Overview
The Ausangate snow peak is considered to be a sacred mountain in Andean world. This trail is a moderate to difficult trek trough beautiful landscape filled with picturesque glaciers and lakes. Several passes demand good physical condition. Located in the Vilcanota Mountain Range, this is Queen of the Cordillera offers you an exceptional trek trough the heart of the Andes. During this journey you will commune with the nature, with the Andean world, its cultures and ancestral traditions. You will truly experience the native Quechuas while challenging yourself in this mountain range. You will trek along ancients paths, exploring the different ecosystem filled with great flora and fauna, native to this part of the world
Difficulty of the trek: moderate to difficult, good physical conditions.
Day 1: Distance: 10km-Altitude: 3778 to 4447mts-hours 6 to 7-camping 3800mts.
Day 2: Distance: 16km-Altitude: 3800 to 4447mts- 4850 hours 8-camping at 3800mts.
Day 3: Distance: 16km-Altitude: 4900 to 5200mts-hours 8-camping 3800mts.
Day 4: Distance: 14km-Altitude: to 4447mtrs-5000mts- hours 8 camping 3800mts.
Day 5: Distance: 10km- Altitude: 4900 to 3778mtrs-3800mts hours 5- camping 3800mts.
Ecosystems: Scrub bush vegetation, andean semi dry forest, cloud forest, inter andean valleys. grass land, alpine, glaciers.
Highlights: Some Inca remains. High biodiversity, flora, fauna. Ancient Inca road, sacred mountains, amazing landscape.
Climate:The temperatures varies in between below cero 10ºC to 15ºC ,in the night, mornings to 15ºC during the day,windy conditions too,sunny and cloudy too,mountain weather change.
Note: For adjusting to tour altitude, we suggest one day tours like the Sacred Valley, River Rafting and the City Tour of Cusco. As Guides we offer 100% Gauranteed Information, for your sensibilities – about the best specific hotel rooms and services around Peru, like extra windows and other amenities.
The Inca road system called Capac Ñan (beautiful road or Great Inca road) it was the most extensive and complex ancient system in the new world. It is believed that this main road built it by the Incas was the main net work system that connected the four cardinal points in this part of the world. This sacred road was also part of the Inca empire high way of the Tawantinsuyo( the empire of the four corners).Chinchaysuyo(the north region,Contisuyo( the south region),Collasuyo (the west region) and then the Antisuyo( the east region )ending in the jungles of the unexplored Amazon
It use to run from south to north and from west to the east parts of the Andes with several primary and secondary roads that were connecting several sacred places, Inca cities, shires and administrative places as well military stations.All of them with great scale, beauty and functions, providing also all kind of sources for the people, helping the redistribution and spreading around the messages of the Incas, carried by Inca runners who where coming from the capital Cusco. The Capac ñan was a great web and work system with all the communication well organize with imperials and government messages and member in duty, used by the Inca people .In this way the Incas achieve a well organize empire and only with one language, one religion and one culture ,The Inca culture.
The Capac ñan covered a distance of over 40 thousand kilometers of primary and secundary roads made it by the Incas or added to their sistem from preInca civilizations and over 3000 kilometers long in a territory filled with one of the longest mountain range called the Andes over 9000 kilometers long, one of the densest jungle in the world the Amazon and one of the dries places in the world the dessert of Peru and Atacama. With elevations in between 100 to 5000 mts providing access to different ecosystem and territory estimates in over 5,000,000 square kilometers of territory, where the Incas built and crossed mountains valleys rivers and glaciers. The main road of the Incas was also beginning in the great capital of the Inca empire Cusco or Qosqo (navel of the world).According with the evidence found in this capital .There was the four main roads beginning in the sacred plaza of Aukaipata in the heart of the Inca capital city and used to go to the four directions of the empire ending in the places like the jungle and the high plateau of the Andes. Others covering valleys and then deserts ending close to the ocean.
It went in to places like Ecuador and Colombia in the north .as well to places like Bolivia, Argentina and the deserts of Atacama in between Peru and Chile. To access to those Inca roads it was mandatory to get permissions because many of f those Inca roads were used by members of the high classes and soldiers as well many representers of the government in duty. In some bridges taxes where charged as well many messagers were running through stations to deliver the messages that were connecting the different places.
The most spectacular and scenery road is found near Cusco that connects some sacred cities like Machu picchu, Choquequirao, Vilcabamba, Vitcos, Espiritu pampa.as well Sacred mountains called Apus like the Mythic Ausangante (6384 mts) and the Salcantay (6221mts).Finally some of those Inca trails are connecting communities in the area of Lares and the sacred valley ending some of the in the jungles of the department of Cusco.
itinerary
DAY 1 – Cusco, Tinqui, Upis
In the Andes, the towering Ausangate snow peak in the Vilcanota mountain range is considered sacred. At 6384 meters it is one of the highest mountains in Peru. As the symbol of the father and masculinity, Ausangate is said to fertilize Pachamama, or Mother Earth herself.Andean traditions and myths consider this mountain to be “Apu”, a god, and the spiritual protector of the native people.
Today we get up early and drive for about five hours southeast of Cusco, passing beautiful villages and inter-Andean valleys. After stopping to take pictures of the beautiful Vilcanota Mountain Range we will arrive in the village of Tinqui, at 3778 meters and stop for an early lunch. After getting equipment, horse handlers, and mules for cargo,Today we are passing several small inter-Andean valleys and two different ecosystems, the scrub bush vegetation, Andean semidry forest and the Andean Grassland, before arriving at the small community of Urpis at 4447 meters. This is the where we will camp and enjoy the hot springs. Along the trail we will find flora and fauna, native to the Andes and an incredible view of the Ausangate Glacier which, at 6384 meters, is the highest snow peak in Southern Peru.(L, D)
DAY 2 – Trekking Upis, Arapa pass, Ausangate cocha
Today we begin hiking early, going up for about two hours to our first pass called Atapa Pass at 4850 meters from which we see the incredibly beautiful Ausangate Peak. We continue along narrow passages with more views snowy peaks of the Cordillera and different colored lagoons until we reach the biggest lake,Yanacocha, Vinococha, and our lunch spot. From there it is a short hike to camp at Lake Pumacocha,Hatumpuqacocha with a beautiful views of this mountain range. The area surrounding the lake is full of bird life and flora typical of this unique high Andean ecosystem. The night sky will afford us a brilliant view of the Milky Way and Inca constellations.
DAY 3 – Ausangatecocha, Abra Palomani, Hatumpampa
Today we begin our short ascent to our second pass of the trek called, Apuchata Pass at 4,900 meters, where we will have a light lunch amid beautiful views of Ausangate Snow Peak and Lagoon of Ausangatecocha below. From here, we will climb to the highest point, Palomani Pass, at 5,200 meters. This is the highest pass of our journey. Proud of our achievement, we will continue down through a succession of small inter-Andean valleys for two hours until we reach our camp near Hatumpampa depending on our timing and how the group feels. it gives us great chances to see flora and fauna of the different Andean ecosystems.
DAY 4 – Abra Janca, Pachanta
During the trek the snow-capped peaks of Tres Picos and Puca Punta will come into view. The trail between the broad, green valley of Pampa Jutunpampa and the Rio Q’ampa Valley offer excellent places to observe the delightful viscacha as well some flora and fauna of the ecosystems. There may be groups of vicuñas and alpacas, undoubtedly the most beautiful members of the llama family, with slender necks, huge eyes and soft golden wool. (B, L, D) Camping
After passing through the small community of Q’ampa the trail continues northwest to the final pass of this hike, the Q’ampa pass, at 5,000 meters. From the top you can see several different colored lakes and beautiful Andean landscapes. We will continue by turquoise-green lake, Q’oma Q’ocha, before reaching the village of Pachanta, about 2 hours away, where we can enjoy some hot springs at the end of the day.
DAY 5 – Pachanta to Tinki
Today begins with some breakfast outdoors if the weather is nice. The hike begins passing trough a succession of small inter-Andean valleys looking for flora and fauna and spectacular views of the distant snow caps. We will arrive at the village of Tinki at in time for lunch and to enjoy a Pachamanca, one of our typical Andean dishes and celebrations which we will share with all the people who had been with our group.Today we hike We will return to Cusco late afternoon.
Includes
We Provide and Include: Itinerary transport roundtrip from Cusco-Licensed, Bilingual, history and naturalist Tour Guides-All Itinerary Meals, including vegetarian & snacks, Safety orientation and Equipment for optional activities-First Aid kit and Oxygen-Tour specific Sleeping bags,air mattresses and Expedition grade tents-Dining tent, Cook & Services-Horses,Mules and Llamas for tour outfitting, wrangler staff, and emergency or back-up horse-Ecological, portable toilets-All Entrance Tickets-
Note
We can recommend the best and more comfortable hotels or we can take care of the reservations for you.
For adjusting to tour altitude, we suggest one day tours like the Sacred Valley hike,one day River Rafting before the Apurímac River and the City Tour of Cusco hike. As Guides we offer 100% Gauranteed Information, for your sensibilities – about the best specific hotel rooms and services around Peru, like extra windows and other amenities.
What to bring
This is a list designed to advise you what equipment is appropriate to bring according to the weather conditions predominating at the time of your trip:
Jeans and other pants are good as well.as well any clothes that cover the request of being water proof or resistance to water or cold are fine as long they are resistance to the conditions are fine.
- Flashlights (at least one headlamp among them).
- Sun Block; Insect Repellent.
- Towels (Small; cotton and hygienic).
- Rain Gear (Pants and Jacket)
- A couple of pairs of socks, perhaps even an extra pair.
- One pair of trousers for the evening plus two more pairs for trail use (zipp-offs).
- Sandals for River OR DRYSHOES.ASWELL use or CAMP OR HOTEL use (Teva types).
- Low ankle height hiking shoes or regular hiking boots (check the season).
- Reading material.
- Binoculars (always useful regardless of season and activity).
- Bathing Suit.
- Water Bottle (I liter capacity).
- Good Sun glasses, perhaps two sets.
- A bandana for neck protection.
- A couple of sets of underwear (perhaps an extra pair).
- Camera and plenty of film.
- Passport (plus a couple of Xerox copies).