We are certain that you have thought about an Andean trek with a difference and this is possibly how you found us! Well, on this Ausangate Machu Picchu adventure tour your thoughts will turn into actions and hopefully the perfect vacations! This is a vacation however, of high elevations, living Andean culture, ancient ancestral traditions, and some of the best scenery on the planet… and if this wasn´t enough, you will end the trip at Machu Picchu! Walk slowly, and listen carefully and you will hear the mountains! This Ausangate and Rainbow Mountain trek Peru is about getting away from it all and about trekking through a unique living cultural world that thrives in the heights of the Andes mountains. The Ausangate is an Apu, a sacred holy mountain with its own spirit. The air is crisp, the lakes are mirror-still, and the native herding communities live with the seasons, skies, animals and rituals. You will spend two days in Cusco getting used to the altitude and learning all about ancient wisdom like the cosmology of the Pachamama, the apus and deities of the people. This will set you up for trekking into remote highland country where muleteers, porters and local rural families will welcome you into their world, a place that only they know. We end this trip at Machu Picchu, as the ancient civilizations intended with tales to tell and a life that will be completely different from now on. The Ausangate trek to Machu Picchu 10 days is a truly special trek.
This off-the-beaten-path Peru trek with Machu Picchu visit is for anyone who is adequately acclimatized, fit and healthy, and is used to trekking for days at a time. We will judge the groups pace to make sure the trekking days are timed to perfection. Everything in this Sustainable Ausangate trek with local communities tour is designed to preserve cultural patrimony, which is why we use respectful routes, fair work muleteers and the mules, the local weaving communities we pass through and experiences that support local economies and maintain traditions. Does this sound like the trek of a lifetime…? Well, we can honestly say… it is!
An Extra Note:
We travel here as respectful guests. We walk these lands, giving thanks, and should practice respect for the sacred places we visit. Every step you take on this trekking route helps keep the cultural patrimony of the high Andes alive and kicking Local economies depend on you too! Trek responsibly!
Cusco will welcome you with its red-tiled roofs, bright blue skies with fluffy white clouds that seem so close, and the intricate Inca stones beneath your feet. After your airport pickup, we will take you to your hotel to settle in and freshen up. There is no rushing around today, but plenty of rest just listening to your body as it begins to adapt to 3,400 m elevation. If you are feeling fine, you can spend the afternoon wandering slowly through living streets where Quechua language still echoes, wooden balconies hide Inca foundations, and daily life blends the past and present as the two intermingle perfectly. This is the cultural foundation of your Ausangate Machu Picchu adventure tour to get you ready for the mountains!
Today is all about adjusting well to the high altitude and absorbing the cultural richness of Cusco. You may explore typical markets, to taste Andean superfoods, or visit one of the many ancient temples like the Qoricancha, once believed to be lined with gold in honor of the sun God – Inti. This gentle preparation sets the perfect tone for the Ausangate trek itinerary 10 days, giving you the energy you’ll need in the high mountains, over the next few days.
Even before sunrise we will be driving toward the village called Upis, watching the South Valley of Cusco fade into high-altitude puna. This is where you will meet your muleteers, who are fonts of Andean knowledge and wisdom. They will accompany us throughout this off-the-beaten-path Peru trek with Machu Picchu visit. As we walk through llama and alpaca herding communities and open plains, the Apu Ausangate appears like a giant towering God who will watch over us. Tonight we camp by the peaceful shores of Yanacocha lake, a place so pristine and under a sky so full of stars it feels like eyes into another world. Can it actually get more peaceful than this?
A gentle sunrise paints the Ausangate pink as we hike past turquoise glacial lagoons, each one considered a spirit-like protector of the local communities. Andean shepherds wave as their alpacas graze freely across the folds in the slopes of the mountains. We will slowly but surely climb the Arapa Pass (4,800 m) which will be your first real experience of really high-altitude terrain on this trip. A slow, mindful descent brings us to Qomercocha, our natural campsite for the night. It may not be 5 star but it is certainly majestic!
Our first challenge today is Anantapata then we will carry on trekking to Vinicunca (Rainbow Mountain) bright and early, to arrive before the crowds of day trippers. As you stand before those colorful slopes, many trekkers describe a unique calm and quietness, like a feeling of being inside a painting. After some time appreciating this unique and empty Rainbow Mountain, we will follow the trail back down to Ausangate Qocha where glaciers and turquoise Andean lakes accompany us for the evening. This day can be described as the most photogenic and also one of the most remote sections of this trek that is there, pristinely, just for us! Today captures the real essence of the Ausangate and Rainbow Mountain trek Peru and reinforces why this route is one of the best Ausangate trek with Rainbow Mountain and Machu Picchu combinations in Peru.
Today´s trekking takes us toward the Palomani high pass — the highest, most dramatic section of the whole Ausangate circuit. With each step you’ll notice how local Andean families have adapted amazingly to the high altitude with their tiny stone houses an small walled farms. Crossing the pass is an amazing achievement, not many people make this mountain pass and very few people can say they have done it! We next descend to Jhampapampa to sleep beneath a nighttime sky full of stars. We can celebrate the hard trekking day with a hot broth and delicious meal and you can share an evening with your wonderful muleteers and the rest of the team. Thus deepening the immersive experience of this Ausangate trek itinerary 10 days.
Today is a gentler trekking day through vast Andean valleys and fields where llamas graze freely without a care in the world. The route toward Azulcocha passes through tiny remote villages on this sustainable Ausangate trek with local communities, where weaving is still practiced in the same way as centuries ago. This is a perfect moment to purchase local weavings, learn about Andean dyeing and alpaca farming, and put money directly into the local families who farm these lands. You can also enjoy a well earned soak in the hot springs of Pacchanta. your muscles will thank you later! On this days´Ausangate trek with thermal springs and Andean villages.
After a slightly later breakfast its time to say “pakarinkama” to the wonderful Andean people of Pachanta. We will have a final soak in the hot springs and have lunch, then drive toward Ollantaytambo in the sacred Valley. This is a good few hours in our private vehicle but we need to arrive at the train station for the picturesque train ride to Aguas Calientes. This is the small town that sits just below Machu Picchu. We are gearing up for a fantasic finale after your Ausangate and Machu Picchu trek itinerary.
Today is the visit to the magnificent Machu Picchu. We will climb the mountainside by bus to the gates of Machu Picchu. Your guide will tell you tales of Inca archaeology and the living cultures with ancient practices, as well as how these terraces fed empires, and how the Intihuatana connected people to the sun. After a guided visit and time to explore, we go back down to Aguas calientes to board the afternoon train to return to Cusco. Talk about an amazing feeling of having reached something timeless after this Ausangate trek with Rainbow Mountain and Machu Picchu expedition. The ultimate Off-the-beaten-path Peru trek with Machu Picchu visit.
Enjoy a relaxed breakfast and a last look at Cusco’s stone-carved corners before your private transfer to the airport. This10-day Ausangate and Rainbow Mountain private trek has been an epic adventure in the Andes brimming with spectacular scenery, experiencing living civilizations with a way of life based on generational wisdom. Plus, an authentic experience, to the heart of the Inca empire in a truly real down to earth, yet spectacularly adventurous style.



Real experiences from fellow travelers who hiked, explored, and shared moments with us. Honest voices to inspire and prepare your own journey.
Have questions about your tour? You’re not alone. Here we cover the most common topics — from packing tips and safety to transportation and accommodations. Whether you’re heading to Machu Picchu, the Amazon, or beyond, this section will help you feel prepared and confident.
The Ausangate route is considered a difficult and challenging trek due to high altitude, long daily trekking distances, and steep mountain passes. Our guides provide detailed high-altitude Ausangate trek difficulty and tips, helping you pace yourself and acclimatize properly. This trek is ideal for experienced hikers or strong beginners who train beforehand.
We have been able to blend the remote mountain experience with a guided visit to Machu Picchu. The Ausangate trek itinerary 10 days includes Rainbow Mountain, glacial lakes, Andean communities, hot springs, and a full Machu Picchu tour at the end, which makes it one of the most complete trekking experiences in Peru!
Yes. This adventure has been designed as an Ausangate and Rainbow Mountain trek Peru, allowing you to enjoy the colorful Vinicunca mountain with fewer crowds. This is because you reach it via a remote trail instead of the busy tourist path and get to visit before all the day trippers get there!
Absolutely! We offer a private Ausangate trek from Cusco, perfect for trekkers seeking personalized trekking trips, flexibility, and a profound connection with the land and the people.
Yes! This remarkable trek finishes with a full-day guided visit to Machu Picchu archaeological site. This combined trekking tour called Ausangate trek with Rainbow Mountain and Machu Picchu, gives trekkers a high-mountain adventure trek, one of the worlds most remarkable natural features at Rainbow Mountain, and one of the world’s most iconic archaeological experiences at Machu Picchu.
The Ausangate Trail passes by glaciers, lagoons, herds of alpacas, and isolated Andean communities. You’ll gain amazing insight into traditional life along the Ausangate trek with thermal springs and Andean villages, where local families maintain centuries-old customs, passed down through the generations.
Trekkers who love high mountains, raw nature, and remote environments. Because of extreme altitude and the physical demand, the Ausangate trek to Machu Picchu 10 days is ideal for fit and well-aclimatized hikers looking for a unique, non-touristy alternative to the classic Inca Trail and with an emphasis on cultural interraction and real Andean life.
If you prefer solitude and big mountain scenery, the Ausangate and Machu Picchu trek itinerary is superior. If you want cloud forest, archaeological sites, and lower altitude, the Inca Trail or Salkantay is better. Ausangate is the wildest, most dramatic, and definitely the least crowded of these three treks.
Yes they are! What could be better after days of trekking over high Andean passes, than soaking in Pacchanta’s thermal springs, a welcome and inviting highlight of the Ausangate trek itinerary 10 days.
Not on our route. Taking a different trekking route from the norm via Anantapata allows you to get to Rainbow Mountain as part of the Ausangate and Rainbow Mountain trek Peru. You will arrive earlier than most people who visit on a day trip from Cusco and you will avoid the main touristic route along the main road.
For strong and fit families who are into adventure activities or families who enjoy hiking, yes. The altitude is the main challenge, but with the help of a private Ausangate trek from Cusco, families can decide the best pace to suit everyone. Remeber pre- acclimatization is vita for this trek with a mínimum of 3 days in cusco prior to trekking.
No special permits are needed for the Ausangate mountain portion, but Machu Picchu requires advance booking. We handle all travel logistics as part of the Ausangate trek with Rainbow Mountain and Machu Picchu package.
We’ll help you find inspiration from history, flavors, and travel tips so you can plan the best trip to Peru tailored to your needs. That’s why we’ve compiled this collection of knowledge so you can take home the best of our land.
We are more than a team: we are guardians of a living history,
AND YOU TOO!

When you travel with us, every
step supports people, culture,
and nature.
Your journey helps local communities thrive, protects traditions, and contributes to the conservation of Peru’s landscapes. Together, we create positive impact with every trip.



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