AUSANGATE TREK 7 DAYS (Ice Climbing)

After breakfast, we begin our hike slightly uphill for 4 hours to our lunch spot, on the way we will have many breathtaking views of the snow capped mountains beautiful lakes, one of them is called Ccomerccocha a green lake where in the month of August our andean healers have special rituals for the mountain god of Ausangate and for the mother earth, requesting to recieve the energy to cure the community with homeopathic andean medicine. By 1pm we reach a place called Puca mocco (red mountain) to have our lunch with a spectacular view of many huge snow capped peeks which makes your food that much more delicous. Afterwards we begin over our hike with the company of Vicuñas and condors, here you will really feel as a part of the andes because the snow caped surrounding mountains will be stunning like Catalina, Maria Huamantilca, Pucapunta and Ccolquecruz and the most famous Ausangate trek , finally we reach the first pass of our hike QAMPA 5000m/ 16404.2 ft high above sea level where we will make an offering of our coca leaves for the mountain god (apu), We also have a magnificent view from this point of the surrounding glacier peaks , then we start decending to reach our camp site which is in the skirts of Ausangate mountain.

After enjoying a very nutritional breakfast we will leave the camp site with a spectacular view of the valley, river and the waterfalls. It is also possible to observe some stunning mountains and some beautiful groups of small turquoise lakes, andean birds inhabit this area such as the Andean geese, Andean gull and some types of ducks. After hiking for about five hours we reach Pampaccawa ( panoramic look out point ) to enjoy our appetizing lunch with some Andean tea to help our digestion. Afterwards we have some time for fishing in a beautiful river. Then we will begin our hike along the magnificent llama valley , at this time hundreds of llamas, alpacas and sheep are taken back home through the mountains by the quechua farmers, today is also posible to see the famous colurfull mountain peaks across the valley. Finally by approx 5.15pm we arrive to our charming campsite near to one the nicest waterfalls and overlooking the huge and awesome snow capped Picks, Colquecruz , Pucapunta and Puma mountains. After dinner we will organize a grand bonfire which we can sit around and enjoy some hot wine, sangria and have a look the stars, the famous milky way and the southern cross.

This day we have to survive the highest pass of our trek, therefore we will be given a good breakfast by our porters. We begin our hike at 7.30 am with a gentle uphill walk for 2 hours on soft grass, by this time many animals such as lamas and alpacas have already been taken up here for grazing, if you like you might be able to pet some of them. We then have one hour to walk uphill on soft sand and snow where you can see many wild vicuñas, finally we reach the CONDOR pass 5.400 meters above sea level. Here you will have plenty of time to enjoy the amazing landscape scenery, you will be located higher than the other mountains. A great spot to take photos. Our porters will also provide magic hot coca tea, we will also leave some rocks and coca leaves as a payment for the mountains for taking us to the summit. During the Inca’s time, people used to leave rocks, jewels, or clothes for success to the mountains and to get nice weather. Afterwards we will carry on walking on the grassy and swampy trail with the company of hundreds of Lamas, Vicuñas and alpacas, after hilking we reach our lunch place next to a beautiful waterfall and near to the famous lake. After having a nice siesta we will begin our hike for 2 more hours to our campsite, along the way we will see some traditional houses, a lot of guinea pigs and hundreds of chinchillas. Finally, with spectacular views of glaciers in front of us, we will reach our camp place by 4.30pm.

You will be awoken with a traditional hot drink and you’ll be able to enjoy great views of the lake and the glacier from your tent. When you are ready we will enjoy a tasty breakfast then by 8.30 am we will begin our hike, this part of the walk until lunch time is very easy, we will walk by the banks of the most famous and the biggest lake called Sivinaccocha (ducks lake). Along the way we will make several stops in order to observe and recognize the several kind of local birds inhabiting this lake such as Andean goose and ducks. We may also be able to go fishing if the local people allowed us. Then we arrive to our lunch spot where our porters will serve us three course meal and have a short siesta. Then we will hike a gradually uphill for 2 hours to get to the vicuña mountain 5.350 meters high above sea level, the weather changes quickly from sunny day to chilly winds here so it is better to take our group photos when we descend gradually down. There are amazing views of the Andean Puna ecological level where local people farm some types of potatoes. We can also see some natural rock formations and just follow one nice stream down and reach our campsite by 4pm near to the lake Ccasccara (5000 meters above sea level) where we have a plenty of time to relax after our 5 day hike. Some local people will come over to our camp and invite us to go fishing or they might invite us to cook a fresh, clean fish for dinner. This is the best camp site along the way due to the lake and the glacier just if front of us which makes it a more enjoyable and magic area.

Our wake up time will be at 7.30am when we can see a stunning sunrise. Once we are ready we will enjoy our breakfast then we visit a traditional family house to appreciate of their life style and see how the farmers live up here at 5000 meters high. We will see some mud brick and stone houses still with Incan style architectural. The family has guinea pig in their kitchen to eat. Most of them are large families with many kids who have problems with their education system due to the location of the village, for this reason we might take some presents like pens, pencils, notebooks to encourage them to study. Since they have hundreds of llamas, alpacas and sheep, their main economic activity is textiles. They make the original baby alpaca, hand made crafts using some natural flowers to get different colors. If you are interested in taking some memories home from the Andes this is the perfect place to buy crafts for a reasonable price. After we have spent time with the quechua speaking family and kids, we will keep going gradually down for 3 hours to reach our lunch place, along the way we will see for the last time some glacier mountains and nice valleys with a nice rivers and waterfalls, some red and green mountains which a long time ago was a glacier too but with a global warming it disappeared, here you will probably understand why the Andes is very important to us and why local people still practice the Inca customs, worshipping the sacred mother earth and the mountains. We will walk down gradually, we might see some more Andean fauna such us birds and llamas and then have the opportunity to take final photos with them. Finally by 3.30pm you will arrive at our last camp site of our trek in the little village Phinaya (4000 meters above sea level) where you have free time. We can organize some activities such as cooking class with your trekkign chef or visiting teh village.

Today is the last day of our hike so we have to prepare our back packs. In the morning we organize extra walking up to the view point to see the village, or if you want you can just walk around the village and talk to the local people. We can also visit the school where you will see how the kids learn in the quechua language, you have an opportunity to give the kids some gifts you bought in Cusco . Later by 10.30 am we will have a small ceremony to say goodbye to our porters , then we will have the last lunch with your guide and porters. By 11.00 am your bus will leave and it will take about 4 hours on a non paved road to Sicuani, then yourself and all the porters and guides will take another bus to Cusco which will take 3 more hours so you will arrive in Cusco by 5-7 pm where we will take you back to your hotel.