Rainbow Mountain Trek scenery

Hiker on the Ausangate Trek

Landscape views as we explore Rainbow Mountain | Karina Merkel

Ausangate Mountain in Andes (Cordillera Vilcanota) Peru

Local Peruvian woman out in the sunshine | Chris Gooley

Ausangate Trek

Ausangate trek to Rainbow Mountain through remote Andean high-altitude landscapes.

Peru

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3 reviews

5 Days from

$1420 USD

Trip Code: AUR

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Essential Information

Extra trip options & supplements

*Prices listed are per person

Sleeping Bag Hire pp per night

$16 USD

Single Supplement (tent only)

$80 USD

Single Traveller Supplement

$1130 USD

Duration

5 Days

Activities

5 day trek

Style

Classic Adventures

Accommodation

4 nights camping

Meals

4 Dinners
5 Lunches
4 Breakfasts

Difficulty Grading

5 / 10

Moderate

Carbon Footprint

54kg of CO₂-e PP per day

(217kg of CO₂-e PP entire trip)

Trip highlights

Trek around Mount Ausangate (6384m / 20945ft), Peru’s highest sacred mountain
Visit Rainbow Mountain (Vinicunca), known for its distinctive mineral-striped colours
Cross high-altitude passes above 5000m / 16404ft in the Cordillera Vilcanota
Walk through remote Andean valleys with glacial lakes and alpine landscapes
Camp in high mountain environments including at the base of Ausangate

Overview

Trek Peru’s Ausangate region on a high-altitude journey through remote Andean landscapes to Rainbow Mountain. This multi-day trek from Cusco crosses mountain passes above 5000m / 16404ft, with views of Ausangate, Peru’s highest sacred peak. The route passes glacial lakes, alpine valleys and traditional communities in the Cordillera Vilcanota. Fully supported camping allows you to focus on the trekking experience while travelling through one of Peru’s most remote mountain regions. This is a high-altitude trek. You must spend a minimum of two nights at or above 3000m / 9843ft (e.g. Cusco) prior to the start of the trip for proper acclimatisation. Participation is only possible if this requirement has been met.

Itinerary

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Leaving Cusco behind, you travel into the Andean highlands, where traditional Quechua communities continue to live in close connection with the land. At Tinki, your trek begins across open valleys dotted with grazing alpacas, with the snow-covered peak of Ausangate rising steadily into view. The trail climbs gently, allowing time to settle into the rhythm of walking at altitude as the landscape opens into a broad alpine setting. By the time you reach Upis camp (4430m / 14534ft), you are surrounded by high peaks and expansive skies, offering a strong sense of the remoteness that defines this region. Accommodation: Camping Note: This is a high-altitude trek. You must spend a minimum of two nights at or above 3000m / 9843ft (e.g. Cusco) prior to the start of the trip for proper acclimatisation. Participation is only possible if this requirement has been met.

Meals: L,D

Today the route leads deeper into the Ausangate region, with a steady ascent toward Arapa Pass (4670m / 15322ft). As you gain elevation, views open across remote valleys and glaciated peaks, with the scale of the surrounding mountains becoming more apparent. Beyond the pass, the trail passes a series of glacial lakes, including the striking waters of Pucacocha, where the colours shift with the light and weather. A further climb over Alcatani Pass brings you to Ausangatecocha, where camp is set beneath ice-covered slopes in a high alpine setting. Accommodation: Camping

Meals: B,L,D

This is the most demanding day of the trek, with an early ascent toward Palomani Pass (over 5000m / 16404ft), the highest point of the journey. Reaching the pass, wide views extend across the surrounding Andes, offering a clear sense of the scale and isolation of the region. The descent leads into the Machuraqay Valley, where the landscape gradually softens into rolling terrain. Along the way, you may encounter herders tending alpacas, reflecting the traditional livelihoods of the area. Camp at Wanu Wanu (4592m / 15066ft) is set in a quiet valley, well away from established trekking routes. Accommodation: Camping

Meals: B,L,D

The final day of trekking follows high-altitude plains and glacial headwaters, with a gradual ascent toward Jampa Pass (4950m / 16240ft). From the pass, views extend across surrounding peaks, including Mount Callangate, marking the final high point of the circuit. Descending from the pass, the trail returns toward the village of Pacchanta, completing a full circuit of the Ausangate massif. On arrival, there is time to rest in the nearby hot springs, set against the backdrop of the mountains you have just crossed. Accommodation: Camping

Meals: B,L,D

After breakfast, you depart Pacchanta and travel by road back to Cusco. The journey retraces the route through highland landscapes and rural communities. Arriving back in the city, the contrast between the remote mountain environment and Cusco’s historic centre marks the end of the trek.

Meals: B,L

Map

Elevation

The map and elevation chart are for illustrative purposes only and meant to provide general guidelines.

Ready to start your adventure?

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What's included?

Included

4 breakfasts, 5 lunches and 4 dinners
Expert bilingual local guide with wilderness first aid training
Use of a kit bag which includes a duffle bag and sleeping mat
Group camping equipment
Solar powered lamps in tents
Private internal transportation
Filtered drinking water
Group medical kit and portable hyperbaric chamber

Not included

International flights and taxes
Airport transfers
Visa fees
Travel Insurance (compulsory)
Meals not listed as included
Personal expenses such as phone calls, laundry, aerated and alcoholic drinks
Tips and gratuities
Any items not listed as included