Sacred Valley Tour & Ausangate Trek

Starting by collecting you from the airport or your hotel and driving straight to the impressive archaeological site of Sacsayhuaman, which translates as the 'sacred falcon' and was thought to guard the city of Cusco. Walking around the site to understand the importance of it to Cusco & its people, you'll take your time before moving on for a great picnic. This will feature local food native to the area, which is organic and unique, and not available in other parts of Peru. A really delicious lunch option. In the afternoon we'll arrive into Calca, a beautiful town in the heart of the Valley, with plenty of time to relax and enjoy your surroundings before the next few days.

You'll leave your hotel early and arrive at the village of Pisac, known for its traditional market and archaeological complex built onto the mountainside. Its views, balconies, tunnels, crop terraces and irrigation canals are some of the finest. After exploring and trekking around the ancient town of Pisaq, you can spend some time walking around its unique artisanal market, where you can appreciate or buy the different crafts that are handmade in this town. You'll walk around the Inca Fortress and ceremonial site of Ollantaytambo, marveling at these extraordinarily well-preserved ruins. Set around a tranquil plaza, renowned for its peaceful charm. The little-altered layout of the town offers an unprecedented peek into the way of life of its past peoples, the Incas. Even the street names are the original ones from ancient times.

Setting off from Ollantaytambo at arounf 8-9am, you’ll weave through the mountain routes of the sacred valley towards Lares town arriving in time for some lunch. After lunch you’ll begin trekking from the ‘Bano Termales’ of Lares & following an old Inca trail along the Rio Huacahuasi. The rustic towns and children help you along the way. On arriving in Huacahuasi you’ll overnight in a beautiful little mountain lodge, in this welcoming Quechuan valley community. On leaving Huacahuasi the route weaves through more local ‘poblados’, with glimpses of the Apu Pitusiray Nevada always in the background. Potatoes being cooked using traditional methods out in the open countryside. Herds of Llamas graze the slopes with valley girls shepherding them high on the mountainsides. Quechua is the native language in these parts of the Andes. Passing 4,800m the descent then weaves via Ipsaycocha lake, winding down the Setting off from Ollantaytambo at arounf 8-9am, you’ll weave through the mountain routes of the sacred valley towards Lares town arriving in time for some lunch. After lunch you’ll begin trekking from the ‘Bano Termales’ of Lares & following an old Inca trail along the Rio Huacahuasi. The rustic towns and children help you along the way. On arriving in Huacahuasi you’ll overnight in a beautiful little mountain lodge, in this welcoming Quechuan valley community. On leaving Huacahuasi the route weaves through more loc valley below heading towards Pataccancha. Crop fields here are being harvested by local families. Pathways carved into the hillsides show the way down to Pataccancha where dinner will be prepared. You'll stay in Ollantaytambo before catching a train in the morning to Aguas Calientes. From here, it’s onwards to Machu Picchu.

Leaving Ollantaytambo train station in the mid-morning (9am) you'll take a stunning train journey through the Sacred Valley to Aguas Calientes where you'll meet up with your guide once more. Stopping for lunch in Aguas Calientes, then you'll catch the bus up to Machu Picchu. It is a 25minute bus ride to the sanctuary (2400 m). As other people begin leaving Machu Picchu, you'll start exploring the ruins and visit some of the most important places in the archeological site. Our guide will lead us in our exploration and discovery of the many corners of this enigmatic citadel. The guided tour will have an average duration of 2 hours. There will be plenty of time for pictures, after which we take the bus down to Aguas Calientes to catch our train back to Ollantaytambo where our private transportation will be waiting for us to drive us back to Calca. If you feel like an uphill challenge, you have the option to climb the infamous mountain of Huayna Picchu. It is important to know that to climb this mountain, you need to buy a separate ticket in advance.

Leaving around 7:30 a.m, we begin our final journey to Rainbow Mountain. The hike starts from Hanchipata-Quesuno at 3,700 m elevation above sea level. From here, it´s a three hour, uphill hike to reach the famous pass Rainbow Mountain. Once we arrive at the top of Rainbow Mountain, there is enough time to enjoy the beauty of the surrounding landscapes. It is also possible to view Ausangate Glacier Peak from this point. There are a couple of options here for accommodation. You can camp in a small community Chacco Huayllasca. Located at the bottom of the rocks you'll climb, which is very picturesque, that can also be quite cold, however the best equipment combats the elements. The other option is an overnight stay on a small dairy farm (Tambo Queque Norte) where you can experience a nice warm bed, dinner and farm life.

Rock climbing here, in one of Cusco's southernmost valleys, is a great experience due to the unique and beautiful landscape. It's a special place because you can do this in the Andes at 4,000 m altitude. The climbing is designed to be fun and to improve your level and ability. It includes a pre-experience briefing and all the necessary climbing equipment (helmet, harnesses, ropes, billets, etc). There are a couple of options here for accommodation. We can camp in a small community, Chacco Huayllasca. Located at the bottom of the rocks you'll climb, which is very picturesque, that also be quite cold, however the best equipment combats the elements. The other option is an overnight stay on a small dairy farm (Tambo Queque Norte) where you can experience a nice warm bed, dinner and farm life.

Our private transport leaves Cusco early in the morning. Taking a three hour drive through the beautiful countryside and small towns in route to the Andean village of Tinqui, which is at the foot of the Vilcanota mountain range. This is where you’ll meet your team, the mules and where our expedition will begin. On our first afternoon you’ll walk the plains below the mountain, giving us our first taste of what’s to come, with the ever present Apu Ausangate (guardian mountain) in view. Not an item usually found on a trek packing list, but bring your bathers! Our campsite tonight is in Upis, where you can bathe in the natural thermal springs.

Now well and truly into the trek, there are two high passes to summit today. After walking approximately 2.5 hours we reach our first pass, Arapa at 4,850m (15255ft). We begin our circuit around the glacier, passing Lake Jatun Puqa Q'ocha. From here you'll ascend again until you summit your second pass, Apechata at 4900m (16,076ft). You'll move through a landscape dotted with turquoise lagoons which are fed from glacial waters. Today you truly enter the quiet simplicity and awe inspiring beauty of the area. After an easier downhill, you'll arrive at your campsite, near the turquoise Laguna Ausangate Q'ocha, which is close to tomorrow’s mountain pass.

You'll awake to the silence of man and the sounds of nature, surrounded by views of the mountains bathed in early morning light. Today you'll conquer the Palomani pass, at a considerable 5200m (17,060ft), it is the highest on the expedition. The ascent is relatively steep and the altitude can affect the pace. On reaching the summit, spectacular views of the snow-capped mountains of Puka Punta and Tres Picos are a gracious reward for our strenuous efforts. Descending through the valley of Finaya Pampa makes for a long downhill day leading us to our next camp at Jampa. Today we should walk amongst free roaming alpacas and llamas grazing on the mountainside. You could see the local farmers as we pass by their stone houses, which may be refreshing after our first two days almost total in isolation.

Today we walk into the sun, trailing a mountain stream with strikingly bright glaciers ahead of us. Before the Q’ampa Pass the terrain gets very rocky, providing the perfect environment for a game of ‘spot the Viscacha’ (animals similar to chinchillas and from the raccoon family). Our route passes through the small community of Q’ampa before reaching Q’ampa Pass, not quite as high as Palomani but still a respectable 5,000m (16,404ft). Once we reach the summit the landscape alters and from the pass, if the sky is clear, you can see Apu Salkantay, a sight to behold. Gradually entering back into civilization, we walk to the quaint village of Pacchanta for our final campsite. Again your bathers will come in useful for a fabulously hot and well deserved soak in yet more thermal springs.

After yet another delicious breakfast in the mountains, we have about a 3 or 4 hour walk downhill, back into the village of Tinqui, thus completing the circuit. On arrival we say good bye to our trek team, meet up with our driver and with a scrumptious boxed lunch we head back to Cusco.

Take a final day in Cusco, to relax, enjoy, taste the local life here and the incredible food.

Today we'll transfer you to the airport in time to make your connecting flight out to Lima for your onward international departure. It's never goodbye, only until the next time!