Best Time: May
- September
Trek Duration: 7 days
Grade: medium / hard
Min. participants: 2 people
The Cordillera Vilcanota is an impressive range
of mountains which include the massive Nevado de
Ausangate (6,372m) and three others over 6000m.
The region is excellent trekking country offering
the traveler everything you could want: spectacular
mountain scenery, snow-capped peaks and ice fields,
hot springs, turquoise lakes rich in birdlife, picturesque
villages and traditionally dressed Quechua highlanders
tending their herds of llamas and alpacas. Its also
high, tough and cold, so be prepared.
The Ausangate Circuit is a beautiful 7 day circular
trek aided by a combination of llamas and horses,
starting and finishing at the small village of Tinqui,
taking you around the massif of Ausangate and over
three high passes (two over 5,000m). It is essential
to be properly acclimatized for this hike spending
at least 3 days in Cusco before starting.
Day 1 Cusco
to Tinqui (3,800m):
We leave Cusco at about 09.00 for
the 7-hour bus ride to the small village of
Tinqui. We pass through beautiful countryside
and several traditional villages including
Urcos, Cattca and Ocangate, where we'll have
the opportunity to stop for a while and take
some photos. We spend the first night in a
small hostal in Tinqui. |
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Day 2 From Tinqui to
Urpis (4,400m):
We'll set off on the trek at about
09.00. The first 3 hours, until lunch, will
be a great introduction to the magnificent
scenery of the Cordillera Vilcanota, with
great views of the Ausangate mountain. After
lunch its only another 2 hours trek until
we reach the hot springs at Urpis which offer
fantastic views of Ausangate at the end of
the valley. This is, naturally, a great place
to camp for the night |
Day 3
From Urpis to Lake Jatun Puqa Q'ocha:
During the 3 hours trek in the
morning we will hike the first pass, the
Arapa pass (4,850m). From the pass we continue
3½ hours down the valley until we
reach the turquoise Lake Jatun Puqa Q'ocha
passing the green lake of Puqa Q'ocha on
the way. We'll set up camp here. From the
campsite you can climb the small ridge north
of the camp to see Lake Vino Q'ocha The
views of Ausangate are particularly close
up and spectacular. Camping beside Jatun
Puqa Q'ocha you may find that you're kept
awake at night by the sound of dramatic
ice falls into the lake, but don't worry
it's quite safe. |
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Day 4 From Lake Jatun
Puqa Q'ocha to Pampacancha:
In the morning we ascend the second
pass of Apuchata (4,900m) with the turquoise
Laguna Ausangate Q'ocha below. This lake
is fed from the melting snow of Ausangate.
From the lake we ascend to the Palomani
pass (5,200m); the highest point of the
trek. From the pass we follow the trail
into the valley where we'll rest and have
lunch. Another hour of trekking brings us
to our campsite at Pampacancha. |
Day
5 From Pampacancha to Q'omer Q'ocha:
During the morning we'll see
the snowy peaks of Tres Picos and Puca
Punta. We'll continue east through the
broad green valley of Pampa Jutunpata
and up the Rio Q'ampa valley. After passing
through the small community of Q'ampa
we'll continue north west to the last
pass of this hike, the Q'ampa pass (5000m).
We'll see several different colored lakes,
the final lake being Q'oma Q'ocha. We'll
camp beside this beautiful greeny turquoise
lake.
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Day 6 From Qomer
Q'ocha to Pacchanta:
We'll have an easy days trekking
for only about 2½ hours, until
we arrive at the small village of Pacchanta.
You'll have the opportunity to rest and
relax in the hot thermal springs for a
couple of hours and even have a well deserved
beer! We'll set up camp near Pacchanta
and you'll have the afternoon free to
explore this interesting Andean village. |
Day
7 From Pacchanta to Cusco:
It's a 3 hour trek back to Tinqui
where we'll say goodbye to our arrieros
(horsemen) and take the bus back to Cusco,
arriving at about 18.00. You'll have just
enough time to have a hot shower and a
meal before hitting the nightclubs!
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Contact: info@peruviantreks.com
for more information and pricing on these Peru
treks and hikes
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