Ausangate Trek, Pilgrimage and Inca

We are driven to the airport to fly to Cusco. We are welcomed and taken to our hotel. Visit the Inca capital, starting with Santo Domingo monastery, an ancient temple of the Sun or Koricancha. Then the place of arms, the market of San Pedro and the district of San Blas.

Accompaniment: private English-speaking guide for the visit
Walking and visiting time: 4 hours
Transport: private vehicle and domestic flight (1 hour)
Accommodation: in hotel
Meals: breakfast – free lunch – free dinner
Altitude at the end of the day: 3 350 m

We leave to visit the archaeological site of Moray, a real Inca agricultural laboratory that was used five hundred years ago to test the resistance of certain plant species to altitude. Then we descend to the salt mines of Maras, which date from the pre-Inca era. The water, which comes from a salty spring, is channelled to a series of basins where it evaporates gradually. A thin layer of salt is deposited there to be immediately harvested. After the visit, we take the road back to Ollantaytambo, in the heart of the Sacred Valley.

Transport: private transport (3 hours in the Sacred Valley)
Accommodation: in a hotel or inn
Meals: breakfast – lunch – dinner
Altitude at the end of the day: 2,870 m

Climb to Pumamarca to descend along an Inca path to Ollantaytambo. Ollantaytambo, a small village at the foot of the mountains has hardly changed since the Inca era. We take the time to discover its archaeological site and simply walk through the alleys, follow the irrigation canals crossing them, to discover its architecture. In the middle of the afternoon, we take our train to Aguas Calientes. Transport: group transport (40 min), by train between Ollantaytambo and Aguas Calientes

Accommodation: in a hotel
Meals: breakfast – lunch – dinner
Altitude at the end of the day: 2,040 m

Very early in the morning, we take the shuttle to climb to the most famous Inca site in the country: Machu Picchu, ”old summit” in Quechua. We discover there, still wrapped in the morning mist, this architectural complex built astride a narrow ridge lined with precipices: an impressive vision that evolves with the progression of the sun. We then walk the streets of the citadel, its neighbourhoods, squares, royal houses, agricultural areas, roads and observatories. We go down again in the afternoon to Aguas Calientes to take the train to Ollantaytambo and the road to the Sacred Valley, to reach Pisac. We begin our discovery of places by visiting the archaeological complex of Pisac (3400 m), consisting of terraces, fountains, observatories and even a necropolis, the largest in the region (nearly 10,000 people buried). It was from there that the Incas controlled and dominated the Sacred Valley. The tours of Machu Picchu are since January 2019 limited in time. There are three times: either we visit between 6 am and 9 am or between 9 am and 12 pm or between 12 pm and 15 pm. The number of admissions to the citadel will be 600 people per hour from 6 am until 3 pm; the visit will last 3 hours maximum on the site. entrances to the citadel will be 600 pers/hour from 6 am until 3 pm; the visit will last 3 hours maximum on the site. entrances to the citadel will be 600 pers/hour from 6 am until 3 pm; the visit will last 3 hours maximum on the site.

Accompaniment: English-speaking guide for the visit
Transport: shuttles to access the site, train between Aguas Calientes and Ollantaytambo (1h30) then private bus to Pisac or its surroundings
Accommodation: in a hotel or inn
Meals: breakfast – lunch – dinner
Altitude at the end of the day: 2,800 m

Transfer by bus to Vinicunca, then continue down the valley leaving behind the Pitumarca Valley. The path passes near the mountains ”arco iris” (rainbow) nickname due to its colours. We are approaching Cerro Colorado (4,990 m). At the end of the day, we settle in our first camp in Chilca.

Transport: Private bus, (approx. 1 hour)
Number of hours of walking: 6 hours
Elevation gain: + 800 m / – 700 m
Meals: breakfast – lunch – dinner
Accommodation: night in tents
Altitude end of the day: 4,400 m

We enter the valley on a gently sloping path. This climb allows us to see the landscape: it is again the imposing Ausangate and its glaciers which are offered to our sight. Below, there are small lakes of different colours. The beauty of the landscape is dazzling. We must then descend to the beautiful lake Ausangate Cocha while admiring in passing the various frontal moraines left by the glacier under the lake. Night at the lake.

Number of hours of walking: 7 hours
Altitude difference: + 500 m / – 450 m
Meals: breakfast – lunch – dinner
Accommodation: Overnight in a tent
Altitude end of the day: 4,650 m

We continue our tour of the Ausangate by a steep climb to Palomani pass, at almost 5 100 meters altitude, from where we have a 360° view of the surrounding mountains in the middle of lunar reliefs dominated by the glaciers surrounding the mountain. We go down again through a path in balcony, facing several glaciers, until Soraybamba.

Number of hours of walking: 7 hours
Altitude difference: +650 m / -500 m
Meals: breakfast – lunch – dinner
Accommodation: Overnight in a tent
Altitude end of the day: 4,700 m

In the morning, we pass the Jampa Pass (5,030 meters), surrounded by glacial mountains on all sides. The marked path goes up on a moraine which dominates the Campa glacier. On one side, we observe the Ausangate massif with Mount Mariposa and Mount María Huamantilla, and on the other side, the Ccallangate massif, as well as the three peaks of Pico Tres (6,093 meters). Arrived at the pass, we discover a large number of apachetas, kinds of cairns or pyramids of stones that the people of the area and the visitors of passage elaborate in offering to the apus (spirits of the mountains), to ask them protection during their trip. From the pass, it is possible to see on the horizon the Cordillera de la Urubamba, with its princess, the Verónica (5,825 meters) and the Cordillera de Vilcabamba, where reigns ”in master” the perfect pyramid of Mount Salkantay (6,271 meters). We will then descend to the mountainside to our camp at Pacchanta. Possibility of bathing in hot springs.

Number of hours of walking: 6 hours
Altitude difference: + 400 m / – 650 m
Meals: breakfast – lunch – dinner
Accommodation: overnight in tent
Altitude end of the day: 4 300 m

We leave the tranquillity of the village to reach the pass which overlooks it (4,660 m). Along the way, we cross pastures and crops under the curious gaze of the animals grazing peacefully. We pass in another valley that goes up quietly to Lake Armaccocha. This lake is located near the glacier Sura Anate (5 940 m) is ideal to approach the glacial tongues that descend nearby.

Number of hours of walking: 5 hours.
Altitude difference: + 510 m / – 250 m
Meals: breakfast – lunch – dinner
Accommodation: Overnight in tent
Altitude end of the day: 4,550 m

We leave the camp to head to the last pass of our trek (4,860 m). The climb will be gradual and will be rewarded by a sublime panorama. Indeed, we arrive overhanging the Singrenacocha lagoon. This immense moraine lake is one of the largest in the Ausangate massif; it is accompanied by many legends that our muleteers will be able to tell us at the time of the bivouac.

Number of hours of walking: 6 hours
Altitude difference: + 350 m / – 600 m
Meals: breakfast – lunch – dinner
Accommodation: in tents
Altitude end of the day: 4 300 m

We leave the tranquillity of the lake to go down into the valley. We go to the village of Mahuayani, from where the procession leads us, after about four hours of walking, to the shrine of Qoyllurit’i. We can see the ”nations” singing, dancing, and playing music to the point of exhaustion to show their religious fervour. Evening in camp.

Transport: by private vehicle (4 hours)
Accommodation: night in camp
Number of hours of walking: between 7 and 8 hours
Elevation: + 850 m
Meals: breakfast – lunch – dinner
Altitude at the end of the day: 4,650 m

Qoyllurit’i is an ancestral rite that is associated with the fertility of the land and pays tribute to the apus. It is the largest indigenous pilgrimage in Latin America. The ”brotherhoods” go towards the glaciers to bring back large blocks of ice that become ”sacred water” with which they symbolically water their land.

Accommodation: Overnight in camp
Meals: breakfast – lunch – dinner
Altitude at the end of the day: 4,650 m

We are at the heart of the most important pilgrimage of South America. After going to the glacier, the groups of dancers descend to the shrine to attend the huge Mass in front of tens of thousands of faithful. Very early in the morning, we can climb to the Sinakara Glacier where groups of dancers go in search of the snow star, which is enclosed in the bowels of the glaciers. Then we go down with the communities to the church to salute Taytacha Qoyllurit’i. Around 10 am we go to mass and take part in the blessing of Taytacha Qoyllurit’i and the farewell of the nations. Every nation returns to its community. We go to the village of Mahuayani, where our bus is waiting for us to return to Cusco.

Accommodation: overnight in camp or inn
Meals: breakfast – lunch – dinner
Altitude at the end of the day: 3 780 m

We leave for the visit of the 4 main archaeological sites located in the outskirts of Cusco: Q’enqo, Tambomachay, Pukapukara and finally Saqsayhuamán, an impressive fortress that was built on a hill overlooking the city of Cusco. It is characterized by its gigantic blocks of stones nested to the millimetre, some of which exceed 9 meters high and weigh more than 550 tons. We continue then to Plaza de Armas. End of the day free.

Transport: by private vehicle to Tambomachay (30 min)
Number of hours of walking: 3 hours
Meal: breakfast – free lunch – free dinner
Accommodation: Night at the hotel
Altitude at the end of the day: 3,350 m

In the morning, we attend the entrance to the procession of Corpus Christi. We see the representations of virgins (Virgen de la Natividad de la Almudena, Virgen de Belen, Virgen de Los Remedios, Virgen de la Inmaculada concepción, Virgen Purificada), saints (Santa Barbara, Santa Ana) and saints (San Jeronimo, San Sebastian, San Antonio Abad, Santiago, San Cristobal, San Jose, San Blas, San Pedro) leave their churches and other nearby chapels to meet on the old Aukaypata (current Place d’Armes). Some saints are carried on superbly decorated supports, weighing several hundred or even thousands of kilos. The penitents take turns, some walk barefoot. They are preceded or followed by orchestras and/or dancers and dancers, bearers of standards … They arrive finally in the cathedral of Cusco to rest there until the following day. During these two days, the dish of the day is Chiricahua (cold and spicy food composed of cuy (guinea pig), rocotos rellenos (stuffed peppers), and of course grilled corn, cheese, chicken and a tortilla with herbs, free afternoon.

Meals: breakfast – free lunch – free dinner
Accommodation: a night at the hotel
Altitude at the end of the day: 3,350 m

Road south, down the valley. We cross many villages on which time does not seem to have any influence as they are protected by the distant peak of Apu Ausangate. Entry into the region of Puna, the kingdom of ichu, local grass and favourite food of llamas, a variety of which is also, because of the strength of its fibres, the unique material to make ropes and therefore Inca bridges, fully realized from the braiding of ichu. These bridges were one of the essential elements of the incredible network of trails and communications routes set up by the Incan and pre-Columbian civilizations. We will, therefore, attend the realization of the last of these, above the Rio Apurimac which takes place once a year and whose rite of manufacture, integrally with the Inca technique, has not changed for centuries. Upon our arrival, we will see hundreds of people, worthy descendants of the Incas, wetting the ichu, braiding it to make cords that will be woven together again to make ropes the thickness of a human leg. The system of public roads Incas, and the will of extension and control of the Empire implied necessarily incredible ingenuity in order to be able to thwart the natural traps stretched by the cordillera of the Andes. They built bridges with the ichu, an incredible resistance, allowing them to pass canyons, chasms, and other peaks of several hundred meters, high or wide. So today we will attend this ancestral ceremony and more specifically the launching of the ropes of the bridge. After the braiding of these gigantic ropes, a first passed on the other side of the river. It will not serve the bridge structure itself, but rather will be a means of communication to connect the two sides of the bank, to pass coca leaves, cords and other drinks including the traditional chicha, a beer of corn fermented. Then, other ropes are thrown with great delicacy and attached to gigantic stirrups buried in the ground, to ensure good tension. The construction of the bridge is the exclusive business of men, women can not approach very closely. In contrast, the whole weaving of fibres and the manufacture of cords and ropes is performed by women. All members of the communities participate in this collective work. Incredible meetings, visions of another time as for a dive in the heart of the Inca Empire, this exceptional day has many surprises for us.

Transportation: private transport (6 hours)
Accommodation: tent or homestay
Meals: breakfast – lunch – dinner
Altitude at the end of the day: 3 700 m

The communities of Q’ewe and Chaupi separate the cords, those of Pelcaro and Huichiri bring a very dry wood intended for the establishment of the structure of the deck of the bridge, those of Huinchiri are specialists in the weaving of the bridge. Once the ropes of the base then those of the ramps attached and fixed, the realization of the bridge continues with the establishment of the apron and the joining of the ramps with the central part.

Accommodation: in tents or at the inhabitant
Meals: breakfast – lunch – dinner
Altitude at the end of the day: 3,700 m

It is a moving goodbye to these people, in the middle of a festival of folkloric dances of the different communities, coming from all the surrounding villages, with women and children and transforming this incredible region. a big party rich in colours and worth seeing. We can also visit the bridge more quietly before leaving the area and return to Cusco.

Transport: private transport (4h)
Accommodation: at the hotel
Meals: breakfast / free lunch / free dinner
Altitude at the end of the day: 3,350 m

Transfer to Cusco airport and flight to Lima. Connection with international flight.
Transport: private vehicle and domestic flight (1 h)
Meals: breakfast – free lunch – free dinner

—- END OF THE PROGRAM —–
For the smooth running of your trip, your guide may need to alter the program. He remains the sole judge and guarantor of your safety. Walking times are given as an indication and may vary from one participant to another. Some names of points of passage and localities are voluntarily modified to preserve the privacy of our hosts.