Ausangate Trek of The Andes
World-class hiking trails, local homestays, camping and authentic cultural experiences, all come together on this stunning 5-day Ausangate Trek through the Peruvian Andes!
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Haku Expeditions’ Ausangate Trek of the Andes is an off-the-beaten path trip full of glacial lakes, authentic encounters and unforgettable, high-elevation mountain vistas. This Ausangate trek combines local homestays, camping, hot springs and a Pachamanca dinner – the full Andean experience! After a private tour of the historical and cultural treasures of the South Valley, you’ll get up close and personal with the dramatic, rugged beauty of the Vilcanota Mountain Range, with knowledgeable, bilingual Haku guides leading the way.
Ausangate Trek Description:
This Ausangate trek in Peru is a supported backpacking trip, which means much of the major camp gear (such as tents, sleeping bags, food, etc.) will be carried by horses, while local horsemen go ahead on the hiking trail to set up camp. That means that our campsites will be ready on arrival and you’ll only carry a minimal amount of personal gear and snacks, so you can enjoy the Ausangate trek to the fullest.
Why choose Haku’s Ausangate trek?
In Incan mythology, Ausangate is home to Apu, the spirit of the sacred mountain. In Haku fashion we have searched out the best, yet least used trekking routes in this area in order to give you an authentic, off-the-beaten-path hiking adventure in Peru. Our Ausangate trek of the Andes gives you 5 days on a hiking route through majestic Peru, where you can see for yourself why the Incas chose this area as a place of worship and peace. Expect to hike, camp, and soak in thermal hot springs far from other people, in one of the most beautiful trekking destinations on planet Earth.
Day by Day
Today we will leave Cusco between 8-9 a.m. We will drive towards the South Valley, stopping along the way to visit local towns and discover what they are famous for.
We’ll have a chance to taste the chicharrones of Saylla, to tryPan de Oro, a homemade Peruvian bread, in Oropesa and marvel at the stunning Temple of San Pedro de Andahuaylillas, also known as the “Sistine Chapel of the Americas.” If we have time we will stop at the ruins of Tipon along the way as well!
In Andahuaylillas, we will enjoy a local lunch before finishing out our journey to the mighty Ausangate.
Once we arrive at the base of Ausangate we’ll enjoy a warm cup of tea and an authentic Peruvian dinner with the locals.
We will stay with a local family and begin to acclimate for our hike tomorrow.
Ausangate Trek Stats:
Lodging: Local homestay
Meals: L, D
Note: The ruins of Tipon require a tourist ticket which is not included. (s/70 Soles)
Today we’ll wake up bright and early to begin our Ausangate Trek of the Andes! We will rise for a 6:30 am breakfast and head out between 7-8 am. As we leave our local homestay we will say goodbye to the many alpacas waiting to go out and graze on the high alpine grass of Ausangate.
After hiking for about 2 hours we we’ll come across the calm, emerald beauty of the first of many stunning glacial lakes of the day. The backdrop of this first one is a hulking glacier just on the other side of it. As we continue trekking, high alpine alpacas will be grazing on either side of us. We will enjoy a picnic lunch overlooking aqua green glacial lakes with huge black scree fields above them.
As we continue our hiking adventure we’ll pass by even more glacial lakes of all colors, blue, green, red, aqua and teal along with stunning views of towering, 6,096 m/20,000 ft snow-capped mountains.
We will end the trail at hot springs where we can relax and enjoy a nice cold beer before heading to our local homestay.
Ausangate Trek Stats:
Distance: 20 km/12.4 mi
Altitude: Max elevation of 4876 m/15,997 ft
Lodging: Local homestay
Meals: B, L, D
Yesterday was our longest hiking day with 20 km/15.5 miles. We will wake a bit later today, allowing ourselves to recover before we begin hiking again.
We will wake and have an 8 a.m. breakfast before packing up and loading our horses. We can stop once again in the hot springs if you would like before we begin the trek to our campsite for the night.
Today’s trekking takes us in front of the Ausangate range and along the Callangate snowcapped peaks. Alpacas dot the high alpine terrain and if we are lucky we may see a herd of wild vicuñas! We will hike down to a beautiful valley with a small river where a few local alpaca farmers live. In order to give you a very typical Peruvian experience we will purchase an alpaca from our farming friends and have an authentic pachamanca dinner tomorrow. This also helps to economically support the local indigenous community of the area.
Once at camp, you can either relax or go explore the surrounding mountains in search of amazing photographs and magical Andean moments. Quite possibly you will get to see local women weaving textiles. If you have some cash on hand now would be a good time to pick up some authentic Peruvian souvenirs.
We will relax and watch the sun setting on the Vilcanota Mountains as we eat a delicious camp dinner.
Ausangate Trek Stats:
Distance: 6 km/3.7 mi
Max elevation: 4704 m/15433 ft
Lodging: Camping
Meals: B, L, D
There’s nothing quite like waking up in the Andes.
Today we’ll take a beautiful hike up to a mountain pass and then follow as it winds downhill to a huge alpine glacial lake. By now you will have become very accustomed to seeing alpacas everywhere! We will stop and eat a picnic lunch before arriving at the large, aqua-colored glacial lake where we will camp.
When we arrival, our camp will be set up with hot tea and snacks awaiting us. Tonight we will have a “Pachamanca” dinner with our team. We will build an oven out of the earth and rocks. Once the “oven” is heated we will smash down the rocks and lay the meat, potatoes and veggies on the hot rocks. We will continue covering the food in this way. Once all the food is laid on hot rocks and covered with other hot rocks we will cover the entire thing with earth and hay to allow it to cook. Tonight’s meal will be a favorite of the locals and hopefully yours as well!
Ausangate Trail Stats:
Distance: 8 km/5 mi
Max Elevation: 4815 m/15,800 ft
Lodging: Camping
Food included: B, L, D
Today we’ll finish out our Ausangate Trek of the Andes with a beautiful hike along the alpine lake Sigrenecocha. The day is not especially long, but the views are especially gorgeous! Take in your last experience of the remote Andes as you reflect on an incredible backpacking trip.
Your transport back to Cusco will be waiting at the end of the trail and you are typically back in Cusco around 5 p.m. We will drop you off at your hotel where you can take a much-anticipated hot shower!
Ausangate Trek Stats:
Distance: 8 km/5 mi
Altitude: 4348 m/14,270 ft
Lodging: Not Included
Meals: B, L
General Information
What’s the price of this 5-day Ausangate Trek in Peru? And what’s included?
The Price for this 5-day trekking adventure to Ausangate is $1995 pp with a three person minimum to run.
This Ausangate Trek includes:
Not included:
Peru’s currency is called the Nuevo Sol. You’ll be able to exchange US currency for the Sol easily in Cusco. The exchange rate often fluctuates between 3.7 – 4 sol per US dollar.
We recommend you bring cash. Peru is still a cash society. Most people don’t have bank accounts as Peruvian banks charge up to $15 per month just to have the account open. So, services like Venmo, Pay-Pal, and Apple Pay aren’t used here. Most local stores, taxis, and local restaurants are cash only.
ATMS charge around $8 to take out $60-200. Banks only allow a small withdrawal daily. Thus, it’s probably a good idea to withdraw a good sum of cash before you come to Peru unless you have a bank that returns the ATM fees. You can also try the app called ATM hero and do a little research before you come to decide if an ATM card or cash is best for you.
The USD, EURO, CAD cash you bring should be non-ripped bills. Small rips or bills that are written on are not accepted for exchange.
Seeing as Peru is a cash society and it is difficult to withdraw large amounts of cash, we require your balance be brought in cash.
TIPPING: Local restaurants generally do not require a tip, however, leaving a few soles is a nice gesture. Tourist restaurants are generally a 10% tip.
Tipping your guide in Peru is generally 10-15% of the price you paid for the tour. Drivers are generally the same amount in soles. (If you tip a guide 200 USD the driver would get often 200 soles) Tips should always be based on performance and are never obligatory.
Each person is required to have a specific travel/trip insurance outside of your credit card or regular medical insurance.
You should get comprehensive coverage with trip interruption/cancellation and with personal liability. Mention all activities that you will be involved in such as mountain biking, hiking at high altitude and whatever other activities you may have planned.
We do not provide refunds. If you should get hurt or sick not only will travel insurance cover your medical expenses it will also cover the lost portion of the trip. Make sure you have trip interruption or trip cancellation included! South America is famous for people striking and shutting down all activities. If you miss your Machu Picchu trip, Galapagos or any other side trip, or even your flight due to strikes the insurance will cover the loss or additional costs that are incurred.
Check out our blog on travel insurance and why it is a must for any South America Vacation!
The Ausangate Trek does not include airport pickup or dropoff.
You will want to arrive in Cusco and depart from Cusco for this tour.
What to bring:
All international flights require a layover. Most layovers will be through Lima, Peru or Bogota, Colombia. In the case of flying through Lima most flights will arrive late at night in Lima and flights to Cusco will fly out in the morning. Many people get arrivals at 3-4 am and flights out around 5-6 am.
Your options for layovers in Lima, Peru.
Things to note when arriving in Lima:
As you can see there is a lot that you must do on arrival to Lima. You will need a bare minimum of two hours (if you have only carry-on luggage) in between flights.
For this 5-day Ausangate Trek of the Andes you can be a novice trekker, adventure trekker or advanced trekker.
Your fitness level should be at least 3
Fitness level 3: You exercise one to two times a week but do not have a normal schedule that keeps you biking/hiking or doing other activities weekly. You don’t go to the gym or train for any specific sports but you lead a relatively active lifestyle by biking, hiking, skiing, or whatever it may be.
Note: If you would like to join us on our Ausangate Trek in Peru and are not at a level three fitness, you can sign up if you begin a weekly exercise routine for two months before you come.
Reviews
If your looking to Travel away from the beaten path of life, Haku Expeditions is able to arrange your wildest fantasy. We signed up for a 3 day/2 night expedition in search of the Andean Condor. The trek was masterly arranged by Haku Expeditions !!! Prior to departing Cusco, we were educated by this wonderful outfit on what to expect along the way. We ventured off into the Andes Mountains with a pair of binoculars and not a worry in the world. I can not describe the scenery nor the emotions which flooded our senses throughout every minute of this expedition. It was truly Amazing and my soul yearns to get back asap and do it all over again. I can not praise Nicole and William Koch (Owners of Haku Expeditions) enough, they are true experts in their field and super knowledgeable about this entire area. This boutique outfit has something very special to offer for any inquiry or requests you might have. They have changed the way we look at life going forward:) So Much Love, Joseph and Carly Stevenson
This 5-day Ausangate trek of the Andes is demanding due to the high altitude, but not extremely technical. The hiking days range between 4-6 hours of trekking daily and allow for beautiful photographs of the many glacial lakes you will see.
If you are looking for a shorter version of this trip check out our 3-day Ausangate Adventure Vacation. On the other hand if you are looking for a harder or longer trek, check out our 7-day Choquequirao trek to Machu Picchu.
Our 5-day Ausangate Trek in Peru is ideal for you if:
Giving back
Haku Expeditions donates 1% of all profits to support local education programs.
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What’s the price of this 5-day Ausangate Trek in Peru? And what’s included?
The Price for this 5-day trekking adventure to Ausangate is $1995 pp with a three person minimum to run.
This Ausangate Trek includes:
Not included:
Our Cross Country MTB tours take you from one spectacular destination to the next. On these, you’ll cycle literally across whichever country you’re visiting. For instance, check out our Andes to the Amazon tour, where you travel from Cusco to the Peruvian Amazon.
Our current XC vacations are made up of long-distance rides on backcountry roads. If you are looking for XC singletrack, get in touch with us, and we’ll set up a one-of-a-kind MTB tour suited to your needs.
How we define XC: Anywhere from old logging or fire roads to rolling singletrack, Cross Country trails are generally long distances with both ascents and descents. While trails may be somewhat technical with rock gardens and tight switchbacks, they generally do not have intense steep rock gardens like those you might find in DH or Enduro racing.
An XC bike is often lighter with a slacker head tube angle for better climbing ability and tends to not have a dropper post although the trend is changing. Usually it will be a hardtail or a full suspension bike with a smaller amount of suspension — 100-130mm.
Most XC riders do not wear pads such as elbow or knee pads and wear a half-shell helmet.
Our MTB expeditions are multi-day trips that involve camping, hiking and/or local home stays in the mountains with cooks and porters. At the moment Haku Expeditions offers one complete mountain expedition and also two packages that combine an MTB vacation with a smaller expedition nestled in it.
The front travel for DH bikes is usually somewhere around 200mm with the rear measuring slightly less. Because they generally aren’t pedalled uphill, these bikes are rugged and heavy and usually have less gears. DH riders wear full-face helmets, goggles, and body armor.
At the moment we do not offer a 100% DH trip. Contact us and we can make a custom trip for you! Below, you’ll find our Enduro MTB tours listed that are mostly all downhill and can be done either with a DH bike or an Enduro bike.
How we define DH: DH riding – or Downhill riding — is regarded as an intense, extreme kind of cycling, made for advanced riders who love to navigate roots and rocks and huge drops with furious downhill speed. It requires a stellar sense of balance and technique and a bike with slacker geometry.
The front travel for DH bikes is usually somewhere around 200mm with the rear measuring slightly less. Because they generally aren’t pedalled uphill, these bikes are rugged and heavy and usually have less gears. DH riders wear full-face helmets, goggles, and body armor.
Our Enduro/All-Mountain MTB tours are by far our most popular trips to date. While some of them focus more on descent like Ecuador and Peru, others include plenty of pedaling such as those in Colombia and Nepal.
How we define Enduro/All Mountain: Enduro mountain biking, also known as All-Mountain biking, emphasizes technical ability. If you’re looking for a more adventurous ride, this is the kind of ride for you; usually, an Enduro/All-Mountain trail will involve adrenaline-pumping downhill mountain biking along with sustained climbs.
Enduro riders need bikes that can take burly drops and rugged technical obstacles efficiently while still being light enough to climb with; they almost always use full-suspension bikes with wide tires and longer rear and front suspension travel. Dropper post is a necessity and standard. The front suspension can be anywhere from 140mm to 170mm. Full-face enduro helmets and body amour are a must for Enduro racing.
1 – The Haku Christmas Drive, which includes yearly clothing giveaways, shoe drives, and a public hot chocolate panettone lunch.
2 – School supply giveaway for children of the High Andes.
3 – Bringing bread and fruit to kids living at elevations where none is available.
4 – Facilitating connections between local organic farmers and local restaurants.
5 – Affordable MTB classes for locals taught by professional coaches.
6 – Sustained commitment to hiring out locals to work as drivers, office workers, etc., allowing a great amount of flexibility for family commitments, and paying them fair, livable wages.
7 – Donating 1% of all profits to help educate children in a technical field such as carpentry.
8 – Helping young adults begin a small business working in their technical field or purchasing products from them to help them get started after high school.
1 – Getting your heart rate up isn’t really your thing, and you rarely (if ever) exercise. Your idea of a perfect vacation is total relaxation: sitting on a beach, sipping a mojito, and just generally vegging out.
2 – You don’t necessarily work out regularly but you aren’t averse to the idea of doing something active. Although you don’t exercise that often, you don’t necessarily consider yourself out of shape.
3 – You exercise one to two times a week but do not have a normal schedule that keeps you biking or doing other activities weekly. You don’t go to the gym or train for any specific sports but you lead a relatively active lifestyle by biking, hiking, skiing, or whatever it may be. For biking: climbs and long descents give you some trouble and you tend to get tired after about 2-3 hours on the bike.
4 – You exercise 3-4 times a week and enjoy physical activities such as biking, hiking, skiing. You are active. For biking: you enjoy climbs that are are moderately long and being on a bike for 3-5 hours in one day doesn’t get you too tired or fatigued.
5 – You exercise at least 4 times a week and are an avid athlete that is consistently in good shape. You’re more or less game for any kind of adventure. For biking: you’re comfortable with being on your bike for 5-7 hours a day.
6 – You live and die for exercise, sweat, and suffering. You only want to climb higher, go farther, and prove how much of an animal you are. Steep climbs, long descents and big days are something you are looking to do more of and you can’t wait for your next adventure.
Beginner:
You’ve been riding a mountain bike for a couple of years or less and you’re most comfortable on smooth single-track and wider, forgiving doubletrack. You like rides with scenic views; you like both ascending and descending on well-maintained, safe trails. You’re looking for an active but relaxing mountain bike vacation; you’re not into jumps, drops, super steep trails, rock gardens, roots or taking big risks on your bike.
Intermediate:
You’ve got two plus years of experience mountain biking on single-track trails under your belt; you’ve gotten pretty confident behind the handlebars and are beginning to expand your mountain bike abilities. You like riding most types of terrain, and you’re comfortable both climbing and descending on single-track trails with smaller technical features such as rocky sections, small drops, and small steep sections. You aren’t trying to walk on most of the trail and are looking to take small risks with things like speed, jumps, rock gardens, and stair sets to improve your skills as a mountain biker.
Intermediate Tech:
You’ve got three plus years of riding on singletrack trails of all sorts with features such as rock gardens, steep sections, rolls and drops, roots, and small jumps. You are confident on the bike in most situations. You’re constantly looking to improve your riding skills and enjoy riding for extended periods of time climbing and descending in terrain of all sorts.
Advanced:
Ten plus years of experience riding single-track, freerides and biking of all sorts. You live for steeps, jumps, rock gardens, techy trails, long descents, big ascents and discovering new terrain. Mountain biking is one of your passions and you are ready and confident to do what you love in a new and challenging place. You can handle anything we throw at you — jumps, rock gardens, steps, technical descents, tough ascents, etc. Biking is a central part of your life. For you, the bigger the challenge, the more excited you get.
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"My wife and I, along with our two children (ages 6 & 8) traveled to Peru for 15 days over Christmas and thanks to Bill and Nicole it was an adventure we will never forget. From the epic mountain biking to the breathtaking views on our three day trek, Haku saw to it that every aspect of our vacation met our needs perfectly. Their knowledge of the local culture and surroundings paired with their outstanding customer service left us wishing we could have stayed even longer. What was originally dubbed our once in a lifetime trip will definitely have a sequel or two or three!!! Thank you for the wonderful memories Bill and Nic!"