Ausangate Sibinacocha Trek (6 days 5 nights)

Ausangate Sibinacocha Trek (6 days 5 nights)

This off-beaten route is perfect for those seeking a break from the tourist crowd and have a close contact with nature. The trekking route runs through the snow-capped peak of Ausangate Mountain (6372 meters / 20,900 feet). Ausangate Mountain has a great significance among Cusqeñans. To us, this is a sacred peak and we call it “Apu”. Although, this peak can be seen pretty much from most parts of Cusco, only a handful enjoy the view from close. Ausangate Sibinacocha Trek will take you the closest to the peak. The area around Ausangate is dotted with alluring views of turquoise lakes, hot springs and traditional Andean villages. On this trip, you will be visiting the unspoiled lake, Lake Sibinacocha. This lake is a highlight of the wondrous trek. It is a fairly challenging route and trekkers should be acclimatised well before the trek. We usually suspend this trek from December to February due to adverse weather conditions.

Itinerary

Day 1: Cusco – Tinqui – Pacchanta

Stop At: Aguas Termales Pacchanta, Quispicanchi Province, 08170, Peru
You will be picked up in our private vehicle from your hotel in Cusco. We will start our journey towards Tinqui on the Cusco – Puerto Maldonado highway. Tinqui is a remote village nestled at t(3800 meters / 12,464 feet). It serves as a gateway to Ausangate. On the way to Tinqui, we will be stopping at a couple of places to click some photos. After getting a glimpse at the colourful market in Urcos and pristine views of the region of Ccattca, home to the cattle raising community, we will pass through Ocongate. It is a capital of the district of the same name. From here, we will be about half an hour drive away to our destination. Once in Tinki, we will have lunch before starting a three hours walk to our camp site at Pacchanta (4100 meters / 13,448 feet). Pacchanta is known for its thermal baths. You can take a dip here with a blissful view of the Ausangate Mountain.

(Total hiking time – 3 hours)
Duration: 7 hours

Meals included:
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Camping

Day 2: Pacchanta – Qomerqocha – Jampa Pampa

Stop At: Ausangate, Cusco 08002 Peru
At the day break, we will start our hike with a gentle climb up the Pacchanta valley. We will be hiking through a scenic route towards Qomercocha lake, where we will see plenty of Andean camelids – Alpacas and Llamas grazing. On the shores of Qomercocha lake, we will stop for lunch. From here, you will have a spectacular view of the snowcapped peaks of Ausangate, Maria Huamantiqlla, Santa Catalina, Colquecruz and Pucapunta. After lunch, we will start our three hours hike towards our first pass, Q´ampa (Jampa) at 5080m/ 16400ft. From here we will start our two hours descend to the camp site at Jampa Pampa. Jampa Pampa is a valley with stunning views of Pucapunta, Tres Picos and Colquecruz peaks.

(Total hiking time – 6-7 hours)

Duration: 7 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Camping

Day 3: Jampa Pampa – Condorpaso

Stop At: Ausangate, Cusco 08002 Peru
We will start our day with a gradual ascend towards the “Black Lake” or Yanaqocha. It is named after the colour of the soil which is of volcanic origin. Its colour ranges from dark red to black. We will pass through moraines that serves as a testament to the glacial history of this part of the country and cross Yanaqocha pass (5050 meters /15,564 feet). From here we will have pristine views the picturesque lakes, mountains and herds of llamas and alpacas grazing below the pass. We will be camping at Condorpaso at (5100 meters / 16,728 feet).

(Total hiking time – 6-7 hours)
Duration: 7 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Camping

Day 4: Condorpaso – Sibinacocha

Stop At: Ausangate, Cusco 08002 Peru
Today we will reach the highest point of the whole trek. It is a 2 hour walk from our campsite at Condorpaso to the next pass (5200 meters / 17,056 feet), from where we will get our first views of Lake Sibinacocha and the Vilcanota mountain range. This area receives very few visitors, making it perfect for those interested in unspoiled natural scenery and wildlife. Here it is possible to spot the rare and reclusive vicuña (a wild breed of camelid renowned for its fine wool). From the pass it is a 5 hour walk down to our next campsite, on the shores of Lake Sibinacocha. Just a short distance away from our camp is the source of the lake, a large glacier with turquoise ice that provides a sharp contrast to the dark blue of the lake.

(Total hiking time – 6-7 hours)
Duration: 7 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Camping

Day 5: Momorani – Ccascana

Stop At: Ausangate, Cusco 08002 Peru
We will start our hike along the shores of Lake Sibinacocha for about three hours towards Yayamari. It is a village right beneath a mountain that towers to 5500 meters / 18,040 feet, after which it is named. We will then continue across a broad plain, where you will spot herds of llamas, alpacas and hopefully vicuñas. From the plain, we will ascend to the Ccascana high pass at 5000 meters / 16,400 feet. This trail will take us to our camping area just around the Ccascana Lake.

(Total hiking time – 6-7 hours)
Duration: 7 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Camping

Day 6: Ccascana – Phinaya Cusco

Stop At: Centro poblado Phinaya, Pitumarca, 125, 08230, Peru
After breakfast, we will hike for roughly three and half hours towards a small town Phinaya. This town is home to an Andean community with a little church in the centre. There are no vehicles in the town, people here use bicycles and horses to commute. We will stop here for lunch. In the evening we will start our journey in our mini-van back to Cusco. It will take approximately six hours to reach Cusco.
Duration: 7 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
No accommodation included on this day.