Ausangate and Rainbow mountain trek

Overview
Gallery
Itinerary
Inclusions
Recommendations
More information
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Explore the majestic Ausangate Mountain through a soft trekking to the Rainbow Mountain, Vinicunca of the Cusco Andes in Perú.

Discover through this short but intense hike the majestic Vinicunca Mountain (known as the Rainbow Mountain). The sunrise of the second day will allow you to discover the summit of Vinicunca Mountain (5,200 m) and Ausangate snow-capped (6,398 m) at its beautiful natural resources.

Creating incredible memories!

Explore the challenging but dreamlike landscapes.
Meet and get in touch with the local communities.
Enjoy Peruvian gastronomy.

Gallery Ausangate and Rainbow mountain trek

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TREK OVERVIEW

Day 1: Cusco – Quesiuno – Llamachimpana

Day 2: Llamachimpana – Rainbow Mountain – Hanchipata – Cusco

Itinerary

We’ll pick you up from your accommodation at about 5.30 am and then drive for about 4 hours through the South Valley towards Quesiuno, Chillca (4326m/14192.91ft). Once we get to the Inkintuyoc bridge, our cook will make breakfast. After having breakfast and loading the mules with the equipment and belongings, we’ll start our trek along the river, where you’ll encounter herds of alpacas and llamas, and if you are lucky enough, you’ll also see chinchillas and vicuñas. You’ll also get the chance to get in touch with the local Andean communities. After a 5-hour hike, we’ll have made it to our Ccayrabiri campsite, near Llamachimpana town. By the time we arrive, our cook will have already prepared a delicious lunch for us. After lunch, we’ll visit a local family who will tell us all about their customs and the local culture activities. We’ll camp out for the night.

Transportation time: 4h approx.
Walking time: 5h approx.
Distance: 10 Km
Difficulty level: challenging
Meals: B = breakfast, L = lunch, D = dinner.
Overnight: tent
Climate: mild during the day and cold at night
Elevation: Cusco (3,400m) – Quesiuno Chillca (4,326m) – Llamachimpana (4,598m)

Waking up to an energetic coca leaves infusion and a healthy protein breakfast will get you ready to walk for two hours to the top of the imposing Rainbow mountain (5200m / 17060ft). On our way up, you’ll be able to admire the impressive Red Valley, Ausangate glacier and the Surine Mountain. Once you reach the top, you’ll have time to explore the surroundings and take photos. After that, it’ll be time to go down towards the Chillihuani/Hanchipata community (4800m/15748ft). At this point, our driver will be waiting to drive us to Cusipata town. You’ll get to enjoy a delicious lunch made with organic products from the community. After lunch, you’ll head back to Cusco and we’ll drop you off at your accommodation at about 4 pm.

Transportation time: 3 hours approx.
Walking time: 5h approx.
Distance: 10 Km
Difficulty level: challenging
Meals: B = breakfast, L = lunch.
Overnight: on your own
Climate: mild during the day.
Elevation: Llamachimpana (4,598m) – Rainbow mountain (5,200m) – Chillihuani/Hanchipata (4,600m) – Cusco (3,400m)

Inclusions

Included

Informative briefing in your accommodation 1 or 2 days before the hike. We’ll confirm the details after booking is made.
Private transportation from your accommodation in Cusco to Chillihuani, the beginning of the hike.
Private transportation to return to Cusco and Drop off at your accommodation.
Rainbow mountain and Red Valley entrance fee.
Camping gear: 2-people professional tents (Doite Pro Aconcagua 3 or Eureka tent), mats, toilet and utility tents (toilet, kitchen and dining tents with tables and chairs).
Cook.
Kitchen gear.
Meals: breakfasts, lunches and dinner. We pay special attention to dietary restrictions (vegetarian, vegan and allergies). Meals are prepared by an expert cook and they include: pancakes, omelettes, soups, spaghetti, rice, chicken, fish, beef, fresh fruit, hot drinks (including coca leaves infusions which are great for altitude) among others.
Professional, bilingual tour guide (English-Spanish). For other languages contact us in advance. Bear in mind there may be extra charges.
Boiled water to refill your water bottles.
Hand biodegradable liquid soap.
Biodegradable dishwasher for the kitchen gear.
Hot water for personal use in the camp in the morning and evening.
Muleteer and mules to transport the camping gear and food.
Transportation of participant’s personal bags (up to 7kg, including the sleeping bag).
A safety horse during the hike.
Duffel bag for personal use.
Trekking poles.
First-aid kit (including oximeter and thermometer) and oxygen bottle.

Not included

Last dinner in Cusco.
Sleeping bag (in case you need one, you can rent it from us).

RECOMMENDATIONS

The hike previously described may vary due to weather conditions, landslides, participants walking pace or other factors. Our professional guide will make the right and best decisions along the way for the benefit and safety of the group.
Understanding that the weather is unpredictable, and due to the fact that it’s cold and wet, once your belongings get wet, it will be very difficult to dry them during the night. It’s important to bring extra clothes and socks.
During this trek we’ll reach 5200 masl. This combined with the weather conditions can make the daily hiking even harder. As to enjoy the trek better, we recommend you to be healthy and in good physical condition and to acclimatize in Cusco for at least 3 days before the trek.
Camping sites: The camping sites on the route may vary from those described in our itinerary, due to the limited number of campsites that are known to the general public. Our guide and representative will recommend to the group the best option given the circumstances.

What we recommend that you bring

An ergonomic day backpack for hiking with waterproof cover (30 or 40 liters).
A waterproof backpack otherwise requests a duffel bag at your agency for carrying your personal belongings on the horse.
Clothing for cold and hot weather
Waterproof jacket, light pants, rain poncho, hat or cap.
Hiking shoes or waterproof running shoes.
Flip flops or sandals (for showers and hot springs in Aguas Calientes).
Wool or cotton socks.
T-shirts with short and long sleeves.
Towel easy dry and swimsuit (in case you want to relax in the hot mineral spring).
Sun block.
Anti-mosquito spray – minimum recommended 20% DEET (non-toxic – we suggest nature-friendly repellents). No malaria risk has been reported.
Disinfectant hand gel.
Toilet paper.
Bottles of water and sterilization tablets.
Toiletries.
Camera (wrapped in a plastic pouch).
Flashlight with batteries.
Snacks, like chocolate bars and dried fruits.
Original Passport.
Original ISIC Student Card (in case you have applied for a student discount).
Extra money in soles.
Optional: walking sticks or poles are recommended which can help you to reduce the amount of time you spend pounding the trail, taking the pressure off your joints.

More information

1. During high season (May to September), it is difficult to ensure the exact date of entry, due to the restrictions set by the Ministry of Culture to limit the number of entries to the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu; therefore, the date of entry to the Inca Trail could vary for one or two days; then we will adapt the program so you can make the most of it.

2. Entrance tickets to Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu mountain: To hike up Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu mountain, it is required to book well in advance, because the entrance tickets are limited to a certain number of people daily. Therefore, we’ll take care of the reservation and confirm your entrance with an additional charge of 75 USD for adults and 55 USD for students.

Note: If you wish to visit any of the extra mountains, please inform us in due time before purchasing the entrance tickets to the Machu Picchu citadel.

3. A solidarity trip: Feel free to bring pens, notebooks, picture books or other school supplies to give to the children’s community school. The villagers will be very grateful. You can also buy bread on the way to share with the locals you meet.

4. Tips: for porters, cooks and guides tips are always welcome. Porters are also very grateful for a small donation, such as school clothes or supplies for their children.

5. Cancellation policy: For any cancellation; the costs already incurred by the travel agency will be at your expense. For more details on the cost of cancellations by certain participants, please refer to articles 6, 6.4 and our cancellation policies in the sales terms and conditions.

For more information, you may wish to check or consult our FAQ, Safe and Healthy Travel, and Flexible Booking with Explorandino.

BOOK NOW!

Entrance to the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu citadel having been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983. Entrance to Machu Picchu is limited to 4,044 visitors per day. Thus, it is important to book at least 3 months in advance, especially during the high season (between May and September). During the low season, between December and January, it is possible to still have some places available before your visit. However, it’s always best to book in advance.

If you are interested in this trek, please contact us for more information.

Connection to Machu Picchu

It is possible to have the train connection to Aguas Calientes town from Ollantaytambo town to visit Machu Picchu or explore the Majestic Inca Trail 2 days and 1 night. Please contact us to verify availability of entrance tickets to Machu Picchu citadel, train tickets and for any more information.