- Upis Thermal Baths
- Pukaqocha
- Anantapata
- Warmisaya
- Yanacocha
- Rainbow Mountain
Ausangate Trek to Rainbow Mountain
The Ausangate and Rainbow Mountain 4-day trek is one of Peru's best hiking lovers' options. Don't miss the excitement of this adventure heading to the Rainbow Mountain, located in the Andes mountain range. You'll observe gigantic glaciers, crystalline lagoons, and herds of llamas and alpacas.
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Overview
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Itinerary
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Inclusions
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Before You Go
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Pricing
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Enquire Now
This 4-day hike takes us through a truly unusual circuit, hidden between the Vilcanota Mountain Range, at the foot of the majestic Apu Ausangate (6,300 masl / 20,900 fasl), which is the highest mountain in southern Peru. This snowy peak has been considered sacred since ancient times by the ancient inhabitants of the Andes.
Explore the heights on a walk that will be smooth and pleasant at times, but that will also require your effort. Escape the tourist crowds and connect with nature in absolute tranquillity. You won’t regret it.
Itinerary at a Glance
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Day 0
Pre-Departure Briefing
Cusco
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Day 1
Cusco | Upis - Upis Thermal Baths
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Day 2
Upis Thermal Baths | Abra Arapa - Pukaqocha Camp
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Day 3
Pucaccocha | El Abra Puca - Anantapata - Warmisaya - Yanacocha (Sunset Hike to the Rainbow Mountain)
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Day 4
Yanacocha | Rainbow Mountain (sunrise walk) - Llacto Community - Cusco Hotel
Why Take the Ausangate and Rainbow Mountain?
- Our 4-day trek combines the sacred Ausangate Mountain with the Breathtaking colorful mountain.
- Observe animals typical of the region such as the chinchilla, the condor, or the vicuna.
- Rainbow Mountain is a unique natural formation located close to the Ausangate Mountain range.
- Trek the gorgeous Ausangate Circuit, famous for breathtaking natural scenery, such as glaciers, enormous peaks, turquoise lakes, and grazing alpacas.
Cusco | Upis - Upis Thermal Baths
We’ll pick you up from your hotel at 6:00 am to start our adventure. We’ll go for 4 hours, in our private transport, to the town of Tinqui, passing the Urcos pass (4,000 masl / 13,123 fasl). Tinqui is located in the middle of the Cusco highlands that will offer you impressive views of the horizon. We’ll head up a wide, ascending path to the north-east face of the impressive Ausangate mountain. At noon, we’ll regain energy with a light lunch. We’ll continue our walk amidst cultivated fields and beautiful traditional houses. You can see herds of llamas and alpacas grazing calmly.
After passing through the Upis pass (4,435 masl / 14,107 fasl), we’ll arrive at the Upis hot springs (4,250 masl / 13,779 fasl). We’ll camp surrounded by the sacred mountains of Ausangate and Maria Huamantilla. Relax your body inside the hot springs at dusk. Happy hour will be ready at 4:00 pm and dinner at 6:00 pm.
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
- Accommodation: Camps
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Walking Distance: 6.21 miles
- Altitude of the camp: 4600 m / 15091 ft
Upis Thermal Baths | Abra Arapa - Pukaqocha Camp
We'll wake you up today with a hot herbal tea of coca leaves or coffee in your tent. Then we will savor a delicious breakfast in the cold of the high mountains. We'll begin our walk in a beautiful high Andean valley towards Abra Arapa, always in the spectacular Ausangate Mountain company. From the top of the open (4,798 masl / 15,744 fasl), the landscape's beauty multiplies. You'll observe the size of the mountain range and, if you're lucky, the condor's beautiful flight. Our guide will explain a little more about the impressive local flora and fauna. Then we'll begin to descend and will encounter the beauty of the multi-colored crystalline lagoons of Yanaqocha (black lagoon) and Pukaqocha (red lagoon) as several waterfalls. Later, we'll arrive at our camp where, after an excellent meal, you'll have time to take a refreshing nap. In the afternoon, we can explore the vicinity of the lakes and drink delicious tea. Obviously, before going to sleep, a nutritious dinner awaits you.
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
- Accommodation: Camps
- Difficulty: Challenging
- Walking Distance: 6.21 miles
- Altitude of the camp: 4599 m / 15088 ft
Pucaccocha | El Abra Puca - Anantapata - Warmisaya - Yanacocha (Sunset Hike to the Rainbow Mountain)
There's nothing better for your body than waking up to a hot herbal tea of coca leaves. Get up early to start one of the most beautiful days of the entire excursion. Be amazed by the stunning views of the snow-capped mountains and deep green valleys. After a hearty breakfast, we will go up to Abra Puca. Feel the impressive presence of the Apu Ausangate and take photos of its beautiful turquoise lagoons. Once you reach the top, you'll feel that you have the giant face of the Apu Ausangate right in front of you. You'll also observe the extended beauty of the Chilca Valley, where llamas and alpacas will be passing quietly. You can already see the beginning of the Rainbow Mountain range with its striking stripes of colors from this open.
After taking some photos, we continue with a gradual descent for 2 hours to our lunch point located in Anantapata (4,400 masl / 14,435 fasl). Once we have filled our stomachs, we'll take the opportunity to rest and relax before continuing with an ascent to the Warmisaya or Pitumarca pass (5,050 masl / 16,568 fasl). From there, you'll feel like you are a bird, and you'll observe the vastness of the horizon. We only have to descend 20 minutes to the Yanacocha lagoon, where the camp will be waiting for you. Before stopping, we'll continue our 1-hour walk to the Rainbow Mountain pass to see the Rainbow Valley's majestic sunset show. Once we have rejoiced in the sunset, we'll return to the camp in 45 minutes to enjoy happy hour (drinks and snacks) and a dinner that will surprise you.
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
- Accommodation: Camp
- Difficulty: Challenging
- Walking Distance: 11 miles
- Altitude of the camp: 4400 m / 14435 ft
Yanacocha | Rainbow Mountain (sunrise walk) - Llacto Community - Cusco Hotel
After a tasty breakfast at 5:00 am, we will return to the Rainbow Mountain to contemplate this colorful valley lit by dawn. You'll have time to enjoy this paradise for 1 hour before the tourist crowd begins to arrive. Our expert guide will take you directly to the key places so you can get the best pictures.
Your guide will explain in detail why this mountain has such unique colors. It's one of the most amazing places in South America and one of Peru's main natural attractions. The only other colored mountains can be found in China.
After enjoying this gem from the Peruvian Andes, we'll begin our trek towards the spectacular Red Valley. Very few tourists visit a place that seems to be taken from another planet and that. You'll be surprised not only by its incredible beauty but also by the immense tranquillity that'll surround you. Breathe and feel the joy of being alive. It only takes 30 minutes of walking to reach the viewpoint from where you will get the valley's best views.
Finally, we'll make a 1-hour descent between ancient Andean communities and herds of llamas. After the delicious final lunch, a bus will wait for you that will take you back to your hotel's doors in the city of Cusco.
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks.
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Walking Distance: 5.6 miles
- Minimum Elevation: 4250 m / 13943 ft
- Highest Elevation: 5020 m / 16466 ft
What Is Included?
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High Quality Service & Safety
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Pre-departure briefing
You will meet your guide and group in our office for an orientation before your trek. At this time, we will provide you with the duffle bags which will be carried by our porters. The meeting will be at 6:00 PM the evening before the trip begins.
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Experienced Guide
All our guides are graduates of the professional career of Tourism of the National University San Antonio Abad of Cusco. Also, they speak English. As good cusqueños, they feel a great commitment to transmit the knowledge they have inherited from their grandparents. They are very friendly and professional. They’ll make sure you are safe and happy.
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Medical Kit
All Cusco Expeditions guides have received specialized training in first aid. We hold mandatory training sessions with our guides every February. Your guide will always carry a first aid kit to face basic emergency situations (altitude sickness, traveller’s diarrhoea, cuts, scrapes, etc.) as well as oxygen. If necessary, we’ll evacuate you from the path as quickly as possible and ensure that you arrive at a clinic for treatment.
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Customer Service 24/7
We have telephone service available 24 hours/day for ease of communication and preparation with the agency leading up to your trek.
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Satellite phones:
Our main priority will always be the tranquillity of our clients. While all of our guides are prepared for emergencies in the mountains, being a phone call away from any doctor, hospital, or friend helps you feel more secure. Each Cusco Expeditions guides has a satellite phone that can be used anywhere on the mountain to call anywhere in the world. You can also use it even if it’s not an emergency.
What Is Not Included?
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Travel Insurance
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Tips for our staff
Tips are usual on any excursion to Machu Picchu. Although we pay good salaries to our entire team, something extra is always welcome, especially considering the hard work they do. Typically, group participants collect their tips to hand out to the porters and chefs together.
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Additional costs or delays out of control of the management
Landscape, bad weather condition, itinerary modification due to a safety concern, illness, change of government policy, political instability/strike, etc.
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Personal clothing and gear
We want to make your trip to Peru as memorable and as easy as possible. In this section, you will find speedy answers to all those questions you had in one place. Please read the following information carefully – it will help you with any questions about our services.
Has another question that we haven’t answered here? Drop us a line, and we will get back to you asap!
Briefing or informative meeting
All information meetings are held in your hotel at 6:00 p.m., one night before the tour begins. If you cannot attend, you must coordinate another time at the Cusco Expeditions offices. These meetings last approximately 30 to 45 minutes and there you will be given a small duffel bag, in which you’ll put all the belongings you intend to bring on the trek that won’t be in your day pack.
Duffel bag or canvas case:
ou’ll receive a canvas case or duffel bag during your briefing. The porters will take them on the way and will deliver them to you when you get to each camp. They measure 66 cm / 2 ft. Long x 36 cm / 1 ft. Wide.
A maximum of 5 kg is allowed for each duffel bag that includes the weight of your sleeping bag, mat, clothes and other personal items.
Payment of Trek Balance (in Cusco)
The trek has to be paid for in full by at least 7.30 pm two days before departure. For example, if your tour departs on a Wednesday, then you must come to our office before 7.30 pm on Monday.
It would be much appreciated if you pay the trek balance in cash US dollars or local currency. You can withdraw some money from several ATMs along Avenida Sol (either in US dollars or local Peruvian Soles). You can pay by credit card or PAYPAL online, but you will have to pay an 8% service charge, charged by VISA and PAYPAL. We do not accept bank checks or payment of the balance by traveler’s checks.
Storing your luggage at our Office.
Of course! During the travel, your main luggage can be stored at our office(you can organize briefing day or by email) or at your hotel, both free of charge.
Any equipment that you are not going to need on the trek can be stored safely in your hotel. Nearly every hotel will provide this service. Don’t leave items of value with your bags, put them in the hotel safe and obtain an itemized receipt (In the unlikely case of theft many insurance companies require that you have a copy of the receipt itemizing all the items). Best put items such as credit cards inside a sealed, signed envelope for extra peace of mind.
Pickups:
Cusco Expeditions can pick you up from your hotel, as long as it’s in the Historic Center of Cusco. The pickup time will be coordinated with your guide in the briefing. The pickup time may vary between 30 and 45 minutes due to traffic. Cusco is a very old city, therefore, it has many narrow cobbled streets. Some hotels and Airbnbs may be located on streets without access to cars or on long, steep slopes, making it difficult to transport luggage. We strongly recommend that you book accommodation with good access.
Group tours:
Group tours are made up of different types of people. Physical conditions and ages can vary. By agreeing to be part of a group tour, you also accept that some people may be faster or slower than you. Therefore, each person can go at their own pace on the route. It may be the case that a group wishes to modify the tour; however, it will be the guide who decides, after consulting with all the participants, if said modifications can be made.
Strikes and demonstrations:
Strikes and demonstrations are usually frequent in Peru and this may interrupt some of our tours. Roads can be blocked and train tracks can be taken over. However, we will try to keep your excursion as planned, even if it means leaving the night before the scheduled date. Under these circumstances, tours may also be cancelled. In case of changes or cancellations, all situations will be coordinated with you by our operations department. Your safety is our highest priority and our decisions will be made to protect it.
Lost objects:
You’re responsible for your objects during the tour. Please pay attention to where you leave your things and remember to take everything once you leave our trucks, tents, or restaurants.
Talk to a Destination Expertito
Your dedicated specialist will take the time to understand your preferences and build them into an itinerary to match, working to your budget. He or she will keep perfecting it until you’re completely happy and ready to book.
The Ausangate Route & Rainbow Mountain 4 Days can leave any day of the week, from March through January. We do not run this trek in February because rainy season & maintenance.
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Group Price
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2020 Land Cost
US$400per person
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Pre-payment
US$200(Required)
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Balance
US$200
- This small-group journey is guaranteed to operate with just two guests.
Extensions & Offers
There are several extensions you can include to your Salkantay Adventure:
- Sacred Valley: $100 $80
- City Tour: $20
Price Guarantee
Once your booking has been confirmed we guarantee the price will not increase, whatever the circumstances. Before booking please ensure you have read our important tour pricing information
Thank you for your interest in having an adventure travel experience in Peru curated by Cusco Expeditions. Please take a moment to complete our short form, so one our friendly Adventure Consultants could provide you all the information for your trip of a lifetime in Peru.
Our Pledge | Your privacy is respected and protected. The Cusco Expeditions Company will never share, sell, or make public any of your personal contact information to third parties.
We give advice and recommendations that are right for you
Feel free to reach us via email at sales@cuscoexpeditions.com or by calling us directly at +51 947 736 747
Triunfo Street 392, office 212, 2nd floor - Main Square of Cusco, Peru
Monday - Friday
9:00 am to 8:00 pm
Saturday
10:00 am to 6:00 pm
Due to the rainy season and trail maintenance, we don't offer this trek during the whole month of february. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you, we are working to provide you a better service!
