a natural spring would run into terraced ponds. Exposed to the sun, the water dries and leaves the salt behind. It is believed that salt was harvested in this way in this place since a time before even the Incas. After exploring the Maras salt mines, return to Cusco.

Get an early start today, meeting at your hotel at 4:30 AM for a 3.5-hour drive to the village of Upis. The drive itself is scenic, driving through several picturesque towns and stopping several times to enjoy scenic overlooks. Arriving at the Ausangate and Rainbow Mountain trailhead in Upis (4,350 m / 14,272 ft), your group will have breakfast and meet up with local muleteers and pack horses. Load up the gear and prepare to begin your trek! The trail begins with a gradual uphill climb for about 2.5 hours. You’ll follow a highland valley where you’ll likely see native llamas and alpacas. Majestic views of Ausangate Mountain and the surrounding mountains await you at Pampa Rapa (4,600 m / 15,092 ft), where you will stop for lunch. Energized by a delicious meal, continue hiking up for about 2 hours to reach the Arapa Pass (4,800 m / 15,748) where you’ll find impressive views of highland valleys and eroded mountains. Descend again for about 1.5 hours to reach the Yanacocha campsite (4,650 m / 15,256 ft), where you’ll spend the night with a great view of Ausangate.

Wake up to watch the sunrise over the massive and rugged mountains that surround you and continue to enjoy the view over breakfast. As you begin your trek for the day, the trail leads you up and down toward Ausangate. This is one of the more picturesque sections of the trail, as the brilliant turquoise lagoons around the base of Ausangate come into view. Ausangate grows more impressive the closer you come, and with an elevation of 6,384 m (20,945 ft), it is the tallest mountain in the Cusco region. After about 1.5 hours of hiking, you’ll reach a series of switchbacks that take you up to a pass at 5,000 m (16,404 ft). From this scenic overlook, take in the dramatic and impressive vistas of the colored hills and glacial peaks of the Vilcanota range. Hike down from the pass into the valley until you reach Ananta (4,650 m / 15,256 ft), where you will stop to rest and eat lunch. After lunch, another 2 hours of uphill trekking brings you to the Warmisaya Pass (5,000 m / 16,404 ft). Here you’ll get your first glimpse of the impressive Rainbow Mountain in the distance. Just 30 more minutes of hiking downhill will bring you to your campsite for the night at Qomercocha (4,680 m / 15,354 ft).

Begin your day with a hearty breakfast, preparing yourself to hike to Rainbow Mountain today. Get on the trail early and hike for approximately 1.5 hours to trek to the renowned Rainbow Mountain (5,050 m / 16,568 ft). This popular peak is often crowded, but because of your early start, your group should have it mostly to yourselves for a little while. After enjoying the peak of Rainbow Mountain, return down via the same trail again to have lunch at Ananta (4,650 m / 15,256 ft), the same place you had lunch yesterday. Continue hiking for about 3 hours after lunch to reach your next campsite, Ausangate Qocha (4,700 m / 15,420 ft).

Today on your Ausangate and Rainbow Mountain tour, continue to explore the exquisite and colorful hills surrounding Ausangate, including even more glacial lakes. After breakfast, today’s trail leads you up to Palomani Pass (5,130 m / 16,831 ft), which is the highest point on this tour. Pause here to enjoy the view, then descend down into the valley to enjoy lunch and a longer rest. Later in the afternoon, another 2-hour hike brings you to the Jhampapampa campsite (4,700 m / 15,420 ft) where you will enjoy tea time, followed by dinner, then spend the night.

Once again, your chef will provide you with a substantial breakfast to fuel your day of hiking, then hit the trail. Begin with a gradual climb up to the final pass of the tour at Jhampa Pass (5,060 m / 16,601 ft), which once again offers incredible views of the glacial peaks in this area. After crossing this pass, your trek leads downhill for about 2 hours until you reach your final campsite at Ninaparayoq (4,700 m / 15,420 ft). Arrive here in time to eat lunch, then spend the afternoon relaxing and enjoying the campsite and its surrounding area.

Greet the morning with a hot cup of coca tea and another delicious breakfast, then hike the final stretch of trail for about 2.5 hours to the town of Pacchanta. Here at the end of the trail you’ll enjoy a relaxing soak in the natural hot springs, which will feel amazing after all the hiking you’ve done. Eat lunch here before taking a 4-hour drive through the Sacred Valley from Pacchanta to Ollantaytambo. Take time to explore this lovely and historic town, walking in the footsteps of the Incas on their ancient cobblestone streets. Enjoy a celebration dinner and toast your completed hike with pisco sours. In the evening, say farewell to the muleteers, chef, and other staff that assisted on the trek, and take a train to the town of Aguas Calientes, near Machu Picchu. Spend the night in a comfortable hotel.

Once again, your day starts early, but with a great reward. After breakfast, meet your guide at 5:40 AM, ready to explore for the day. From Aguas Calientes, ride the bus (approx. 30 min) to Machu Picchu in time to watch the sunrise over the ancient city. Begin with a guided walking tour of the Citadel that lasts about 2 hours, then explore the area freely on your own. With advanced booking, an optional hike to climb Wayna (Huayna) Picchu, the mountain behind Machu Picchu, can be arranged for an additional fee. The Wayna Picchu hike shows you new perspectives on Machu Picchu, as well as fascinating steps that the Incas cut into the rocks. Permits are required, so book this tour as early as possible. Return by bus to Aguas Calientes to eat lunch, then take the train back to Ollantaytambo. Transportation from the train station back to your hotel is provided.

Optional: You can also choose to climb to the top of Wayna (Huayna) Picchu, scenic mountain near Machu Picchu, that has amazing views of the site from another angle. Make sure to book this hike long time in advance, as there is limited number of permits issued for every day. Check Dates and Prices for more information about the price.

Sadly, the time has come for your Ausangate, Rainbow Mountain Trek and Machu Picchu tour to end. After breakfast, depending on your flight times, you have free time to explore Cusco, and possibly to enjoy extra optional activities until it is time for your transfer to the airport. Have a pleasant journey!