AUSANGATE TREK 5DAYS-4NIGHTS

2018 DEPARTURES

Price per person: US$523 (Group tour)
Price upon Request: (Private tour)
The tour INCLUDES land tourist transportation from Cusco hotel to Tinki village start of the Trekking, the combined entrance ticket to Tinki and campsite fees, English-Spanish speaking guide for 05Days Trekking, horses and porters to carry all the camping equipment, all meals & accommodation in tents, land tourist transportation back from Tinki to Cusco and others. Besides pre-trip information + organization and all local taxes. There are not hidden extras in our prices. Other local companies 2016 prices 05DAYS-04NIGHTS AUSANGATE TREK, by group service: US$665 (2016), US$550 (2016), US$610 (2016). The price includes all money transfer fees. For full details see below.

DAY 1: CUSCO – TINKI – UPIS:
Early morning our driver and guide will pick you up from your hotel and take you to the village of Tinki, which will take us about 04 hours, located at the foot of the Vilcanota Mountain. On the way we will pass the small villages of the South Valley as Urcos, Catcca and Ocongate. We reach in Tinki (4000m/13120ft) a small village on the high plains (altiplano) where we meet our porters or mule-drivers (arrieros) that will carry our camping equipment and backpacks. Lunch included during trek. Then a 5hrs trek, which will begin from Tinki, following a wide gently climb path towards the northwest side of the Ausangate Mountain, we arrive to Hotsprings of Upis (4435m/14547ft) our first campsite; surrounded by snow-capped mountains. From here we get marvelous views of the Ausangate Mountain (6,350m/20830ft) and also enjoy the hotsprings. Dinner included in tents. Overnight in Upis.

• Land transport: Cusco – Tinki 4 hrs
• Walking distance: 16 Km/ 9.9 miles
• Estimated walking time: 4 – 5 hrs
• Accommodation: Camping tents
• Weather conditions: Cold, rainy December-March, dry
• Trail Conditions: Rocky, narrow, slippery (trekking shoes required)

DAY 2: UPIS – PUQAQOCHA – AUSANGATE QOCHA:
Breakfast included in tents. Then 2:30hrs trek to get Arapa pass (4,850m/15910ft), from here you will enjoy wonderful views of snowy peaks which belong to the Andean mountain range (cordillera de los Andes). We continue for about 3:30hrs with our hiking, starting to descend, passing the multi-colored glacial lakes (Pukaqocha, Hatunpukaqocha, and Qomerqocha) and waterfalls. Lunch included during the trek. Then a trek on a long and slow ascent, taking us to the second Mountain pass, the abra Apuchata (4850m/15910ft), from where we start to descend, for about half an hour, until our campsite at Ausangateqocha. Some days it can be heard ice falling (avalancha) into the lake from its sides. (We are not in any danger, because our campsite is far away from the lake). Dinner in tents. Overnight in Ausangateqocha.

• Walking distance: 17 km/ 9.9 miles
• Estimated walking time: 7 hrs
• Maximum altitude: 4,850m/15910ft
• Accommodation: Camping tents
• Weather conditions: Cold, rainy December-March, dry
• Trail Conditions: Rocky, narrow, slippery

DAY 3: AUSANGATE QOCHA – FINAYA – JAMPA:
Breakfast included in tents. We start to climb from Ausangateqocha for about 2hrs towards the pass Abra Palomani (5200m/17055ft) the highest point of the entire hike, from here we start to descend for 2hrs into the valley through the lands of Finaya, where can be seen llamas, alpacas and vizcachas (Andean squirrel-rabbit with long tail), also native crops and friendly people, to reach in Pampacancha (4050m/13285ft). Lunch included during trek. Follow the path for about 3hrs uphill, which will take us to Jampa community (4300m/14105ft), our campsite. On the way can be seen sometimes some pumas (mountain lion). In the afternoon enjoy the view to the spectacular snowy peaks of Quinsapunta or three Peaks Mountain (6093m/19985ft) and Puca punta or red peak Mountain. Dinner in tents. Overnight in Jampa.

• Walking distance: 16 km/ 9.9 miles
• Estimated walking time: 6 – 7 hrs
• Maximum altitude: 5200m/17055ft
• Accommodation: Camping tents
• Weather conditions: Cold, rainy December-March, dry
• Trail conditions: Rocky, narrow, slippery

DAY 4: JAMPA – QOMERQOCHA – PACHANTA:
Breakfast included in tents. Our hiking is for about 2hrs uphill until the Jampa pass (5000m/16400ft), place surrounded by lakes, huge snow-capped mountains, also we can have the chance to see the Andean deer. We walk down for about 3hrs passing Qomerqocha lake, towards Pachanta (4250m/13940ft), where on the way can be seen many herds of grazing llamas and alpacas, living together with the mountains. We reach to Pachanta, our last camping, where we have lunch near the village. Afternoon free time to enjoy the hotsprings. Dinner in tents. Overnight in Pachanta.

• Walking distance: 14 km/ 8.7 miles
• Estimated walking time: 6 – 7 Hrs
• Maximum altitude: 5000m/16400ft
• Accommodation: Camping tents
• Weather conditions: Cold, rainy or dry
• Trail Conditions: Rocky, dusty and slippery

DAY 5: PANCHANTA – TINKI – CUSCO:
Breakfast included in tents. Morning 3hrs hiking back to the small village of Tinki, across open fields which allow us the final views of Ausangate Mountain. We reach in Tinki village, where we can will enjoy a delicious Pachamanca, and Andean way of cooking underground (with soil blocks). Finally after to enjoy our spectacular journey, a trekking over the Andes, we take our transport back to Cusco, arriving approx. around 5pm. Then transfer to our hotels.

• Walking distance: 8 km/ 5 miles
• Estimated walking time: 3 – 4 hrs
• Maximum altitude: 4250m/13940ft
• Weather conditions: Cold, rainy December-March, dry
• Trail Conditions: Rocky, dusty, slippery
• Land transport: Tinki – Cusco 4 hrs

WHAT IS INCUDED: The tour INCLUDES land tourist transportation & escort guide from Cusco hotel to Tinki village (start of the Trekking), the combined entrance ticket to Tinki and campsite fees, English-Spanish speaking guide for 05Days Trekking, horses and porters to carry all the camping equipment (spacious sleeping tents, sleeping bags, pillows, double thickness foam sleeping mattress, cooking equipment, dining tent, kitchen tent, tables and chairs), horses for riding in emergency cases, 7kg personal luggage allowance to put on the horses, experienced cook, all meals (4 breakfast, 5 lunches, 4 dinners), food (includes fresh fruit, avocados, fish, chicken, meat, pancakes, omelettes, pasta, soup and rice) recommended for trekking journeys, also hot drinks as coca tea and coffee, filtered drinking boiled water, land tourist transportation back from Tinki village to Cusco. Besides pre-trip information + organization and all local taxes. There are no hidden extras in our prices. Our company, in shared operation with our partner in Cusco provides for our guest comfortable Tents as Eureka, North Face or Doite, in single & double occupancy, besides oxygen & first aid kit, exclusive for foreign.

NOT INCLUDED: Breakfast (1° day) but it can be offered early morning in some hotels in Cusco, sleeping bags for the trekking, dinner at the end of the tour (5° day), we recommend in Cusco where there are restaurants. Optional gratuities for the guide, cook and porters. Our staff is well paid so tipping is voluntary, as desired.
Note: In private or group tour insurance coverage is not included during trekking.

USEFUL INFORMATION:

You can see that in Rumbo Explora we have developed for you tailor-made itineraries with the best price as competitive as possible, providing an excellent service and paying our guides 10% above the legal wage agreed with association of the tour guides – Cusco. Our staff are some of the best paid in Cusco & Machupicchu, which allows us to attract only the Best Tour Guides and Land Transportation with national permit, to none other local company, that can only provide a cheaper price by providing a far inferior service and saving on staff costs, ¿How? Hiring tour guides in training without experience and not paying them, besides avoiding taxes to government.

Big Travel companies from Europe, North America, Australia and others work with the Peruvian Tour Operators located in Lima-Peru, who work as middlemen receiving from them good prices from the Tours & Packages, and paying to us 40 to 50% minor the normal price, besides 2 to 3 months delayed, being this the reason that Rumbo Explora have decided to offer tours & packages directly to travelers.

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Camping Equipment – Ausangate Trek

TENTS & LAMPS FOR OUR CLIENTS:
All of our tents are made of waterproof materials. Rumbo Explora, in shared operation with our partner in Cusco offer deluxe & private services for our demanding clients, supplying solar-powered lamps, for giving an excellent service at night, thus substitute the gas lamps currently employed for group tours by many local companies. The camping equipment with some brands or models:

• Eureka Tunnel Vision – larger groups
• Eureka Timberline 4 Outfitter – double occupancy
• Eureka Timberline 2XT – single occupancy
• Eureka K2XT – double & single occupancy
• Eureka Equinox – single occupancy
• The North Face VE25 – double & single occupancy
• Doite Cima 4 – single & double occupancy
• Doite Kailas 3 – single & double occupancy
• Doite Himalaya – single & double occupancy

TENTS & LAMPS FOR OUR STAFF (GUIDES, COOKS AND PORTERS):
Tents, sleeping bags, sleeping foams, rain ponchos and shoes for our staff are manufactured in Peru. We can guarantee the comfort of our staff during the excursion. For deluxe private Ausangate Trek our company, in shared operation with our partner in Cusco supply solar-powered lamps for our staff, to give an excellent service at night, thus substitute the gas lamps currently employed in group tours by many local companies.

COLLECTIVE TENTS:
For Salkantay Trek program it is employed dining tents, kitchen tents, and shower tents available. Additional to camping equipment we have porter backpacks, support belts, shoes, duffle bags, porter jackets, all manufactured in Peru. Besides our partner in Cusco have provided free insurance for all Ausangate Trek staff, we can guarantee that our staff are well paid in Cusco region, we consider them as the absolute minimum requirements for treating our camp staff fairly and as human beings.

SLEEPING MATS/PADS & SLEEPING BAGS:
For giving a top comfort service for all our clients at Salkantay Trek we work widely with three layers of orthopedic foamy pads, to guarantee a good rest, after a long hiking.
Our company, in shared operation with our partner in Cusco provide for our guests clean and comfortable sleeping bags (eureka), who offers different models in remote areas far away from city for different temperatures.

KITCHEN EQUIPMENT / TABLEWARE & CUTLERY:
For ensuring a maximum hygiene and the best service possible, our company, in shared operation with our partner in Cusco buy all fresh produce and food directly from local markets, where we can find out fresh fruits, meat, fish, potatoes, vegetables and others. Also it is employed for Inca Trail cutlery which is stainless steel, dishes, cups and glassware made in China, as Ausangate Mountain is located in the Andes, in remote areas far away from Cusco city, the weather is cold and plastic equipment not good. Besides the kitchen is equipped also with ovens, exclusive for our clients.

WATER FILTERS FACILITIES:
Rumbo Explora guarantee all meals and food along the journey. Travellers do not have to bring water purification tablets or water filters on the trek. Be sure that we operate in areas where water source is clean besides it is filtered for cooking and boiled for drinking purposes, and it is regularly monitored, for not put our clients’ health at risk. We use biodegradable soup and detergent, in shared operation with our partner in Cusco, exclusive for clients of Rumbo Explora.

ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSABILITY:
Toilet facilities: As Ausangate Trek program takes several days, our company, in shared operation with our partner in Cusco employ (toilet tent) portable toilet facilities including biodegradable bags (manufactured in United States). Some organic wastes are taken out and buried in remote areas far away from Trail, or carried back to Cusco. On the journey of Ausangate Trekking there are not proper flush toilets.
In Cusco & Machupicchu: On the Ausangate Trek (protected area) is not allowed drop-off rubbish or polluting the environment that is why our Company put in operation the collecting of garbage from all our excursions where we operate following the Peruvian regulations, respecting the protection to environment.
In Puno & Lake Titicaca: Rumbo Explora recommends to all our drivers during the excursions, put on tourist transportations and motor boats a small rubbish bin and all this will be taken to the garbage collector and then to the Municipal dump, to avoid the pollution in Lake Titicaca region.
In Arequipa & Colca Valley: As the excursion to Colca Valley takes 02Days or more, people carry water in plastic bottles for several days, which produces garbage against the environment. We decided to collect all wastes possible from all our tours, especially from our Trekking program in Colca Valley where we operate, taking back to Arequipa to send to Municipal dump.
Lima & Nazca-Paracas and other places: Lima, Nazca and Paracas are towns located on the desert, where the temperature in summer gets warm up to 30°-35° degrees, and wastes produce contamination. We suggest to all our visitors put the wastes into the rubbish bin.

FOR EMERGENCIES – FIRST-AID-KITS & OXYGEN BOTTLES:
Inca Trail program, Salkantay, Ausangate, Lares Treks and others implies downs and ups along the trekking and not medical centers, in some areas our clients will cross hiking over 4300m/14,100feet, is our priority to carry for emergencies oxygen & first aid kit, exclusive for foreign. Our guides are trained in first aid, and we can guarantee the trekking for the Inca Trail program and all treks where we operate. In a future not far away we will provide satellite phone as a priority for our services on Inca Trail program, exclusive for our clients and staff, just for emergencies.