Ausangate
Cusco

Ausangate

Cold and dry, with strong sun during the day and freezing temperatures at night. Rainy season runs November to March. Best time to visit: April to October (dry season) 3 tours available

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About this Destination

Ausangate is one of the most sacred and awe-inspiring mountains in the Peruvian Andes, rising to 6,384 meters (20,945 ft) southeast of Cusco. Revered by Andean communities as a powerful Apu (mountain spirit), it dominates a remote high-altitude landscape of glaciers, turquoise lagoons, hot springs, and herds of alpacas and llamas grazing across golden plains.

The region around Ausangate is best known for the multi-day trekking circuit that encircles the mountain, as well as for shorter day trips to nearby highlights such as Rainbow Mountain (Vinicunca) and the turquoise waters of Singrenacocha Lagoon. Traditional Quechua-speaking communities still live throughout the valleys, herding alpacas and weaving textiles using techniques passed down for generations.

Because of its altitude and remoteness, a visit to Ausangate rewards travelers with some of the most dramatic, least-crowded scenery in the Cusco region — but it also demands good acclimatization and proper gear for high-altitude weather.

Tours in Ausangate