The two most spectacular high-altitude landscapes near Cusco are the glacial lagoons at the foot of Apu Ausangate (seven lakes of green, blue, and red at 4,450–4,750m) and the Rainbow Mountain Vinicunca (a mineral peak of red, yellow, green, and white at 5,200m). These two sites are 25 km apart in the same high-altitude zone south of Cusco, and they share the same access route from the city. The Ausangate + Rainbow Mountain 2-day tour combines them into one consecutive experience — lagoons on Day 1, Rainbow Mountain on Day 2 — with a high-altitude camping night between them.
This is a genuine expedition. The overnight camp is at approximately 4,700m — higher than any point on the Classic Inca Trail, higher than most points on the Salkantay trek. Day 2’s hike to Vinicunca reaches 5,200m. The combined distance over both days is approximately 22 km on open puna terrain. For travelers who are fully acclimatized to Cusco altitude and want to combine the best of the Ausangate zone in a single outing, this is the most efficient format available.
Price: $250 USD per person. Camping equipment, sleeping bags, all meals, transport, and guide included.
Why Choose This Tour?
- Pacchanta (3,990m) — starting community
- Ausangate lagoons (4,450–4,750m) — 7 glacial lakes
- High camp (4,700m) — overnight camping
- Ausangate massif (6,384m) — highest mountain Cusco region
- Rainbow Mountain / Vinicunca (5,200m) — multicolored mineral peak
- Condors, vicuñas, alpacas
