Ausangate Trek and Rainbow Mountain

Upis Hot Springs – Puka Qocha

You wake up to coca tea and, after breakfast, climb a winding trail to Arapa Pass (4,800 m), with views of the Andean landscape in every direction. You descend for about 1 hour and 30 minutes to the Yana Qocha glacial lagoon, where you have lunch with the Ausangate in the background.

In the afternoon you walk for about 2 hours across a high Andean plain to the Puka Qocha camp, beside glacial lagoons at the foot of the Ausangate. On clear nights you can photograph the Milky Way. Day stats: 12 km; 6 to 7 hours of hiking; demanding difficulty.

Overnight: Camp at Puka Qocha

Puka Qocha – Qomer Qocha

After breakfast you climb in switchbacks to the second pass (5,000 m), with snowy mountains all around and valleys of red hills. You descend into the valley and climb again to the Ananta lunch area (4,600 m).

In the afternoon you climb for about 2 hours to Warmisaya Pass (5,000 m), from where you can already see Rainbow Mountain in the distance, then descend 30 minutes to the Qomer Qocha camp (4,680 m). Day stats: 11 km; 7 to 8 hours of hiking; demanding difficulty.

Overnight: Camp at Qomer Qocha

Qomer Qocha – Rainbow Mountain – Red Valley – Cusco

You walk for 1 hour and 30 minutes from camp to Rainbow Mountain, where you have time to explore it. Then you continue toward the Red Valley, with valleys and hills in a pale red, and stop at its viewpoint.

Afterward you descend for about 1 hour and 30 minutes to the end of the trail, say goodbye to the horsemen and the cook, and take transportation back to Cusco. Day stats: 6 km; 3 to 4 hours of hiking; maximum altitude 5,030 m; moderate to demanding difficulty.