Tour Included:
- Private 4×4 transportation to Tinqui (day 1) and return to Cusco (day 5)
- Horses to carry all the camping equipment, food, fuel
- Cooking equipment and Passengers belongings (8 kg per person)
- All 12 meals during the trip (4 lunches /4 dinners / 4 breakfasts)
- Professional English Speaking Guide.
- Cook, assistant,horsemen /assistants
- Camping equipment tents for 2 person and mattress are provided
- Dinning tent
- Toilet tent
- Boiled water is provided during the trek.
Tour Not Included:
- Entrance to Hot Springs
- Extra Horse to carry your bags
- Tips for your crew :cooks, horse herders, guides US$20-25 approx (Every Tours in Machu Picchu`s staff receive a fair and decent payment immediately after they end their trip, tips are optional also are a great gesture of esteem to them)
Things that you should bring:
- Change of clothes for the whole period of the trek & a daypack
- Minus 5 ° C down sleeping bag
- Hiking boots, strong footwear, ideally trekking or sport shoes
- Trekking poles: Poles with metal tips are allowed on this trek
- Warm clothes: layers for variable temperature especially at night
- Thermals: Gloves / scarf: wool socks / woolen hat for cold nights minus 9 °C
- T-shirts and trekking pants that zip off to short pants for a comfortable day walks
- Flash light or head torch and batteries
- Camera and extra batteries (batteries consume more quickly under cold conditions)
- Sun block / hat to protect you from the sun, rain and cold and sunglasses
- Personal medical kit
- Rain jacket or poncho (plastic ponchos can be purchased in Cusco)
- Toiletries / toilet paper / small towel
- 2 liters water bottle: disposable water bottles are not recommended
- Extra money for drinks & tips, souvenirs etc (in soles)
- Emergency money at least 200 extra soles
- Bathing clothes for the hot springs. Optional
- Snacks: biscuits, energy bars, chocolate, fruits, muesli, etc.
DAY ONE: Cusco – Tinqui – Upis
We depart Cusco early the morning for our three hour ride in private transport to the small village of Tinqui (3800 metres/ 12 464 feet). As Tinqui is located on the new Interoceanic highway we can now arrive here much more quickly that in previous years. We pass through beautiful countryside and several traditional villages including Urcos, Cattca and Ocangate. After lunch in Tinqui the first 3 hours on the trail are are wonderful prelude to the magnificent scenery of the Cordillera Vilcanota, with great views of Ausangate. We will trek for two hours more until we reach the hot springs at Upis (4,400 metres/ 14432 feet) which offer fantastic views of Ausangate at the end of the valley. We will camp here for the night. (total trekking time 4-5 hours)
DAY TWO: From Upis to Lake Ausangate Q’ocha
During our morning’s trek, we will cross our the Arapa pass (4,850 metres/ 15908 feet). From here, we continue 3½ hours down the valley, passing the green lake of Puqa Q’ocha until we reach the turquoise Lake Jatun Puqa Q’ocha. We then ascend the second pass of Apuchata (4,900 metres/ 16 072 feet) with the stunning turquoise blue Laguna Ausangate Q’ocha below. This lake is fed from the melting snow of Ausangate. We will camp here for the second night.
DAY THREE: From Lake Ausangate Q’ocha to Qampa
From the lake we ascend to the Palomani pass (5,200 metres/ 17 056 feet); the highest point of the trek. From the pass we follow the trail into the valley where we’ll rest and have lunch. During the afternoon we can enjoy views of the snowcapped Tres Picos and Puca Punta. We will continue through the broad green valley of Pampa Jutunpata and up the Rio Q’ampa valley. We will spent night 3 in this vicinity
DAY FOUR: Q’ampa to Pacchanta
After passing through the small community of Q’ampa we will head North west to the last pass of this hike, the Q’ampa pass (5000 metres/ 16400 feet). We will see several different coloured lakes and lunch beside Q’oma Q’ocha. We hike for several hours before arriving at the small village of Pacchanta. We can soak in the thermal springs for a couple of hours, and even have a well-deserved beer! We will set up camp near Pacchanta and you will have the afternoon free to explore this interesting Andean village. (You have the option of staying in a basic hostal this night)
DAY FIVE: From Pacchanta to Cusco
It’s 3 hours trek back to Tinqui where we will have time to explore this traditional Andean village before taking our private car back to Cusco, arriving at about 18.00.