Ausangate Trek 5 days: the complete guide
Ausangate is the highest mountain in southern Peru and the most sacred apu of the Cusco region. The five-day trek around it is remote, high and utterly wild — glaciers, turquoise and crimson lagoons, and passes above 5,000 m, far from any crowd.
A trek for the high and wild
This is true high-altitude trekking. You circle the glaciated mass of Ausangate (6,384 m), crossing passes up to 5,200 m, past lakes coloured red, green and turquoise by the minerals in the rock, with alpacas and vicuñas for company.
The route, day by day
| Day | Route | High point |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cusco → Tinki → Upis | 4,100 m camp |
| 2 | Upis → Ausangate Cocha | Pucapunta Pass 5,000 m |
| 3 | Ausangate Cocha → Hampa | Palomino Pass 5,200 m |
| 4 | Hampa → Pacchanta | Hot springs |
| 5 | Pacchanta → Tinki → Cusco | Return |
See the full itinerary
Day-by-day plan, inclusions and dates.
Difficulty and altitude
This is a challenging trek and not the place for your first day at altitude. The passes are very high, so several days acclimatizing beforehand are essential. Go in the dry season; nights are genuinely cold, so pack accordingly.
Frequently asked questions
The highest pass, Palomino, reaches around 5,200 m, and the trek spends days above 4,000 m. Thorough acclimatization is essential.
No. Ausangate is a remote high-mountain circuit and does not include Machu Picchu — its rewards are glaciers, lagoons and solitude.
Nights are well below freezing at the high camps, so warm layers and a good sleeping bag are essential.