Ausangate Trek 2 Days

Detail Itinerary

Day 1: Cusco – Tinqui – Upis

We will pick you up from your hotel at 06:00 am and travel by private van for approximately two hours to the town of Tinqui. Here, you will see local people still wearing their traditional clothing, and our guide will explain the lifestyle of the communities living in these remote areas.

After this visit, we continue by private transport for about one more hour along a dusty road until reaching Upispampa. Upon arrival, our chef will prepare a hot breakfast, after which we begin our hike toward the campsite. The trail consists of uphill and downhill sections and takes around three hours.

During the hike, you will pass through remote villages and cross several streams before arriving at the small village of Upis. Here, you will stay in comfortable cabins for the night. Our cook will prepare a delicious lunch, and in the afternoon you may choose to hike to Upis Lake (a two-hour round trip) or relax in the nearby hot springs.

After your afternoon activity, we will enjoy dinner together. Later in the evening, you will have the opportunity to step outside and admire a spectacular starry sky, creating a memory you will cherish for a lifetime.

• Elevation Gain: 434 m / 1,423 ft
• Elevation Loss: 154 m / 505 ft
• Walking Distance (including Upis Lake): 13 km / 8.07 miles
• Hiking Time (including Upis Lake): Approximately 5 hours
• Trailhead Elevation: 4,155 m / 13,632 ft
• Highest Point: 4,549 m / 14,924 ft
• Campsite Elevation: 4,425 m / 14,517 ft
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Accommodation: Cabins

Day 2: Upis – Ausangate 7 Lakes – Pacchanta – Cusco

We will wake you up at 5:00 am with coca tea or coffee delivered to your cabin, followed by a nutritious breakfast to prepare you for the day. The hike begins with a gentle uphill walk of about 20 minutes to a viewpoint offering breathtaking views of Ausangate Mountain in all its splendor.

From there, we continue hiking through rolling terrain until reaching the famous 7 Lakes of Ausangate. We will explore the lakes for about one hour, enjoying this final opportunity to admire the snow-capped mountain from a unique and close perspective.

After visiting the lakes, we hike downhill to the hot springs of Pacchanta, where you can relax in the warm waters while enjoying incredible views of Ausangate Mountain. Later, we enjoy lunch before saying goodbye to our horseman and chef. We then return to Cusco, arriving at your hotel at approximately 5:00 pm.

• Hiking Information
• Elevation Gain: 340 m / 1,115 ft
• Elevation Loss: 460 m / 1,509 ft
• Walking Distance: 15 km / 9.32 miles
• Hiking Time: Approximately 6 – 7 hours
• Trailhead Elevation: 4,425 m / 14,517 ft
• Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult

• Includes
• Satellite Phone: Ausangate is a remote area with no mobile signal. In case of emergencies, our guide will carry and use a satellite phone.
• Cabins: Accommodation in cabins is provided for the first night.
• English-Speaking Guide: Our guides are highly experienced and knowledgeable about the Ausangate region.
• Pre-Departure Briefing: Conducted at our office one day before your departure.
• Private Portable Toilet Tent: Set up at the campsite for your convenience.
• Dining Room Tent: Equipped with tables and chairs where you can relax after a long hike.
• Professional Cook: A dedicated cook will prepare fresh meals daily.
• Wake-Up Tea: Enjoy coca tea, coffee, hot chocolate, or another tea of your choice served to your tent each morning.
• Horses: Horses will carry all trekking equipment.
• Personal Belongings Allowance: Up to 7 kg per person, including your sleeping bag.
• Duffel Bag: A large duffel bag provided by the company for your 7 kg of personal belongings.
• Water: Boiled, cooled, and filtered water provided daily to refill your bottles.
• Afternoon Tea (“Happy Hour”): Served each afternoon with hot drinks, popcorn, and biscuits.
• Reusable Cloth Snack Bag: Provided to reduce plastic waste.
• Daily Snacks: Included for each day of the trek.
• Entrance Fees: Covers access to private lands in the Ausangate area.
• Kitchen Tent: A designated space for the cook to prepare meals.
• 7 Lakes Entrance Fee: Included in the package; no extra payment required.
• Meals: 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches, and 1 dinner. Vegetarian, pescatarian, gluten-free, and lactose-free options are available upon request.
• Private Transportation: Round-trip transportation between your hotel in Cusco and the trailhead.
• Foam Mattress: Provided for added sleeping comfort.
• First Aid Kit: All guides are trained annually in first aid and carry basic medications for altitude sickness, diarrhea, injuries, and more.
• Oxygen Tank: A full oxygen tank is carried by the guide at all times.
• Hygiene Products: A bowl of water and paper towels provided at every campsite for handwashing.
• Plastic Poncho: Supplied in case of heavy rain.
• Rain Cover: For your backpack.
• Radio Communication: Carried by both the guide and cook for coordination and safety.
• Hotel Pick-Up and Drop-Off: From your hotel or Airbnb in Cusco at the start of the trek and back at the end.
• Horseman: Responsible for leading the horses and setting up tents.
• Hot Water Bag: Provided at night to keep your feet warm if you feel cold.

• Not Included
• Trekking poles. We rent a Black diamond hiking sticks. They cost $5 for the entire trip.
• Personal riding horse. Additional horses may be rented according to the needs of the individual and group.
• Sleeping bag. 
• Voluntary Tips for Guide, Horsemen, Driver, and Cook.
• Travel Insurance.

INFO IMPORTANT:

THINGS TO KNOW

• Make sure you are acclimatized to Cusco’s altitude before you set off on your hike to the Ausangate. This is by far the best insurance of a smooth and enjoyable trip. We recommend you spend at least 2 days in Cusco prior to the excursion.
• While we expect the tour will run as the itinerary describes to Ausangate Trek 2 days. Participants should accept that there is the possibility of changes, being necessary liable to local conditions, e.g, strikes, natural disasters.
• If you have medical problems, you should consult your doctor and indicate that you want to or are planning a hike in the Peruvian Andes and the height is 5040 m (16,400 ft) above sea level. If you have medication, you must bring it with you to continue your treatment.
• The higher elevation also means colder, nearly freezing temperatures, so be prepared. If you decide to take a multi-day tour, make sure to wear very warm clothes.
• Our guide always oxygen tanks which are important as you get over 4,850 m(15912 ft) sea level! Not all travel agencies offer this, so this is definitely something to look out for when choosing the best Ausangate tour operator.
• We only organize Ausangate Trek 2 days all year because we have cabins.
• Our pick-up time changed to 5 am from September because the rainy season started and most of the time it rains in the afternoon so It is better to hike in the morning.
• Since the Ausangate Trek reaches elevations of over 4,000 meters, we recommend taking Diamox (acetazolamide) to help prevent altitude sickness. It is advisable to begin the medication before starting the trek to allow your body time to adjust. Although Diamox may have some side effects, it can significantly improve your ability to enjoy the hike by reducing symptoms of altitude sickness. Please ensure that you obtain a prescription from a medical professional before purchasing or using the medication.
• This trek will have a maximum of 8 travelers
• Daily departures with a group of 2 or more.

DUFFLE BAG

07 kilograms of your personal belongings is included with us so we will give you a duffel bag at our office at the end of your briefing..Our horses will carry them and you will have access to them only at the campsites. Put your clothes and other personal items that you won’t need hiking. Things like water, snacks, a first aid kit, and rain gear should be in your day pack.

STRIKES

Strikes and roadblocks are frequent in Peru and can disrupt our Ausangate 2-day trek. We will do our best that your hike to Ausangate continues as planned with some changes.

If the strike happens the first day of your Ausangate 2-day hike, we will take you to the trailhead the night before your start date.

If the strike happens the day that you finish your Ausangate 2 days. We will send our vans to Pacchanta one night before. People usually do the strike during the day and during the night is normal So we will start driving at 18:00 pm. You will arrive at Cusco at 11 pm.

AUSANGATE WEATHER

The weather is unpredictable in the Andes. The dry season in Ausangate is from April to October and the rainy season is from November through March, but this does not stop rain from falling in dry season or the sun from coming out in rainy season so just be prepared. No matter what season you are hiking Ausangate trek, make sure that you get rain gear such as: a rain jacket, rain pants, poncho, and waterproof gloves.

Ausangate weather changed in minutes. You might experience 4 season in only one day too. So you must be prepared. Layers are the key since they are easy to adapt to different temperature changes. Be prepared with down jacket since the early morning and evening will be very cold.

TRAVEL INSURANCE

We recommend you to get a travel insurance because if you cancel your Ausangate 2 day tour in a last-minute it can reimburse you for your prepaid money. Also when you get sick or hurt while you are far away from home, it can reimburse you for care following a covered medical emergency while traveling.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

This hike is moderate – difficult because of the altitude, it’s highly recomeded to be in a good physical condition. The first day is easy however the second is difficult because you will hike for about 6 hours.

ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS FOR SOLO PEOPLE

During the Ausangate trek 2 days, solo travelers will be paired to share a tent with another traveler of the same sex and couples will have a tent to themselves.

PRE-DEPARTURE BRIEFING

There is a mandatory pre-departure briefing at our Cusco Office one day before your departure to Ausangate at 6pm. You will meet your guide and He will give you detailed information about your trek, a list of what to bring, rental equipment or questions in general. Our office is located at: Marquez Street 250, Second Floor. Office 03. Cuzco, Peru.

TIPPING

Tipping is common on Ausangate trek 2 days. On the last day of the adventure, we will say goodbye our amazing horseman and profesional chefs. This is the time that you will give a tip for all of them please. Anything extra is always really appreciated. Please know that tipping is not Mandatory and that you should never feel forced into this.

Our customers usually pool their tipping money together for the chef and horsemen. For your tour guide, you tip once he/she will drop you off at your hotel. You decide the amount of money based on your experience with them. Soles is better for Our Horseman and Chefs. Guides can receive U.S. dollars or Soles without any problem.

• This is our recommendations below. Sometimes they receive more or less. It is in your heart.
• Tips could be for our Horseman:  20 – 40 soles per Horsemen.
• Tips could be for our Cooks: 50 – 80 soles per cook.

Cancellations And Refunds

• Full Refund: If you cancel up to 72 hours before the tour starts, you’ll get all your payment back minus the transaction fee charged by the credit card Company.
• Partial Refund: If you cancel within 24 hours but before 7 PM the day before the tour, you’ll lose your deposit.
• No Refund: If you cancel after 7 PM the day before the tour, you won’t get any payment back and will lose the full payment.

FAQ´S

HOW TO BOOK THE AUSANGATE TREK 2 DAY HIKE WITH PUREQ TRAVEL?

In order to book your Ausangate trek 2 days with us, Click in the BOOK NOW buttom, then select the day of your depature, then, fill out all your personal information of each participant and the last step is the payment of your deposit of $50 per person.

Also you will find some add ons in our booking platforms such, emergency horse, walking sticks and sleeping bags. Those extras, you can book together with the deposit or you can book on 1 day before your departure at our office in the briefing sesión.

Once we get your deposit, we will send you a manual confirmation Then your trip to Ausangate is 100% confirmed.  

WHAT ABOUT THE OUTSTANDING BALANCE?

The Outstanding balance can be made in cash one day earlier your trip in USD or soles. Also, you can pay us with Credit card (5% service fee applies).  Please let us know what you prefer. Cash payment MUST be paid 1 day prior your trip.

HOW ABOUT THE STUDENT DISCOUNT?

Unfortunatly there is not student discount for Ausangate trek 2 days.

MAY I CHANGE MY DEPARTURE DATE?

Yes, it is possible. But you should let us know 48 hours in advance.

DO I NEED TO BRING MY ORIGINAL PASSPORT ON THE AUSANGATE TREK 2 DAYS?

It is not mandatory to bring your Passport.

CAN I STAY IN THE SACRED VALLEY FOR MY AUSANGATE TREK 2 DAYS?

Not recommended, because our Ausangate tour groups leave from Cusco. If you stay in sacred we will pick you up 1 hour early than cusco and there will be an upgrade of $30 for the transport from the sacred valley.