VILCANOTA TREK - AUZANGATE

7 DAYS / 6 NIGHTS
Cusco – Tinki – Upis – Pucacocha – Palomani – Jampa – Pacchanta – Tinki – Cusco.

Trip profile
This circuit has been designed with the purpose of participate on a trek that offers a good opportunity to combine culture and spectacular Panoramic views in the alpine areas of Cusco.

It is just the perfect chance for those who will not visit the northern snow-capped mountains of Peru like Huaráz (North of Lima).

The Cordillera Vilcanota range is a high circuit around Mount AUZANGATE South East Cusco. It is a glacier covered with 20,905 ft / 6,271m massif, Vilcanota’s highest peak. Snow-capped peaks in this mountain range, stretch across the horizon with massive glaciers rewarding us with scenery unsurpassed anywhere in the Andes. Just as fascinating, are the people of the Vilcanota, the most traditional and colourfully dressed of all of Peruvian highlanders, who live in the same way their ancestors did in the Inca times. Our trek concludes with a renewing experience on the Pacchanta hot springs.

GRADING: D
SEASON: APRIL TO OCTOBER
CODE: CUS AX 3

DAY 1: CUSCO-OCONGATE / TINKI
Starting from Cusco, we take the road south towards Puno, we follow the Huatanay and later Vicanota rivers. Passing the ancient Wari site of Pikillacta and the colonial villages of Andahuaylillas and Huaro.

At Urcos we take a dirt road steadily uphill until we reach the highland savannah. By late afternoon the Cordillera Vilcanota will appear in the distance, with mount Ausangate and mount Jampa clearly visible until, we make camp at Tinki near Ocongate. (L;D)

DAY 2: TINKI-UPIS
Beginning the trek we cross the Ocongate River and start traversing the Puna (highland meadows), until we reach the foot of the Ausangate massif where there the panorama of snow capped peaks is breath taking. Make camp at Upis, where the thermal baths make a great place to relax after the rigors of the day (B;L;D)

DAY 3: UPIS-PUCACOCHA
Today first we ascend the screen slopes to cross a 15,000 ft. /4,500 m pass, carrying on to Lake
Pucacocha with the western icefall of Mount Ausangate looming over our lakeside camp. (B;L;D)

DAY 4: PUCACOCHA-PALOMANI
Passing small turquoise lakes we make the ascent of the Palomani pass (16,000 ft. / 4,800 m) where the view of the southeastern ridge of Mount Ausangate the Cordillera Vilcanota is absolutely amazing. Then descending to Chilcapinaya we make camp. (B;L;D)

DAY 5: PALOMANI-JAMPA-PACHASPATA
Hiking up the Jampa valley we are quite likely to meet highland shepherds tending their sheep and alpaca, spinning and weaving their wool into cloth with the peaks of Jampa and Colquecruz acting as a backdrop. Circling northwest around Ticllacocha lagoon and over the last pass (15,500 ft. / 4,650 m) we reach the small meadow of Pachaspata, making camp either here or if time permits at Lake Q’omercocha. (B;L;D)

DAY 6: PACHASPATA-PACCHANTA
Slowly descending from the valley, we arrive in the village of Pacchanta, where we will spend the afternoon resting. You can soothe away all those aches and pains in the relaxing waters of the thermal baths. Camp is set nearby. (B;L;D)

DAY 7: PACCHANTA-TINKI-CUSCO
On the last day a short walk across the puna grassland past small communities of shepherds and weavers takes us back to the road at Tinki, here a bus will be waiting to take us to Cusco, where we arrive in the afternoon. (B;L)

PRICE INCLUDES:
Full board, guided-escort in English (others languages upon request), camping equipment, donkey-man, mules, entrance fee, transport.

QOYLLUR TRAVEL TIP:
- Full board in that programme includes five meals.
- Apart from the three main meals we serve as well a snack and teatime.

NOT INCLUDED:
Personal equipment backpacks, sleeping bags, all personal expenses, personal insurance, mattresses.

See the complet route map click here