Ausangate Trek
This alternative route to the classical circuit around Mount Ausangate still offers the most spectacular views of this sacred Andean mountain before it deviates towards the impressive Sibinacocha Lagoon, leaving tourist crowds behind and entering an almost uninhabited area where you can truly commune with nature.
We will depart from Cusco in private transport, heading to the town of Tinki (3800m / 12464ft). On the way, we will stop in Urcos, where we can visit a beautiful lake of the same name. Then we will pass through Cattca, where we can appreciate spectacular views of the region, and finally, we will pass through the town of Ocongate, the capital of the district of the same name, just half an hour from our destination. After 5 hours of travel, we will arrive at Tinki, then we will go to Pacchanta where we will be able to enjoy its beautiful hot springs at the foot of the snow-capped Ausangate.
After a good night’s rest, we start the day with a slight ascent through the Pacchanta valley in the company of llamas and alpacas that casually graze on the slopes that surround us, until we reach the Ninaparayoc lagoon where we will stop for lunch. This is a spectacular place with incredible views of the main snow-capped mountains that surround us: Ausangate, Santa Catalina, Maria Huamantiqlla, Pucapunta, and Colquecruz that rise above us and we see people grazing their alpacas and llamas before reaching our destination on Qomerqocha Lagoon.
After breakfast, we will leave around 7:00 am towards the Abra de Q’ampa at (5000m / 16400ft), for an average of 4 hours. After a short rest, we will descend towards the Ticllaqocha Lagoons, a beautiful group of small turquoise lagoons where we will have our lunch. In the afternoon we continue our walk for an additional 2-3 hours until we reach Yanamayo where we will establish our camp.
After breakfast, we begin a gradual ascent towards Yanaqocha or “Laguna Negra” its name is due to the dark color of its waters. In this area we can appreciate a soil of volcanic origin, then we will ascend the mountain of Yanaqocha (5050 m / 15564 feet) to discover mountains of colors, three spectacular lagoons, and the presence of llamas and alpacas. From this point, one hour of The walk will take us to the foot of the Condor pass, our next camp.
After breakfast, we will continue with a gradual ascent through the valley that will take us to the Abra del Cóndor (5200 m / 17056 ft). From the pass, the highest point of our walk, we will be able to enjoy spectacular views of the Vilcanota mountain range and the Sibinacocha Lagoon, and Vicuñas. Afterward, we will walk an additional 3 hours uphill to descend to the source of Lake Sibinacocha. We will camp next to the lagoon and very close to its source, where an impressive glacier meets and feeds the lake with its turquoise waters that contrast with the dark blue color of the lagoon. The lagoon has vast biodiversity, “Huallatas” or Andean geese, Andean ducks, and more.
This day, we leave early to walk along the shores of the Sibinacocha lagoon for 3 hours until we reach the Yayamari community, next to the mountain of the same name, an impressive rocky peak overlooking the lagoon (5500 m / 18040 feet). We will cross a pampa where we will have the possibility of seeing llamas, alpacas, and with luck vicuñas, then continue towards Abra Ccascana at 5000m / 16400ft, which will take us to the lagoon of the same name, where we will establish our last camp. Surrounded by impressive snow-capped peaks such as Montura and Chumpi, inhabited by small rural communities, we will have the opportunity to see huallatas or Andean geese and perhaps flamingos.
After breakfast, we will walk for three hours towards Phinaya. This is a small Andean community with a beautiful church and no vehicles, except bicycles and horses, where we will have lunch. In the afternoon, we go to Cusco, we will arrive at night.
