Peru Guide
The Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu
Ausangate
You'll see very few people once you leave the start and end point for this trail – one of the most challenging and exciting treks in Southern Peru – at the village of Tinqui at 3800m. Tinqui is reached by a three- to four-hour drive via Urcos. The management at the Hostal Ausungate (Price: Up to $5) in Tinque can arrange guides, mules and a muleteer (arriero). Some supplies are now available at the trailhead, but it's still safer to bring everything you need with you.
The Ausangate Circuit explores the Cordillera Vilcanota, weaving around many peaks over 6000m. Ausangate, the highest peak at 6372m, remains at the hub of the standard trail. Many of the camps are over 4600m and there are two passes over 5000m to be tackled. A good map is essential (the best is the PERU Topographic Survey 1:100,000 – 28-T, available from the South American Explorers' Club), and a local guide strongly recommended.
The first day's walking uphill from Tinqui brings you to a natural campsite on a valley floor almost 4500m above sea level close to the hot springs near Upis with tremendous views of Nevada Ausangate. Day two requires about six hours of walking, heading for the camping area at the red-coloured lake of Laguna Jatun Pucacocha.
Day three tackles the highest pass – Palomani (5170m) early on. From here there are views over Laguna Ausangatecocha, and the walking continues, passing the Ausangate climb base camp, for another three or four hours but offers some of the best scenery, particularly the Ausungate peak itself.
Day four continues downhill towards the Pitumarca Valley, which you follow left uphill to a campsite beyond Jampa, a remote settlement just this side of the magical Campa Pass (5050m). From here there are spectacular views towards the snowcapped peaks of Puka Punta and Tres Picos.
Day five takes you uphill again through the pass and down beside Lake Minaparayoc. From here it's a three- or four-hour descent to the campsite at Pacchanta where there are some welcoming hot springs. After that, it's another three-hour walk back to Tinqui for road transport to Cusco.