Ausangate Trek and Rainbow Mountain (Vinicunca) – 5 Days / 4 Nights

Name: Ausangate Trek and Rainbow Mountain (Vinicunca) - 5 Days / 4 Nights
Brand: Peru Spirit Adventure
SKU: 5896587112332
Availability: InStock
Rating: 5 (35 reviews)

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Ausangate Trek and Rainbow Mountain (Vinicunca) – 5 Days / 4 Nights

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Hiking, Archaeology & Cultural

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Leisurely (Easy, gentle walk, stone steps)

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Peru Spirit Adventure » Tours » Ausangate Treks » Ausangate Trek and Rainbow Mountain (Vinicunca) – 5 Days / 4 Nights

Experience the Magnificent Ausangate Circuit Trek and Rainbow Mountain

Ausangate Trek 5 Days-Explore the remote, untouched wilderness of the Ausangate trek circuit including the stunning Vinicunca Rainbow Mountain on a 5-day journey around the skirt of wondrous snow-capped Sacred Mountain (“Apu”) of Ausangate (6,372mt/20,900ft), which is the 10th highest mountain of the Americas and the highest peak in Cusco region. During the whole Ausangate trek circuit we will pass local villages, where the people dress in their typical attire. Our amazing and unique Ausangate trek itinerary will take you to discover the most beautiful scenery of the Peruvian Andes, with its dazzling Ausangate peaks and glaciers, high turquoise alpine lakes, rainbow mountains, hot springs, where llamas and alpacas graze freely around. Besides, the Ausangate trek is one of the picturesque treks, the highest altitude treks in Peru that traverses high altitude passes over (5,000mt/ 16,000ft).

Tour Name: Ausangate Trek Circuit and the Rainbow Mountain
Tour/Trek Duration: 5 Days/4 Nights
Location/Terrain: Glacial, snow-capped peaks, turquoise lakes, multiple high passes, rocky terrain, screed
Accommodation: 4 nights camping facilities, we use four person tents that are shared by only two people, come with one-Inch thick foam mattress pad, and pillow. Therma-Rest and sleeping bags are provided upon request.
Acclimatization: Due to the high altitude, we recommend 2 to 3 days in Cusco before embarking on our 5 day Ausangate and Rainbow Mountain hike
Adventure Rating ★★★★★ Very Strenuous – Challenging, lengthy and high altitude with an averaging 16,400 feet above sea level, and campgrounds are 14,435 feet above sea level. This trek is designed for very experience active travelers in excellent physical and health condition. Full-day hikes (8-9 hours), mountainous, some very steep terrain (hiking up or down as much as 4,000 feet) on many days, with some camping and hiking at extreme altitudes along remote mountain slopes, where you can enjoy quiet nights under a star-filled sky.
Activities: Hiking / Trekking, Camping Adventure
Altitude: 3700m/12,139ft to 5135m/16,850ft
Departures: Daily departures with 2 or more people
Customizable: Yes! Private, custom, add-ons all available

What's it like

An ultimate enhanced-adventure to the Rainbow Mountain & Ausangate mountain is a truly off the beaten path adventure of Peru, which is designed to discover this part world’s charm. So get ready for a mind-blowing experience on our bucket list adventure – if you are looking for a beautiful and more remote trek, the Ausangate trek may be perfect for you. Embark on this once in a lifetime trek to the highest mountain in Cusco and the stunning rainbow mountains. Peru Spirit Adventure will take your trip to a whole new level with unforgettable experiences unique to the places you trek through without the interference of other trekkers.

Come with us, and hike on of the Top Ten highly Recommended Treks in the World, and get ready to hear the most fantastic stories and local legends from our expert tour guides while exploring the snow-clad mountains, coloured hills with alpacas & llamas and dramatic vistas color in this part of Cusco with pure and plain nature.

This isn’t a trek for all, but those who want to get off the beaten path will find this an adventure of a lifetime. The landscape is like nothing else you will have ever seen. Ausangate trek 5 days- is truly breathtaking

Hike along the Ausangate trekking circuit with spectacular views of glaciers, turquoise alpine lakes with flocks of aquatic birds, and rugged mountains around the Ausangate Peak
Get off the beaten path and explore remote mountains along the Ausangate hike, in a high Andean realm close by to herd of llamas, and alpacas to the fantastic Rainbow Mountain
Experience the Magnificent Ausangate Trek, including the unique natural formations on earth the Rainbow Mountain with a specialist guide.
Camp along remote mountainsides, enter into remote Andean culture preserved in rich Incan culture, and see an unforgettable night sky, in the Cordillera Vilcanota.
This is fully supported trek by an emergency horse, horseman and horses (to carry tents, food, cooking gear and backpacks), and private trek leader
Travel with your own private guide, muleteers, horses, delicious camp cuisine prepared by your personal cook.
Enjoy the comforts of our legendary Ausangate Trek camping services—the best on the trail and a bucket-list trail high in the Andes.
Small groups, Big adventures (min 2 – max 8 / average 4)
Ausangate Trek 5 days direct & official local tour operator based in Cusco, managed by locals & accredited by the Peruvian Ministry of Tourism.

Pre-Trek Briefing:

The night before your Ausangate trek 5 days, your guide will provide a full pre-trek briefing at your hotel or other agreed upon location, and you can take this opportunity to ask questions about the trek itinerary and make any final preparations. You will also be given your duffle bag so that you can pack your gear for the trek. Please take this into consideration when booking your travel plans to Cusco, ensuring you arrive in time for the briefing.

Day 1: Cusco – Ocongate – Tinque – Upis – Yana Qocha Camp

To start our 5 day Ausangate trek and Rainbow Mountain, our expert trekking guide will pick you up at 5 am from your hotel in Cusco and then, we will drive in our private vehicle for approximately 3.5 hours to the trailhead of Ausangate trek. Along the journey, we will pass through different colorful villages following the highway to Puerto Maldonado. After driving for 3 hours, we stop at Tinque (3815mt. 12513ft.) to use a bathroom and buy something we forgot to buy in Cusco and then continue driving for 30 minutes on a dirt road to reach the beginning of the trail.

Upon arrival to the trailhead, called Upis Village (4,350mt./ 14,272ft.). We will have time to organize our daypack and duffle bags while our trekking cook prepares the breakfast and then, we will enjoy the first breakfast with spectacular views of the Vilcanota mountain range and Apu Ausangate peak (sacred mountain) located just in front of our trekking trail, while our muleteers organize and pack the equipment for the hike. After breakfast, before starting the hike, the tour guide will introduce you to the staff of the company that will be on the Ausanagte Circuit with you.

Our trek to Ausangate begins on a small path that winds through the Andean potato and grain fields. The first three hours of hiking run over hilly pampa crossing some streaming and slight rise where you see some Andean row of houses built like in their ancestor’s time. As we hike through the spiky ichu grass of the pampa, we will have a chance to see some Andean gulls hovering on the wind, also we hike nearby of small ponds around Upis which is a perfect habitat for the Andean bird. Just before the community of Upis (4,600mt. / 15,088ft.), we will enter by broad valley heading towards the glacier where we’ll enjoy our lunch just right at the base of Ausangate Mountain (6,372 m. 20,900 ft.).

After eating the delicious lunch, we will continue ascending for 2 hours to Arapa Pass (4,800mt./15,748ft.). At the top of the pass, we will have stunning views of eroded mountains, highland valleys and wonderful view of the Ausangate Mountain behind it. From the pass, we trek across an arid hillside for 20 minutes and then we descend, sometimes quite steeply, for 1 hour and 30 minutes to get to the first campsite, called Yana Qocha (4,650 mt / 15,256 ft.), which is a place with amazing views around of the Ausangate mountain. Once we get to the Yana Qocha camp, we will have free time to take a rest or walk around the campsite before the happy hours (afternoon tea), followed by dinner. Durant the dinner, the trek leader will tell you the scheduled wake time for the next day.

Hiking Distance: 12 km / 7.46 miles
Hiking Time: 6 – 7 hours approx
Overnight Accommodations: Camping facilities
Lowest Point: 4,350mt. / 14,272ft.
Highest Point: 4,800mt. / 15,748ft.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, afternoon tea time and dinner

Day 2: Yana Qocha – Puka Qocha Pass – Qomer Qocha

Our staff will wake us up and then, we will enjoy the nutritious breakfast. After breakfast, we will begin our hike along a gently sloping trail (up and down), into a valley blue glacial lakes and waterfalls. This section of the Ausangate trail is one of the most picturesque ones, which is located along the impressive Ausangate Mountain (6,384mt. / 20,945ft.). After hiking for 1 and a half hours along these beautiful and colorful glacial lakes, called Yana Qocha (black lake) and Puca Qocha (red lake), we will start hiking up on a switchback trail to Puka Qocha Pass (5,000mt / 16,404ft.).

At the top of the pass, we will be impressed by the beautiful views of Ausangante Mountain, the lagoons below, formed by a melting glacier. In front of us, we will have an extraordinary vantage point to look down and see the snow-capped mountains going in different directions and the red valleys of the highlands with colorful mountains and an untouched landscape. Afterwards, we will take advantage of some great photographic opportunities and begin our descent into the valley, walking close to some freely grazing llamas and alpacas.

Then we will climb to reach our lunch spot called Ananta (15,092 feet), located in a highland valley with incredible views everywhere and some llamas grazing nearby. Following lunch, we continue trekking uphill for 2 hours to reach to the Warmisaya Pass (16,404ft.), from this pass, we will be able to spot the Rainbow Mountain in a further distance and views are still very impressive. After witnessing the views and taking some pictures, we will walk the last 30-45 minutes downhill to reach the second camp located at Qomer Qocha 15,354ft. At the camp, we will enjoy afternoon tea and dinner and then go to sleep, because the next day we will get up early to explore the amazing Vinicunca Rainbow Mountain.

Hiking Distance: 12 km / 7.45 miles
Hiking Time: 8 – 9 hours approx
Overnight Accommodations: Camping facilities
Lowest Point: 4,600mt. / 15,092ft.
Highest Point: 5,000mt. / 16,404ft.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, afternoon tea time and dinner

Day 3: Qomer Qocha – Vinicunca Rainbow Mountain – Ausangate Qoch

This morning, the wake-up time will very early to go and explore the painted hill or Vinicunca “Rainbow Mountain Peru”, to beat the large crowds and explore in solitude and take pictures. We only take what we need. Typically, the sky is clear and full of stars. The hiking path is uphill for about 1 and 30 minutes before reaching to the famous Rainbow Mountain.

When we arrive at the epic Rainbow Mountain, we will soak up incredible views of the Painted Hill or Vinicunca also called the 7-Color Mountain, in the Vilcanota range and we will receive information from your tour guide as to why these mountains are unique! After exploring for approximately 45 minutes (depending on your trekking speed and weather conditions), we return to our camp by the same path we took, along the way, we will have the opportunity to see some farmers who still use llamas as in the time of the Incas.

Once we arrive at the camp, we will have time to rest and enjoy the delicious lunch. In the afternoon, we will walk for 3 hours to the third camp, called Ausangate Qocha following the path along the skirt of the colorful mountains. Subsequently, we will arrive at the camp where we will enjoy afternoon tea before being served an amazing dinner.

Hiking Distance: 15 km / 9.32 miles
Hiking Time: 9 – 10 hours approx
Overnight Accommodations: Camping facilities
Lowest Point: 4,600mt. / 15,091ft.
Highest Point: 5,000mt. / 16,400ft.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, afternoon tea time and dinner

Day 4: Ausangate Qocha – Palomani Pass – Qampa Camp

After another wonderful breakfast, we begin another challenging and rewarding day. We will climb steeply for 3 hours along the shores of the lagoon Ausangate Qocha and the glacial moraine to the highest point of the Ausangate Circuit, which is the Palomani Pass 5,130m/16,831feet. Besides, the trail ascends between the red bluffs of apacheta (mound of stones) and peaceful mountains. Where we will walk with our goal of reaching the highest point

At the highest point of the entire Ausangate trek 5-day, we’ll snap the unique pictures and soak up the gratification of our achievement. Looking down the stunning valleys and Peruvian Andes (The Andes Mountain Range). After taking pictures at the pass, we will begin our descent following the trail as it loops across the steep slope passing corrals and herds of llamas and alpacas.

The view from Palomani Pass on Ausangate trek — Climb to Palomani Pass on Ausangate trek, from where you will enjoy splendid views in 360 °, you will also have an impressive view of the mountain ranges

After having lunch, we climb over the hilly terrain surrounding the peak of Ausangate, toward a marshy area to reach the upper level of the valley where is our basecamp. Upon arrival at basecamp of Qampa camp (4,750 m / 15,580 ft.), we will rest and have hot drinks. Likewise, around the camp amid these rocks and bounders, you will have an opportunity to see viscachas muted brown in color (rodent in extinsión danger like a rabbit with a long tail). At dinner time, your guide will provide the plan for the next day.

Hiking Distance: 10 km / 6.21 miles
Hiking Time: 7 – 8 hours
Overnight Accommodations: camping facilities
Lowest Point: 4,600mt. / 15,092ft.
Highest Point: 5,130mt. / 16,826ft.
Meals: breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, and dinner
Level of difficulty: Challenging

Day 5: Qampa Camp – Qampa Pass – Pacchanta village – C

After breakfast, this morning we leave Qampa base camp with beautiful views of Huayna Ausangate Mountain through the Andean typical houses ascending step by step for about 2.5 hours towards Qampa Pass that is an altitude of 5,020 m. / 16,380 ft. Along the way, we will be amazed by snow-capped peaks and also is possible to see an ice-cape in the ravine below.

From the Qampa pass, we continue descending to gorgeous Qomercocha (green lake) located in the skirt of the Puka Moqo (Red Mountain). Finally, we reach to Pacchanta village to have the last lunch prepared by our chef, furthermore, at Pachanta you will have a chance to soak the natural hot spring before or after lunch, before taking transportation to Cusco. Our Ausangate Trek 5 Days to the Rainbow Mountain will end at your hotel in Cusco.

Hiking Distance: 12 km / 6.83 miles
Hiking Time: 7 – 8 hours
Lowest Point: 4,300mt. / 14,104ft.
Highest Point: 5,030mt. / 16,498ft.
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Pre-Trek briefing at your hotel or other agreed upon location the night before your trek to go over the itinerary, meet your guide(s) and answer any questions
Pick up from your hotel in the morning of the trek
Private transport from your hotel in Cusco to trailhead of the trek
Return private transport from Pacchanta town to your hotel in Cusco
Duffle bags for your personal stuff up to 8kg/17.6lbs
High quality camping equipment in DOITE -KAILAS 3 (High mountain tents, comfortable and spacious created for 03 people, which are used only by 02 people. It has ventilation sleeves, reducing the condensation inside the tent. Resistant to strong winds and climates and/or frigid.)
Sleeping foam mattress, pillows, and warm blankets
Other camping equipment, a dining tent with table and chairs, and a kitchen tent, manned by a professional cooking staff.
Portable toilet tent and toilet
English speaking professional guide
A professional chef
5 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 4-afternoon snacks, and 4 dinners, all prepared by our cook. If you have a dietary request such as vegetarian food, please let us know
Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and others on request
Muleteers and horses (to carry tents, food, cooking equipment, and your 8-kg / 16-pound personal items)
First-aid kit including emergency oxygen tank and emergency horse to escort us during the trek
Boiled water every day on the trek to fill your water bottle every morning
Warm water hand washing every day
Entrance tickets to the Ausangate trail and Rainbow Mountain
All Taxes included

Flights
Hotel before/after trek
Entrance to hot springs on the trail
Rentals: Every trekker needs a sleeping bag when camping. Inflatable air mattresses and walking sticks (with rubber tips) are optional but encouraged. If you don’t want to bring any of the above, they are all available for rent:
- Sleeping Bag: $20
- Inflatable Air Mattress: $15
- Walking Sticks (Pair): $15
Extra expenditure during the trek, such as: soda, alcoholic drinks, and extra snacks
Tip for your guide(s) and trek staff are optional but highly encouraged if you enjoy your trek
Travel interruption & travel medical/evacuation insurance (required), Peru Spirit Adventure highly recommend to get an insurance of trip cancellation, interruption; an insurance to protect your travel investment, included with your pre-departure package, bring your travel insurance to cover trip cancellation, interruption, lost of personal items and delay, emergency medical evacuation insurance and emergency medical expense insurance. Any unexpected situations occurred during the journey and which are beyond our control, including changes in scheduling trains or flights, delays, strikes, cancellations, missed connections, etc. it should be covered by the passenger as a whole. Also, if you for physical reasons of health cannot continue the trek or walk, and will need emergency evacuation then all charges incurred such as transportation, hotel, ambulance, doctors, medication, hospitalization, etc. will be at passenger’s expense.

Original passport & valid International Student Card (ISIC, if applicable), some copies.
Travel insurance (and some copies).
Sleeping bag (the recommendation is a rating of at least minus 15°c.)
Sleeping bag liner.
Hiking boots (waterproof). Sneakers are acceptable but expect to get wet
Long-sleeved shirts to prevent sunburn.
Trekking poles with rubber covers. Without rubber covers, they will be of limited use.
Comfortable hiking clothes, including warm clothes for the nighttime.
Toilet paper, and face tissue paper.
Headlamp
Water bottle or canteen.
American dollars and Peruvian soles in cash.
Sun hat, cap, and warm hat and gloves for the nighttime.
Hiking trousers.
Hiking socks.
Sunblock and sunglasses.
Deep or mosquito repellent.
Day Pack: We provide a duffle bag, to put in some personal belonging that will no use during the day, and it will be carried by pack horses, and you will need a small daypack for carrying your water, snacks, camera, rain gear, and layers, sunscreen and bug spray, meds every day.
Rain gear (you need to have a rain gear. From April- Oct is dry season and from Nov-Mar is the wet season. Just keep in mind that it can rain anytime of the year in the cloud forest and in the Peruvian Andes the weather is very changeable and unpredictable, it’s also good to have rain pants, as well, as a poncho will not suffice)
Personal first-aid kit. We recommend you bring anti-inflammatory tablets (ibuprofen), aspirin for headaches or muscle pain and blister kit.). Also, some recommendations meds of the doctor for parasites and stomach bacterial infections (tablets like Ciprofloxacin for bacteria and Metronidazole, Tinidazole) and for high altitude (altitude sickness) Diamox and Ciprofloxacin.

Why Peru Spirit Adventures!

Peru Spirit Adventure is a family owned travel agency and a local tour operator based in Cusco, Peru, in the Ancient Capital of the Inca Empire! Peru Spirit Adventure was founded by a Peruvian with over many years of guiding experience, and is a 100% Cusqueñian Company without any shareholders.

We are an agency with a great spirit of adventure and passionate about travel, dedicated to offer the best tourist services, to take you to discover the vast riches, natural and archaeological of each corner of the country.

We provide high quality service as well as focusing on having small groups to enhance the travel experience and customize any tour or trek to suit your travel, fitness, budget, and time preferences. This is what makes us stand out from other tour operators.

We create small personalized tours & treks strictly and only operated by local professional staff catering in PERSONALIZED and HIGH QUALITY SERVICE. Our guides in Peru are hand selected by the owners of Peru Spirit Adventure. All guides for our tours and treks are native to Peru and speak fluent English to ensure excellent communication and a positive experience overall.

We pride ourselves on providing 5 star service before, during, and after your trip. Peru Spirit Adventure is dedicated to excellent customer service and adventure experiences. We have been awarded from Trip Advisor the Certificate of Excellence for the last three years. Please check out our reviews and certificates of excellence on, TRIPADVISOR for yourself!

We are direct operators of all the tours and treks we offer, from family trips, honeymoon trips and luxury travel, including adventure tours to Peruvian Andes. Please email us to customize your trip in Peru.

Our tours & treks are operated in private service with a mínimum of 2 people to confirm the departure – Max 8 / Average 4 guests, ensuring a small group feel and specialized attention.

We are a responsible and sustainable tour operator – Our mission is to provide exceptional tours, treks, and adventure trips. During our trips, we make every effort to minimize negative impacts and maximize the benefits to the local people and natural environments we visit. We pay fair, livable wages, ensuring we hire and maintain the absolute best guides and support staff. We are proud of our team without them, we wouldn’t be able to offer the best service and lifetime experiences to our clie

Frequently Asked Questions

Like most trek in the Cusco region, the best time to do the Ausangate trek, and all Peru hiking tours, is from May and October. This is the dry season in the Andes, making for sunnier weather and clearer days to take in the beautiful scenery. The driest months of the year is between June and August. The dry season is also the high season for the area, so Cusco, Machu Picchu and the Inca Trail tend to be more densely populated. Fortunately, the remote Ausangate Trek is a unique choice, making it clear of crowds year round – even during peak season.

Along the Ausangate trek, temperatures range from 10-20ºC during the day if it’s sunny, to 05-10ºC during the day if not sunny. Given the high altitude of the campsites, temperatures drop significantly in the evening and especially at night, where they may get down to -10ºC or even lower in the dry season. Warm clothes are therefore especially requested for this hike.

The rainy season in the Andes is between November and April, with the rainiest months being January-March. During this time, especially in February, rain can be torrential, which may cause closures on the trail. It is best to stick to the dry season or the shoulder season (mixed weather) of April and October.

Please contact us through this page by filling out the ENQUIRY form, ask first for availability, and we will give you all the information on how to book the “AUSANGATE RAINBOW MOUNTAIN TOUR 5D“, and once we agree, you will book the requested tour, otherwise we cannot assure availability.

When you contact us, please include the number of members of travelers you are traveling with, group travel service or private tour. Thank you for your preference