Día Day 1: Cusco – Tinqui – Upis1: Cusco – Tinqui – Upis
We will pick you up from your hotel in Cusco at 5:00 am and travel by private transportation for approximately two hours to the village of Tinqui, where we will make a short stop to stretch and observe the local Andean lifestyle. Here, you may see local people wearing traditional clothing and, if the market is open, we can briefly visit it. Then we continue driving for about one more hour along a rough mountain road until we reach Upis Pampa, where we will have breakfast before starting our hike.
The hike to Upis campsite takes approximately three hours along a mostly flat trail with some gradual ascents and descents. Along the way, we will enjoy incredible views of the Ausangate Mountain, the highest peak in the Cusco region, and we will see local farmers, alpacas, and llamas grazing across the Andean landscape.
After arriving at Upis, we will enjoy lunch at our campsite. In the afternoon, you will have the option to hike to Upis Lake or relax in the nearby hot springs. The round-trip hike to the lake takes about two hours and offers amazing views of the Ausangate Glacier. After returning to camp, we will have dinner and spend the night in comfortable cabins with spectacular sunset views over Ausangate Mountain.
Day 1 Hiking Details
- Elevation Gain: 330 m / 1,082 ft
- Elevation Loss: 56 m / 183 ft
- Hiking Distance: 8 km / 4.9 miles
- Hiking Time: Approximately 3 hours
- Starting Elevation: 4,179 m / 13,710 ft
- Campsite Elevation: 4,432 m / 14,540 ft
- Highest Point: 4,432 m / 14,540 ft
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Accommodation: Cabins
Day 2: Upis – Puca Cocha – Ananta
We will wake you up at 5:00 am with coca tea or coffee delivered to your cabin, followed by a hearty breakfast before starting another challenging day on the Ausangate Trek 3 Days. In the morning, we begin hiking towards the Arapa Pass located at 4,989 meters (16,567 ft), where we will enjoy spectacular views of colorful mountains, glaciers, and the surrounding Andean landscapes.
After reaching the pass, we descend towards Puca Cocha for lunch. Along the way, we will see herds of alpacas and llamas grazing in the highlands, with the impressive Ausangate Mountain always visible in the distance. Your guide will explain the flora, fauna, and geography of the region, and if we are lucky, we may see condors, vicuñas, and other Andean wildlife.
After lunch, we continue hiking up to the Puca Cocha Pass, where we will have breathtaking views of Ausangate and several glacial lakes below. From there, we descend to our campsite in Ananta, where our tents will be ready for us to rest, change clothes, and enjoy a delicious dinner prepared by our professional trekking chef.
Day 2 Hiking Details
- Elevation Gain: 884 m / 2,900 ft
- Elevation Loss: 567 m / 1,860 ft
- Hiking Distance: 14 km / 8.68 miles
- Hiking Time: Approximately 8 – 9 hours
- Starting Elevation: 4,400 m / 14,430 ft
- Campsite Elevation: 4,700 m / 15,400 ft
- Difficulty: Challenging
- Accommodation: Camping
Day 3: Ananta – Rainbow Mountain – Cusipata – Cusco
Today is the most anticipated day of the Ausangate Trek 3 Days. We will wake you up at 3:45 am with coca tea served in your tent before starting the early morning hike. We begin with an uphill hike to Ananta Pass (4,500 m / 15,090 ft), where we will see the famous Rainbow Mountain (Vinicunca) in the distance. From there, we descend along a small lake and continue along a relatively flat trail before starting the final ascent to Rainbow Mountain.
Once we arrive at Rainbow Mountain Peru, we will enjoy breathtaking 360-degree views of the colorful mountains and the surrounding Andes. You will have plenty of time to explore, take photos, and enjoy one of the most incredible landscapes in South America.
After visiting Rainbow Mountain, you will have the option to visit the Red Valley, another spectacular landscape near Vinicunca. Then we descend for about one hour to the bus station in Cusipata, where we will say goodbye to our muleteers before returning to Cusco by private transportation. We will arrive in Cusco around 5:00 pm.
Day 3 Hiking Details
- Elevation Gain: 552 m / 1,811 ft
- Elevation Loss: 602 m / 1,975 ft
- Hiking Distance: 9 km / 5.59 miles
- Hiking Time: Approximately 6 hours
- Difficulty: Challenging



