Ausangate
The Most Sacred Apu (Mountain Spirit) Of The Cusco Region And The Highest Peak In The Southern Peruvian Andes. The 5 Day Ausangate Circuit Passes Turquoise Lakes, Hot Springs At Pacchanta And The Rainbow Mountain Area, At Altitudes Above 5,000 M With Quechua Llama Herders. · Tinki, Cusco
Ausangate is a glaciated peak of about 6,384 m in the Cordillera Vilcanota, the highest mountain of the Cusco region and the most sacred apu, or mountain spirit, of the Quechua herders who live below it. The 5 day circuit around its base, about 70 km, crosses passes at roughly 4,800 to 5,200 m and passes turquoise lakes, hanging glaciers, red and multicoloured ridges, alpaca pastures and the hot springs at Pacchanta. It is far quieter than the Machu Picchu routes and far harder. Be honest with yourself before you book: this is NOT a beginner walk. The altitude is severe, nights are well below freezing, wind and hail are common, there is no mobile signal and help is days away. A guide, cooks and horse handlers are the norm. Spend about 3 days in Cusco first, go in the dry season, and you will see a living Andean landscape that few visitors ever reach. Treat the mountain and the families with respect, carry out all rubbish and expect simple camps, cold water and long, quiet days. Weather turns fast, so a flexible schedule helps.
Sacred glaciated peak at 6,384 m in the Cordillera Vilcanota, reached by road to the village of Tinki or Pacchanta, with a 5 day circuit trek around the base, Tinki, Cusco, Peru
The mountain and the trail are open all year with no gate and no opening times, but the trekking season is the dry months from May to September. Local communities may collect small entry or camping fees along the route, so carry soles in small notes. The Pacchanta hot springs charge a small fee. Roads and passes can close after snow from November to March.