Cusco & Its Sacred Mountain Ausangate

Upon arrival at the airport in Cusco, a member of our team will be waiting to welcome you and accompany you to your hotel. In the afternoon, one of our guides will stop by your hotel to start the first tour of the city, beginning at Sacsayhuaman. This is one of the most impressive archaeological sites in the area. Then, we will continue to the Plaza de Armas, and the Cathedral of Cusco, which has more than 300 paintings of the Cusco School of Art, decorating its historic stone walls. Our last stop of the day will be at the center of the Inca Empire, known as the Golden Temple, or by its Quechua name, Koricancha. This impressive title refers to the days in the Inca Empire. And over this temple was built the Convent and church of Santo Domingo, an impressive construction of baroque style, which reminds us of the imposition of dominion by the Europeans at that time.

For the Incas and their descendants, the Urubamba or Vilcanota River brought and still brings fertility to the land. This river has its source in the high mountains southeast of Cusco, and is perceived as a sacred being. On the sides of the river is an extremely fertile valley, which we know today as the Sacred Valley of the Incas. The journey through the valley, allows us to appreciate impressive views of the snow-capped Veronica and Chicon, with the Vilcanota valley in the background. We will visit: Inca agricultural laboratory of Moray, Salt Mines of Maras and Ollantaytambo which is considered the last living Inca city in the Sacred Valley. Above the town are the Inca temples, and other structures finely erected during the Imperial period. Imperial period. In the same area, there are many other smaller Inca architectural complexes.

We will depart from the hotel to the train station. The route from Poroy to Aguas Calientes is one of the most spectacular journeys in the world. The train track follows the Urubamba River through the cloud forest. Once we arrive at the town at the base of Machupicchu, called Aguas Calientes, we will check in at the hotel. at the hotel. Then, we will take a bus for a 30-minute uphill ride to the world wonder. Our expert guide will give us an inspiring guided tour of the ancient citadel, if we have chosen the afternoon time for the visit. afternoon for the visit, it is because the sunset is one of the most beautiful moments in the Sanctuary, and at this time, at this time, the Sanctuary, and at this time, there are very few visitors in the site.

An extra day at Machu Picchu will allow you to explore this wonder in greater depth. During the day we will hike to the top of Machu Picchu mountain which gives us the perfect vantage point to contemplate the sacred “Apus” mountains to contemplate the sacred “Apus” mountains such as Salkantay, Pumasillo and Huacy Huillca. During the We will take plenty of breaks to rehydrate, and learn about the flora and fauna of this unique region. the flora and fauna of this unique region. After our hike we head back to the village by bus, and take the train back to Poroy, where a member of our guide will take us back to Poroy. Poroy, where a member of our team will be waiting to accompany you to your hotel in Cusco.

We will pick you up at your hotel early in the morning to go in our private transportation to Paruro (half an hour south of Cusco). At this point we will start an uphill walk through a sandstone formation that is part of the Huanacaure mountain. After walking uphill for about 45 minutes, we will arrive at the remains of the first Inca temple. In the afternoon, we will visit the Central Market, a traditional center where you can experience up close, the rhythm of the day to day life of the Cusqueños. You can appreciate the open-air stalls selling a wide variety of products, from coca leaves to quinoa, and many other things. These items are often sold for cash, but are sometimes exchanged for other items.

In a comfortable coach we head along the Vilcanota River to visit the temple of Checacupe, then the upper valley of Pitumarca. At Japura, we’ll trek a short distance to Chillca. Locals and musicians playing Andean instruments greet us in your first “Andean Lodge”, as we sip coca tea. Hot showers and full bathrooms as well as 8 double and matrimonial bedrooms are available. We emphasize tasty and nutritious
local cuisine (such as Alpaca meat) but vegetarian and other preferences are welcome.

By car: Cusco – Molino Viejo, 104 km / Time 3h 30m / Range 3384 3590 m 4292 m
Hike: Molino Viejo – Chillca Tambo, 3.3 km / Time 2h / Altitude range: 4290 m 4350 m / Level: Low

After breakfast we trek alongside thousands of alpacas and llamas in the glacier valley of Phinaya. On the way to more glaciers at Santa Catalina, we climb by the inspiring Pjachaj waterfalls. Above, our picnic lunch await us. Then, surrounded by moraine walls, glaciers and lagoons we walk about 5 hours to Machuracay Tambo, located right at the bottom of Apu Ausangate. Our bags, carried by a llama caravan, meet us there and the family that runs the lodge will welcome us.

Hikes:
Chillca – Huchuy Phinaya, 6.4 km / Time 4 h / Altitude: 4350 m 4530 m / Level: Medium
Huchuy Phinaya – Machuracay, 3.5 km / Time 2h / Altitude: 4530 m 4850 m / Level: High

Today we take in our first mountain pass (16 587 ft.) which has spectacular panoramic views. Descending alongside the glaciers, we hike to the Ausangate Cocha Lake for lunch. Here, the landscape dramatically shifts due to the existence of red sandstone formations where we will see vicuñas and sometimes condors. Breathtaking views of the glaciated south face of the “Apu” will inspire us as we continue towards the red sandstone formations of the “Nevado Del Inca”. After a day of great hiking we arrive at the third “Andean Lodge” ready to relax and enjoy. Overnight stay in Anantapata Tambo.

Hikes:
Machuracay – Palomani Pass, 1.3 km / Time 1h / Altitude: 4815 m 5150 m / Level: High
Palomani – Ausangatecocha, 2.4 km / Time 1h / Altitude: 4650 m 5150 m / Level: Medium +
Ausangatecocha – Anantapata, 5.8 km / Time 3h / Altitude: 4650 m 4730 m / Level: Medium

After breakfast, we take the trail to another mountain pass. Dropping down, we’ll hike by Lake Kayrawiri, surrounded by rugged mountain peaks and the great valley below. Striations of color are imbedded in the hillsides. Then we go on to Cerro Laya Grande via massive glacier del Inca, and find the most striking colors in the sediments of Vinicunca (recently known as the “Rainbow Mountain”). We eat lunch here while taking in this unique landscape. This section offers us a glimpse of a marvelous geological wonder of natural beauty. Be on the lookout for groups of fascinating vicuñas, as they are frequently spottedin this isolated area.

Anantapata – Warmisaya Pass, 1.3 km / Time 1h / Altitude: 4730 m 4985 m / Level: High
Warmisaya – Surinicocha, 1.2 km / Time 1h / Altitude: 4792 m 4985 m / Level: Medium
Surinicocha – Vinicunca, 2.5 km / Time 1h30m / Altitude: 4792 m 4985 m / Level: Medium +
Vinicunca – Huampococha, 5.1 km / Time 2h30m / Altitude: 4900 m 4985 m / Level: Medium

As we hike up; enjoying a great view of the mountains, we reach the top of our final pass. It’s all downhill from here! We encounter some of the most capricious shapes of limestone formations from the Cretaceous age and hike until the end of the trail in Trapiche. Here, we have lunch and return by bus to Cusco while reminiscing on the wonderful experiences we shared in the Andes.

Hikes:
Huampococha – Huampoccasa, 0.8 km / Time 1h / Altitude: 4820 m 4960 m / Level: High
Huampoccasa – Congomire, 7.5 km / Time 3h30m / Altitude: 3965 m 4960 m / Level: Medium +

By car:
Congomire – Cusco, 125 km / Time 3h / Altitude: 3384 m 3965 m