Ausangate Trek: Rainbow Mountain 6-Day Review & Guide

Alright, so you’re thinking about tackling the Ausangate Trek to Rainbow Mountain? It’s almost the adventure of a lifetime, to be honest. Six days surrounded by seriously mind-blowing landscapes in the Peruvian Andes…it really sticks with you. This review will give you the inside scoop, like your best friend already did the trek and is filling you in over coffee. I’ll cover everything, to be honest, from what to expect each day to how to prepare so you aren’t miserable, because nobody wants that, do they?

Why Choose the Ausangate Trek?

Let’s be real, there are a ton of hikes in Peru. The Inca Trail is what everyone is looking at, yet the Ausangate Trek delivers something seriously different, very much a raw and unfiltered Andean experience, really. Away from some super crowded trails, you get the chance to soak in the area around you, is that cool or what? This trek takes you right to the heart of the Cordillera Vilcanota mountain range. And honestly, the views? Simply spectacular.

This hike is for those who want a physical challenge, to be honest, but also want the kind of connection you get only when in a wild space, totally unplugged. So the colorful Rainbow Mountain, Vinicunca, makes for one awesome endpoint. Still, this journey offers something more profound, like watching the local Quechua people living very traditionally, spotting wildlife like condors and vicuñas, or just witnessing, really, the sheer grandeur of nature, okay? Plus, camping under a crazy blanket of stars each night is a vibe that seriously slaps.

Day-by-Day Breakdown

Okay, let’s walk through the daily details of the Ausangate trek, so, as I was saying, you know exactly what awaits. Be forewarned, this itinerary can change depending on the tour operator and weather, still this gives a feel, right? Get prepared to step outside.

Day 1: Cusco to Tinqui – Preparation and Acclimatization

So, this is where things start, right? It all starts by going to Tinqui from Cusco (about a 3-hour drive). So it sits at a lower elevation (around 12,460 feet) than some spots on the trek. Actually, Day 1 is mainly just about preparing, really; organizing your gear and maybe getting in a super short acclimatization hike. Most of all this gives your body the first shot, to be honest, at getting used to the thinner air. Get rested, sleep really tight!

Day 2: Tinqui to Upis – Hot Springs and Mountain Views

On Day 2, so the real fun starts, okay? You start hiking toward Upis, it’s approximately a 6-7 hour hike and the scenery goes right through awesome, okay? This day offers pretty, green valleys plus views of the snow-capped Ausangate mountain. To be honest, what makes this day better is getting to relax in the Upis hot springs at the end, very soothing for those muscles.

Day 3: Upis to Yanacocha Lake – Crossing Arapa Pass

Today is all about conquering the Arapa Pass, at around 15,748 feet! So prepare for tougher climbs plus, the oxygen is thinner here. Now at the pass you get breathtaking views of turquoise lakes, that can be rewarding as well, I guess? Hiking on down you arrive to Yanacocha Lake, that’s another camping area in a crazy, beautiful place, okay? It’s kind of a hard day, yes, but really it’s all about feeling really tough as heck afterwards.

Day 4: Yanacocha Lake to Rainbow Mountain – The Big Day

Day 4? This is the day most people get very excited about, very awesome right? So, a relatively early rise is likely so that the colors and crowds at Rainbow Mountain may be avoided. From Yanacocha Lake you will walk, likely three or four hours, to Vinicunca. As the sun is shining, really it highlights the sediment and that’s what brings out colors of reds, yellows, greens, and blues, is that what’s awesome or what? You get time up there to, I guess, take pictures and also soak it all in before you get going to the next campsite.

Day 5: Rainbow Mountain to Ausangatecocha Lake – Quieter Trails

While others go back to Cusco, you get to push on into even calmer portions of the circuit, totally untouched right? On Day 5 you start your way to Ausangatecocha Lake. And honestly, the hike takes you across scenic plateaus, maybe alongside grazing alpacas, getting a different viewpoint. This campsite is really, you know, like serene, often offering incredible night sky views.

Day 6: Ausangatecocha Lake to Tinqui – Farewell Andes

And that is the very last day on the path! Day 6 is, to be honest, mostly downhill, a soft, scenic wander toward Tinqui, which is where you started. You should likely take advantage, or benefit from really, taking that last moment to gaze at the scenery, because what is amazing may leave you with the most joy.

Altitude – The Biggest Hurdle, arguably

Look, so you’re coming from sea level, high altitude hits differently. That first gasp of air might make you feel some pain in your head. The Ausangate Trek reaches very lofty elevations. The greatest point hits at the Palomani Pass that you climb at the fourth day and actually rises over 16,400 feet up. It is critically, that’s a better word, for you to acclimatize gradually when you’re walking this circuit to, really, dodge acute mountain sickness. I think, I heard, some great ways to manage it are drinking many fluids, abstaining (just saying) from alcohol or strong food that makes your body overwork, plus ascending at your individual pace.

Something else? Talk with your physician at home regarding acetazolamide, okay? Lots of trekker fans may get this before a high-elevation adventure to minimize those effects of mountain sickness; yet every individual reacts to medicine different. If any sign occurs for acute mountain sickness such as migraines which don’t stop, woozy thoughts, lack of energy or strength then come down immediately while getting consultation, naturally. Getting hurt along your stroll has absolutely zero reward benefits to you! Seriously! Get someone’s expert’s idea, so get someone who knows about mountain sickness when planning.

Choosing the Right Tour Operator

Who goes for the hike impacts very greatly how enjoyable and memorable, really, those six days end up being. What’s the lowdown: find a Peruvian company which does this all the time? Okay, I got something else for you to look over, actually, read those feedback pages; peek out there to spot what earlier trek fans felt, okay? Are folks raving? That usually speaks loudly on, in fact, how strong companies provide outstanding experiences or are known!

Furthermore consider that your trip operator is treating those porter team and those animals responsibly. It happens usually wherein companies take advantage when these communities rely that work is provided for survival; search, basically, to look at which agencies go about to do everything correct and ethically towards that crew. If not sure seek answers around specifically what pay occurs, regarding their work conditions or the overall trek size!

Packing Essentials

Okay, to be honest, packing can either make or break any hiking, especially through the unpredictable mountains! You really require something so comfy during the walking sections, along when it’s at overnight sleeping periods in sub zero mountain temperature range. To be frank, have clothing prepared when the temps drastically vary which means layered garment systems make sense because weather moves all around frequently or very rapidly; you take material, remove again, basically adapting comfortably instead needing transport several warm parka jackets; even something along rain protection can defend toward any rains and potential sudden temperature changes caused given what time passes!

Comfy Hiking Footwear: Really broken them at house beforehand; expect plenty tough surface for ankle comfort plus robust grip.
Moisture wicking apparel layers: Wool then synthetic clothing pull perspire apart your bodily system rather than capture; helps keep much drier especially high uphill
Hot Jacket/Layers: Consider filled and light jacket or wind-guard
Sleeping bag that provides 0°F rated rating Your camping kit wants hold up throughout chilly and extreme high elevations
Hydration container: Water, as often stated really earlier can minimize or beat AMS! Plan several multiple liters throughout entire hikes times during journeys
Basic medication kit: Have materials just for cuts along, pain/temperature tablets medicines which deal usually those problems for stomach
Sun defender items, glasses and wide rim protective headgear The very strong intensity via the high rise area does take quite big risks to get eyes harmed and skin scorches – so use them appropriately

Is the Ausangate Trek Right for You?

Is the trek worth really walking? Should you do really spend so much from holiday days even cash involved and then attempt such hike trip to Rainbow Mountain!? Fine, that solution becomes what is vital for yourself plus what ones your trekking expectations entail also.

Select really the journey specifically just when in really exceptional strong health then has experience within other very elevated and rigorous multi daytime hikes excursions beforehand. A lot may face quite challenge owing height change along even very changing high hill topography all inside just something through something just really what makes you stay happy plus very focused when tackling various different obstacle parts presented through this path.

While a few tourist fans, so, take to that location through trekking due primarily at amazing Rainbows Mountain – which might mean someone appreciates extra to seek adventures then calmness with many significantly few trekking numbers involved on calmer treks.