DAY 1: Cusco – Upis – Yana Qocha
We pick you up from your hotel at 5:30 am to leave the city of Cusco, we will then have three and a half hours driving to get Upis town, along the way we will see picturesque towns, and we will stop for a couple of times to enjoy the sceneries, once we arrive in Upis (the trailhead, 4,350m/ 14,272ft) we will meet up our local muleteers, horses, and get ready for the adventure, we will hike gradually uphill for about 2 hours and 30 minutes following the highland valley inhabited by llamas and alpacas with dramatic vistas of Ausangate in backdrop to get the lunch spot located in Pamparapa (4,600m / 15,092 feet). Today, we’ll have lunch at a very scenic spot still with Ausangate Mt at the background. After eating the delicious meal, we’ll still hike up for about 3 hours and 30 minutes to get to the first campsite, called Yana Qocha 4,650 m / 15,256 ft, from the lunch spot we’ll hike for two hours to get the first pass called Arapa pass 4,800 m/ 15,748 ft, at this point, we’ll be impressed by stunning views of eroded mountains, and highland valleys. We will then hike downhill for 1 hour and 30 minutes to get to the campsite, a place with amazing views around the Ausangate mountain. Lunch and dinner included.
- Hiking Time: 6 – 7 hours
- Hiking Distance: 12 km / 7.46 miles
- Lowest Point: 4,350 m / 14,272 ft
- Highest Point: 4,800 m / 15,748 ft
DAY 2: Yana Qocha – Puca cocha – Qomer Qocha
In the morning we will have a beautiful sunrise at the top of towering rocks and mountains, we will enjoy this view while having our breakfast, after having breakfast we will start trekking on an uneven trail (up and downs) this section of the trail is one of the most picturesque ones, as the blue- and turquoise-colored lagoons surround the bottom part of the massif Ausangate mountain 6.384 m / 20,945 ft, the highest mountain in Cusco. After hiking for 1 hour and 30 minutes, we will start hiking up on a switchback trail to the next pass at 5,000 m / 16,404 ft. In which, we will enjoy the very dramatic vistas of the Vilcanota range going in different directions, colored hills, and the glacier peaks. From this pass, we will hike downhill to get the valley part and follow up the valley to reach our lunch spot located at the place called Ananta 4,650 m/ 15,256 ft. After lunch, we will continue trekking uphill for 2 hours to reach the next pass called Warmisaya 5,000 m / 16,404 ft from this place, we will be able to spot the Rainbow Mountain in a further distance and the views are still very impressive. The last section is downhill for 30 minutes to get to the second campsite located at Qomer Qocha 4,680 m / 15,354 ft. All meals included.
- Hiking Time: 8 – 9 hours
- Hiking Distance: 12 km / 7.46 miles
- Lowest Point: 4,600 m / 15,092 ft
- Highest Point: 5,000 m / 16,404 ft
Day 3. Qomer Cocha – Rainbow Mountain – Quesiuno – Cusco:
Today is the day you have been waiting for. We will wake you up at 03:45 am with coca tea delivered to your tent then we start with first uphill until Ananta pass(15,090ft-4500m-14,000feet)from where, you see this amazing Rainbow Mountain in the distance, but you are not quite there yet! From this place you go downhill to circle the lake and keep walking a Peruvian flat until we reach the final uphill to the Rainbow Mountain then we have 360 views of the spectacular landscape which surrounds you, Soak in the vistas and enjoy as much as possible the place.
After enjoying the Rainbow Mountain, we have chance to visit the red Valley. Then we hike down for about 1 hour to bus station where we will say goodbye to our horseman. Then we drive for about 3 hours and drop you off at your hotel around 5 pm.
- Walking Distance:13km/ 8,078 miles.
- hiking hour:6 hours roughly.
- Difficulty: