Level           : Challenging hike (You need to be well acclimatized)
Duration      : 1 Day
Season                  : April to December
Location      : Ausangate area by Cusipata
Departures  : Every Day Upon request
Distances     : 8 km (round-trip hiking distance)
High Altitude         : 5040 masl / 16535 ft (Vinicunca)

This new route by Cusipata is an exceptional way to get the well-known Vinicunca Mountain, which enables trekkers to discover everything about the magical area of Rainbow Mountain where we will appreciate multicolored hills, astonishing ice-glaciers and herds of alpacas and llamas; also we will explore the Red Valley located at half kilometer from Vinicunca Mountain.

The Cusipata route follows a different valley away from the regular Rainbow Mountain trips (by Pitumarca), this trek is ideal to avoid all the crowds and enjoy the peaceful local villages combined with the great mountain scenery; besides these benefits, this route is shorter than the traditional way by Pitumarca (80 km shorter / round-trip) which allows passengers to depart from Cusco after taking breakfast at the hotel.

ITINERARY:

DAY 1: CUSCO – CUSIPATA – LLAQTO – VINICUNCA:

After breakfast, we will pick you up from your hotel and set out on a drive through the South Valley, following the asphalt road towards Puno; before arriving to Cusipata village (3320masl / 10892 ft) we will turn to the left and go on by unpaved path until reach Llaqto (4640 masl / 15223 ft) where we will arrive after almost 3 hours driving from Cusco. At this point, we will meet our horses and muleteers who will accompany us during the hiking.

At Llaqto we will start hiking uphill until get the Rainbow Mountain, along the way we will be surprised by herds of alpacas and llamas, also the astonishing views of the Inca and Huasaqocha snowcap Mountains which will accompany us all the way; after almost 1 ½ hours hiking, we will be rewarded for our efforts when we finally reach the amazing Vinicunca (known as the rainbow mountain, 5040 masl / 16535 ft) with its colorful layers of rock sediment (turquoise, orange, brown and red), time to relax and take pictures.

After visiting Vinicunca, we will explore the Red Valley (to see the amazing red color hills) which is located at half kilometer from Vinicunca Mountain.

Starting of the downhill hike towards LLaqto where we will arrive after 1 hour.

Time to enjoy the picnic lunch with an impressive view of the Inca and Huasaqocha Snowcap Mountains.

Finally we will board our private transport to return to Cusco where we will arrive after almost 2 ½ hours driving.

 DISTANCES:

• Distance from Cusco to Cusipata: 82 km (paved route by bus)
• Distance from Cusipata to Llaqto:  25 km (unpaved route by bus)
• Distance from Llaqto to Vinicunca: 4 km (hiking)
• Lowest elevation: (3320masl / 10892 ft) Cusipata
• Highest Elevation: (5,040 masl 16535 ft) Vinicunca
• Distance to hike: 8 km round-trip
• Average walking Time: 4 hours round-trip
• Average driving time: 5 hours round-trip

PRICE INCLUDES:

• Orientation meeting in Cusco (previous to departure date).
• Private transportation Cusco – (Llaqto) beginning point of trekking – Cusco
• Professional bilingual guide (English – Spanish), additional cost for other languages.
• Picnic lunch and snack
• Dining tent with tables and chairs
• Toilet tent
• An emergency seat horse and a muleteer
• Entrance fee to Vinicunca mountain and the Red Valley
• First-aid kit with oxygen
• Shortwave radios
• Environmental care (all the garbage goes back to Cusco, portable toilet treatment).

PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE:

• Extra services not mentioned in the program
• Tips and extra expenses
• Walking stick (passengers MUST take it)
• Extra seat horse (cost: $35)