Best of the Andes: The peaks of Ausangate to Aconcagua – 16 Days

Early in the morning, you’ll leave Cusco to begin this Peru adventure. On a bus ride along the Vilcanota River Valley, and on to the town of Checacupe. After a visit to its Colonial Church of the Immaculate Conception, you’ll start ascending the Pitumarca Valley, through the spectacular Japura Gorge that leads to Chillca, we will start the trek near the Ausangate Community, from there we will see the south face of the sacred Ausangate Mountain, as we continue towards the red sandstone formations of the “Nevado del Inca“. Accommodation: Camping Anantapata Maximum Altitude: 4750 masl / 15580 fasl Approximate Walking Time: 3 hrs Approximate Driving Time: 4 hrs Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast, we take the trail to another mountain pass. Dropping down, we’ll hike by Lake Kayrawiri, surrounded by rugged mountain peaks and the great valley below. Striations of color are imbedded in the hillsides. Then we go on to Cerro Laya Grande via the massive glacier del Inca, and the most striking colors in the sediments of Yauricunca. This area is called ‘montana arcoiris’ by the locals, and often referred to as ‘Rainbow Mountain’ by visitors, the spectacular colours make for amazing photography. We lunch here in this unique landscape. On our way, we see hundreds of Andean geese nesting in the cliffs of Anta, and the flatiron formations of Apu Labrayani near Huampococha Tambo, where you’ll spend the night at the Camino del Apu Ausangate. Accommodation: Camping Huampococha Maximum Altitude: 4980 masl / 16388 fasl Approximate Walking Time: 7 hrs Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After a last climb over the Anta pass, we will gradually make our descent. In this section the first crops and houses come into view. The landscape changes quickly as the red sandstone formations are followed by the carsten erosion of limestone, forming a one of a kind stone forest, and a perfect habitat for “vizcacha” (members of the chinchilla family). By the time we get down the valley, we’ll continue to head towards Pacchanta. Maximum Altitude: 4900 masl / 16100 fasl Approximate Walking Time: 4 hrs Approximate Driving Time: 3 hrs Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Leaving at 3am you’ll have a light breakfast, it is necessary to attack a mountain at dawn. You’ll leave the base camp and in 2 hours of ascent by moraine arriving at the glacier, where we prepare ourselves with the mountain equipment to enter the glacier. Within about 3 hours on the glacier you’ll reach the summit of the Qampa mountain which is 5,500 meters above sea level. Taking half an hour on the summit to rest and enjoy the high Andean landscapes, surrounded by much of the snowy mountains of the Cordillera Vilcanota. The descent to the base camp will take a further 3 hrs, where lunch will be taken and you’ll have the whole afternoon free to relax and reflect on an epic climb. Accommodation: Camping Base Camp Maximum Altitude: 5,500 masl / 18044 fasl Approximate Walking Time: 8 hrs Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Leaving at 9am for Pacchanta after breakfast, arriving at Pacchanta in about 3 hours where there’ll be the option to enter the thermal baths and buy handicrafts from Pacchanta and then have lunch and return to the City of Cusco where by around 6pm you’ll be dropped to your hotels, and you can spend the evening relaxing and recalling a great route! Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Accommodation: Cusco, 3* Hotel

Today you’ll take a series of Domestic Flights : 1. Cusco – 2. Lima – 3. Santiago – 4. Mendoza. Day 5 is a day spent in Mendoza fixing paperwork in readiness for the summit climb of Aconcagua. Overnight Mendoza

On arrival into Penitentes we’ll load our mules with the equipment required for the high camps. Starting off from Pentitentes you’ll trek for around 3-4 hrs. The trek paths are very dry and dusty, but always surrounded by the backdrop of the stunning range of Andean mountains. Glimpses of Aconcagua are present on the first day. You’ll reach camp at Confluencia after only a few hours trekking. Accommodation: Camping Confluencia Maximum Altitude: 2,950 masl / 9678 fasl Approximate Walking Time: 3-4 hrs Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Today it’s a very early start with breakfast before departure. You’ll begin the trek very early at around 7:00 am, today the estimated trekking time is 8-10 hrs. Today is a fairly long stretch, but always accompanied by mules being driven through the Horcones Valley. Lots of water, sunglasses, headwear and sunscreen is vital for this day. On arrival to base camp at the ‘Plaza de Mulas‘ you’ll have a place to stop and rest before the push to the summit. Accommodation: Camping Plaza de Mulas Maximum Altitude: 4,500 masl / 14764 fasl Approximate Walking Time: 8-10 hrs Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Taking breakfast before departure. You’ll initiate the ascent towards the direction of the first advanced camp, this is ‘Plaza Canada’. The trekking time is from 3 to 4 hrs. Installation of Camp, the night will be cold but it’s important to be prepared with very good equipment. Accommodation: Camping Canada Maximum Altitude: 4,910 masl / 16108 fasl Approximate Walking Time: 3-4 hrs Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Taking breakfast before departure. You’ll continue the ascent to the second camp, ‘Nido de Condores’. An impressive sight awaits of the Andes mountain range. You are high enough (over three miles above the Pacific) to grandstand above the smaller part of the Andes. Trekking from 2-4 hrs. Installation of camp. Accommodation: Camp Nido de Condores Maximum Altitude: 5,450 masl / 17880 fasl Approximate Walking Time: 2-4 hrs Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Taking breakfast before departure. Ascent to the third high field “Camp Colera”. Time estimated from 2-4 hrs. Installation of the High Field camp. This is a very important day, to rest early in the evening and take a light dinner. Accommodation: Camp Colera Maximum Altitude: 5,870 masl / 19258 fasl Approximate Walking Time: 2-4 hrs Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

This day begins at 4:00 am, with breakfast. You’ll climb the North Edge up to the refuge Independence, located at around 6,450 m. It is in this place where the sunbeams reach us for the first time during this day. You’ll encounter the ” Portezuelo of the Wind “, where you must face strong winds even in days of relative calmness. From there voyaging on the top part of the West face and climb ” The Canaleta “, a channel of 300 mts. that leads us to the summit edge. After The Canaleta, the ” Edge of the Gump ” represents an easy voyage up to the summit. The latter part normally takes us an hour. From the edge of the Gump we can observe directly under our feet the 3,000 mts. of vertical ice and rock of the South Wall of Aconcagua, considered to be one of the biggest walls of the world. At the summit is the ultimate prize: a sight of 360 º and the experience of personal feelings and indescribable emotions, which only are understood by experiencing it for yourself. The satisfaction of reaching your aim, coupled with the termination of the expedition, mean it is time to begin the ascent and make your way back to Mendoza. It is necessary to save some of your energy for the descent back to the ‘Plaza de Mulas’. Accommodation: Camp Plaza de Mulas Maximum Altitude: 6,962 masl / 22841 fasl Approximate Walking Time: 8-10 hrs Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Leaving early in the morning after a good breakfast you’ll head back to Penitentes from the Plaza de Mulas, where transport will be waiting to transport us back to Mendoza for onward connecting flights.