Your Guide to Ausangate Treks

Hey nature lovers! Have you heard about Machu Picchu? It’s a super famous old city high up in Peru. People love going there! There are walks and trains to get there. But Peru has other amazing places to walk in the mountains, too. One is around a giant, special mountain called Ausangate!

The walks around Ausangate Mountain are called Ausangate Treks. They are known for being really, really beautiful, very high up, and feeling very wild, like you are far away from everything.

In this story, we will tell you all about the Ausangate Treks. We’ll use simple words so you can easily understand what it’s like to visit this amazing area, what you’ll see (think colorful lakes!), how hard it is, how to get ready, and why it’s a truly special adventure. Get ready to walk in a land of giant mountains and bright colors!

What is Ausangate Mountain? (A Giant, Sacred Peak!)

First, let’s talk about Ausangate Mountain itself. It’s one of the biggest and most important mountains near Cusco in Peru. For the local people, the people who have lived in this area for a very long time, Ausangate is a sacred mountain. It’s seen as a powerful spirit that gives life to the land and the rivers.

The mountain is very high, with a rocky top covered in snow and ice. It looks like a giant watching over the land. People don’t usually climb right to the very top of Ausangate Mountain on these treks, but you walk all around it and see it from many different sides and get very close!

What are Ausangate Treks? (Walks Around the Big Mountain!)

Ausangate Treks are walking trips that go around the base of the big Ausangate Mountain. You walk in a big circle or a path that takes you through the mountains and valleys near it.

These treks are different from walks like the Inca Trail because they focus more on the wild nature and the big mountain views. You don’t see as many old Inca ruins on these specific paths. It’s more about the pure, wild beauty of the high Andes.

You walk for many days and usually sleep in tents outside. It’s a real adventure far away from towns!

Where are These Treks?

The Ausangate area is located to the south-east of the city of Cusco. It’s in a mountain group called the Cordillera Vilcanota.

To start an Ausangate trek, you first travel from Cusco by car or bus for a few hours to get closer to the mountains. Then you start walking from a small village or a point where the path begins.

It’s a remote area, meaning there are not many people living there, and you won’t find shops or hotels along the walking path. It’s just you, your group, and the amazing nature.

How Long Do Ausangate Treks Take?

The most common way to do an Ausangate Trek is in 5 days and 4 nights.

This length lets you walk a good loop around the main parts of the mountain and see many of the famous colorful lakes. You walk for 5 days and sleep in tents for 4 nights.

Some companies offer shorter versions, like 3 days or 4 days. These treks might cover a smaller circle or move faster.

There are also longer versions, maybe 6 or 7 days. These trips allow you to go slower, spend more time in different places, or visit more hidden lakes and valleys.

The 5-day trek is popular because it shows you the best parts of the area and feels like a full journey around the big mountain.

Are Ausangate Treks Hard?

Yes, the Ausangate Treks are VERY HARD.

Many people say they are harder than the Inca Trail and even harder than the Salkantay Trek.

Why are they so hard?

• EXTREME Altitude: This is the biggest reason. Ausangate Treks stay at very, very high places for most of the time. You walk over mountain passes that are often much higher than the highest points on the Inca Trail or Salkantay (sometimes over 5,000 meters / 16,400 feet!). Being this high means there is even less oxygen in the air than in Cusco or on other treks.
  • What does this mean? It means breathing is much harder. Walking, even slowly, is a big effort. You feel tired quickly. The risk of altitude sickness (headache, dizziness, feeling sick) is higher, and the effects can be stronger. Your body needs more time to get used to this extreme height.
• Long Distances: You walk for many hours each day over several days.
• Tough Ground: The paths can be rocky, uneven, sometimes steep up or down, and sometimes muddy or wet.
• Very Cold Nights: Because you are camping at very high places, the nights are often freezing, sometimes much colder than on other treks. You need very warm gear.

So, Ausangate Treks are a big physical and mental challenge. They are best for people who have done mountain walking before and know how their body reacts to high places, or for people who are in excellent shape and ready for a very demanding trip.

Getting Ready for the Extreme Height (Super Simple Steps!)

Getting ready for Ausangate means taking the high altitude very seriously.

• Spend MORE time in Cusco FIRST: This is not like other trips where 1-2 days in Cusco is enough. For Ausangate, you should spend at least 3 or even 4 full days in Cusco (or another place at similar height) before you start the trek. This gives your body more time to start getting used to the air. Take it very easy during these days.
• Get in Great Shape: Do regular exercise before your trip, especially walking uphill or climbing stairs. The stronger your legs and heart are, the better you will handle the hard parts.
• Drink Water CONSTANTLY: Drink water all the time, starting from when you arrive in Cusco and throughout the trek. This is super, super important at high altitude.
• Go SUPER SLOW on the Walk: When you are walking on the trek, go slower than you think you need to. It’s okay to be the slowest person. Your body needs time to get oxygen. Stop and rest whenever you feel tired.
• Eat and Drink What the Guide Gives You: The food and warm drinks are made to help you at altitude and give you energy.
• Tell Your Guide EVERYTHING: If you have a headache, feel tired, feel sick, or anything feels wrong, tell your guide right away. Guides know how to help with altitude problems.

Being very prepared for the high place and walking very slowly and carefully are the keys to doing an Ausangate Trek.

What Amazing Things Do You See on an Ausangate Trek?

The Ausangate area is famous for its wild, raw beauty and incredible colors.

Ausangate Mountain Up Close

You will walk near the giant, snowy peak of Ausangate. Seeing its massive size and glaciers (big rivers of ice) up close is incredible.

Colorful Lakes

This is a highlight! The area around Ausangate has many lakes, and some of them have amazing, bright colors – blue, green, turquoise, and even red lakes! The colors come from the minerals in the mountains around them. Seeing these brightly colored lakes with the big mountains behind them is like seeing something from a dream.

Glaciers and Snowy Peaks

Besides Ausangate, there are other snowy mountains and glaciers in the area. You see lots of ice and snow up high, even in Peru, which is close to the equator!

Wide Open Views

Because you are so high up and in a wild area with not many trees in the highest parts, the views are often very wide and open. You can see big valleys, rolling hills, and many mountains far away under a huge sky.

Wild Animals

You might see some special animals that live high in the Andes:

• Llamas and Alpacas: You will see many of these, often in big groups, cared for by local people.
• Vicuñas: These are wild animals related to alpacas and llamas. They are thinner, very fast, and live in the high, wild areas. Seeing a group of vicuñas running is special.
• Condors: These are very large birds that fly high in the mountains. Seeing a condor flying above you is amazing.

Rainbow-like Hills (Sometimes!)

Some parts of the Ausangate area, especially closer to Rainbow Mountain (Vinicunca is somewhat nearby), also have hillsides with stripes of color similar to Rainbow Mountain. So you might get to see some of these colorful mountains as part of your trek around Ausangate, without needing to go to the main Rainbow Mountain viewpoint itself.

How Life is on the Ausangate Treks (Eating and Sleeping)

On an Ausangate Trek, things are quite simple and focused on being outdoors in the high mountains.

• Sleeping: You will camp in tents every night. The campsites are usually in beautiful, quiet spots in the mountains. Because it gets very, very cold at night at these high places, you need a super warm sleeping bag (rated for very low temperatures). Companies can usually rent you one. You also need warm clothes to sleep in.
• Food: Your trek includes a cook who makes warm meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Eating a warm meal in the cold mountains feels great! You also get snacks for walking.
• Carrying Bags: On Ausangate Treks, the heavy gear (tents, food, cooking things) and your main backpack are carried by llamas or alpacas! Local people from the mountain villages come with their animals to help carry everything. You only carry a small backpack with what you need for the day (water, snacks, jacket, camera). Seeing the trains of llamas or alpacas walking with you is a cool part of the experience.

It’s a basic way of traveling, staying in tents out in the wild nature every night.

Who Helps You on the Ausangate Trek?

• Guides: Your guide leads the way, keeps you safe, knows about the mountains and lakes, and helps if anyone has trouble with the altitude.
• Cooks: They make sure you have warm, good food every day.
• Llama/Alpaca Handlers: These are local people who bring their animals to carry the heavy bags. They know the area and the animals very well. They are super helpful!

These people work hard to make the trek possible.

Comparing Ausangate to Other Treks (It’s Different!)

Ausangate Treks are different from the Inca Trail or Salkantay Trek in a few main ways:

Ausangate is for people who want a bigger challenge, are ready for extreme high places and cold, love seeing wild nature and amazing colorful lakes, and want a trek where fewer tourists go.

Getting Ready: What to Bring (Simple Packing for Extreme Cold!)

Because it’s so high and cold, especially at night, your packing needs to be focused on staying warm and dry. You only carry a small bag for the day.

Your Small Day Backpack:

• Water bottle (or camelbak)
• Snacks (lots of energy food!)
• Sunscreen (strong sun at high height!), sunglasses, warm sun hat
• VERY WARM HAT and GLOVES (essential!)
• Scarf or neck protection
• Rain jacket/pants (weather can change)
• Small first-aid kit
• Toilet paper, hand sanitizer
• Camera/phone (and extra battery or charger!)
• Some cash (small bills)
• Walking sticks (really help uphill and downhill)

Your Big Bag (Carried by Llamas/Alpacas):

• Your SUPER WARM SLEEPING BAG (check it’s rated for very cold, below freezing temperatures!)
• Warm layers for sleeping (thermals, warm pants, warm shirt, extra socks)
• Warmest jacket (down jacket or similar) for evenings and early mornings
• Fleece or warm sweaters
• Hiking pants (maybe more than one pair in case one gets wet)
• Thermal shirts and base layers
• Hiking socks (wool or warm material)
• Underwear
• Hiking boots (worn in and waterproof!)
• Sandals or camp shoes
• Towel
• Toiletries (keep them from freezing!)
• Headlamp or strong flashlight (nights are dark)
• Portable charger

Simple rule: Think “warmest clothes I have” for the evenings and high passes. Layers are key!

Simple Tips for Your Ausangate Trek

• Respect the Altitude: Go slow, drink water, take many rest stops. This is the single most important thing.
• Stay Warm: Put on layers before you feel cold. Change out of wet clothes quickly. Wear your warm hat and gloves whenever it’s chilly.
• Protect Your Skin: The sun is strong at high altitude. Use lots of sunscreen and wear a hat and sunglasses.
• Listen to the Llama/Alpaca Handlers: They know how to move the animals and gear safely. Stay out of the way of the animal train.
• Enjoy the Quiet: Ausangate is less crowded. Enjoy the peace and the sounds of nature.
• Leave No Trace: Pack out all your trash. Keep this wild place beautiful.
• Tell Your Guide About ANYTHING: If you feel any altitude effects, any pain, anything at all – tell your guide immediately.

Ready for the Wild Beauty of Ausangate?

Ausangate Treks are not easy walks. They are hard, high, and can be very cold. But for people who are ready for a big physical challenge and want to see some of the most incredible, wild, and colorful mountain nature in Peru, the Ausangate area is truly special.

Walking near the giant, sacred Ausangate Mountain, seeing bright colored lakes, glaciers, and wild animals, and feeling far away from the rest of the world is an amazing experience.

If you dream of a tough adventure in stunning, untouched mountain landscapes, and are willing to prepare well for the high altitude, an Ausangate Trek could be the perfect wild journey for you. Get ready for big mountains and big colors!