Near the city of Cusco, the capital of the Inca Empire, lies the Vilcanota mountain range, one of the most beautiful and spectacular mountain ranges in the whole of Peru. This superb 5-day trek, the “Camino del Apu Ausangate Trek”, follows a route through the Cordillera Vilcanota, passing indescribably beautiful mountain passes, alpine valleys, isolated lakes and stunning mountain scenery. This is a premium luxury trek through incredible landscapes, and is completely different to the many other treks in and around the Cusco region. One of the many advantages of this premium trek is that it includes lodge accommodation, so involves no camping. Each lodge offers fabulous food, beautiful scenery, and comfort after a hard day trekking.
Trek Information:
This is an excellent trekking option to explore the sheer beauty of the Peruvian Andes region, without the crowds associated with the Inca Trail.
Region: Trek starts / ends in Cusco
Length: 5 days / 4 nights, a shorter 3 day / 2 night version is also available
Departures: Fixed departure every Friday (April – November). Private daily departures are available on request.
Highlights: Beautiful scenery, avoid the crowds of the Inca Trail and experience a true rural and isolated trekking experience, excellent lodge accommodation with no camping.
Day 1, Cusco – Chillca:
Setting off early in the morning by bus from your hotel in Cusco you will journey along the Vilcanota River to visit the temple of Checacupe then the upper valley of Pitumarca – a traditional mountain region in the Peruvian Andes. From there you will travel further to Japura which is where you will start your trek. This first days walking is relatively easy, with around 90 minutes of hiking in total, until you reach your first Andean lodge, or “Tambo”. At the lodge the local indigenous people will greet you with music and songs played on traditional Andean instruments, and you will be given refreshing hot drinks, including the Andean staple of “coca tea”, to help you relax in your new surroundings. Hot showers are available, and meals will give you a chance to taste some traditional foods, such as alpaca meat (vegetarian options are available).
Meals: Lunch, Evening Meal
Overnight: Chillca Tambo
Altitude: 4368m
Bus travel time: Around 4 hours
Hiking time: Around 90 minutes
Difficulty: Easy
Day 2, Chillpa – Machuracay:
After breakfast in the lodge todays trek will journey through beautiful scenery in the glacier valley of Phinaya, alongside thousands of native alpacas and llamas. During the journey you will climb up the valley near the inspiring Pjachaj waterfall where, at the top, you will rest and enjoy a picnic lunch. For the remainder of the day you will trek for around a further 5 hours simply enjoying the natural and astounding beauty that surrounds you, including moraine walls, glaciers and lagoons, before reaching your Tambo for the evening. At the Tambo you will be welcomed by the Andean family that run the lodge.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Evening Meal
Overnight: Machuracay Tambo
Altitude: 4849m
Hiking time: Around 8 hours
Difficulty: Difficult
Day 3, Machuracay – Anantapata:
Following an early breakfast in your Tambo, today the trek will take you over your first mountain pass, from where you will experience fabulous panoramic views of the Peruvian Andes and the Ausangate region. After travelling over the pass, you will descend down the valley, alongside glaciers, until you reach the Ausangate Cocha Lake, where you will stop for lunch in a beautiful location. Later in the day you will journey over amazing natural rock formations, and in this region of the trek it is also possible to see indigenous wildlife, including vicuñas, the smaller relative of the llama, and condors.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Evening Meal
Overnight: Anantapata Tambo
Altitude: 5200m
Hiking time: Around 8 hours
Difficulty: Difficult
Day 4, Anantapata – Huampococha:
You will start the day by descending past Lake Kayrawiri, dropping down into the valley surrounded by rugged mountain peaks and impressive valleys. The surrounding valleys are full of striated coloured patterns of sedimented rock, which are simply beautiful to observe. Continuing, you will reach Cerro Laya Grande and the most striking colour striations in the sediments of the Yuaricunca, spending time to eat lunch in this unique location so you can savour the moment. Following the short break, in the afternoon the trek will continue as you journey towards the final Tambo, and during this section of the trek you may be able to see hundreds of Andean geese nesting in the cliffs of Anta.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Evening Meal
Overnight: Huampococha Tambo
Altitude: 5100m
Hiking time: Around 7 hours
Difficulty: Difficult
Day 5, Huampococha – Cusco:
Today, on the final day of trekking, you spend the morning ascending up to your final mountain pass, which once again provides magnificent views of the surrounding landscape. From this pass its now downhill all the way, as you start the return leg. You will pass limestone formations dating from the Cretaceous period, and will continue hiking through similar terrain until you reach Trapiche, where the trail will end. Here you will enjoy a relaxing lunch, before boarding a bus and returning to Cusco by road, having successfully completely an experience of space and time through a peaceful, rural, and traditional region of the Andes.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight: N/A
Altitude: 4900m
Bus travel time: Around 3 hours
Hiking time: Around 7 hours
Difficulty: Difficult
Physical Preparation:
This is a fabulous mountain hike through some of the worlds most visually stunning landscapes, however it is nevertheless a reasonably difficult mountain trek and should be taken seriously. You will need to have a reasonable level of fitness in order to be able to carry out this trek, and should allow at least 2 nights in Cusco (or another high-altitude location) to acclimatise before commencing the trek.
What's Included?
- Transport to / from Cusco
- Accommodation in Andean Lodges (“Tambos”)
- All meals as detailed (breakfast and evening meals are served in lodges, lunches and snacks are picnics)
- Expert guides of high-mountain trekking
- First Aid and Oxygen
- Waterproof Bags (for the baggage that is carried by the llamas)
- Horse (in case of emergencies)
Check-List of Things to Take:
- Hiking boots
- Sandals (for use inside the lodges)
- Shirts / T Shirts (one per day)
- Trekking Trousers
- Thermal Clothing
- Jacket
- Sleeping clothes
- Gloves
- Scarf
- Socks (both for hiking, and for sleeping in)
- Sunhat
- Warm hat
- Waterproofs
- Small towel
- Torch / Flashlight
- Pocket-knife / Penknife
- Water bottle
- Plastic bags
- Small day-pack
- Sunglasses
- Sun-cream / lip balm
- Camera + memory cards
- Toiletries
- Personal first aid kit
- Insect repellent
