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Imposing glacier mountains, turquoise lakes, picturesque villages, herds of llamas and alpacas, and Machu Picchu will color this 4-day adventure through one of the most timeless regions of Cusco towards Machu Picchu.
If you are looking for a hike that is lesser known by hikers, a challenging trek with spectacular vistas, then this is the trek to take; unlike other hikes to Machu Picchu, the 4-day Ausangate Trek to Machu Picchu still maintains its authenticity; soak up the stunning mountains of the Vilcanota Range where Ausangate (the highest mountain of Cusco is located), reddish pale valleys and hills, the curious wildlife, arrive at the Rainbow Mountain first than any crowds and make this place for yourself for a while and gaze out the wonders of the great citadel of the Incas: Machu Picchu with a private Trek Leader at your side.
For a photographer or nature lover, this Ausangate Trek to Machu Picchu has it all, camping under starry nights or starting your new day with an amazing sunrise, and trekking through valleys surrounded by wondrous towering peaks, what else? your last morning at Machu Picchu savoring the unique sunrise vistas.
This is a fully supported trek with a professional and experienced team of Peru Summit Adventures from local muleteers, cooks, chauffeurs, and Trek Guides. Join us on this once-in-a-lifetime adventure to discover the real wonders of Peru’s background like it was decades ago!
Join us for the adventure of a lifetime – give us a call at +51 984 464 391 or shoot us an email at [email protected] to learn more or book your spot today!
This trip is officially operated by Peru Summit Adventures, a 100% local tour operator based in Cusco.
Traveling with us you are making a big difference in favor of the environment, our trips are rated as eco-friendly trips to ensure that fragile ecosystems are protected and maintained for future human generations, also maintain ecosystem and environment integrity through considering a sustainable and ethical business model. Making genuine and sustainable itineraries often translates to real costs, with a host of responsible travel practices that underpin our prices.
Upgraded Comfort
UPGRADED COMFORT: Premium or Comfort trips are led by Peru Summit Adventures experts, an experienced crew at your side, or top trip leaders/guides, and tap into private local experts' resources to allow for in-depth exploration and special access to unique sites that only the local leaders/guides know. Itineraries are carefully crafted and fully planned, with plenty of free time to roam. Camping gears are high-end and accommodations are high-end or best available. Ground transportation and most meals (especially in hikes) and activities are included in the trip price.
STRENUOUS: Designed for experienced active travelers in excellent physical condition. Full-day hikes (6-9 hours), mountainous, steep terrain (hiking up or down as much as 3,500 ft) on many hikes. 4-day to 6-day trips with hiking at average altitudes of 10,000 to 14,500 ft are in this category with some exposed sections.
Hiking, Camping, Archaeology & Cultural Adventures
While we expect the tour will run as the itinerary describes to Ausangate Trek to Machu Picchu. Participants should accept that there is the possibility of changes, being necessary liable to local conditions, eg, strikes, natural disasters, these changes might be at the discretion of your travel company.
Pro 4-season tents in Black Diamond and North Face with Pro Sleeping pads in Therma-Rest and pillows, tents are roomy and cozy designed for 3 people but used only for 2 guests. Our hotel in Machu Picchu town is the Inti Punku Suites & Hotels (or a similar hotel) a lovely hotel for pleasant rest.
Min 2 ppl, Max 8 ppl
Minimum of 02 people is needed to depart. Family groups, couple travelers, friends, or even if you’re a SOLO traveler, you are welcome to our trips. Price is per person, which is based on two people who might share a room/tent. The itinerary is described and based on shared services as well as semi-private service; however, if you are looking for a private service, that would be upon request.
Yes, to protect MACHU PICCHU, the number of people allowed a day is limited to 3044 (spaces may vary depending on new regulations). That is why you should reserve your space as soon as possible. Spaces can be filled up three to four months in advance. Spaces fill more quickly in the high tourist season, from May to September.
It is strongly recommended that participants attend the ACCLIMATIZATION PROGRAM before attending this Adventure or take 2 days at least before the trek in Cusco City.
You will be picked up from your hotel at 5:30 AM by your Trek Guide, you will then drive for about 3 hours to reach the trailhead located in Upis Village (4400 m/ 14,436 feet), at this place, you will meet your muleteers, after a brief introduction, you will make your adventure start.
The first section of the trail until the lunch spot is gentle uphill, the trail passes through an Andean valley where is possible to see lots of alpacas and llamas and the massif Ausangate glacier at backdrops.
After 2 hours of hiking, you will arrive at the lunch spot, where you will have a delicious lunch prepared by your cook. Following the lunch break, you will still hike up to the first pass called Arapa at 4800 m/ 15,748 feet for 2 hours, from where you will enjoy stunning vistas of the massive highland mountains and valleys. The next trail section to the campsite is downhill for 2 hours. Today, you will camp at 4650 m/ 15,256 feet. Lunch and dinner included.
Moderate to Demanding
A hot breakfast prepared by our cook will make you ready for today’s hike, next, you will make your rucksacks ready and start with the adventure, the trail starts from a gradual uphill to a very steep uphill as you get closer to the next pass, after 3 hours hiking you will get to the next pass at 5,000 m/ 16,404 feet.
This section from the last campsite to this pass is one of the most scenic sections of the trail, from the pass, you will soak up mesmerizing views of Ausangate Glacier, reddish valleys, and the massive Vilcanota Mountain Range. After gazing out at the amazing views, you will hike downhill to reach a valley where you will have lunch.
In the afternoon, after lunch, you will hike up again for 2 hours to reach the next pass called Warmisaya located at 5000m / 16,404 feet. This is another amazing spot and you will even see Rainbow Mountain in a far location. You will still walk downhill for 30 minutes from the pass and you will arrive at the next campsite (Qomercocha) located at 4800 m/ 15,748 feet.
Very Demanding
After enjoying our last breakfast prepared by our cook, you will set off towards Rainbow Mountain, the section from the campsite is a gentle uphill for 1 hour and 30 minutes. After a while, you will reach the top of Rainbow Mountain way before than the crowds and have plenty of time to enjoy this fascinating site.
You will then hike to Red Valley, which is another spectacular place that makes you feel literally in a different world, here you will see reddish pale valleys, hills, and small mountains and the coolest thing is that you will hike through it. After experiencing this gorgeous valley, you will keep walking downhill to the end of the trail where our private transportation will be waiting for you to transfer to Ollantaytambo train station. Upon arrival in Ollantaytambo town, you will have a late lunch at a local restaurant.
After lunch, we will walk to our hotel in the town (where you will enjoy a nice shower and deserved rest for the following day), check-in, and later on by 7 PM, we will have dinner (not included) your guide will provide restaurant recommendations and you will choose one based on it.
Moderate to Demanding
After having a good breakfast at the hotel (included) you will take the train to Aguas Calientes Town at 6:10 AM, the train ride takes 1 hour and 40 minutes. Upon our arrival in the town, we will walk to the bus station to take the bus to Machu Picchu, which is for 25 minutes. Once at the checkpoint, you will enter Machu Picchu for which you will use your passport and the tickets (provided by us). Inside the citadel, you will have plenty of time to take pictures, to enjoy the morning views, and to enjoy the rich history of the ancient civilization.
You will then start exploring the Inca citadel for about 2 – 3 hours with your private Trek Leader at your side, on this tour, you will visit the temples, plazas, crop terracings, dwellings, granaries, solar observatory, and much more while listening to the history lesson from your guide. You will also have plenty of time to take pictures during the tour.
Once having a great time at Machu Picchu, you will take the bus back to Aguas Calientes Town where you will have time to enjoy lunch (not included) at one of the restaurants and celebrate your trek accomplishment with other trek mates and your guide, and why not some shots of Pisco “Peruvian flagship drink”. Next, you will take the train back to Ollantaytambo, from where you will be picked up by our private transportation and drive back to your hotel in Cusco City. End of the adventure.
Easy to Moderate
Although we do our very best possible to adhere to the schedule above, this itinerary is subject to change for several reasons beyond our control, including strikes, weather, natural disasters, and terrain conditions. On some occasions, these conditions may demand us to deviate from our original schedule, in which case we will provide the best available alternative options. And we’ll make a great experience of it!
| Number of participants | Price per person | Total ($ USD) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Participant | We have special rates for SOLO travelers. Get started by filling out the inquiry form. | Enquire Now | |
| 2 Participants | $ 1,600.00 | $ 3,200.00 | Enquire Now |
| 3 Participants | $ 1,450.00 | $ 4,350.00 | Enquire Now |
| 4 Participants | $ 1,350.00 | $ 5,400.00 | Enquire Now |
| 5 Participants | $ 1,300.00 | $ 6,500.00 | Enquire Now |
| 6+ Participants | We have special rates for groups, which are over 6ppl. Get started by filling out the inquiry form. | Enquire Now | |
| # | |
|---|---|
| 1 person (We have special rates for SOLO travelers. Get started by filling out the inquiry form.) | Enquire Now |
| 2 people $ 1,600.00 | Enquire Now |
| 3 people $ 1,450.00 | Enquire Now |
| 4 people $ 1,350.00 | Enquire Now |
| 5 people $ 1,300.00 | Enquire Now |
| 6+ people (We have special rates for groups, which are over 6ppl. Get started by filling out the inquiry form.) | Enquire Now |
Prices are quoted in US Dollars and all payments must be made in US Dollars. Prices are per person based on SEMI-PRIVATE service; we depart with 2 ppl as a minimum, 8 ppl as maximum, and an average of 4 ppl in a group. This trek is also based on double occupancy for tents in the trail.
Making a choice of your right travel company/ tour operator is the most important decision you will make as you make your plans for a long-anticipated dreamed adventure. At first glance, some companies may seem cheaper. However, when you research a little deeper, you will see why traveling with Peru Summit Adventures assures that you will have the most memorable travel experience possible. In fact, we guarantee it, our TripAdvisor reviews say that.
Making genuine and sustainable itineraries often translate to real costs, with a host of responsible travel practices that underpin our prices, here are the reasons why you should go with us!
Besides, Machu Picchu offers one of the world’s most spellbinding travel experiences. But it’s also a world-renowned destination, and touring the site in a big group with multitudes of tourists shoving for photos, and competing to hear the guide, your once in a lifetime visit to this World Heritage Site may lose its magic. Our Machu Picchu Trips are scheduled with an average of just four travelers, allowing for a deeper exploration of the lost city of the Incas, with our Local Experts / Tour Leaders.
We are very confident the quality of our Ausangate Trek to Machu Picchu will get your expectations and that you will savor the best possible of cultural travel experience, nature travel experience, and adventure travel experience if you are dissatisfied, we’ll happily give you credit for an extra trip or for a future journey. It’s, to our knowledge, the best guarantee in the travel business.
Probably you will see that most of the tour operators mention it on their websites that are local tour companies, however, if you research a little deeper you will find out that’s not true, they might be although half of the operation is done from here and another half abroad, they even have NorthAmerican phone number or European phone numbers, which is a clue to find out, we are not against the foreigner companies or half foreign companies, what we are against is that they lie.
In Cusco exist just few truly local tour operators. If you did not know, foreign companies come to Peru to get rich without paying a General Sales Tax or Tax Contribution to our country. If you did not know that, according to the United Nations, for every US $100 spent on a tour in a developing country or foreign travel companies, only $5 stays in the local economy. Normally, almost all of the money flows back to large companies operating outside the destination countries. As we are a local family enterprise, we guarantee that your travel expenditures will support the local economy, and improve the lives of Peruvians through contributing to general sales tax.
Be a responsible traveller! Let’s make this world a better place for everyone and for everyone that lives in it! The natural environments that we travel to are fragile and abundant with beautiful culture and traditions that are often reliant on tourism. We have a responsibility as travelers to minimize the impact of our presence, protect what is delicate, and leave a positive influence everywhere we can.
As a locally owned and based Peruvian tour company, we integrate these practices into our in-country operations we are aiming for a style of travel that makes the world a better place for everyone, and for everyone that lives in it. Since our very first days as a tour operator, responsible business has been at the heart of what we do. Peru Summit Adventures is committed not just to treading lightly, but to making a real difference by helping and investing in local communities, education initiatives, environmental conservation projects. These values are not more than just words, they are ingrained in the culture and philosophy of our crew, daily operations of Peru Summit Adventures trips, and at our office too.
With Peru Summit Adventures, you will receive our exclusive high-end equipment for camping for the Ausangate Trek to Machu Picchu, which will guarantee a comfortable stay every night. We use proper gear for this type of terrain, our gear is thought to resist harsh weather at extreme elevations. Our gear is the best on the trail.
No hidden fees or middlemen, as a local tour operator to Ausangate Trek to Machu Picchu, at Peru Summit Adventures we ensure you an exclusive guarantee that clearly says that we will meet the high expectations we set forth on our website or promotional materials because this tour is operated exclusively by us.
The perfect custom-made private tours, adventure tours, or expeditions don’t just happen. It takes a team of talented, knowledgeable, passionate, and experienced professionals to bring it all together and possible. Our team of Peru Summit Adventures Leaders is comprised of local trip veterans, seasoned tour veterans with rich backgrounds on history, archaeology, culture, cuisine, geology, biology, and more.
With the highest staff-to-guest ratio in the travel industry, our Trip Leaders safely deliver your trip-of-a-lifetime to maximize your Peru journeys and adventures every step of the way. Our Tour/Trek Leaders have worked extensively in the Peru isolated mountains, archaeological sites, hiking the Inca Trail (at least 150 times), Amazon jungle, and being at Machu Picchu for over 400 times at least, this guarantees your trip a unique and memorable experience.
Camping Equipment: Great gear is a key part of every great journey, so we’ve made our gear warehouse featuring top-performing brands like Black Diamond, Patagonia, North Face Summit Series, Therma Rest, Marmot, Leki, this is a fantastic collection of our outdoor gear, accessories, which are offered in all trekking adventures, expeditions, and Peru Summit Adventures Logo items.
In all hikes, you’ll enjoy Pro 4-season tents in Black Diamond and North Face with Pro Sleeping pads in Therma-Rest and pillows, tents are roomy and cozy designed for 3 people but used only for 2 guests.
Hotels: We select carefully our hotels in each destination all over the country. And we select our accommodations for how well they represent the distinctive character of the destination you’re in. Some of these rooms and cabanas draw their inspiration from history and others from the views they offer. What’s consistent, however, is that we stand by each and every one of these for what they’ll add to your experience.
We have created a custom comprehensive listing of Ausangate Trek to Machu Picchu, Machu Picchu and Peru, Machu Picchu, and Peru travel books for this trip. Our reading list Peru is custom-designed to complement specific Peru Summit destinations. We feature a handpicked selection of travel guides, maps, literature, books on art, cuisine, nature, and culture, designed to help you get more out of your travels to Machu Picchu & Peru.
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