The Ausangate Trek: The Most Underrated Trek In Cusco Peru

Start of the Ausangate Trek

Already famous for the incredible Inca Trail and Rainbow Mountain hikes, Cusco is by far one of the most popular places to go trekking in South America.

If you’re looking for an exciting trek without the crowds that the others usually bring, consider the Ausangate hike. Passing around the giant 6384m mountain (which is one of the tallest in all of Peru), this route also heads around some beautiful glacial lakes and through multicolored peaks. It is the perfect place to spot endemic wildlife in this area of the Peruvian Andes.

In this guide, I’ll explore everything you need to know about the Ausangate trek, why you should hike it, the best things to see and do, and the best time to visit. I’ll also share my top hiking tips for this route based on my experience.

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Author in Upis Campsite

Why Hike The Ausangate Trek In Peru?

Located in the remote Vilcanota mountain range, some 120km south of Cusco, the multi-day Ausangate trek in Peru offers almost everything you would want from a high-altitude hike in South America.

Giant glaciers and the Ausangate Mountain tower above the route, and on the second day of the trek, you’ll get particularly close to this snowy peak. This mountain holds huge spiritual significance for the local people of the region. As such, you can also learn about legends and rituals as you meet them in the various communities and campsites along the hike.

Local endemic wildlife is also a common sighting for trekkers along the Ausangate route. When traversing through the jagged mountain passes of Arapa and Apacheta, you can spot viscachas hopping around (which look like giant rabbits), as well as Condors (the largest birds of the planet) soaring overhead. On the hike, you can also see many fluffy alpacas, llamas, and vicuñas, especially near the bright green and blue lakes on your second day.

The Best Things To See And Do Around Ausangate

Ausangate Hut

Camp Under Andean Starlit Skies

After a long day of hiking along the rugged trails, you will arrive at strategically positioned campsites along the route for a hearty dinner and much-needed rest. Once the sun has set over the Andes, you can now sit back and enjoy unforgettable views of nearby stars and constellations, given the absence of pollution in the skies here.

Jacuzzi in Upis Campsite

For the most epic experience, during the first day in the Upis campsite, you can take a dip in the outdoor jacuzzi that was handmade by the local indigenous residents. Sit in the jacuzzi and watch the stars appear. Please remember to bring blankets for when you come out, as you can expect the temperatures to be chilly.

Rainbow Mountain

Visit Rainbow Mountain Without The Crowds

As is the case with the majority of the multi-day Ausangate treks, they often culminate at the famous Rainbow Mountain, which is also known as Vinicunca in the native Quechua language. Famed for its bright green, red, and yellow colors because of its rich mineral deposits, Rainbow Mountain is one of the most popular destinations in Peru. This means there are often crowds there quickly after opening, making it hard to get the best views of the multicolored peak. However, when hiking along the Ausangate route, you can often arrive earlier than the crowds and get the entire site to yourself.

Hike Through Gorgeous Red-Stained Valleys And Mountains

The region of Ausangate is well-known for its giant jagged peaks and snow-capped mountains. In the latter stages of the trek, you will find dark red mountains. These mountains are rich in iron oxide. Some of the very best can be seen on the third day of the Ausangate trek, just after climbing Apacheta Pass, and also in Red Valley, which is just a short walk past Rainbow Mountain.

See Endemic Wildlife Of The Peruvian Andes

Located at an altitude of over 4000m, the region of Ausangate is not the easiest place to live. However, some animals have thrived around these mountains, adapting to the harsh conditions. They can be spotted in sizable numbers along the trek. This includes viscachas, which are giant Andean rabbits that can be seen between boulders around the Arapa Pass on day two of the hike. Giant Andean Condors can also be spotted flying overhead, searching for prey such as vizcachas. You can also find friendly vicuñas, alpacas, and llamas along the hike, grazing the Andean wildlands. They are often ready for an impromptu epic selfie shot.

Upis Lake

Explore The Emerald Glacial Lakes Of Ausangate

At the top of Ausangate Mountain, you can find several giant glaciers that remain year-round due to the freezing temperatures at the high altitudes. The run-off of these glaciers has formed several lakes around the region, and there is a popular day tour from Cusco that explores seven different lakes around Ausangate. However, on the multi-day Ausangate treks, you get the opportunity to head deeper into the Upis region and see other incredible natural lakes. This includes the bright-blue Upis Lake on the first day and the emerald green Pucacocha Lake on your second day as you hike up and over Apacheta Pass.

Learn About The Legends And Sacred Ways Of The Ausangate Communities

Many remote communities have lived in the Ausangate region for several hundred (if not thousands) years. They consider Ausangate to be one of the most spiritually important mountains in Peru, where a select few continue to participate in ancient rituals such as animal sacrifices to honor the mountain spirits.

More common, though, is to see the preparation of Pachamanca, a typical Andean dish of potatoes, meats, and several vegetables cooked entirely underground.

Although their mother tongue remains Quechua, many communities have learned Spanish. If you speak basic Spanish, you can discover firsthand their experiences with the mountains and the legends passed down from their Incan ancestors.

Vilcanota Mountain Range

Preparing For The Ausangate Trek

Let’s now examine how to best prepare for the Ausangate hike, including the best season to visit and how to choose a good trek operator.

The Best Time To Hike Ausangate

Peru follows a rough dry and wet season pattern each year. However, this can be more unpredictable within the Peruvian Andes, and Ausangate is no exception.

The dry season for hiking this mountain is usually between May and November, when we can expect clear blue skies and perfect conditions. It’s important to know that this is also the winter and early spring for Peru, and as such, temperatures will be at their coolest. Make sure to bring lots of warm layers, gloves, and a hat if hiking Ausangate during this period.

The wet season usually begins in late November and lasts until April, although it can slightly vary each year. Heavy showers are more likely along the route, which can cause trekking paths to get muddy and harder to walk on. Landslides are also possible during the months of January and February, and as such, we only recommend hiking these months if you have ample trekking experience (often, other treks in the region, such as the famous Inca Trail, close during these months due to safety concerns).

The shoulder season is usually the best time to come here, given that this is the standard case for visiting other areas of Peru (such as Lima, Arequipa, and the Amazon Jungle). However, given that rainfall and seasons can sometimes shift, you may head there in October and have showers daily. The best time to hike Ausangate is between June and September, when you will be all but guaranteed the best weather and hiking conditions.

Preparing Physically For The Trek

The Ausangate hike is no easy feat, so it’s important to have realistic expectations before setting off.

You will need at least a moderate level of fitness before attempting this hike, given that the route includes many steep inclines on rocky paths. I suggest following a fitness plan back home for a few months with regular walks or hikes to get you ready for Ausangate. You can also do a few gentle hikes in the Cusco and Sacred Valley regions, which are ideal for another reason: the altitude.

The Ausangate hike is between high altitudes of 4000-5100m above sea level, where oxygen is less readily available than usual. As such, altitude sickness is a prominent issue for hikers in the region, which can cause headaches, nausea, and other undesirable symptoms. Simply staying in Cusco for a few days prior will help acclimate your body, and a few easy hikes and walks around the city will also help you get ready for Ausangate’s higher altitudes.

Vicuña at Ausangate Lake

Choosing The Right Tour Operator

While you can hike Ausangate independently, I highly recommend against it unless you have advanced hiking experience (due to the weather, altitudes, and tough conditions). This is where having a trusted and reputable hiking company comes in.

Around Cusco, you can find operators that can take you on this trek. However, not all have the experience and expert know-how of this particular mountain. AB Expeditions (that I work for) is one of the best hiking operators in the city that heads here, given they have spent decades trekking around Ausangate and leading various multi-day treks here. Not only will you be in safe hands, you’ll also have the very best gear and camping equipment included in your tour.

How To Get To Ausangate Mountain

Ausangate Mountain is located in the remote Andean region of Cusco, and as such, all treks here begin from the city of Ausangate.

Getting to Cusco is quite easy from the rest of Peru. There are dozens of daily flights arriving from cities such as Lima, Arequipa, and Puerto Maldonado. You can also take overnight buses from some of the closer destinations in Southern Peru and beyond, such as Puno, Arequipa, the Manu National Park, and La Paz in neighbouring Bolivia.

From Cusco, it’s a two-hour drive to the remote settlement of Upis, which marks the official starting point of the Ausangate hiking route. Although there are no restrictions on who can enter, given the difficult conditions and altitudes, I highly suggest heading with a local tour operator. Local tour guides have plenty of experience navigating the rocky routes and preparing campsites and meals for you as you arrive at each stop.

Author in Arapa Pass

My Top Tips For Hiking Ausangate

As I have mentioned earlier in this article, the Ausangate trek is located at a high altitude, and often causes altitude sickness symptoms for those who haven’t prepared properly. As well as spending a few days in Cusco beforehand to allow your body to acclimate properly, I also suggest bringing coca leaves and soroche pills with you – both of which are trusted local remedies that help to combat any unwanted symptoms you may have when ascending higher into the mountains.

You will want to pack properly for this trek. While local operators will provide you with meals and lodging along the route, you will be responsible for your gear. Trekking poles are recommended for those who don’t have much hiking experience, and a flashlight is also mandatory for the early morning starts. Be sure to bring multiple warm layers for the chilly evenings, sunscreen, and a hat for the hotter daytime temperatures.

Overview Of Hiking Ausangate

Much quieter than the more popular Inca Trail and Salkantay routes, Ausangate offers us a beautiful Andean hike in a lesser-visited region of Cusco. Most famous for its multicolored lakes, dark-red mountains, and local legends, Ausangate is also a great place to spot all kinds of local wildlife roaming free within the mountains.

As always, proper preparation is key to a successful hiking expedition, so allow yourself plenty of time to acclimate in Cusco before heading on the trek. Again, while it’s possible to hike this circuit independently, I recommend heading with local tour operators like AB Expeditions, who are experts in hiking this circuit and around the Cusco region of Peru.

George works on marketing for AB Expeditions.