DAY 1:  RAINBOW MOUNTAIN – VINICUNCA

You will be picked-up at 7.30am (approx) where we will head towards QOLLASUYO, an ancient road of the quechuas and important part of all Tawantinsuyo (4 regions of the Incas). We will pass through CHECACUPE and arrive to locality of PITUMARCA DISTRICT, known as the town where the first rebels defied Pachuteq (the main Inca of that time). We will pass by beautiful landscapes and valleys of Pitumarca arriving at the local towns of JAPURA and HACHIPACHA where the local inhabitants speak Quechua. Finally we will arrive to a place called QUECHUYNO.

We will start our 1 ½ – 2  hour hike walking past beautiful landscapes, lagoons and also seeing wildlife such as the South American camelids including: alpacas, llamas and vicuñas and if lucky, pumas and Andean birds such as the condor. We will arrive to a place called VININCUNCA-PASSO (5200 m.s.n.m), from where we will observe the impressive view of Cerro Colorado. The rays of the sunrise will illustrate how impressive the valley is, illuminating the colourful hills that only exist in this part of Peru.

Mountains can be seen from all corners including Apu Sarinini, Ausangate mountain, which is the highest mountain in Cusco with a height of 6372 m.a.s.l. In Incan mythology, this mountain and the nearby lakes, produce the masculine energy that fertilises the sacred mother earth otherwise known as “Pachamama”. The Chillca community (llama and alpaca herders), is known as the guardian of these Andean places.

Every year on the north side of Ausangate, we celebrate the festival of Qoyllur Rit’i where dancers from different parts of Peru (Quechua: “star snow”) to dance before the feast of Corpus Christi. During this festival, thousands of Quechua people make a pilgrimage to the Lord of Quyllur Rit’i to the temple of Sinakara (where there is a well known painting on a rock). This pilgrimage was included in the Representative Heritage List.

We will then hike another 30-40 minutes to a view point where we will see the amazing red valley. From here we will return back to Hachipacha for lunch and then head to Pachanta with is the closest town to AUSANGATE , here we will provide you with local accommodation where we will have dinner and spend the night. (vegetarian and vegan diets are also provided prior request)

DAY 2: 7 LAKES OF AUSANGATE

After a good night sleep and nutritious breakfast we will start our hike to the 7 lakes (6.5 km approx). The hike will take approximately 5 hours where we will visit the lakes of Azulqocha, Otorongo, Alqacocha, Q’omercocha and Patacocha 4740 m.a.s.l. During the hike you will see the majestic mountain of Ausangate 6380 m.a.s.l., as well as  native animals including alpacas, llamas and chinchillas. If we are lucky, we may even see condors.

At the end of the circuit we will return to Pacchanta where lunch will be served. You will have free time to relax. We will then take our transport back to Cusco arriving at around 6pm.