This beautiful walking tour is taken through impressive landscapes of the mountain range Vilcanota (to the southeast of Cuzco) in the midst of snowy peaks, andean glaciars and local fauna. In addition, one has the opportunity to experience local living with natives who continue to maintain their indigenous Andean culture. The tour passes through the largest snowy peak in the region, that of el Ausangate. The routes and camping sites have been groomed in such a way as to facilitate access and safety while additionally offering much to enjoy in the way of a unique environment.
In order to best prepare for the hiking tour, it´s advisable to take two days of acclimatization in the surroundings of Cuzco so that our team can offer all the facilities and comforts necessary to enjoy the route to its fullest.

Map

Day 1:  Cusco (3,350m // 10,990 feet) - Tinki (3,900m // 12,795 feet) - Pacchanta (4,240m // 13,910 feet)

• Early morning departure from Hotel headed for the Cordillera Vilcanota aboard private bus.
• During our journey we shall go over the Pass of Ccatca (4,200m // 13,779feet), after which we will reach the towns of Ccatca and Ocongate (3,700m // 12,139feet). Finally, we arrive at the village of Tinki (3,900m // 12,795feet), an authentic indigenous settlement, where we meet up with our friendly muleteers (arrieros). After introductions and greetings, rituals of prosperity and offerings to the Pachamama and the Apus (Tutelar Mountain Spirits) commence.  We then set forth on the trail to begin our trek.
• Night in Pacchanta (4240m // 13,910 pies) near the hot springs.
• Number of bus hours: 4h.
• Ascent:
• Descent
• Number o trekking hours: 3h30.
• Lodging: Overnight in Camping site.
• L/D

Day 2: Pacchanta - Pachaspata (4,650m // 15,255feet)

• This day we hike along the flat highland plateau known as the puna .We ascend gradually, following  the main course of a stream, in the direction of the first "Abra", or Pass. The view of the greatest towering peaks of the Cordillera Vilcanota is fascinating: Colquecruz (6,110m // 20,045feet), Chimbaya (6,010m // 19,717feet), Mariposa (5018m // 16,463feet), and Ausangate (6384m // 20,944feet - highest mountain in the department of Cusco). The trail is not at all difficult. Several lakes of varying and contrasting color are passed along the way. Eventually we reach Pachaspata at an altitude of 4650m / 15,255feet, which is situated at the foot of the northeast face of Ausangate.  Overnight in Pachaspata.
• Number of trekking hours: 6 hours
• Ascent:
• Descent
• Lodging: Overnight in camping site.
• BLD

Day 3: Pachaspata - Chilca (4,400m // 14,435feet).

• This day we placidly head towards Campa Pass (4900m // 16,076feet), skirting the slopes of the Aguja Puka Punta massif and the snow capped peak known as Tres Puntas. Lying about, scattered atop this pass, are a considerable number of "Apachetas" - which are "Cairns", piles of stacked rocks, consecrated to the mountain spirits- where the Arrieros (muleteers), imbued by the deep faith and beliefs of their magic-religious world, stop for short while to deposit propitious offerings and add yet one more rock to the pile.
• A particularly outstanding feature of this environment, markedly noticeable around this pass, is the sharp contrast between the arid rocky desert of thin, flaky plated schistose gneiss and quartz that are traversed, and the green and ample loftiness of the fields of Yareta.  The Yareta (Azorella yarita, a peripheral member of the cruciferae family) is a characteristic plant of the high puna region; its appearance is that of a bright green cushion-like growth, sticky and hard to the touch, composed of thousands of rosettes of tiny leaves.  This plant can cover an area of as much as thirty square meters; yet grow only 1.5 millimeters per year. They can be thousands of years old. We now begin going down into the watershed of the Chilca River, although in a general upstream direction, skirting high slopes for about 1½ hours around the headwaters until positioned to descend directly into our destination which is our campsite at  Chilca.
• Number of trekking hours: 7 - 8 hours
• Ascent
• Descent
• Lodging: Overnight in camping site.
• BLD

Day 4: Chilca - Pukacocha (4550m // 14,927feet)

• A long trekking day awaits us, with two passes to surmount. The first of these is the pass of Palomani  (5,050m // 10,568feet) and thehighest point of the entire circuit. After 2 hours of steady climbing, an astonishing landscape unfolds: a corridor of reddish-brown earth and schist - devoid of ice and snow- on the left slope of the Ausangate massiff, known as the cliff of Aucatauri.  The nearby top of the pass affords us a stunning view of the main peak of Ausangate and the summit of nearby Mt. Santa Catalina (5,809m // 19,058 feet), as well as the Lake of Ausangate, with its striking bright green mineral -laden waters.
• The next immediate pass is Ausangate Pass, (4,800m // 15,748feet) at the top of which there is yet another magnificent panorama to behold. Surging from the severe background of the terminal moraines of the great mountain emerges another verdant valley, dotted with colorful lakes. We finish this extraordinary day of trekking arriving at our campsite on the shores of Pukacocha (the red lake).
• Number of trekking hours: 6 hours
• Ascent
• Descent
• Lodging: Overnight in camping site.
• BLD

Day 5:  Pukacocha - Upis (4,400m // 14,435feet) or Coñamuro (3900m // 12,795feet)

• This trek takes place along the bottom of a sheltered valley. The trek is easy and we have only a light ascent to contend with. Actually, we skirt along the west and northwest slopes of our favorite mountain -Ausangate -, afterwards reaching Upis, there is a camping option but an additional two hours yields another camping site in Coñamuro, close to the homes of the local habitants, an excellent opportunity to observe and participate in the customs and everyday life of the communal citizens.
• Traditional Dinner of "Pachamanca" (mutton baked in a stone lined, earth sunk oven).
• Number of Hours of the trek: 5 - 7 hours.
• Ascent
• Descent
• Lodging: Overnight in camping tent or in the vicinity of local habitant's homes.
• BLD

Day 6: End of the trek in the Cordillera Villcanota and return to Cusco.

• On this day we pull away from the impressive Ausangate Massif, and trek through the highland puna, in the company of Andean geese (huallatas) and wild ducks. Toward the northeast one marvels at the Cordilleras of Urubamba and Vilcabamba.  Soon we reach Tinki where our bus awaits us. We now retrace our journey through Ocongate and on to Cusco. Late afternoon arrival in Cusco.
• Return to Hotel
• Number of Hours of the trek: 3 - 4 hours
• Ascent
• Descent
• BL

The sequence of times and camping places indicated are subject to modification depending on weather conditions or unforeseen events

The price Includes:

• Transportation and excursions included in the program.
• 5 breakfasts + 6 lunches + 5 dinners.
• Sleeping Tents for 5 Days + camping equipment
• Pack animals and Muleteers + 1 emergency saddle.
• Professional and Qualified Guides, with specific Mountaineering training and instruction received in Cusco and in Huaraz, ample experience in trekking, English and (or) Spanish-speaking. For knowledge of any other language, please contact us: info@travelatin.com
• Trail Cook.

The price not include:

• Extras drinks and beverages.
• Tips
• Sleeping Bag.
• Trekking shoes.
• Any personal equipment, clothing, backpack, etc.

Prices may vary according to type of accommodation, time of year and number of participants. Please CONTACT US: info@travelatin.com for further information.

1- Extra day in Cusco

We recommend you to remain one extra day in Cusco and enjoy the city environs and its friendly people

• The Price Includes: 1 Night in hotel, 1 breakfast
• The Price does not include: Lunch, Dinner, Gratuities, Additional drinks, Entrances, Transfer and Tours

2.- Excursion Combined by Cusco City:

Pleasant excursion of half day for visit the archaeological and colonial attractive of Cusco city: Koricancha, Cathedral and the archaeological places around the city

• The Price Includes: Transport and Excursion, professional Guide
• The Price does not include:Entrance BTC (Tourist ticket), Entrance to the Temple of the Sun and the Cathedral, Gratuities.

3.- Excursion to the Mines of salt in Maras - Moray - Saline - Cusco:

The colorful population of Maras, multicolored whim of the nature, lodges the more important mines of salt of the region being operated from the Incanato and the Virreinal period, where it was the first producing center of salt of the southern part of the mountain range.

• The Price Includes: Transport, 01 Lunch in familiar restaurant, 01 specialized guide
• The Price does not include: Lunch, Dinner, Gratuities, Additional drinks, Entrances, Entrances to Moray and Salt mines of Maras.

For extra days oganization contact us at: info@travelatin.com.