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.
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
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
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.
Additional Information for Your Trek
Taking a trip over five thousand meters requires a bit of prep. Here is how to make sure you have a great time up in the high Andes.
Beating the High Altitude
You are going up incredibly high so giving your body time to adjust is the smartest thing you can do.
- Take it Easy Spend at least two full days hanging out in Cusco before you start this trek to let your lungs adapt to the thin air
- Stay Hydrated Drink way more water than you normally do because high altitude dehydrates you incredibly fast
- Listen to Your Guide If you feel dizzy or get a headache tell your guide immediately so they can help you out with oxygen or natural coca tea
What to Expect at Camp
We make camping as comfortable as possible but you are still out in the wild mountains.
- Cold Nights As soon as the sun goes down the temperature drops below freezing so having a heavy winter sleeping bag is mandatory
- Great Food You will be amazed at what our chefs can cook on a mountain. Expect hot soups fresh vegetables and plenty of carbs to keep your energy up
- Bathroom Setup We set up a private portable toilet tent at the campsite for our group so you do not have to wander far in the dark
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.
The highest point reaches approximately 5,200 meters (17,060 ft) at Vinicunca (Rainbow Mountain).
It is rated moderate difficulty, suitable for travelers with good fitness and some hiking experience.
We recommend spending 1–2 days in Cusco prior to the tour to acclimatize to altitude and reduce the risk of altitude sickness.
Recommended gear:
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Original passport
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Camera and extra batteries
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Sunglasses, hat
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High–SPF sunscreen (60 or 70+)
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Water bottle and snacks
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Layered clothing (thermal, warm layers)
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Waterproof jacket / poncho
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Change of clothes
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Chargers, batteries
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.
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.
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.
