Ausangate Trek 5 Days: Circling the Sacred Mountain
A full 5-day circuit around Nevado Ausangate, crossing three high passes above 5,000 meters.
The Ausangate Trek 5 Days circles one of the most sacred mountains in Andean cosmology — Ausangate (6,384 m), the guardian Apu of the Cusco region. Over five days and four nights of camping, the route climbs through glacial valleys, past turquoise and red-tinted lagoons, and over Palomani Pass (5,200 m / 17,060 ft) — the highest point of the entire circuit.
Starting from the community of Upis (4,350 m), the trek requires no government permit, unlike the Inca Trail, and sees a fraction of the visitors — most days, you’ll have the trail largely to yourselves.
On Day 3, an optional extension takes you to a Rainbow Mountain viewpoint reached from a quieter angle than the standard day-trip route — a highlight most Ausangate trekkers rate as one of the best moments of the trip.
This trek is operated first-hand by Kondor Path Tours, a fully licensed agency in Cusco — you deal directly with the people running it. This trek operates from March through December.
Already done the 7 Lakes of Ausangate as a day trip? This 5-day trek covers the full circuit around the mountain, including some of the same lagoon family (Pucacocha, Q’omercocha) at a much larger scale.
| 🥾 Duration | 5 days / 4 nights (100% camping) |
| 📏 Distance | ~61 km total across 5 trekking days |
| ⛰️ Max altitude | 5,200 m / 17,060 ft — Palomani Pass |
| 🚐 Trailhead | Upis, reached by private transport from Cusco |
| 🌈 Optional extension | Rainbow Mountain viewpoint, Day 3 |
| 💪 Difficulty | Challenging |
| 📅 Season | March to December |
| 👥 Group size | 1–10 hikers (scalable pricing) |
| 🔞 Minimum age | 16, with prior high-altitude hiking experience recommended |
| 💲 Price | Scalable from $623 USD per person (groups of 1–10) |
Welcome to the Ausangate Trek 5 Days — 5 days of genuine Andean discovery. – Circle Ausangate (6,384 m) — the guardian Apu of the Cusco region. – Cross Palomani Pass at 5,200 m — the highest point of the entire circuit. – Optional Rainbow Mountain extension on Day 3, reached from a quieter angle than the standard day-trip crowds. – Walk past glacial lagoons in every color — the black waters of Yanaqocha, the red tones of Puca Qocha. That’s what sets the Ausangate Trek 5 Days apart.
The Ausangate Trek 5 Days is a full circumnavigation of Ausangate, one of the highest and most revered peaks in the Cusco region. Unlike the Inca Trail, it requires no government permit — you can book on much shorter notice — and unlike Salkantay or Lares, it sees very few other trekking groups, even in high season.
This is a serious camping expedition: four nights under canvas, altitudes above 4,300 m for nearly the entire route, and a demanding crossing of Palomani Pass at 5,200 m. Good cardiovascular fitness and prior experience hiking at altitude are strongly recommended.
| Feature | Ausangate 7 Lakes Trek | Ausangate Trek 5 Days |
|---|---|---|
| Duration | 1 day, no overnight | 5 days, 4 nights camping |
| Distance | 14.5 km | ~61 km total |
| Max altitude | 4,860 m (Patacocha) | 5,200 m (Palomani Pass) |
| Scope | 7 specific lagoons near Pacchanta | Full circumnavigation of Ausangate |
| Rainbow Mountain | Not included | Optional extension, Day 3 |
| Best for | Travelers with limited time who still want a serious high-altitude day hike | Experienced trekkers seeking a complete, less-crowded expedition |
This 5-day trek makes a full circuit around Nevado Ausangate (6,384 m), crossing three high passes — Arapa, Puca Qocha, and Palomani — while camping in some of the most remote high-altitude terrain in the Cusco region. With an optional Rainbow Mountain extension built into Day 3, it’s one of the few itineraries that combines the classic Ausangate circuit with Vinicunca in a single trip.
The trek’s altitude builds progressively across its first four days, culminating at Palomani Pass (5,200 m) on Day 4 — the trip’s highest point, tackled only after three full days already spent adjusting at high camps above 4,000 m. That gradual build is what makes reaching over 5,000 m manageable: by Day 4, the body has had far more time to adapt than a direct ascent would allow, and Day 5’s descent to Pacchanta hot springs offers a well-earned, lower-altitude finish.
Your guide, driver, and adventure team pick you up from your hotel in Cusco at 05:30 AM, and the drive heads southwest toward Upis — roughly 3.5 hours, with the Andes growing higher and wilder with every kilometer. Along the way, herds of alpacas appear scattered across the hillsides, an early preview of the wildlife you’ll see throughout the trek.
At Upis (4,350 m), the pack horses and support team are waiting, and once the equipment is loaded, the trek itself begins. After about 3 hours of walking through a broad valley with panoramic views of the Ausangate glacier, you reach the Andean community of Upis (4,600 m) for lunch. From there, the trail climbs for roughly 2 hours toward Arapa Pass (4,800 m / 15,748 ft), before descending and climbing again for another 2 hours to reach the first campsite at Yanaqocha (4,650 m).
Day 1 stats
1L, 1D
Intense
12km (7.4 miles)
6-7 Hrs.
Upis: 4,300m (14,108 ft)
Yana Cocha: 4,650m (15,256 ft)
Arapa Pass: 4,800m (15,478 ft)
The second day follows a rugged trail through a striking blue glacial valley. Within the first hour and a half, you pass two lagoons with sharply contrasting colors — Yanaqocha (Black Lake) and Puca Qocha (Red Lake) — before climbing to Puca Qocha Pass (5,000 m / 16,404 ft).
The trail continues with constant views of the Ausangate glacier toward Ananta (4,650 m), the lunch stop for the day. After refueling, the afternoon brings another climb — about 2 hours to Warmisaya Pass (5,000 m / 16,404 ft) — where the first distant views of Vinicunca (Rainbow Mountain) come into sight, a preview of tomorrow’s optional extension. From the pass, a final 45-minute walk leads to the campsite at Q’omer Qocha (Green Lake), 4,680 m.
Day 2 stats
1B, 1L, 1D.
Challenging
12km (7.4 miles)
8-9 Hrs.
Yana Cocha: 4,650m (15,256 ft)
Comer Cocha 4,680m (15,354 ft)
Rainbow Pass: 5,100m (16,732 ft)
The day starts early, at 05:30, for the optional extension to the Rainbow Mountain viewpoint — roughly 1.5 hours each way from camp, reaching an elevation of approximately 5,036 m at the viewpoint itself. Seeing Vinicunca’s mineral stripes from this angle, with almost none of the crowds that gather at the standard day-trip entrance, is one of the most talked-about moments of the entire trek. After enjoying the view and taking photos, the group retraces the same trail back to Q’omer Qocha.
After lunch, the trek resumes with roughly 3 hours of walking to the next campsite, Ausangate Qocha, along the foothills of the Andes — a stretch with sweeping panoramic views of the Ausangate glacier’s different faces, valleys, and inter-Andean ravines.
Day 3 stats
1B, 1BL, 1D.
Challenging
15km (9 miles)
9 Hrs.
Comer Cocha 4,680m (15,354 ft)
Ausangate Cocha: 4,700m (15,420 ft)
Ausangate Cocha: 4,700m (15,420 ft)
Today is the physical high point of the trek — literally. The trail climbs steadily for about 3 hours to Palomani Pass (5,200 m / 17,060 ft), the highest point of the entire circuit and one of the highest trekking passes in Peru. From the top, the reward is a sweeping view of the Ausangate massif and the surrounding ranges — many trekkers describe this as the most memorable moment of the trip.
From Palomani Pass, the trail descends toward the lunch area, then continues through a wide high-mountain plain (locals describe it as behaving “like a swamp” underfoot — a slow, careful walk, not a true wetland). Along the way, the trail passes near the small community of Huchuy Pinaya (~4,650 m), before reaching the remote campsite at Qampa, 4,750 m.
Day 4 stats
1B, 1L, 1D.
Challenging
10km (6.2 miles)
7-8 Hrs
Ausangate Cocha: 4,700m (15,420 ft)
Jampa Pampa: 4,700m (15,420 ft)
Huchuy Pinaya: 5,550m (18,208 ft)
The final day begins with the last climb of the trek: about 2.5 hours to the top of Qampa Pass (5,020 m / 16,470 ft), with panoramic views over the high inter-Andean valleys. From the pass, the trail descends past Q’omer Qocha (Green Lake), framed by reddish terrain and mineral colors typical of the Ausangate region.
After roughly 2 more hours of walking, you reach the community of Pacchanta, where a soak in the natural hot springs is the perfect reward for four days of camping and high-altitude trekking. After lunch, you say goodbye to the horsemen, cook, and support team before the drive back to Cusco — approximately 3.5 hours, arriving in the evening.
Day 5 stats
1B, 1L.
Intense
12km (6.8 miles)
4-5 Hrs.
Jampa Pampa: 4,700m (15,420 ft)
Pacchanta: 4,350m (14,271 ft)
Jampa Pass: 5,080m (16,667 ft)
Looking for something different in duration or pace? Compare it with our Ausangate 7 Lakes Trek.
| Upgrade | Detail | Extra cost |
|---|---|---|
| Saddle horse for personal riding | For hikers who want extra support on the toughest sections of the trek | $120 per day |
A 5-day, 4-night camping expedition that circles Ausangate, one of the most sacred mountains in the Cusco region. The route crosses several high passes, the highest being Palomani Pass at 5,200 m, and includes an optional extension to a Rainbow Mountain viewpoint on Day 3.
It’s rated Challenging throughout — the route sits above 4,300 m for nearly its entire length, with several passes above 4,800 m and a demanding crossing of Palomani Pass at 5,200 m.
Good cardiovascular fitness and prior experience hiking at altitude are strongly recommended.
Palomani Pass, at 5,200 m (17,060 ft), crossed on Day 4. Note: this is not the summit of Ausangate mountain itself (6,384 m), which is a technical mountaineering objective, not part of this trekking circuit.
No. Unlike the Inca Trail, the Ausangate Trek does not require a government permit.
The recommended minimum age is 16 years old, along with prior experience hiking at high altitude. The combination of cold temperatures, multiple days above 4,300 m, and demanding passes makes this trek unsuitable for beginners or younger children.
Yes, it’s included as part of the Day 3 itinerary — an early-morning side trip to a Rainbow Mountain viewpoint reached from a quieter route than the standard day-trip entrance, avoiding most of the crowds.
This trek is 100% camping — four nights in tents (2 people per tent), with full support: kitchen tent, dining tent, and a professional cook preparing all meals.
A cargo horse carries up to 8 kg (17.6 lb) of personal items per traveler. Carry only a daypack with your daily essentials while hiking.
March through December. The Andean dry season (May–September) tends to offer the clearest skies, though the trek operates well outside those months too.
The 7 Lakes Trek is a full-day hike with no camping, focused on seven specific lagoons near Pacchanta.
This 5-day trek is a complete circumnavigation of Ausangate, reaching higher altitudes (5,200 m vs. 4,860 m) and covering far more ground, including the optional Rainbow Mountain extension.
Yes — a saddle horse for personal riding is available for $120 per day, for hikers who want extra support on the toughest sections.
Alpaca herds are common throughout the route. With some luck, you may also spot vicuñas and, more rarely, the Andean condor.
No — tents, sleeping mats, and all cooking/dining equipment are included. You’ll need to bring or rent your own sleeping bag, suitable for temperatures below freezing.
Our travel Company is fully authorized by the Ministry of Culture of Peru.
| Persons | Price (p/p) | |
| 2 | $ 901.00 USD |
Experience the breathtaking beauty of the High Andes on the Ausangate outdoor experience, which includes a day’s trek! Explore glaciers, lagoons, and stunning snow-capped peaks.
