After early breakfast we will drive you southeast to Tinki and Pacchanta native community. Through the way, the silence and sound of the wind will let us discover the landscape. Our hike starts right after breakfast with the wilderness being the best distraction from the wicked climb. An abundance of birds, insects and extraordinary plants diverts our attention from the challenging hike. Lagoons are spotted along the way, until finally we arrive in the town of Pacchanta for our lunch and a well-deserved rest. By the time we arrive at our campsite for the evening, a relaxing dip in the hot springs might be just the thing to alleviate any tension or tightness in our legs.

After breakfast we begin our trek at 7am. We begin ascending for 3 hours. The morning begins with your first mountain pass crossing – Arapa (4850m). The views of Ausangate from Arapa pass are stunning and you’ll want to get your camera ready! After reaching the pass you stop for a light lunch before descending into the valley on a well-trodden gravel trail. On your descent you’ll pass the green lake of Puqa Q’ocha (4556 m). Once back down in the valley you camp for the night beside the gorgeous blue lake of Jatun Puqa Q’ocha. From your camp site you can choose to climb a nearby ridge to view the red-tinged lake of Vino Q’ocha. Each lake in the region is colored differently, depending on the colored sediment of the nearby mountains. L/D

Today is a big day and the most anticipated day of the trek. We hike up to 17,000 feet (5.18 km) where you will be graced with views of the majestic painted hills, but don’t get too excited yet, we still have a few hours to go before we finally arrive at the Rainbow Mountain of Vinicunca. We have a celebratory lunch on top and take a long break to enjoy the views. After lunch we head back up the valley and set up camp near Lake Yanaorqo.

Continue as far as we can towards Puca punta the red sandstone sediment formations, such a wonderful experience. Here we see vicuñas and luckily condors, to shorten the climb this is a relatively short day and eventually encounter Vinicunca a mountain of striations of colors embedded in the hillsides. Best known as The Rainbow Mountain, it speaks for itself. We ended up having a marvelous time at our Ausangate Trek to Rainbow Mountain and arrive at Cusco.