Ausangate Trek to Machu Picchu 4 Days 3 Nights

Trip Overview:

Ausangate Trek to Machu Picchu 4 Days / 3 Nights during the first 2 days and will offer you a challenging yet rewarding experience along the high Mountains. The 3rd day will be dedicated to the Ausangate Trek 4 Days / 3 Nights. This is a full day experiencing the Rainbow Mountain Hike Peru’s newest gem. Cusco journeys’ highly experienced guide with answer ALL of your questions.

You’ll also be joined by one of our trekking chefs who will carefully prepare your breakfast and lunch to ensure you experience some of the amazing food that Peru has to offer! Once your Ausangate Trek to Machu Picchu 4 Days / 3 Nights is done you will be taken to Ollantaytambo to have an amazing train ride to Aguas Calientes. That’s where you will relax in a great hotel night to you can be be ready for Machu Picchu the next morning.

Duration: 4 days / 3 nights – Camping and Hotel
Distance: 42km/ 26.09 miles
Elevation: 4200m (13,779ft) – 5080m (16,666ft)
Difficulty: moderate/difficult

By booking Ausangate Trek to Machu Picchu 4 Days / 3 Nights with Cusco Journeys you are choosing the best. Don’t believe us? Check out our reviews on Tripadvisor.

Pre-Trek Briefing:

You will have an in-depth briefing with your guide 1 or 2 days before your Ausangate Trek to Machu Picchu 4 Days / 3 Nights. Your guide will meet you at your hotel and you can take this opportunity to ask questions and make any final preparations.

Trip Itinerary:

Day 1. Cusco – Upis – Puca Cocha:

We will pick you up from your hotel at 5:00AM to begin this amazing expedition. You will have private transportation to the trailhead at Upis. Upis is an small Andean village located near Ocongate at 3900 m/12795 ft above sea level. It is here you will meet your horsemen and horses. You will enjoy your first breakfast prepared by our trekking chef.

After you will have wonderful views of the Ausangate glacier peaks since you will be hiking very nearby. You will also have amazing views of the lakes and waterfalls – perhaps see some llamas, alpacas and wild vicuñas (the undomesticated ancestor of the alpaca) as well as condors soaring above. We will have a 3 hour uphill hike to reach the first pass which is at 5000m/16404 ft. where you will have magnificent views of the surrounding area. Perhaps in some months of the year we will have some snow hikes, but mostly in dry season you always get great views.

Likely you will get to see vicuñas, which are the most impressive animals still living wild in Peru and belong to the family of Andean camelids. Their fleece is the most expensive wool today the world over.

After taking a few amazing pictures we will continue on to our lunch spot, with a gradual downhill hike for another 1½ hours to a beautifull area where you will enjoy your second day’s lunch. It will be another 2½ hour hike to arrive at our campsite at Puca Ccocha (Red Lake). This campsite is one of the most beautiful campsites located at the skirt of the Ausangate peak and at the bank of the lake. You can see amazing sunsets from here and perhaps some condors and eagles flying nearby.

Walked distance: 12 km /7 ½ miles Campsite elevation: 4300 m / 14,100 ft
Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, drinking wáter
Weather: dry / cold

Day 2. Puca Cocha – Chillca – Yana Cocha:

After an early breakfast we will start with a 2-3 hour steep climb to Alpaca Pass at 5100 m/ 16732 ft elevation. Along the way you will always have gorgeous views of the blue lakes and the majestic views of Ausangate Glacier Peak surrounding you. You can even sometimes see avalanches in process happening from the glacial hills with ice crashing into the lakes below.

Once you reach the summit of this mountain, you will be located right in front of Ausangate and you can really enjoy the Chilca Valley, with many alpaca grazing along these hills. Honestly, it is so impressive to be right at this point – at times you have the feeling that you are in The Kilimanjaro Trails in Africa! After taking some great pictures you will continue for another 2 hours gradual downhill trek – in some sections the trail is still a bit difficult to see – and then we reach our lunch spot, located in Chilca Valley.

The views are always amazing of the waterfalls, the green hills and snow-capped peaks located far away, on top of the mountains. After enjoying your lunch and a little siesta, you will continue on to the second pass of the day, Vicuña pass at 5300m/17388 ft elevation. It will be 1½ hour slow pace to reach the summit of this highest pass of the trek. Along the way it is possible to see some condors, and vicuñas if we are lucky enough. Once we are on top of the mountain we will enjoy a cup or two of traditional coca tea which will be provided by your porters.

Then it will be another 1 hour downhill hike to arrive to our campsite at the banks of yanacocha lake where you will enjoy our famous daily happy hour of hot drinks. This campsite is located few hours away from our final destination which is The Rainbow Mountains!

This is a perfect place at night to spot the famous Inka constellations and do some stargazing!

Walked distance: 15 km/9.3 miles
Campsite elevation 4400 m/ 14,435 ft
Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, drinking water
Weather: Dry / cold.

Day 3. Yana Cocha – Rainbow Mountain – Ollantaytambo – Aguas Calientes:

After an early final breakfast with your trekking team and enjoying the famous traditional warm drinks such as coca tea, it will be about 1½ hours gradual uphill trek until we reach the famous rainbow mountain and the Red Mountain Valley located at 5200 m /17060 ft elevation. Your guide will walk you to the best spots to get the perfect postcard pictures of these incredible mountain and the other surrounding mountains.

Your guide also will explain why these mountain are special and really are something quite different from any other mountains in the Vilcanota Range. This is due to a composition of various minerals which make different colors of stone striations formed right in the middle of the red mountains. This is definitely one of the key tourist highlights in South America and one of the most beautiful natural attractions in Peru. There is nothing else like it!

Once you are ready to leave it’ll be 1 hour to the end of the trail. You’ll then say goodbye to your Cusco Journeys trekking team and continue from this point with your Ausangate Trek With Machu Picchu 4 Days / 3 Nights guide.

It’ll be a 4-hour drive to Ollantaytambo where you’ll have some dinner before catching your 7 p.m. train to Aguas Calientes. Then you’ll have the opportunity to take a nice hot shower and sleep in a comfortable bed in a local hotel.

Walked distance: 12 km /7 ½ miles
Meals: breakfast, lunch, snacks, drinking wáter
Weather: dry / cold.

Day 4. Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu – Cusco:

After an early breakfast at your hotel, take one of the first busses up to Machu Picchu so that you can be there to witness the sunrise. It is a truly extraordinary site and not something you’ll want to miss! The guide will give you a tour of about two hours. See many of the most important parts of Machu Picchu Citadel. You will also learn about how Machu Picchu is divided into three sectors: agricultural, residential and religious.

When you have had your fill of the exceptional views of Machu Picchu, you will take the bus back down to Aguas Calientes for lunch (not included). Depending on your train departure time, you may also have time for some shopping, sightseeing or a visit to the museum or hot springs.

The train will take you back to Ollantaytambo at 2:30pm or 3:20pm, following the spectacular Urubamba River. Close to Aguas Calientes, the canyon is narrow and the river has many beautiful sections of whitewater. See the site of Wiñay Wayna from the train, if you look up the steep canyon wall! After 2 hours we will arrive at Ollantaytambo. From here we will take a bus to the city of Cusco and we will leave you at your hotel.

Note: Machu Picchu Inca site is different from Machu Picchu Mountain. When most people refer to Machu Picchu, they are referring to the archeological site. Machu Picchu Mountain requires a separate permit to climb. Please notify us if you are interested and we can book this for you. It must be done in advance and is a part of your entry into the site.

Meals: Breakfast
Lowest Elevation: 2,040 m/6,691 ft
Highest Elevation: 2,440 m/8,052 ft

Included:

Information from your guide the one or two night before your departure.
Pick up from your hotel on your departure.
Ticket to machu picchu inca Site.
Train ticket R/T.
Bus Ticket from Aguas Caliente to Machu Picchu.
01 night hotel at Aguas calientes
Private transportation with a nice views to Upis (trail head).
English speaking tour guide.
One professional chef who will prepare delicious food.
The chef’s assistance and some porters.
Horse men and their assistants.
Horses to carry all hiking gear such as, tents, food, gas, your bags etc.
4 man tents per pair (very comfortable).
Three main course meals per day – (Vegetarian, vegan or special diet meals upon request).
Kitchen tent, dining tent, table, chairs and a gas lamp to enjoy the evenings.
Boiled water is provided in the morning, at lunch time, tea time and dinner time.
First aid kit including emergency oxygen bottle.
Foam mat
7 kl (14 pounds) of your stuff included in the price for that we provided to you a duffle bag the night before of your departure.
Some help for the local people and the kids.

Not Included:

First Breakfast and last dinner
Sleeping bag
Trekking poles.
Energy snacks which can very useful such as chocolate and granola bars and dried fruits
Spending money – allow approximately US$ 35-50 per day to cover meals, snacks, drinks, limited souvenirs, tips and any extras
Personal expenses.
Travel insurance.
** Tips for horse men, cooks or guides

What we recommend that you bring:

Original Passport.
A backpack with a change of clothes for the whole period of the trek.
Rain gear (jacket and pants if available) or rain poncho (plastic ponchos can be purchased in Cusco).
Strong footwear, waterproof trekking boots recommended.
Sandals or jogging shoes for a higher comfort while at camp.
Warm clothes, including jacket, fleeces. Thermal clothing is also recommended, especially for sleeping. A down jacket is especially recommended for this trek since it runs at high altitude and temperatures may easily drop below freezing in the evening and at nights.
Flashlight/headlamp and batteries.
Camera and batteries.
Hat or cap to protect you from the sun, rain and cold.
Sun block.
After-sun cream or hydrating cream for face and body.
Toilet paper.
Extra Snacks.
Optionally: water- sterilizing tablets in case you pick up water from streams or rivers along the route.
Small towel.
Swimsuit (if you wish take a dip at the hot springs along the route).
Cash in soles and/or US$.
Optional: walking sticks or poles
Additional Notes.

Prices:

Permits are needed for your chosen start date. Tour prices are based on the number of people in a group. Prices are valid from March 2024 through January 2025. All prices quoted are $USD

Price: $719 per person

* We need a minimum of 2 people to run the tour. We guarantee that your tour will be limited to a maximum of 8 people.

Important: Price includes up to 7 kilos of your personal belongings to be carried by the mules (NO need of extra Porter hire!).

Discounts:

18 to 25 years old: $25 USD Information required on student card: name of university, student name, photo of student, expiration date etc. A copy of the card is required at booking for government approval for discount.
Under 18 years old: $205 USD Please send us a copy of your passport at the time of booking.
Under 11 years old: $30 USD Please send us a copy of your passport at the time of booking.

Optional Extras (Need to Book in Advance):

Machu Picchu Mountain climbing: USD 75.00 (Need to book in advance).
Huayna Picchu Mountain climbing: USD 75.00 (Need to book in advance).

Upgrades:

Hotel Upgrades:

Inkaterra (5 star hotel) – US $580 per person per night (double occupancy).
Sumaq Machu Picchu hotel (4 star hotel) – US $345 per person per night (double occupancy).
Santuario Hotel (3+ star hotel) – US $65 per person per night (double occupancy).

Train Upgrades:

Vistadome train or 360 Train -US $65 for trip from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo.
Hiram Bingham train (deluxe) -US $585 for trip from Aguas Calientes to Poroy.

Rentals:

Hiking poles – US$20.00
Sleeping bag – US$25.00
Sleeping bag Deluxe Package (+ Pillow & Liners) US$35.00
Private Tent – US$30.00

By booking or participating in a tour and any related products or services (a “Tour”) with Cusco Journeys, you agree to these Terms & Conditions.

Booking:

Your booking is confirmed and a contract exists when the Tour Operator or your travel agent issues a written confirmation after receipt of the applicable deposit amount. Please check your confirmation carefully and report any incorrect or incomplete information to the Tour Operator or authorized agent immediately. Please ensure that names are exactly as stated in the relevant passport.
You will pay a deposit which is completely non-refundable in any situation. There are no exceptions.
You will be required to show the original passport (not a copy) that you booked with, at the checkpoint to enter the Inca Trail. If you originally booked with an old passport and then renewed your passport, you must also bring your expired passport along with your new, valid passport to permit entry or they will refuse your entrance to the trail.
The only acceptable ID to receive a Student Discount is your University Card with a clear expiration date that must be the same year as trek. IDs with expiry dates the following year, even though clearly valid, will not be accepted by the Peruvian government. You must submit a copy of this card at time of booking.

Cancellations:

Cancellations: In order to confirm this trip, a deposit of 40% is required per person at time of booking. The balance of the trip price is due 90 days before the departure date. Special holiday payment and cancellation terms may apply. Guests who must cancel their trip for any reason must do so in writing (we do not accept medical notes of any kind) as our out of pocket expenses are non-refundable to us.. Standard cancellations are subject to the following per-person penalties, based on number of days prior to departure:

ONCE BOOKED, DEPOSITS ARE NON-REFUNDABLE. CHART BELOW OUTLINES WHAT FURTHER FEES WILL BE DUE.

Cancellation By	Terms
91 days or more before departure	we will retain 50% of your deposit.
90 – 30 days before departure	we will retain 75% of the total tour cost.
29 – 0 days before departure	we will retain 100% of the total tour cost.

Inca Trail Tours:

Permits: Permits for the Inca Trail are in your name and can not be transferred to anyone else under any circumstances. Change of dates is also not possible once a permit has been purchased. Permits are non-refundable and non-transferable. The deposit will be forfeited. Please note that this is a regulation of the Peruvian government and not Cusco Journeys (or any agency).
In extreme cases when the “Inca Trail to Machu Picchu” is declared closed for safety reasons, Cusco Journeys will replace your trek with an alternative trek.
Those who booked PERMITS with a Student ID must bring that ID with them on the trek. If they fail to show this card to the Park Rangers, they will not be allowed entry onto the trail.

Medical Information:

You must advise Cusco Journeys of any medical problems or allergies you may have. You need to be in good physical health, and if your health is questionable, then you should consult a doctor. If you are over the age of 70 years old, then you will need to present us with a current good health medical certificate.
You are responsible for assessing whether a Tour is suitable for you. You should consult your physician to confirm your fitness for travel and participation in any planned activities. You should seek your physician’s advice on vaccinations and medical precautions. The Tour Operator does not provide medical advice. It is your responsibility to assess the risks and requirements of each aspect of the Tour based on your own unique circumstances, limitations, fitness level and medical requirements.
Cusco Journeys reserves the right to deny you permission to travel or participate in any aspect of a Tour at any time and at your own risk and expense where the Tour Operator determines that your physical or mental condition renders you unfit for travel or you represent a danger to yourself or others.
Pregnancy is considered a medical condition and must be disclosed to the Tour Operator at the time of booking. The Tour Operator may refuse to carry pregnant women over 24 weeks. The Tour Operator may refuse to carry anyone with certain medical conditions if reasonable accommodation or alternatives cannot be arranged.
It is strongly encouraged to purchase Travel Insurance to protect you in case of medical emergency or any tour cancellations.

Tours and Treks:

All balances need to be paid in either cash, Western Union, Transfer Bank or PayPal (in full) prior to the briefing which will be held the night before your tour. Visa incurs a 5% service fee and if you need to use another card, it must be through PayPal which incurs a 5.5% service fee.
You must advise your guide if you wish to leave the group or the camping area for independent walks or sightseeing. If you are experiencing any problems with the services of the guide or tour, please advise the guide in that moment, so that he can resolve any problems.
All Adventure Treks include transportation to Cusco. The return train route depends on train availability.
If you become ill or injured on the trail and are unable to continue, a porter will be provided to accompany you back to an area with emergency assistance capabilities. Helicopter air lifts and medical assistance are at the expense of the trekker. If you are unable to complete the tour due to illness, we will assist you in meeting your group at Machu Picchu to recommence your tour at that point. There will be no refund of the original payment. However, we will prepare a document to certify illness which can be presented for your travel insurance.
Cusco Journeys will take all reasonable care in providing to our clients avoidance of accident, illness, and loss of personal property, and will only employ suitably qualified staff. We accept responsibility for the actions of our own employees. Cusco Journeys cannot, however, be responsible for any action of third parties. You are totally responsible for your own personal property and rented equipment.
Cusco Journeys does not take responsibility for unfavorable weather conditions, natural catastrophe, strikes, accidents, illness, injury, loss of personal ítems, etc. It is the client’s responsibility to carry insurance to cover these types of events. We reserve the right to modify or cancel the program due to any of the unforeseen conditions listed above.
Cusco Journeys may modify your itinerary where reasonably required in its sole discretion.
Group tours might be as large as 16 participants. Groups are open to everyone no matter skill or age. By accepting a Group Tour you acknowledge that others might change the speed and timing of the tour.
All tours are done in English.

Delays:

Any costs, whether direct or incidental, incurred by the Customer as the result of delays caused by bad weather, trail conditions, river levels, road conditions, transportation delays, sickness, government intervention or other contingencies which are beyond the control of southern explorations will not be reimbursed.

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DETAILS	PRICE
Rent Air MatressRent Sleeping BagsRent Walking Sticks	$15 $20 $20

DETAILS	PRICE
Huayna Picchu MountainMachu Picchu Mountain	$75 $75

DETAILS	PRICE
Rent Air MatressRent Sleeping BagsRent Walking Sticks	$15 $20 $20

DETAILS	PRICE
Huayna Picchu MountainMachu Picchu Mountain	$75 $75

DETAILS	PRICE
Rent Air MatressRent Sleeping BagsRent Walking Sticks	$15 $20 $20

Ausangate Trek To Machu Picchu 4 Days / 3 Nights

Overview

Trip Overview:

Itinerary

Pre-Trek Briefing:

Trip Itinerary:

Day 1. Cusco – Upis – Puca Cocha:

Day 2. Puca Cocha – Chillca – Yana Cocha:

Day 3. Yana Cocha – Rainbow Mountain – Ollantaytambo – Aguas Calientes:

Day 4. Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu – Cusco:

Includes

Included:

Not Included:

What we recommend that you bring:

Prices

Prices:

Price: $719 per person

Discounts:

Optional Extras (Need to Book in Advance):

Upgrades:

Rentals:

Map

Terms & Conditions

Cancellation By

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