4 day hiking around Ausangate mountain in Andes of Peru

High mountain trek with views of the rainbow mountain in Peru

Starting point

When planning our three-week stay in Peru, we decided to take a four-day trek around the 6,000-foot Ausangate mountain. From Cuzco we took a bus to Tinka, where we had lunch.

From there, we then had a car drive us to Pacchanta, as the drive is uninteresting. It's wide, dusty and there are cars on it. It was worth the few soles.
 

Description of the hike

1. day

In Pacchana we first enjoy the hot springs in the local mines. The water is really hot, but it can be diluted. There is still a possibility to buy some small things, but we didn't see a restaurant. Then we take the beaten path to Ausangate.

The weather is perfect, as you can see from the photos. The road is easy to see and the maps on our mobile help. We're on our own. Not a foot anywhere since we left. After about seven kilometres we pitch our tent and lie down. The altitude is getting higher. We sleep at about 4,550 m above sea level and the Southern Cross is overhead.
 

2. day

After a short breakfast we continue our climb. We cross the Campa 5,076 m above sea level, with the Puka Punta 5,600 m above sea level on our left and the Campa 5,500 m above sea level on our right. After ten kilometres we pitch our tent at 4,600 m above sea level. Today's climb was 470 m length 11km.
 

3. day

We cross the Palomani saddle at 5,200 m and camp again at 4,600 m. We have about 14 km in our legs, climbing 650 m.
 

4. day

Today we turn off the main route around Ausangate towards the Rainbow Mountain Vinikunka. We pass Anantapata Tambo, where there is the possibility of camping, and head over the Huasacocha saddle to a small lake where no one is anywhere. This time we pitch our tent at a higher altitude than the summit of Mont Blanc - 4,860 m above sea level.
 

5. day

First thing in the morning we head to the rainbow mountain Montaña de Colores 5 200 m above sea level. From afar we can see ATVs with clients and lots of tourists heading there. It is a tourist attraction.

We climb to the top of Vinikunka 5,036m and take pictures of the rainbow mountain, which is really very photogenic. Then we quickly disappear down the path towards the road. After that we walk a little way to the gate, catching the trail to Sicuani.
 

Difficulty

A moderate hike at high altitude. The trail is well trodden, easily recognizable. With the help of map.cz it is impossible to get lost.
 

Water availability

During the whole four-day trek we always filtered water from the streams and drank it after boiling without any consequences.
 

Sleeping options

We slept exclusively in our own lightweight tent.
 

Mountain peaks

The highest point of the whole trek was the Palomani saddle 5 200 m above sea level.
 

Danger

Actually, it was just the two of us on the trek the whole time. Exceptionally, we met someone else. The only thing to watch out for is some aggressive guard dogs. Don't chase them off with a yell or a stick. Just bend down for a rock and they'll run away.
 

Food

We had our own food - dehydrated Mountain food, which we cooked from water we had picked up on the way. We filtered the water and always boiled it, because there were a lot of llamas and alpacas around.
 

Attractions

This trek is said to be usually walked in the opposite direction. I believe it may be more interesting to enjoy the hot springs at the end of the trek instead of the beginning. But I wouldn't change the direction today either.