Alternative Inca Trail & Ausangate Trek

PER-98 / 17-day trip / Grade: T2-T3

Alternative Inca Trail & Ausangate Trek

Peru was the heart of the Inca empire, which expanded along the Andes and Amazon, creating one of the most vast territories ruled by a single civilization. The Incas built a huge network of trails and paths to link the cities, towns, production areas and sacred places. This program contains a selection of two of what we considered to be the most representative trails in the Cusco area: A hidden gem (and an alternative to the Classical Inca Trail or to the Salcantay Route) called “Tomacaya Trek” in the Vilcabamba range and the Ausangate trek in the Vilcanota range. Both are beautiful routes, one with a focus on the Inca period and the infrastructure built over the changing landscape and the other travels isolated high-altitude mountain passes of astonishing beauty and remote local communities living pretty much like their forefathers did during their Spanish conquest. The itinerary starts after a good acclimatization in the historic city of Cusco, where the traveller will get a first introduction to the Inca world.
There is also a full-day acclimatization hike where we will reach 4400 m high on a trail that leads to Huchuy-Qosqo means Little Cusco.
The Tomacaya trail follows a series of beautiful valleys in the Vilcabamba range, ascending close to 4900 meters and then dropping down the Urubamba River’s shores, ending at the starting point of Classical Inca Trail (Km. 82). From here, transfer to Ollantaytambo. From this place a train to Aguas Calientes to visit the famous Machu Picchu, before a well-earned rest in Cusco, before starting the second part of the program. The Ausangate trek remains a bit of a secret gem among other more famous and better-known itineraries. Nevertheless, it is one of the best in Peru and definitely an experience for intermediate and experienced trekkers. Located in the Vilcanota mountain range, only 100 km. South-East from the city of Cusco, it offers an authentic natural and social scenery to please the most demanding traveller. Vilcanota has several snowcapped high peaks of various technical difficulties, among them the highest summit in the region: Ausangate (6384 m) a holy place in the local beliefs. Our program not only includes these amazing treks, but it also visits the famous Vinicunca or Rainbow Mountain, located on a side valley of the Ausangate range. This additional day, provides the opportunity to enjoy this unique geological phenomenon, giving a more global insight into what the region and culture has to offer. Do not miss this once-in-a-lifetime experience!


Day 1Arrival in Lima
Day 2Lima to Cusco
Day 3City tour in Cusco
Day 4Acclimatization hike (4400 m): Trek to Huchuy-Qosqo
Day 5Cusco – Tocobamba (3700 m). Trek to Tinkoq (4154 m)
Day 6Tinkoq – Tinkoq Pass (4700 m) – Tocto Pass (4900 m) – Canal Inca (3800 m)
Day 7Canal Inca – Paucarcancha – Llactapata/Meskay (2650 m)
Day 8Meskay – Pistakucho (km 82) – Ollantaytambo (2845 m) – Aguas Calientes (2050 m)
Day 9Machu Picchu (2420 m) – Return to Cusco
Day 10Cusco free day
Day 11Cusco – Upis (4450 m)
Day 12Hatun Pucacocha Lake (4500 m)
Day 13Anantapata (4650 m)
Day 14Rainbow Mountain/Vinicunca (5030 m) & Ausangatecocha (4650 m)
Day 15Jampa (4700 m)
Day 16Pacchanta (4300 m) – Cusco
Day 17Cusco – Lima – Departure
Tags: Aguas Calientes, tomacaya, Pacchanta, Pampacahuana, Inca, Upis, Tocto Pass, Ausangate, Tinki, Trekking, Meskay, Cordillera Vilcanota, Palomani, Pampaccahuana, Cusco Area, Ollantaytambo, Pistakucho, Cordillera Vilcabamba, Anantapata, Km 82, Jampa, Yanacocha, Machu Picchu, Tinkoq, Macchu-Picchu, Rainbow Mountain, Peru, Huchuy Qosqo, Vinicunca, Cusco, Acclimatization hike, Hatun Pucacocha