Ausangate and Sibinacocha Lagoon

We'll start the day today at 5:00 am. We will pick you up from your hotel and head toward the town of Tinki (3,700 masl) by private transportation. Along the way, we'll stop at the Huacarpay Lagoon viewpoint so that you can take some incredible photos of this colorful landscape. We'll continue our journey to Ccatcca where we'll fill our stomachs with a delicious breakfast while we observe, in the distance, the perpetual snows of the sacred mountain of Ausangate. An additional 1-hour drive awaits us to arrive at the starting point of the trek where you'll meet our horsemen and porters. We'll begin the hike in front of the spectacular glaciers of Ccolque Cruz and Caracol. We'll stop along the way for lunch in the company of our team and, perhaps, some local children. We'll continue the route, and, coincidentally, meet some residents who still dress traditionally in the colorful way of the Andes. You can also see herds of llamas and alpacas. Finally, at approximately 5:00 pm, we'll arrive at our first campsite. Don't worry about a thing, the tents and your luggage will be ready and waiting. Before dinner, we'll visit the famous Pacchanta hot springs where you can relax and enjoy a beautiful view of the night sky that opens up for you without reservations.

After breakfast, we'll start our trek uphill for 4 hours to the place where we’ll have lunch. On the way, we'll be able to see amazing glacier landscapes adorned by crystalline lagoons. Among them is Ccomerccocha, which is characterized by its green waters. During the month of August, special rituals are performed and dedicated to the Apu Ausangate and the Pachamama (Mother Earth), where Andean priests ask for their energy to heal the surrounding communities. At approximately 1:00 pm, we'll arrive at a place called Puka Mocco or Red Knee, where we'll have lunch surrounded by immense snowy peaks. Feel the love of the mountains that embrace you from all directions. Once we have all recharged, we'll continue our journey through the heart of the Andes. Open your mind and spirit to nature. Extend your arms to the sky and release any pain you may have brought here. Finally, we will reach the Ccampa Pass (5,000 m / 16,404 f) where we'll perform an Andean ritual ceremony with coca leaves in honor of these majestic, sacred mountains. Later we'll begin the descent to our campsite located right on the slopes of the Ausangate Mountain.

After enjoying a nutritious breakfast, we’ll say goodbye to the campsite with a spectacular view of the valley, the river and the falls. You’ll also be able to feel the imposing presence of the mountains and see small groups of turquoise lakes, as well as local birds: geese, seagulls and different types of ducks. After walking for 5 hours, we’ll arrive at the Pampaccawa viewpoint, where an appetizing lunch awaits us accompanied by a tea of Andean herbs that will help you with digestion. Later, we’ll have time to fish in a beautiful river and hike through a fantastic valley where we’ll observe hundreds of llamas, alpacas and sheep returning from the mountains to their pens. Also, you will be dazzled by the bright colors of the famous Rainbow Mountain in the distance. Finally, we’ll arrive at our campsite at approximately 5:00 pm. It is near the most amazing waterfall on the route, always under the watchful eye of the gigantic glaciers. After dinner, we’ll organize a campfire to enjoy some mulled wine and sangria while we contemplate the immensity of the night sky of the Andes.

Prepare your body and your spirit because today, we’ll reach the highest point of our excursion. After breakfast, we will start our walk at 7:30 am with a gentle ascent for 2 hours. At that time, llamas and alpacas will already be grazing. You can approach and touch them if you wish. We will continue our ascent for 1 hour on soft sand and snow. If you’re lucky, some wild vicuñas will cross your path! Later, we’ll reach the Condor Pass at 5,400 m / 17,716 f. You’ll have enough time to enjoy the incredible scenery of the other surrounding mountains. It’s a strategic place to get the best photos and awaken your senses! Our team will provide you with a hot tea of coca leaves that will help you withstand the extreme altitude.

Before continuing, we’ll thank the mountains with a brief ritual. Some people leave jewelry or clothing to receive the protection of the mountains and to enjoy an excellent climate. Please participate with respect and affection. During this section, we’ll also see herds of llamas, alpacas and vicuñas. We’ll have lunch right next to a beautiful waterfall and close to the famous Sibinacocha Lagoon. Here, we’ll have time to take a short nap to recover from the day. We’ll continue for two more hours until we reach our campsite at 4:30 pm. On the way, we’ll see traditional Andean houses and the funny chinchillas, Andean animals similar to squirrels.

We’ll wake you up with a delicious hot tea of coca leaves to warm the body and start the day in the best way. Take the opportunity to contemplate the beautiful sunrise over the lake and the glacier from your tent. After a tasty breakfast, we’ll start the trek at 8:30 am. We’ll walk along the banks of the Sibinacocha Lagoon, which is the most famous and most extensive body of water in the area. We’ll make several stops to watch the birds that you’ll find around there. You will also have the opportunity to fish with the permission of local people. We’ll arrive at a place to have lunch where, after satisfying your stomach, you can take a short rest. We’ll continue with a slight ascent for 2 hours to the Vicuña Mountain (5,350 m / 17,552 f). The weather changes dramatically from here. The wind blows very strongly, so it’s necessary to take some precautions. It’s essential that you don’t leave the group. From there, you can see the abundant potato crops of local farmers and strange rock formations. They enjoy a calm and full life in deep connection with nature! At approximately 4:00 pm, we’ll arrive at our campsite near the Ccasccara Lagoon (5,000 m / 16,404 f). You can relax after five days of the excursion! Some local people will come to our camp and invite you to fish alongside them. Break down the barriers of your mind, make new friends and enjoy fresh fish for dinner. This is the best camp on the route because you will sleep in front of the lagoon and the glacier. Pure magic in the middle of the Andes!

Today we'll wake up at 7:30 am. We'll have breakfast and visit the home of local families to appreciate and understand their lifestyle at 5,000 meters above sea level: mud and stone walls, guinea pigs in the kitchen and an intimate relationship with nature. Generally, the boys and girls in this area have restricted access to education due to the remoteness of their community. Therefore, it would be a nice gesture to bring them small gifts: colored pencils, markers, paints, toys or any item that can brighten their day. Textiles are one of the main sources of income for local people due to the number of llamas, alpacas and sheep that they own. The fiber they produce is of high quality, and they use natural dyes to obtain beautiful color tones. Take this opportunity to buy beautiful hand-woven garments. In this way, you will not only take away a unique souvenir but also help the community move forward.

Once the visit is finished, we will continue our downhill hike for 3 hours to where we’ll have lunch. You'll see the last glaciers, rivers, waterfalls and red and green mountains that were once covered in white. Unfortunately, climate change is to blame for the disappearing of those perpetual snows. Perhaps when you appreciate with your own eyes the terrible impact of global warming, you'll understand the gravity of the matter. Your heart will be filled with gratitude to the Andean people who still practice ancestral rites in honor of the mountains and the Pachamama, or Mother Earth. Finally, at 3:30 pm we will arrive at our last campsite in the small community of Phinaya (4,000 m / 13,123 f) where we will have the rest of the day as free time. We'll organize some activities such as cooking classes with our chef or a visit to the community.

Today concludes our exciting excursion through the realms of the Apu Ausangate. In the morning, we'll take an extra hike to a viewpoint from where we can see the town of Phinaya. You can decide to stay there, walk through its streets, make new friends among its residents or visit the school where boys and girls learn in their mother tongue: the ancient Quechua language. Don't forget to bring some gifts for them! At 10:30 am, we will carry out a brief ceremony for you to say goodbye to our horsemen and porters, and you'll share your last lunch with them. At 11:00 am, you'll board a bus that will take you on an unpaved road for 4 hours to the city of Sicuani. You will board another bus heading to Cusco where you will arrive between 5:00 pm and 7:00 pm. Don't worry about a thing, and we'll leave you at the door of your hotel.