Peru's most remote high-altitude circuit. Glaciers, rainbow peaks, turquoise lakes. Led by Quechua guides born in its shadow.
Since 2012, we've guided more than 4,900 trekkers through the Ausangate circuit. Our team grew up in the Quechua communities around the mountain. We don't just walk the trail — we know its stories.
Plan Your TrekBorn and raised in communities that consider Ausangate a sacred deity. They navigate by instinct and read the mountain's weather in real time.
Maximum 12 trekkers per departure. Better camps, better acclimatization, and a genuine connection with the landscape around you.
Supplemental oxygen, satellite communication and certified wilderness first responders on every trek. We have never cut corners on safety.
Transport, all meals, camping equipment rated to -10°C, pack horses for all gear and park permits. You carry only your daypack.
Every package departs from Cusco and includes guides, meals, camping and transport. Private departures available year-round.
Upis · Arapa Pass · Pucacocha · Rainbow Mtn
The complete Ausangate circuit. Cross four high passes, camp beside glacial lakes, reach Rainbow Mountain at sunrise before any day-tripper arrives.
Vinicunca · Warmisaya Pass
The legendary Vinicunca at 5,100m. Red, gold, turquoise, violet mineral stripes formed over 24 million years. The most photographed mountain in Peru.
Arapa Pass · Warmisaya · Red Valley
The best combination: cross the Ausangate high passes, descend through the Red Valley, and summit Rainbow Mountain at dawn. Three unforgettable days.
Sacred Valley · Maras · Rainbow Mountain
Archaeology and high altitude in one expedition. Maras salt mines, Moray terraces, Sacred Valley — then Rainbow Mountain at the climax.
Rainbow Mtn · Sibinacocha · Quelccaya
Rainbow Mountain then Quelccaya — the world's largest tropical ice cap. Two days on the raw southern edge of the Andes. Very few trekkers ever get here.
Rainbow Mtn · Classic Inca Trail · Machu Picchu
The ultimate Peru expedition: Rainbow Mountain at dawn, then the full Classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. Glaciers, cloud forest, and the greatest arrival in travel.
Pacchanta · Comercocha · Otorongococha
Seven turquoise lagoons at the foot of the Ausangate glacier. One of the most beautiful day hikes in the entire Vilcanota range. Easy to moderate.
"The Ausangate is not just a mountain. It is an Apu — a spirit, a guardian, an ancestor. Our guides don't just lead you along a trail. They introduce you to a living world."
The Quechua communities around Ausangate have held this mountain sacred for centuries. When you trek with us, a portion of every booking goes directly to the local porters, cooks and their families.
The complete circuit around Ausangate. Below is exactly what happens each day.
Private transport heads south. Your guide briefs you over coca tea as the city sleeps. The valley gives way to high puna grasslands.
The Ausangate massif fills the horizon for the first time. Horses are loaded. You carry only your daypack.
Gradual ascent through ichu grass. Wild vicuñas graze the slopes. The trail follows glacial meltwater streams.
Natural thermal pools reward tired legs. Camp is set. Dinner under stars with Ausangate glacier visible above.
Breakfast at camp, then the long climb to Arapa Pass begins. The hardest day of the circuit.
360° of glaciated peaks and emerald lagoons. Your guide names every summit in Quechua. Total silence except wind.
Alpaca herds, stone huts, no other trekkers. The valley feels untouched and it is.
Wild pampas, glaciers overhead, complete silence. Tonight you sleep deep in the circuit.
The summit copper-colours in first light. This is the moment that makes people cancel their flights home.
The mineral-striped mountains of Palcoyo and Vinicunca appear for the first time. The colours are not edited.
Walls of crimson earth, turquoise mineral streams. A landscape from another planet.
The deepest turquoise water you've seen, ringed by glaciated peaks. Flamingos in season. Camp on the lakeside.
Because you camped nearby, you arrive at Rainbow Mountain at sunrise — empty. Day-trippers don't arrive until 9am.
Red, gold, turquoise, violet. 24 million years of geology. The entire ridgeline glows in first light. This is why you came.
Final high pass of the circuit, with views back across everything you've walked.
40°C thermal pools with glacier views. Farewell dinner with the crew. Stars from horizon to horizon.
Final morning with Ausangate glacier above. The horses are loaded. You look back at the circuit you've completed.
The last walk follows Ausangate's eastern flank. Your mind stays up on the passes while your body descends.
Your guides, porters and cook have been your home for 5 days. Gratitude is guaranteed.
You've circumnavigated Ausangate. Some things cannot be described — only done. Book the next one.
"By day 3, crossing Pucacocha Pass at 5,400m, I stopped thinking about my phone, my inbox, my mortgage. There was only the trail and the cold and the light. I haven't felt that free since childhood."
"I've trekked Nepal, Patagonia, Kilimanjaro. The Ausangate circuit is at the top of that list. Not because of the views — though the views are unreal — but because of our guide Marcos. Part sherpa, part poet."
"The 3-day Rainbow Mountain package was perfect. We camped the night before and arrived at Vinicunca at sunrise — completely empty. The day-trippers arrived 2 hours later to a completely different experience."
Still unsure? Message us on WhatsApp — we reply same day.
Chat on WhatsAppThe main challenge is altitude, not fitness. The highest point is Palomani Pass at 5,200m. We recommend arriving in Cusco 2-3 days early to acclimatize. If you can walk 5-6 hours on hilly terrain, you're ready for the classic circuit. Our guides carry supplemental oxygen on every trek.
May to October is the dry season — clearest skies, coldest nights (-5°C to -15°C at camp). June and July offer the best visibility for Rainbow Mountain's colours. We run all treks year-round; the wet season (Dec–Mar) brings greener valleys and far fewer trekkers.
Every package includes: private transport Cusco ↔ trailhead, all meals on trek (breakfast, field lunch, 3-course dinner), expedition camping equipment (tent, -10°C sleeping bag, mat), pack horses for all camping and food gear, certified guide, assistant guide for groups of 5+, camp cook and park entry fees. Not included: personal travel insurance, personal gear and tips.
1 Day (Rainbow Mountain or 7 Lakes): best if you have limited time. 3 Days (Ausangate & Rainbow): perfect for those wanting passes and the Rainbow Mountain without committing to the full circuit. 5 Days (Classic): the definitive Ausangate experience — all four passes, every lake, Rainbow Mountain at sunrise. 6 Days (+ Quelccaya): for serious trekkers who want the world's largest tropical glacier too. Message us and we'll match you honestly.
30% deposit confirms your booking. Balance due 30 days before departure. 45+ days out: full refund. 30–44 days: 50% refund. Within 30 days: deposit non-refundable but we'll work with you to reschedule. We strongly recommend travel insurance with trip cancellation and emergency evacuation cover.
Absolutely — around 40% of our bookings are solo trekkers. Our small groups (max 12) create strong bonds quickly. You're all sharing something demanding and extraordinary. Private departures are also available if you prefer the trail to yourself.
Departures sell out months in advance.
The mountain waits for no one.
Free consultation · No commitment · Same-day response