Ausangate Trek And Rainbow Mountain 5 Days – All Inclusive

What makes this trek interesting is the combo: you circle the Ausangate high Andes and then make a fast, early run to Rainbow Mountain (Vinicunca). I like how the plan is built around passes and lakes, so each day feels different, not just another uphill slog. I also like the human side, with guides like Juan and Cecilio running the show and making the days feel organized, calm, and safe.

The main consideration is altitude and cold. You are sleeping and walking high, with some long, chilly nights outside, and the air can make even “moderate” distances feel tough. Expect an early start too, with pick-up at 4:30 am from Plaza de Armas in Cusco, which is great for views, but not great for your bedtime.

Key things that make this trek click

• Pre-dawn access to Rainbow Mountain so you can arrive early for photos and that first, clear view
• All-inclusive logistics: guide, pro cook, gear, meals, wake-up tea, trail water, and entry tickets
• Warm camp routines like tea at wake-up, plus extra help staying warm at night
• Guides who add culture such as Quechua snippets and context about alpaca herders
• Practical altitude support including extra oxygen and emergency options like a horse if needed

Day 1: 4:30 am Cusco start to Aarapa Pass and Yana Cocha

This tour wastes no time. Your day starts with pick-up at 4:30 am from Plaza de Armas, then you ride about 3 hours to the trailhead. You get breakfast after the drive, which matters because you’ll be climbing sooner than your body expects.

From there, you begin on a flatter stretch toward the lunch camp. Then comes the first real highlight climb: a 2-hour ascent to Aarapa Pass at 4,800 m. After you crest, you hike onward for a couple hours of mostly flatter walking to camp at Yana Cocha (4,570 m). The payoff here is exactly what you want from Ausangate country, a mix of snow-capped peaks, colorful lakes, and that feeling of being way out in the Andes where the sky looks huge.

On paper, it’s 5 to 6 hours walking and about 15 km. In reality, the day can feel more intense because the altitude is already working on you. The good news: the route gives you that gradual ramp up, not a wall of climbing from the first hour.

Day 2: Sunrise at Laguna Pucacocha, passes, and Suinecocha camp

Day 2 starts very early again, with tea or coffee so you can catch sunrise. If you’ve ever looked at high Andes dawns, you already know why this matters, that mix of clear light and sharp mountains. After sunrise comes breakfast with views of Ausangate.

Then the hiking pattern becomes very “high Andes”: a climb to a pass for views, then a descent to rest and regroup. You hike uphill about 2 hours to Pucacocha Pass (4,870 m), and from there you get a wide, strong look at the whole Ausangate area. After that, it’s downhill for about 2 hours to Hananpa camp, where lunch breaks up the day.

The second half climbs again toward Warmisaya Pass (4,985 m). From this point, you can see Rainbow Mountain. After that viewpoint, you transition to Suinecocha camp with a mix of descending and inclined walking, ending at around 4,570 m.

Timing is again 5 to 6 hours with about 14 km. This is the kind of day where I think pacing beats pushing. You want to keep moving steadily so you can enjoy the view, not just survive the climb.

Day 3: Vinicunca early arrival, coffee stops, alpaca country, and Ausangate Cocha

This is the day many people booked for, Rainbow Mountain (around 5,100 m). Your schedule is set up for the most important part of that experience: arriving early. The plan calls for waking up early, tea, breakfast, and then a short 30-minute walk to reach the viewpoints. That early timing matters because it improves your odds of clear light, good photos, and a calmer moment before the crowds.

Once you’re at Rainbow Mountain, you get coffee and a guide explanation of why the area looks the way it does. Then you head back, and the day doesn’t just stop at the photo. You return through a trail that includes up-and-down sections back toward Warmy saya pass for about 2 hours, then descend to Hananta lunch camp for a proper break.

After lunch, you keep walking through a wide stretch where alpacas are common, and you finish at Ausangate Cocha camp (about 4,500 m). You still get that high-altitude “stars at night” feeling, but now you’ve also earned it by doing the hardest sightseeing day early.

Most days average 5 to 6 hours and about 14 km, but the feel of Day 3 is more about the timing and altitude than the distance.

Day 4: Palomani Pass offering, green pampa lunch, and Qampa camp views

Day 4 is where the trek starts feeling like a true circuit day, not just a highlight parade. You get breakfast prepared by the group’s professional chef, which is one of those details that matters more than it sounds. After a few days at altitude, you want food that actually helps, not just calories.

Then you climb uphill toward the highest pass on the circuit: Palomani Pass at about 5,200 m. At the pass, there is a short moment of offering to the mountains and mother earth, a tradition practiced since Inca times. Whether you are spiritually inclined or just curious, it’s a meaningful cultural stop that also gives you a break before the descent.

After the pass, you hike downhill for about 1 hour to Palomani pampa for lunch. This is a green valley area where alpacas graze freely, so you’re not just eating against a backdrop, you’re eating while the place carries on doing its normal Andes thing.

In the afternoon, you take an inclined trail to Qampa camp (about 4,700 m). From camp, you can look out at three peaks in the distance, plus alpacas and chinchillas, and there’s a river running nearby. That mix of animals, water, and big peaks is exactly the reason this circuit style works. It keeps the day from feeling like a single viewpoint, it turns it into a lived-in place.

Walking is roughly 4 to 5 hours and about 13 km.

Day 5: Qampa Pass, seven lagoons, and the Pacchanta hot springs finish

The final day is both beautiful and practical. You start with wake-up tea, breakfast, and a hike that’s again mostly inclined. You climb about 2 hours to Qampa Pass, where you can appreciate the snowy Qollquecuz and Ausangate.

Then you switch gears: downhill hiking for about 2 hours to the seven lagoons of Ausangate. You stop for lunch with a view of the water and the mountains, and this is one of the best “slow down” moments on the trek, because lagoons naturally force your attention away from your feet.

After lunch you walk through the seven lagoons, and the tour notes that the colors are tied to their names in Quechua. You also pass the important lagoon called Otorongo Cocha.

Finally, you walk about 1.5 hours to the last camp and get to bathe in the Pacchanta hot springs. This is the emotional payoff to the whole circuit. After cold nights and high walking, warm water feels like a reward you can actually feel in your muscles.

After the hot springs, you travel back to Cusco, about 3 hours, and end back at Plaza de Armas.

What “all-inclusive” really means here, down to the sleeping setup

This trek’s value comes from what’s bundled, not just the fact that it includes meals. You get a full support system that covers the stuff that usually becomes annoying mid-trek.

Included items you should care about:

• Bilingual guide (English and Spanish)
• Professional cook for your group
• Medical kit and first aid
• Duffle bag per person
• Trail water every day, plus snacks
• Wake up tea each morning
• Tea time or happy hour in the afternoons
• Entrance tickets for Rainbow Mountain and the Ausangate trek
• Vegetarian and vegan meals
• Sleeping kit: sleeping bag, PRO Air sleeping pad (Therma-Rest brand), pillows, and tents
• Warm-night helpers like polar sheets and rubber warmers
• Extra oxygen
• Emergency horse if you need a ride

In the reviews, the warm-night support shows up in real ways, like hot-water bottles placed inside the sleeping system, coca tea at wake-up, and popcorn during the nightly happy hour. That stuff is small, but it’s the difference between feeling miserable and feeling taken care of.

Even the tent approach is practical: the gear is described as a pro 4 season tent system, with a layout that pairs people inside a shared tent space.

Altitude, cold nights, and how to prepare so you enjoy it

This is high walking, at altitudes that can be challenging even if your legs feel okay. You’ll be moving between roughly 4,300 m and 5,200 m, with passes like Aarapa, Pucacocha, Warmisaya, Palomani, and Qampa, plus Rainbow Mountain around 5,100 m.

The biggest enemy isn’t the distance, it’s how cold it gets and how thin the air feels. One review highlighted that cold is the real irritant, especially during several nights outside with not-great sleep. That matches the gear list, which includes serious sleeping and warming items, but you still need to dress for the conditions.

My practical advice:

• Give yourself time to acclimatize in Cusco before you start. Even a couple extra days can help.
• Pack layers, including a warm hat and gloves. You’ll likely be cold even with the provided warm-night items.
• Keep a steady pace, take breaks when offered, and focus on hydration.
• If you feel sick, speak up early. The presence of medical support and extra oxygen is helpful, but your early communication matters.

If you do these things, the trek shifts from “survive each day” into “I can actually enjoy the views.”

Value for $750: what you get versus what you’d otherwise have to plan

At $750 per person, you’re paying for a lot of the logistics that normally take time to figure out: guides, equipment, meals, entry tickets, and the high-altitude camping setup.

Here’s what makes the price feel reasonable based on what’s included:

• Rainbow Mountain ticket included, which is one cost piece people often forget
• Ausangate trek access included
• Camping gear that isn’t cheap to rent or manage
• Sleep comfort through a quality sleeping pad and sleeping bag system
• Extra altitude support like extra oxygen
• Water, tea, and snacks so you’re not constantly budgeting or searching for supplies

Also, the trek is described as private, meaning only your group participates. That can matter if you want a quieter experience and more flexible guidance.

The “hidden” cost you should plan for is personal preparation: good warm clothing, and enough acclimatization time in Cusco. But those are travel basics, not a knock on the tour.

Who should book this Ausangate and Rainbow Mountain trek

I’d suggest it if you want:

• A circuit feel with multiple days of high passes and varied scenery
• A trek that mixes wildlife and culture, not just mountain photos
• Comfort from real camp support, including meals and sleeping gear
• A guided experience where the guide explains what you’re seeing, and adds a cultural layer, like Quechua words and interactions with alpaca herders

It may be a rough fit if:

• You hate cold and don’t handle altitude well
• You expect a gentle walk with guaranteed easy days
• You need a fully restful camping sleep experience, because nights can be tough at these heights

That said, the trek can work for more than just hardened hikers. One family example in the provided information describes success with a 10-year-old, with good food and support. Still, you should be honest about fitness and cold tolerance.

Should you book this 5-day Ausangate and Rainbow Mountain combo?

If you want a high-Andes trek that feels properly supported and you’re okay with early mornings, cold nights, and altitude, then yes, this is the kind of itinerary that delivers. The best reason to book is the combination of early Rainbow Mountain access, serious camping logistics, and a guide team that blends safety, organization, and culture. People also consistently call out the food and camp setup as a major part of why the days feel manageable.

If you hate being uncomfortable, or you haven’t acclimatized, pause and plan first. Do Cusco right, dress for the cold, and keep your pace steady. Then this becomes not just a list of famous sights, but a real Andes journey, with hot springs at the end.

FAQ

What time does pick-up happen in Cusco?

Pick-up is at 4:30 am from Plaza de Armas de Cusco.

Where does the tour start and end?

It starts at Plaza de Armas de Cusco and ends back at the same meeting point.

Is this a private tour?

Yes. It is described as private, with only your group participating.

What level of fitness is needed?

You should have a moderate physical fitness level.

How much walking is there each day?

The days are listed with walking times and distances, with most days around 4 to 6 hours of hiking and roughly 13 to 15 km, depending on the day and route segment.

What is the highest altitude on the trek?

The itinerary includes passes and viewpoints up to about 5,200 m, and Rainbow Mountain is listed around 5,100 m.

Are meals included, and are there dietary options?

Meals are included and are vegetarian and vegan. Breakfast, lunch, and dinners are listed across the trek days.

Does the price include entrance tickets?

Yes. Entrance tickets to Rainbow Mountain and to the Ausangate trek are included.

What camping and sleep equipment is provided?

You receive a sleeping bag, sleeping pad, pillows, tents, and a trekking stick. There are also listed warm-night items like polar sheets and rubber warmers.

Is oxygen or medical support provided?

Yes. The tour includes a medical kit and first aid, and it also includes extra oxygen. There is also an emergency horse option to ride if needed.