Day 1: Cusco – Tinqui – Upis

Distance: 8km / 3 miles

Elevation: 4100m / 13,450ft

Hiking time: 2 hours

Your guide will meet you in Cusco early in the morning and take you via private transport to the starting point of our trek – Tinqui. Here, you will have a locally-prepared lunch while your gear is being loaded onto pack horses. After lunch, you will hike for a couple of hours to the village of Upis, our campsite for the night. Before dinner in Upis, you will be able to soak in the hot springs while sipping coca tea and relaxing your muscles.

Day 2: Upis – Chillca

Distance: 15km

Elevation: 4300m / 14,100ft

Hiking time: 7 hours

With two passes to cross today, we will wake everyone up at 5:00 a.m. with coca tea brought to your tent, followed by a big breakfast to fuel you up for the day ahead. Our morning starts with a hike up to the Arapa Pass (4958m) followed by a slight descent to our lunch spot near Lake Pumacocha – a deep blue lake and a perfect stop for a break. Along the way you will see local herders and llamas, and Ausangate mountain while your expert guide explains the history of the local villages and talks about the landscape of the area. After lunch we will continue uphill to our second pass of the day, Pucacocha Pass at 5000m, where, if you’re lucky, you may see condors and vicuñas! From here, we will descend to our campsite, Chillca, which is surrounded by high mountains and incredible hanging glaciers – watch for sections of the glaciers crashing into the lake below! Camp will be set up when you arrive, so that you can rest your weary legs while dinner is prepared.

Day 3: Chillca- Rainbow Mountain (5200m)- Lake Ausangate

Distance: 20km / 8.65 miles

Elevation: 4600 m/ 15,090 ft – 4500 m-14,000 ft.

Hiking time: 7-8 hours

We start the day by crossing the Chillca Pass (5051m), a very colorful mountain, but only a precursor of what is to come. We’ll be able to see the beautiful Rainbow Mountain in the distance! Once we cross the pass, we’ll enter the Red Mountain Valley, a wildly desert landscape with vibrant colors all around and llamas roaming the ground below. We’ll descend, circle around the lake and walk through a fairly flat section before climbing up to Rainbow Mountain, where you’ll be able to soak in the sights and enjoy what you’ve worked so hard for. After a delicious lunch in the surrounding area, we’ll head back down the valley to make our way to the stunning Lake Ausangate, where camp will be set up and waiting for you to take a rest.

Day 4: Lake Ausangate - Palomani Pass - Pampacancha

Distance: 17km / 10.5miles

Elevation: 4600 m / 15,090ft – 4300 m / 14.1045 feet.

Hiking time: 7-8 hours

We’ll be hiking a shorter distance today as yesterday was a big day. Following the edge of the river, we will pass beautiful glacial tarns and lush green pampas. Today is a great day for spotting wildlife, so keep an eye out for condors and vicuñas.

Day 5: Pampacancha - Qampa Pass - Pacchanta (hot springs/ camping)

Distance: 16km /

Elevation: 4300m – 5400m – 4000m

Hiking time: 6-7 hours

With only one pass to cross today we will take our time along our route, enjoying the deep blue lagoons and alpine glacial colored lakes. If you are brave enough, you can even jump in to cool off! The massive Ausangate Mountain may still be visible and you’ll be able to see it from a new angle, along with views of the Pacchanta Valley. We will be camping in Pacchanta this evening, where you will be able to enjoy a nice soak in the hot springs while taking in the views of Ausangate Mountain.

Day 6: Pacchanta – Tinqui- Cusco

Distance: 16km

Elevation: 4000m (descending)

Hiking time: 3-4 hours

Today is the easiest day of our trek as we make our way back to the starting point, Tinqui, by walking through flat terrain and celebrating our accomplishments. Once we arrive in TInqui, you will have your last lunch while everything is packed up in our private transport to take you back to your hotel in Cusco, dropping you off around 5:00 p.m.