THE JOURNEY
Five days of high-mountain trekking around Apu Ausangate, amid glaciers, turquoise lakes and communities that live to the rhythm of the Andes. A demanding, remote trek for hikers seeking pure wilderness.
just for you
THE ROUTE
05:00 am – 07:00 am | Pickup at your hotel in Cusco
The adventure begins early. The Machupicchu Glory team will pick you up at your hotel to start the drive through the Southern Valley and the Vilcanota valley, heading toward the Ausangate range, the most sacred apu (mountain spirit) of the southern Andes.
08:30 am | Breakfast in Ocongate
After the drive we reach the town of Ocongate (~3,800 m), where you'll enjoy a hearty breakfast. We then continue to Tinqui, the last village with services, where our wranglers await with their llamas and pack horses.
10:30 am | Start of the acclimatization hike
We'll begin a gentle 4 to 5 hour hike across vast ichu grasslands, surrounded by alpacas and llamas. Along the way you'll catch your first view of the towering Ausangate glacier (6,372 m), a perfect moment for gradual acclimatization to the altitude.
03:00 pm | Arrival at Upis campsite
We'll arrive at the Upis campsite (4,400 m), set beside natural hot springs. In the afternoon we'll take a 2 hour excursion to Upis Cocha lagoon to admire the golden sunset over the glaciers.
07:00 pm | Coca tea and dinner
Back at camp we'll welcome you with a hot cup of coca tea before a warm dinner under the starry sky of the range.
05:00 am | Wake-up with coca tea
We'll wake you gently with a hot cup of coca tea to prepare your body for the demanding day ahead, among snow-capped peaks and colorful lagoons.
06:30 am | Ascent to Arapa Pass
We'll begin a roughly 2.5 hour ascent to Arapa Pass (~4,850 m). With some luck you may spot condors soaring over the summits, guardians of the Andean worldview.
11:00 am | Descent to the lagoons and lunch
We'll descend toward a cluster of turquoise, red and green lagoons. The standout is Puca Cocha, deep blue at the foot of Ausangate, where you'll enjoy lunch by the shore surrounded by a dreamlike glacier landscape.
02:00 pm | Puca Cocha Pass
In the afternoon we'll cross Puca Cocha Pass (~4,950 m) and descend toward the Ananta campsite, with a privileged head-on view of the glacier. Alpacas and llamas grazing freely will keep you company all day.
07:00 pm | Dinner with the glacier aglow
We'll close the day with a restorative dinner as the glacier lights up with the day's final reflections, an unforgettable natural spectacle.
04:00 am | Wake-up and early breakfast
Today we'll take on the most demanding day of the trek. We'll wake you at 4 in the morning for an energizing breakfast that will fuel you to conquer the highest passes.
05:00 am | Ascent to Warmisaya Pass
We'll set out on a 2 hour ascent to Warmisaya Pass (~5,000 m), climbing in the half-light of dawn amid snow-capped peaks and absolute silence.
07:30 am | Rainbow Mountain viewpoint (Vinicunca)
We'll hike another 2 hours across colorful ridges to the Rainbow Mountain or Vinicunca viewpoint (over 5,100 m). You'll take in bands of rust red, turquoise, mustard and violet, with Ausangate as the backdrop. We'll arrive early, ahead of the crowds, among vicuñas, viscachas and alpacas.
12:00 pm | Return and lunch
At midday we'll head back for lunch, passing beside Queullacocha lagoon, whose calm waters mirror the Andean sky.
03:00 pm | Arrival at Ausangate Cocha
A 2 hour hike will bring us to the Ausangate Cocha campsite, on the shore of a turquoise glacial lagoon. You'll enjoy the sunset over the glacier before a well-earned rest.
06:30 am | Ascent to the Ausangate Pass apacheta
After breakfast we'll begin a 2.5 hour ascent to the apacheta of the Ausangate Pass (~4,750 m), crowned by stone towers that Andean walkers offer to the apus, guardians of the Andean worldview.
10:00 am | Descent to Alqatari and lunch
We'll descend 1.5 hours toward Alqatari and its lagoon, where you'll enjoy lunch nestled between a canyon and spectacular glacier walls.
01:00 pm | Palomani Pass, the highest point
In the afternoon we'll take on the ascent to Palomani Pass (~5,200 m), the HIGHEST POINT of the entire trek. From here an impressive amphitheater of glaciers and turquoise lagoons opens up, rewarding every step of the effort.
04:00 pm | Huchuy Phinaya community
We'll descend through the community of Huchuy Phinaya (~4,650 m), where we'll greet herding families who live alongside their alpacas in these remote highlands.
07:00 pm | Dinner at Jampa campsite
We'll arrive at the Jampa campsite for a restorative dinner, after completing the toughest and most rewarding stage of the journey.
06:00 am | Breakfast and preparations
On our final day we'll enjoy a relaxed breakfast while taking in one last dawn among the snow-capped peaks of the range.
07:00 am | Ascent to Jampa Pass
We'll begin a 2 to 2.5 hour ascent to Jampa Pass (~5,070 m). At the top the Tres Marías peaks appear and you'll enjoy 360° views over the entire Ausangate range.
10:00 am | Seven Lakes route
We'll descend along the famed Seven Lakes of Ausangate route: Puca Cocha, Qomer Cocha, Azul Cocha, Orco Otorongo and China Otorongo. We'll hold a small ceremony of thanks to Pachamama and the apus.
01:00 pm | Arrival at Pacchanta and lunch
We'll reach Pacchanta (~4,100 m), where natural hot springs with the glacier as a backdrop await to soothe your body. You'll enjoy a well-deserved farewell lunch.
03:00 pm | Return to Cusco
In the afternoon we'll set off by private transport through Tinqui and Ocongate. We'll arrive in Cusco between 5 and 6 pm, hearts full of memories from this great journey.
THE DETAILS
Before You Go
MOMENTS ALONG THE WAY
TRAVELER STORIES
“Every detail felt considered before we even asked — the private train car, the guide who knew we loved photography and timed our arrival for the light. This is how Machu Picchu should be seen.”
“No crowds, no rush — just the two of us and nine hundred years of stone in the morning mist. Worth every mile.”
