Overview
We are delighted and excited to be able to offer this brand new itinerary from Cusco. Unique to us, our tours now include “Llama Packing”. Using these beautiful, elegant animals to carry our packs and equipment rather than mules or horses, they are incredible strong and have personalities all their own. We guarantee you will fall in love with them!
The multi-day trek combines the rugged beauty of the Ausangate Trail, the breathtaking colours of the Rainbow mountains and the iconic wonder of the ancient ruins of Machu Picchu, satisfying even the most intrepid of explorers.
Spending 5 nights trekking and camping in the most beautiful, remote locations that the area has to offer you will be rewarded with incredible vistas of the majestic snow-capped Andes; witness the most spectacular starlit skies; walk through tiny remote communities and stroll amongst flora and fauna that is unique to the area. Watch-out for Alpacas, Vicuñas and maybe even the mighty Condor soaring overhead!
Our trekking takes us to some of the highest passes in the region, with some challenging, steep ascents and so we recommend this itinerary for people with a good basic level of fitness. At all times though, our guides ensure that the pace of the trek is suitable for everyone in the group, taking rests whenever necessary.
We aim to make your trekking camping experience as comfortable as possible, using high quality equipment, providing excellent, nutritious meals and using only experienced, knowledgeable guides and porters.
Providing transfers to and from your hotel, reserving seats on the scenic train service, and booking entry tickets to Machu Picchu we really do take care of everything so that all you have to do is enjoy the journey.
And so we invite you to join us for this trip of a lifetime, and to make your own unforgettable memories from your time in Peru.
- Total Distance Hiked: 36 miles
- Minimum Elevation: 12,800ft
- Maximum Elevation: 16,900 ft
- Level of difficulty: Moderate
Highlights:
- Tour of Machu Picchu
- Visit to Rainbow Mountain
- Llama packing
- Spectacular mountain views
- Wildlife spotting (Alpacas, Vicunas, Llamas)
- Star-gazing
- Camping in remote locations
Itinerary
Day 1: Cusco – Upis
Your adventure begins with an early alarm call! We will collect you from your Cusco hotel at around 5am for the 3.5 hour drive to the trailhead near the town of Upis. Don’t worry though, we use comfortable mini-vans for all transfers so you can sit back and enjoy the ride and maybe even catch a little more sleep.
At Upis we join the rest of the team who will join us on this incredible journey; the kitchen team, the porters and, of course, the Llamas who will be carrying our equipment. A unique element of our trips, these elegant animals are as tough as any pack mule, but a lot more beautiful. You’ll very quickly grow to love them!
After one final equipment check, we begin our trek with a gradual uphill trail into the most beautiful countryside. As we walk through tiny local communities and pass remote working farmsteads with roaming Alpacas, you will feel a million miles from the hustle and bustle of Cusco. Our pace is never rushed, and so you will have plenty of time to capture the memories on camera, and maybe even talk with the local people as they go about their daily lives.
Reaching the top of our climb, we stop for lunch looking out to the spectacular snow-capped peak of the Ausangate Mountain. The view is quite the reward for our morning’s efforts and your first taste of the culinary delights from our mountainside kitchen are guaranteed to make your mouth water!
Rested and re-energised, we spend the afternoon on a gently undulating path to the foot of Mount Ausangate, and our campsite for the night. Our team of porters will have reached camp before us, and so everything will be prepared ahead of our arrival. All you need to do is to change into warmer more comfortable clothing, and then lay back to enjoy the incredible display from the Andean night sky as it opens above us.
Our chef will prepare a sumptuous dinner for us to share together, before retiring for the evening to rest any aching muscles and prepare for the next day’s trekking.
| QUICK FACTS: | |
| Time: | 6 hours |
| Hiking Distance: | 6 miles |
| Minimum Elevation: | 12,800 ft |
| Maximum Elevation: | 15,000 ft |
| Level of difficulty: | Moderate |
Day 2: Upis – Arapa – Auqui
We like to start every day at camp with a gentle wake up call and our porters bringing you a fresh cup of cocoa tea to your tent. While you prepare yourself for the day, our chef will be preparing a delicious and nutritious breakfast, perfect fuel for the efforts to come!
On Day 2 we have two big passes to conquer! Beginning our hike at around 8am, we spend the morning gradually ascending to the first pass. As we climb, the views around us get ever more spectacular with the majesty of the snow-capped peaks of the Andes stretching far into the distance. Reaching the pass, we are rewarded with an incredible 360 degree panorama, and we will take our time to rest and take in the views.
Lunch today will be next to the beautiful, crystal blue Pukacocha Lake, so why not take the opportunity to cool your weary feet in the ice cold mountain water, or just lay back and enjoy the view while you rest.
Our hike in the afternoon is a more gentle, downhill trail for around 2 hours to reach our campsite at Auqui where, once again, we will be treated to a delicious dinner.
| QUICK FACTS: | |
| Time: | 8 to 9 hours |
| Hiking Distance: | 8 miles |
| Minimum Elevation: | 15,000 ft |
| Maximum Elevation: | 16,500 ft |
| Level of difficulty: | Moderate to Challenging |
Day 3: Auqui – Rainbow Mountain (Vinicunca) – Ausangate Qocha
On Day 3 our team will wake you before dawn, and after breakfast we make a challenging, steep ascent.
At the top of the pass we will get our first views of the breathtaking Vinicunca (Rainbow) mountains in the distance. After a short rest, we the take a more gentle uphill path for around 1.5 hours to reach the Rainbow Mountains themselves.
It is rare to see such a vivid display of colours from Mother Nature, and all of the photographs that you may have seen can never really prepare you for the awesome beauty of this mountain range. You will be glad of our early start as we will arrive well ahead of the main tourist crowds, and so you will have plenty of time to enjoy the solitary beauty, and to take plenty of unforgettable photographs.
As the crowds start arriving, we will be making our way back to camp for lunch. Then, after lunch, we walk for another 3 hours to our next campsite at Ausangate Cocha. The views around us change as frequently as the altitude, and so we will always take our time so that you can really look around and take in the sights and sounds of this incredible area.
The night skies in the Andes have to be seen to be believed, and every night you will be truly mesmerised at the display of constellations and shooting stars; as beautiful and magnificent as any of the views that you’ll see on this trek!
| QUICK FACTS: | |
| Time: | 10 hours |
| Hiking Distance: | 10 miles |
| Minimum Elevation: | 15,000 ft |
| Maximum Elevation: | 16,500 ft |
| Level of difficulty: | Challenging |
Day 4: Ausangate Qocha – Jampapampa
Day 4 takes us to the highest point in our trek. The Palomani pass stands at almost 17,000 ft and so not surprisingly it provides spectacular 360 degree views as far as the eye can see! It is genuinely humbling to see the vastness of the Andes stretching far out to the horizon and beyond, so make sure those camera batteries are fully charged.
The climb to the pass will leave us all a little tired and breathless, and so after lunch we will take a short siesta before a shorter 2 hour hike into camp and a well earned rest.
| QUICK FACTS: | |
| Time: | 8 hours |
| Hiking Distance: | 7 miles |
| Minimum Elevation: | 15,000ft |
| Maximum Elevation: | 16,900 ft |
| Level of difficulty: | Moderate to Challenging |
Day 5: Jampapampa – Jampa Pass – Pachanta
This is our last day of trekking and camping, but it is no less beautiful as we climb to our last pass at Jampa. We cover a shorter distance today, perhaps a welcome relief for those of us whose legs may be feeling the effects of the previous days of trekking.
After our morning climb, our afternoon is a more gentle trail to our campsite at Pachanta.
As always, breakfast, lunch and dinner are provided and it is always fun to share our trekking experiences over our last starlit dinner together!
| QUICK FACTS: | |
| Time: | 6 hours |
| Hiking Distance: | 5 miles |
| Minimum Elevation: | 15,500 ft |
| Maximum Elevation: | 16,500 ft |
| Level of difficulty: | Moderate |
Day 6: Pacchanta Town – Ollantaytambo – Aguas Calientes Town
Today we change transport from Trek to Train!
After breakfast, our comfortable mini-van will be waiting to take us on a beautiful 4 hour drive through the Sacred Valley to the vibrant town of Ollantaytambo. Bustling with Artesan street sellers and busy cafes, this is a far cry from the quietude of the mountains.
After lunch, we join the scenic train service that will take us to our destination for the evening at Aguas Calientes. As the train carves along the lush valley floor, you will see a whole different perspective of the mountains in which we have spent so many days hiking. From the comfort of your seat, you will be able to take some wonderful photos and reflect on your experiences from the last few days.
Arriving in Aguas Calientes we will check you into your comfortable hotel for the evening, and then you will have a little time to explore the town, and maybe even visit the hot baths from which the town takes its name. We get together in the evening for a group dinner before retiring for the evening excited about the finale to our adventure.
Day 7: Machu Picchu – Cusco
Our final day together, and the pinnacle of the tour, we will wake early to join the queue for the bus to Machu Picchu.
The 1 hour journey is on a gently winding hill that takes us to the gates of the sacred Citadel and, as dawn breaks around us, you will be mesmerised at the beauty of the sun rising over the mountains.
Nothing quite prepares you as we walk through the entry gates for our first glimpses of the most iconic ruins in South America, if not the world! The culmination of 6 days of strenuous efforts can be quite overwhelming, but is hugely rewarding. Your guide will take you on a 3 hour tour of the site, bringing the story of the place, the politics and the people to life, and ensuring that you get to the right spots for those unforgettable photos. There is a reason that Machu Picchu is on most people’s bucket lists, and this is your chance to capture your moment forever!
Once the tour is completed, you will have some time to spend alone walking around the site, or just sitting and reflecting, before returning on the bus to Aguas Calientes. We have lunch together in town before taking the train journey back to Cusco, where we will transfer you back to your hotel.
Services
SERVICES INCLUDED
- Transport whenever needed
- Meals during the trek
- One dinner at Indio feliz restaurant in Aguas Calientes
- Entrance tickets to Ausangate and Rainbow Mountain area
- Llamas to carry all your belongings
- Horses to carry heavy equipment such as gas tank, chairs, cooking tent and others
- Entrance tickets to Machu Picchu (does not include Huayna Picchu)
- Chef and assistant chef
- Boiled drinking water during the trek
- Trekking guide, knowledgeable in rescue management, history, traditions, fauna and flora
- First Aid Kit, carried by your guide
- Equipment (sleeping tent, dining tent, kitchen tent, table, chairs, air mattresses)
- Duffle bag for your belongings to put on the Llamas
- You have access to 17 pounds (8 kg) bag for the Llamas where you can put your personal belongings
- Round-trip bus tickets from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes town
- Train ride from Cusco to Machu Picchu both ways (Vistadome service)
- 2 nights hotel in Cusco and one night in Aguas Calientes or Machu Picchu town (3 star hotel)
SERVICES EXCLUDED
- Sleeping bag (can be rented from us for $ 40 for 6 nights camping)
- Meals no mecioned
- Gratitudes for muleteers and guides
Packing list
- Original passport.
- Down sleeping bag. You should consider bringing a sleeping bag rated at least to – 4°F if you don’t have one you can rent one from us for USD 20 (they are washed after each use)
- Trekking boots should be breaking down if you have acquired new ones make sure to break them down before you come, they should be comfortable for your feet, and if they have even better ankle support.
- Down warm fleece, jacket, has to be warm enough for the nights and the jacket if is a windbreaker or rain jacket is good.
- Few t-shirts, hiking, you will sweat you may considerer to bring at least 3 or 4 of them, one for the hike, one the night and one clean for Machu Picchu
- Socks, Bring at least 3 pairs
- Sun hat, some days can be hot and sunny, we recommend you to bring a sun hat that can keep the sun off your face.
- Cloths for sleeping, warm long underwear and you can use your fleece to sleep with, you may consider bringing gloves especially for the campsites.
- Light long pants and trekking pants are the best ones you can sip off the legs, plus they dry fast.
- Sunscreen SPF 35+ recommended
- Headlamp, All the camps are dark so you will need to bring your headlights for organizing your staff in your tent or going to the bathroom at night.
- Sunglasses
- Camera with spare batteries (batteries run down faster at high altitudes
- Book to read. you will have some spare time at every camp to read your favorite book or those that are about Machu Picchu that may make your journey more interesting (the following books are recommended by us: Last Days of the Incas by Kim MacQuarrie, Turn Right at Machu Picchu: Rediscovering the Lost City One Step at a Time by Mark Adams,
- Trekking poles. They are very recommended for uphill and hills according to experts they can take up to 30% of your body weight
- Toiletries – toilet paper, wet wipes, personal towel
- Sunscreen – SPF 35+ recommended
- Set of cloths. you should consider bringing a set of clean cloth for Machu Picchu, after the night at the hotel
Important information
OFTEN ASKED QUESTIONS
How long before should I book this tour?
This tour does not require to book permits with long in advance but Peru by Locals still needs at least booking a week in advance to put everything together.
What is the weather like during the year?
The Cusco area has only 2 well-defined seasons: the wet season and dry season. The wet season starts in November and ends in March. During this period, it rains almost every day for three or four hours, but also there are several sunny days. The dry season begins around March and lasts until October. June and July are the coldest months. Paradoxically at noon the temperatures can reach 23 °C (77°F), the annual highest temperature.
Should I tip to the guide and driver? If I do, how much I should I tip?
Our guides are paid fairly according to Peruvian labor laws – that is why, we don’t force our clients to tip the crew. However, most of our clients want to give them an appreciation for the work they do and the service they receive so, if you feel like giving them an appreciation or tip them, feel free to do it at the end of their work. If that’s the case we recommend to tip with 15% of the total cost.
Is there any age limit?
In this tour there is not minimum age or limit,- any person can join this tour including a person in a wheelchair.
Peruvian Currency
The Peruvian sole is the currency of Peru, and usually fluctuates in the 3.3 to 3.8 Nuevo sol to 1 US Dollar.
Language
Spanish is the national language of Peru, also a 20% of Peruvians speak Quechua (Inca language) Our guides are fluent in Spanish and English.
Why Peru by Locals
- Peru by Locals offers tailor-made treks and tours and we cater to your interests when we plan your tour
- We are committed to providing world-class tours based on exceptional customer service.
- We are a locally owned and highly experienced travel company based in Cusco, Peru.
- Our staff consists of members which have decades of first-hand experience in the Peruvian tourism sector.
- All the management and staff in Peru by Locals speak English, Spanish, and Quechua (the language of the Incas).
- Our guides and staff members are professionally trained and educated in the history of the Incas, Peruvian history, culture and traditions, first aid in the wilderness, guiding treks and tours, the fauna and flora of the region, and tourism management.
- We are committed to protect our environment.
- We are committed to creating Jobs and empowering local people. We believe in fair labor practices and honor and treat all our employees with dignity.
- We have programs to help with the development of the porters’ families and communities, such as planting trees and buying school books and school equipment for poor local communities.
- We honor native communities that have stewarded the land you visit
- We have also started an Education Fund to support the education of the children of porters. A percentage of income from every tour and trek goes to education of needed once.
- Our trips are designed carefully to your needs and we create diverse unique itineraries from 1 to 15 days in length, a we offer wide range of tours and treks and all the tours. We guarantee you the experience of a lifetime!
- Peru By Locals organizes free worry trips for you to enjoy fully.
Peru small group specialists
Our tours are designed for those who love adventure, want to explore new places, experience the local culture, love food, like history or photography for all ages whether you are traveling alone, with friends, in couples, family. At Peru by Locals there is not
Small groups are the best and the average tour or trek group is around 4 to 8 people. Why is this great? Well, have you ever waited in line while 40 other people get a coffee in the morning? Believe it or not, it is not fun. Taking small groups allows us the flexibility to take you on an adventure to places that nobody else goes.
Prices
| Price |
| $ 1430 per person |
BOOK NOW
In order for us to reserve your spot on this trek, you are required to send us the following information: full names, passport number, age, gender, nationality and make the relevant deposit of US$200 per person using PAY PAL as indicated below:
When you have sent us the information of each person, made your deposit using PAYPAL and once we have both, we will confirm your tour. Thank you so much for choosing PERU by LOCALS.
If you have any questions, send us an e-mail to: info@perubylocals.com
