Quick Summary: The Ausangate Trek is a loop around the 6,384 m (20,945 ft) peak of the same name, southeast of Cusco. Most operators run it in 5 days from the village of Tinki, cover roughly 55–70 km, cross passes at about 4,800–5,200 m and finish at hot springs in Pacchanta. It is one of Peru's highest treks, but it has no ruins and does not end at Machu Picchu. It suits fit, already-acclimatised walkers who want solitude more than archaeology. If you want a trek that finishes at the citadel, read the Salkantay Trek guide instead.
What the Ausangate Circuit Is (and Is Not)
Ausangate is the highest peak of the Cordillera Vilcanota (Jagged Globe), about 100 km southeast of Cusco (Wikipedia). The circuit walks around its glaciated base through herding country. Rough Guides says you will see very few people apart from the occasional herder, and kimkim notes there are no Inca ruins to visit. You come for ice, lakes and empty valleys.
On the title: "Peru's highest" is an operator claim. Aracari Travel calls it the highest trek in Peru, but none of the sources we read ranks Peru's treks by altitude, and they disagree on the top pass (5,050–5,200 m). They agree on several passes near 5,000 m, so "one of Peru's highest treks" is the claim we can support.
Getting There From Cusco
- Trailhead: Tinki (Tinqui) at 3,800 m (12,467 ft) is the traditional start. As of a 2017 guide, The Hiking Life reported that virtually all organised groups begin at Upis instead, which a dirt road now reaches, cutting about 12 km.
- Time: about 3 to 4 hours by road from Cusco, with pickups around 6:00–6:30 am (Jonny Melon, Brown Gal Trekker).
- Public bus: in 2017 Transportes Siwar ran a daily early bus to Tinqui for S/9, taking around 3 hours. Check current times locally.
The Classic 5-Day Route, Lakes and Hot Springs
Itineraries differ by operator. The common shape, following Rough Guides and operator itineraries, is:
- Day 1: Drive to Tinki, walk to a camp near Upis at about 4,400 m (14,436 ft), close to hot springs.
- Day 2: Arapa Pass (about 4,800 m, 15,748 ft), then the red-tinted Laguna Jatun Pucacocha beneath Ausangate's ice.
- Day 3: Palomani Pass, the high point, at about 5,200 m (17,060 ft) in most sources, with views over Laguna Ausangatecocha.
- Day 4: Down the Pitumarca valley to a camp beyond Jampa, just below Campa Pass.
- Day 5: Over Campa Pass (about 5,050 m, sources give 5,000–5,100 m), past Lake Minaparayoc, then the hot springs at Pacchanta (about 4,200 m, 13,780 ft) and the drive back.
Expect roughly 6 to 9 hours of walking a day (Salkantay Trekking, World Expeditions). Distance depends on where you start: Salkantay Trekking lists 55.5 km for its 5-day trek, while The Hiking Life gives about 70 km from Tinqui. A Pacchanta soak is paid: quotes run from S/5 to S/15.
The Rainbow Mountain Version
The classic loop does not visit Vinicunca. Operators add it as a side trip of about an hour from camp, or build a longer trek around it. SAM Travel Peru sells a 6-day trek that reaches it on day 3. Brown Gal Trekker runs a 6-day version that ends with an early climb of Vinicunca, then transport to Cusco. The payoff is arriving before the day-trippers from Cusco: one trekking blog (updated 2026) describes having the mountain to itself for a couple of hours at sunrise. Quoted heights run from about 5,036 m (16,522 ft) to 5,200 m.
If you only want the colours, a day trip is far lighter: see our Rainbow Mountain guide and the Rainbow Mountain vs Humantay Lake comparison. Rainbow Mountain Travels lists a roughly 12-hour Rainbow Mountain and Red Valley day tour at about $49 on its own site, but no Ausangate trek, so it is not the company for the circuit. For the multi-day route, compare operators that publish full itineraries, such as SAM Travel Peru, Salkantay Trekking or Andean Lodges.
Shorter and Longer Versions Compared
| Version | Time | Highest point | Typical price (hedged) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seven Lakes (Siete Lagunas) day hike | 1 day, about 12 hours from Cusco | About 4,800 m | US$120, or S/100 plus S/20 entrance | Glaciers and lakes without camping |
| 3 to 4-day short version | 3–4 days | Varies by route | About $450–$580 | Fit walkers short on time |
| Classic circuit | 5 days | About 5,200 m | About $550–$690 | The full loop |
| Circuit with Rainbow Mountain | 6+ days | About 5,000–5,200 m | From about $777 | Vinicunca without the crowds |
The Seven Lakes hike starts at Pacchanta (about 4,100 m) and covers roughly 16 km in 5 to 6 hours of walking, per Salkantay Trekking. That operator includes the entrance ticket, while Nomades lists S/20 entrance and S/5 hot springs as extras. It is the best short alternative. Its high point is about 4,800 m, but it still starts above 4,000 m, so acclimatise first.
Altitude Risk and Acclimatisation
This trek is high from the first night. Cusco sits at about 3,400 m (11,150 ft), and Upis is roughly 1,000 m higher. The CDC Yellow Book advises no more than 500 m of extra sleeping altitude per night above 3,000 m, plus an extra night for every 1,000 m gained. By our arithmetic, a standard first night at Upis is about twice that rate, so arrive already acclimatised.
- Operator minimums: World Expeditions requires at least two nights at or above 3,000 m beforehand; SAM Travel Peru asks for at least 3 days in Cusco. Treat these as floors, not targets.
- Warning signs: confusion or poor coordination can signal brain swelling (HACE); chest congestion, cough and breathlessness can signal lung fluid (HAPE). The CDC says to descend for suspected HACE, and descent is urgent and mandatory for HAPE.
- Remoteness: descending means hours on foot or by horse. Ask what emergency plan your operator runs.
- Insurance: Brown Gal Trekker requires cover for evacuation when trekking up to 5,000 m. Check yours.
Read our altitude sickness guide and ask a doctor about acetazolamide before you fly.
Community Fees, Horses and Camping
- Fees: Salkantay Trekking says no permit is needed in advance, but communities charge access fees. Reported amounts conflict: S/10 at a Tinqui kiosk in 2017, and an unverified 2024 hiker comment on The Hiking Life of S/20 for the circuit plus S/15 at Ausangatecocha and S/20 on the pass toward Rainbow Mountain. Ask your operator which fees are included.
- Horses and arrieros: tours include pack horses and a horseman, so you carry only a daypack. SAM Travel Peru limits each trekker's duffel to 7 kg. Independent hikers can arrange guides, mules and an arriero at Hostal Ausangate in Tinqui (Rough Guides). We found no reliable current daily rate, so agree it before you start.
- Camping: expect tents on valley floors, many above 4,600 m, with no hot showers (World Expeditions). Andean Lodges runs treks in the Ausangate area from its own mountain lodges instead of tents; we did not find a price.
For gear, start with our packing list, then add warm layers for sub-zero nights.
Best Months, Cold Nights and Price
The dry season runs from May to October (The Hiking Life, World Expeditions), with December to February the wettest. Nights are the problem: -5°C is common in the dry season, and Peru for Less says they can fall to about -12°C between May and July. Salkantay Trekking suggests May, September or October to avoid the harshest nights, and rents a sleeping bag rated to -15°C.
Group treks from Cusco run about $550 for 5 days (Salkantay Trekking), $690 (Jonny Melon, updated 2026) and $777 for 6 days with Rainbow Mountain (SAM Travel Peru). Sleeping bag, mat and poles can be extra. International operators charge more: World Expeditions lists A$2,240 for 5 days.
Who It's For and Who Should Skip It
Choose Ausangate if you have already spent several days above 3,000 m, have hiked multi-day routes, and want quiet scenery. For a first Peru trip centred on Machu Picchu, the Salkantay or Inca Trail is the better fit, because Ausangate ends at hot springs, not the citadel.
- Skip it if: you have under 2 to 3 days in Cusco, this is your first multi-day hike, or you want ruins.
- Children: Salkantay Trekking recommends a minimum age of 12.
- Medical: the CDC lists sickle cell anaemia, pulmonary hypertension above 60 mm Hg, decompensated heart failure, a heart attack or stroke in the last 90 days and high-risk pregnancy as contraindications. See a doctor first.
FAQ
How long is the Ausangate Trek, and can I do it in fewer days?
The classic loop is 5 days and roughly 55–70 km, depending on the source and start point. Operators sell 3 and 4-day versions, and a fit, acclimatised hiker can manage 3 to 4 days with a light pack (The Hiking Life). The Seven Lakes day hike is the one-day option.
Do I need a permit or a guide?
Salkantay Trekking says no advance permit is required, though communities charge entry fees. None of the sources we read describes a rule requiring a guide, but Rough Guides strongly recommends one, says a good map is essential and advises bringing everything you need.
Is Ausangate harder than Salkantay?
Salkantay Trekking rates Ausangate as the more demanding of the two on altitude, with a 5,200 m high point versus 4,630 m, though over a shorter 55.5 km versus 78 km. Read the Salkantay guide to compare.
Can I combine Ausangate with Machu Picchu?
Yes, but as separate trips. The circuit ends in Pacchanta, not at the citadel. Jagged Globe lists an optional Inca Trail extension after its Ausangate circuit, and Peru for Less lists a Machu Picchu extension.
Is late October too late to go?
It is the edge of the dry season. Peru for Less lists October as a shoulder month, while Salkantay Trekking calls it the warmest month. World Expeditions has 5-day departures scheduled from 21 October 2026, so trips do run.
Limitations
Prices, community fees, pass altitudes and itineraries vary by operator and change often, and several sources here are older (a 2017 bus fare, a 2024 fee report, a 2020 article). Figures are as of October 2026. Work-around: before booking, ask your operator for a written itinerary with camp altitudes, a list of which fees are included, and the emergency plan, and confirm bus times and fees locally.