If you want to see the absolute best mountains in the Cusco region without spending an entire week sleeping in a tent this ausangate trek 2 days is exactly what you need. We combined the insanely colorful slopes of Vinicunca with the quiet peaceful glacier waters of the 7 lagunas ausangate and rainbow mountain circuit. This awesome 2 day rainbow mountain tour gets you out of the crowded day trip buses and lets you actually enjoy the high altitude scenery at your own pace.
We keep our groups small and our guides are super knowledgeable about the local geography ensuring your ausangate trek tour feels like a fun road trip with friends. You get to hike right up to the famous striped mountain walk through the striking Red Valley and wake up the next day to hike around seven wildly different colored lakes right at the base of a massive glacier. If you are browsing for the best rainbow mountain cusco peru experience this overnight trip hits the perfect sweet spot between physical challenge and epic scenery.
Standout Moments of Your Mountain Trip
- Vinicunca Rainbow Mountain Walk right up to the world famous striped mountain early in the morning before the massive crowds arrive
- The Hidden Red Valley Take a totally surreal hike through valleys that look like you just landed on the surface of Mars
- The Seven Glacier Lakes Spend your second day walking past seven beautiful lagoons reflecting the massive snowy peaks above
- Pacchanta Hot Springs Soak your tired hiking legs in completely natural hot thermal pools surrounded by freezing mountain air
- Overnight Camping Sleep comfortably under one of the clearest and most starry night skies you will ever see in your life
Overview
Experience the Epic Ausangate Trek 2 Days to Rainbow Mountain
Rainbow Mountain is easily one of the most mind blowing places you will ever see in your life. The entire surface is covered in massive natural stripes of red green blue and purple dropping straight down into the Vilcanota mountain range. Sitting at a staggering 5200 meters above sea level this spot usually gets packed with heavy crowds. But booking this specific ausangate trek 2 days allows you to arrive early in the morning way before the massive tourist buses show up giving you the whole mountain to yourself for epic photos.
The crazy colors on Vinicunca are entirely natural. For thousands of years heavy glaciers covered these peaks pushing deep minerals right into the soil. As the ice melted away recently it left behind this incredible painted landscape completely surrounded by the striking Red Valley. Walking through this high altitude area feels exactly like stepping onto another planet.
Hiking the 7 Lagunas Ausangate and Rainbow Mountain
This awesome 2 day rainbow mountain tour does not just stop at the colorful dirt slopes. You also get to explore the legendary glacier lakes sitting right at the base of the massive Ausangate snow peak which is the highest mountain in the entire Cusco region. You will walk past seven wildly different colored lagoons named Azul Cocha Oqecocha Pucacocha Alqacocha Qomercocha Morococha and Otorongo. The massive contrast between the bright red mountains and the freezing turquoise water is something you simply have to see in person.
Smart Altitude Prep and Why Hike With Our Local Team
Because this ausangate hike and rainbow mountain trip goes up to some serious elevation we strongly suggest spending a few days hanging out in Cusco city first. Letting your body adjust to the thin mountain air makes the whole trekking experience much more fun and keeps altitude sickness far away.
We are a dedicated group of professional local guides and founders who know these specific trails better than anyone else in the region. When you book your ausangate trek tour with us you are getting years of high mountain guiding experience top tier safety equipment and deep knowledge about the Andean culture. We love showing travelers the real side of the Andes ensuring you get unique insights about the history and traditions of every single place you visit without feeling like just another tourist.
Itinerary
Detailed Ausangate 2 Day Trek Itinerary
We pick you up early from your hotel and drive out to the trailhead at Llacto where our chef has a massive breakfast ready. We hit the trail and walk straight toward the famous Rainbow Mountain getting there before the massive day trip crowds show up. After soaking in the crazy colors we take a detour through the striking Red Valley. We grab a hearty lunch and drive over to the tiny village of Pacchanta where we set up our campsite for the night right under the stars.
- Starting Elevation 4326 meters or 14189 feet
- Highest Elevation 5200 meters or 17060 feet at Vinicunca
- Walking Time Roughly four hours of total hiking
- Lodging Cozy mountain camping in Pacchanta village
Wake up to a hot cup of coffee and a huge mountain breakfast. We leave camp and walk into the peaceful valleys right at the base of the massive Ausangate glacier. We spend the morning walking past seven wildly different colored lakes keeping an eye out for wild vicuñas and massive condors flying overhead. We head back to Pacchanta for a great lunch and you even have time to soak your tired legs in the local hot springs before we load up the van and drive safely back to Cusco.
- Highest Elevation 4600 meters or 15091 feet around the lakes
- Walking Time Roughly five hours of scenic hiking
- Afternoon Activity Relaxing in the natural hot thermal baths
- Arrival Time Safe drop off at your Cusco hotel around five in the afternoon
Inclusions
What is Included in Your Ausangate Trip
We handle all the heavy lifting and tricky logistics so you just get to enjoy the hike and the crazy beautiful views.
- Professional Local Guides who speak great English and are fully trained in high altitude safety and first aid
- Safe Tourist Transportation covering your pick up from your Cusco hotel the drive between trailheads and your ride back
- All Entrance Tickets fully paying for your access to Rainbow Mountain the Red Valley and the Ausangate park
- Premium Mountain Camping including a high quality four season tent and a thick comfortable foam sleeping pad
- Fresh Chef Prepared Meals covering breakfast lunch and dinner on day one plus breakfast and lunch on day two
- Pack Horses and Handlers who will carry all the heavy camping gear and food supplies from spot to spot
What is Not Included
We keep our pricing totally transparent. Here are the few items you need to cover on your own.
- Extreme Cold Sleeping Bags which you need to bring yourself or easily rent a high quality winter bag directly from our office
- Hot Springs Entrance Fee requiring a small cash payment directly to the local community if you want to soak in the thermal pools
- Tips and Gratuities which are totally optional but a great way to say thank you to your hardworking guide and chef
Packing List
Crucial Packing List for the High Altitude Mountains
The ausangate trek weather changes constantly. You will be sweating while hiking up the hills but the wind is freezing when you stop. Here is exactly what you need to bring.
- Original Passport carried in a waterproof bag since you need it for the official park checkpoints
- Warm Winter Layers including a thick fleece jacket thermal underwear and cozy sleepwear to handle the freezing night at camp
- Sun Protection like a wide brimmed hat polarized sunglasses and SPF 50 sunscreen to fight the aggressive high altitude solar radiation
- Comfortable Hiking Boots giving you solid grip to safely walk the steep rocky pathways without getting massive blisters
- Swimsuit and Towel so you can actually jump into the hot springs and warm your muscles up after the long hike
Price
Pricing for Your Mountain Trek
We offer highly competitive rates while paying our local chefs and guides fairly providing excellent service all around.
Small Group Tour Fun and Social
- 2 to 3 People 310 USD Per person
- 4 or more People 290 USD Per person
- Children and students 280 USD Per person
Our shared group service is perfect for travelers wanting to meet other people while keeping costs manageable. We strictly limit our group sizes so the guide can keep a close eye on everyone making sure nobody gets left behind.
Exclusive Private Tour
- 2 to 3 People 370 USD Per person
- 4 or more People 350 USD Per person
- Children and students 340 USD Per person
We specialize in highly personalized private trips. If you want to explore entirely at your own pace booking a private ausangate hike and rainbow mountain tour is the way to go. This option gives you a dedicated guide meaning you control the photo stops and hiking speed.
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions about the Rainbow Mountain & Ausangate 7 Lakes Trek
We get a lot of questions about how hard this hike is and what to expect. Here is everything you need to know before hitting the trail.
What is the maximum altitude of the Rainbow Mountain Ausangate 7 Lakes tour?
The highest point reaches approximately 5,200 meters (17,060 ft) at Vinicunca (Rainbow Mountain).
What is the difficulty level of this trek?
It is rated moderate difficulty, suitable for travelers with good fitness and some hiking experience.
When should I acclimatize before starting the trek?
We recommend spending 1–2 days in Cusco prior to the tour to acclimatize to altitude and reduce the risk of altitude sickness.
What gear should I bring?
Recommended gear:
Original passport
Camera and extra batteries
Sunglasses, hat
High–SPF sunscreen (60 or 70+)
Water bottle and snacks
Layered clothing (thermal, warm layers)
Waterproof jacket / poncho
Change of clothes
Chargers, batteries
How hard is the ausangate trek difficulty
Because this is a rainbow mountain 2 day trek you are breaking up the hiking which makes it much easier than trying to cram everything into one single day. However you are still hiking up to five thousand two hundred meters which makes your lungs work incredibly hard. We rate the overall ausangate trek difficulty as moderate to challenging depending entirely on how well you acclimatize in Cusco beforehand.
What should I expect from the ausangate trek weather
The ausangate trek weather is totally wild and changes by the minute. If you hike during the dry season from May to October you will get bright sunny days but the nights will be brutally cold dropping well below freezing. During the rainy season you might catch some snow or rain while walking. No matter what month you book you absolutely need to pack a warm jacket and a solid rain poncho just in case.
When looking at the ausangate trek vs salkantay trek which is better
This is a super common question. If you are comparing the ausangate trek vs salkantay trek it really comes down to what you want to see. Salkantay is a four or five day hike that ends directly at Machu Picchu taking you through snowy passes and down into warm jungle environments. Ausangate does not go to Machu Picchu but it offers way more colorful mountains hundreds of alpacas and glacier lakes with a fraction of the crowds.