Ausangate Trek to Rainbow Mountains & Short Inca Trail 6 Days

The Ausangate Trek  + Short Inca Trail  is one of the most spectacular circuits, due to its scenic beauty. This tour is located in Cusco, one of the most visited cities in South America. The Ausangate trekking circuit is rarely visited, but it is worth doing it since you will be rewarded by the great diversity of snow-capped mountains, glacial lakes of blue, green, turquoise colors. Towns full of ancient culture, with a profound wisdom of the Andean religion inherited from the Incas.
You can also enjoy an incomparable sunrise in the Vinicunca mountain of colors, surrounded by the largest Apus or sacred mountains for the Andean peoples.

And to continue our journey, you will explore the route of the short Inca trail to the citadel of Machu Picchu; This trail is very special due to its most famous archaeological attractions, such as the royal palace of Wiñaywaya, a place where the most powerful families of the Inca empire spent their days, within the exuberant cloud forest, with a view of the Veronica mountain and the great vilcanota river. Finally, to complete this great trip, you will visit the sacred citadel of Machu Picchu, where you will be able to explore the greatest wonders of engineering and architecture left by the splendid culture of the Incas.

INCLUDED IN THE AUSANGATE TREK TO RAINBOW MOUNTAINS & SHORT INCA TRAIL HIKE 6 DAYS

• Pre-departure briefing: You will meet your guide and group in our office for an orientation before your trek. At this time, we will provide you with the duffle bags which will be carried by our horses. The meeting will be day before the trip begins.
• Transportation: All your transportation is included in this package. We will pick you up from your hotel and take you to the starting point of the trek. Once you complete the tour, we will take you back to the door of your hotel.
• Qualified guides: Our guides have dominion of English and Spanish, professional education and official certification. They will explain to you about the history, culture and environment along the trail, as well as lead the group in ancestral rituals and ceremonies. They’ll also take care of your safety, health and comfort during the trip so you can enjoy the trek worry-free.
• Porters and horsemen: They will be in charge of preparing and transferring the duffle bags of all our passengers.
• Equipment: Andean Great Treks uses the best equipment to ensure your safety and comfort. Every two people will share Salewa tents with a capacity for four people. Also, you'll have a spacious dining tent where you can enjoy your food problem-free.
• Camping equipment: We have tents for cooking and eating, as well as tables, chairs and complete kitchen equipment. All of this is transported by horses.
• 1 duffle bag: There, you can carry your personal belongings (including your sleeping bad) up to a maximum weight of 7 kg / 15 lbs.
• Pack mules: Our pack mules will transport all camping equipment, as well as your personal luggage in the canvas bag.
• Food: Our chef prepares the best dishes in the middle of the mountain. Our passengers love our food! We respect all diets, so let us know if you have any particular restrictions on your reservation form and remind your guide during the briefing. You will enjoy breakfast, lunch, and dinner, in addition to hot drinks and snacks. Every morning we will give you your snack so you can enjoy it during the walk.
• Water: Andean Great Treks will provide you with all the water you need. The water is boiled, filtered, and cooled. You must bring your water bottles or camelback. We recommend a capacity of 3 liters. You'll be able to fill your bottles during each meal.
• Meals: 5 breakfasts, 5 lunches and 4 dinners. Special menus such as vegetarian or vegan meals are available without additional costs.
• Morning tea: Every morning in our campsites, you’ll enjoy a cup of hot coca tea as soon as you wake up. It will be an excellent way to start the day.
• Tea time: In our campsites, we’ll serve you popcorn, cookies, coffee, chocolate, tea, hot water, etc. After a long day of hiking, you won’t have to wait until dinner to fill your stomach.
• Snacks (Days 1, 2, 3,4 & 5): We’ll offer you delicious snacks in a cloth bag: local fruits, cookies, chocolates, candy, etc.
• 1 cloth bag: As we’ve already mentioned, we’ll give you a cloth bag to carry your snacks. In this way, we avoid using plastic bags, which contaminate our environment.
• First aid: All Andean Great Treks guides have received specialized training in first aid. We hold mandatory training sessions with our guides every February. Your guide will always carry a first aid kit to face basic emergencies (altitude sickness, traveler's diarrhea, cuts, scrapes.) and oxygen. If necessary, we'll evacuate you from the path as quickly as possible and ensure that you arrive at a clinic for treatment.
• Entrance Tickets: To visit Ausangate Ciruit and Rainbow Mountains
• Inca trail Tickets and Permits for Machu Picchu
• Bus Tickets Machu Picchu – Aguas calientes (2 ways)
• Hotel Retama in Machu Picchu (1 night)
• Train tickets Ollantayatmbo – Aguas Calientes (round trip)
• Oxygen bottle

NOT INCLUDED:

• Sleeping Bag
• Trekking poles: You can also rent in Cusco
• Lunches and Dinner on the last day
• Clothing and personal equipment
• Travel insurance
• Tips for our team: Keep in mind that our personnel receive payment for their services, so feel free to give tips or not.
• Additional costs: There could be additional expenses, delays or modifications of the itinerary that are outside of the responsibility of the agency, such as: bag weather conditions, security or health problems, changes in government policies, political instability, strikes, etc.

• Share unique experiences with the last descendants of the Incas, you will learn their ancestral rites and traditions, hold a ceremony to Mother Earth with the sacred coca leaves
• Explore the impressive high mountain circuit of Ausangate together with the best local guides, visit glacial lakes of turquoise, red, blue colors, dazzle yourself with the colored Vinicunca mountain just for you.
• Get to know the textile tradition of the Andes of Cusco, learn the process of dyeing, warping and making ponchos, chullos and sweaters with alpaca wool, where the Quechuas embody their sacred symbolism.
• Immerse your knowledge about the agriculture of the Incas, in these towns it is possible to see this activity, where they grow the most delicious and colorful potatoes in the world.
• Walk along the ancient Inca trail, passing waterfalls and cloud forests full of beautiful orchids, enjoy beautiful views of the Wiñaywayna palace. Visit the sacred citadel of Machu Picchu and enjoy the best attraction in South America.
• Travel on one of the most beautiful train journeys in Peru, from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes the landscape offers you an infinite number of beautiful agricultural landscapes, snow mountains and typical villages of the Andes.
• Connect your senses with nature in the short inca trail, and enjoy the beautiful flowers of orchids, waterfalls and the aroma of pure air.

This trip is rated as Vigorous . Trip members need to be strong, experienced hikers in excellent physical condition. Most days are spent at high altitude (7,000'-17,000’). For the trekking portion, we will remain at elevations between 14,000'-16,986' and sleeping as high as 15,797'. Most days we hike 5–7.5 miles with average elevation gains of 1500' and elevation losses of up to 3000', some of which are quite steep. Upon arrival in Peru, you should be capable of hiking up to 8 miles, averaging 2 miles per hour, without major discomfort over terrain with some steep grades for multiple days in succession. To help combat the effects of altitude, incorporate hills and stairs into your training.

High Mountain Camping Tents (3 nights):
On our Ausangate trekking adventures, we use the best outdoor trekking gear. Our camping tents have the best technology to withstand the harshest climates in the Andes. They are Tents that have a capacity for three people, but are only used by 2 people. For your comfort, an inflatable mattress and additional blankets are provided to insulate you from the cold. Because it is always different to experience the true spirit of Trekking, our company maintains that idea of not using Lodges or huts as other companies do.

RETAMA MACHU PICCHU (1 night):

The Hotel Hotel Retama Machupicchu is located, 700 meters from the hot springs of Machu Picchu, it is the most beautiful and quiet area of ​​the town, in the Wiñaywayna Park located three blocks from the Peru Rail station, overlooking the river and the moutains; It offers free WiFi and a tour desk. The accommodation offers luggage storage and a currency exchange service. Room service, 45-inch plasma AOC TV, 24-hour hot water, Hair dryer, Towels for thermal baths, Buffet breakfast.

The best time to visit Peru is during the dry season, between May and November, when the weather is dry and bright, with more frequent rainfall occurring between November and April.