The mountain chain of the Ausangate is situated in the Cordillera Vilcanota in the department of Cusco. It is one of the most remote high Andean zones of Peru and offers a spectacular trekking circuit along snow-capped peaks, lagoons, ice caverns, and thermal waters. Furthermore, it represents a thousand-year-old culture.
Day 01: Cusco – Mallma – Singrena cocha
Day 02: Singrena cocha – Tarapata Pass – Añasñiyucpampa
Day 03: Añasñiyucpampa – Pupusayoc Pass – Pacchanta
Day 04: Pacchanta – Tinqui – Cusco
Day 01: Cusco – Mallma – Singrena cocha
Our journey starts early in the morning by heading towards Mallma (3900/12795f), a town situated southeast of Cusco, where we will meet the rest of the team. During our bus ride, we will pass several little Andean farms and will enjoy the nice view. In Mallma we will start hiking for approximately two hours towards our camping site at the shore of the Singrena cocha lagoon (4200m/13780f).
Transport time: 5 hours
Walking time: 2 hours
Day 02: Singrena cocha – Tarapata Pass – Añasñiyucpampa
The sunrise over the Cordillera Vilcanota is spectacular and offers a beautiful view of the glaciers and the lagoons around us. Although we are high up in the Andes, the region offers a great variety of flowers and plants, such as the Andean Cactus. Furthermore, this area is the home of the camelid, the chinchillin, the condor and the puma. After having passed the Tarapata Pass (4600m/15092f) we will descend to the Añasñiyucpampa Valley (4200m/13780f), our camping place.
Hiking time: 7 hours
Day 03: Añasñiyucpampa – Pupusayoc Pass – Pacchanta
The day starts with a walk towards the Pupusayoc Pass (4900m/16076f), from where we will have an impressive view of several mountains, such as the Callangati and the Ausangate. Thereafter, we will descend to our camping site in the community of Pacchanta (4300m/14108f). In the afternoon we will relax in the hot springs and at night we will have a typical dinner of the region called Pachamanca.
Hiking time: 6 hours
Day 04: Pacchanta – Tinqui – Cusco
After breakfast, we will head for the manor of Tinqui (3850m/12631f). From here, we will take the bus back to Cusco.
Hiking time: 3 hours
Transport time: 5 hours