Season: March to November
Dificulty: moderate to high

We depart Cusco in bus and travel about four hours to reach the small Andean village of Tinqui at the foot of the Vilcanota range. Driving through the beautiful countryside, we pass several traditional villages including Urcos, Cattca and Ocongate. After packing the equipment and getting acquainted with your horses/mules, we begin our trek. We cross a pampa of grassy meadows below the jagged stone flanks of Mount Ausangate (6336 m/20788 ft), the highest summit in southern Peru. After trekking approximately four hours, with time for lunch, rests and stops for pictures, we arrive to the hot springs of Upis, our second campsite at 4200 m/13800 ft. From here, we get marvelous views of Ausangate at the end of the valley.

We get up early to climb the first pass called Arapa Pass (4750 m/15990 ft). From here we descend to the valley, passing the green lake of Pucacocha on the way. In the afternoon we arrive to our camp at the turquoise shores of Lake Jatun Pucacocha. Here we set our camp for the night. Sometimes, as you camp beside the lake at night, you can hear ice breaking away from a nearby glacier and falling into the water.

In the morning we ascend to the second pass of Apuchata (4900 m/16100 ft) with the turquoise Lagoon Ausangatecocha below. This lagoon is fed by the melting snow of Ausangate. From here we climb a short but steep rise to the Palomani Pass (5100 m/16730 ft), the highest point of the trek. Following the trail into the next valley we arrive to the campsite at Uchuy Finaya, where we rest after the exhausting day.

Compared to the previous days this one should prove relatively easy. The trail between the broad green valley of Pampa Jutunpata and the Rio Q'ampa valley are an excellent place to observe the delightful viscacha. This small rodent looks like a cross between a squirrel and a rabbit and lives in large family groups amongst the stones and boulders at the foot of the scree slopes. Late in the morning we arrive to the small community of Qampa, where we will camp and rest before we ascend the last pass of our trek on the next day.

After passing through the small community of Qampa the trail continues to the final pass of this hike, the Qampa Pass (5050 m/16500 ft). After a short stop on the top we continue downwards to a green lake called Comercocha and hike then to the small Andean village of Pacchanta.On the way you may also be lucky enough to see groups of vicuña, undoubtedly the most beautiful member of the llama family with its slender neck, huge eyes and soft golden wool.

We leave our last campsite and the village ofPacchanta and hike back for approx. 3 hours to the village of Tinqui. Here our bus will take us back to Cusco where we will arrive late in the afternoon.

- Accommodation in Double-occupancy tents
- Shared Services with local English/Spanish speaking guide
- All transfers from/to hotels
- Full board (5x breakfast, 6x lunch, 5x dinner)
- Camping equipment
- Cook and horses for the camping equipment
- Sleeping pads
- Entrance fees
- First aid kit and oxygen