ausangate trek: cordillera vilcanota

Pick-up at your hotel in Cusco. Leaving by vehicle southwards we arrive at Huambutio and start our winding ascent. From here we continue over a rolling landscape and at the pass we view the Cordillera Vilcanota on the horizon for the first time. Descend past the village of Ccatca and outlying communities to finally reach Ocongate and a chance for last minute purchases. Continue to Tinki, near Qoñamuro. Visiti a local family and their way of life at the community of Q'oñamuro and then continue across the wide-open pampas above the tree line past small settlements of herders and weavers - their crafts will be on sale. At the school we start our trek, as we slowly approach the northern face of Mt. Ausangate we will run into herds of alpacas. A crew of packhorses and llamas will accompany us along the way. Camp at Upis (4,400 m / 14,432 f) surrounded by snowcapped mountains.

Our campsite is left below us as we slowly ascend up Upispampa, getting closer to the north face of Ausangate. An ascent up the Inkapampa valley brings us to the Arapa Pass at 4,670 m. (15,318 ft.). We border and traverse the arid rolling landscape to then slowly descend to the small lakes past the valley of Samacancha to arrive at Lake Pucacocha below one of the Ausangate glaciers - a beautiful blue lake at 4,575m (15,006 ft). If we are lucky, we will hear and see ice falling. Above the lake the rock spire Mt. Sorimana will stand guard. A slow ascent will bring us to the Alcatani pass at 4,650 m. (15,252 ft.). Here we begin our descent to Ausangatecocha - a beautiful campsite with a view of the southern face covered with glacial formations.

From Ausangatecocha we start a steep ascent to the Palomani pass at 5,050m (16,564 ft.). As we cross into the valley of Machuraqay we will see beautiful views of Mt. Mariposa with its cone peak. We descend to Chillcaphinaya at 4,400m (14,432 ft.), a valley filled with grazing Alpacas. The surrounding ridges of the Cordillera Vilcanota have varying hues of rock, sand and reddish earth - a unique Andean panorama. We ascend to the large pampa of Wanu Wanu where we camp at 4,450 m. (14,596 ft.)

Walking to the headwaters of WanuWanu, with Mt. Acero looming above us (also known as Huamantilla) we reach the run off from the glacier. As we begin our ascent to the pass of Jampa, Mt. Callangate, with its jagged spires covered in ice, dominates our trek as we edge our way over the pass at 4,950m. (16,236 ft) with its retreating glacier and ice-fields beckoning us closer. We have lunch at Pachapata. The ridge above offers a view of the Lake Qomercocha and Hamacocha. We traverse the ridge and enter the watershed of Mt. Ninaparayoc with its lake below. A nice walk down this valley with Mt. Ausangate behind us - we have now completed almost a full circle around the mountain. Rolling hills now extend below us as we hike into Pacchanta for a visit the hot springs. Overnight camp.

Return from the roadhead to Cusco. Transfer to your hotel.