Caminata Ausangate a Sibinacocha 6D/5N

After a good night's rest, we start the day with a slight climb up the Pacchanta valley in the company of llamas and alpacas that graze casually on the slopes around us, until we reach the Ninaparayoc lagoon where we will stop for lunch. This is a spectacular place with incredible views of the main snow-capped peaks around us: Ausangate, Santa Catalina, Maria Huamantiqlla, Pucapunta and Colquecruz - see if you can name them all!

After lunch, we will hike for approximately 3 hours to the first mountain pass of our trek, the Abra de Q'ampa (also called Jampa), at an impressive (literally!) 5060 m / 16,601 ft. With our batteries charged and spirits replenished, we continue for another 2 h until we reach Jampa Pampa, where we camp in an impressive valley overlooking the huge and impressive peaks of Tres Picos, Colquecruz and Pucapunta.

Our morning begins with a gradual climb up to Yanaqocha ("black lake" in Quechua), whose dark color gives it its name. Dark red and black volcanic soils color our journey, while moraines reveal the geological history of this region: glaciers once covered these slopes! We enter a beautiful valley that features an explosion of colorful mountains, three beautiful lagoons and a handful of fuzzy llamas and alpacas. After crossing this valley, we reach our next mountain pass (5100m / 16,732ft) and then continue on to Quillita where we will camp for the night.

Well rested and with full bellies, we are ready to face the challenge ahead: the Abra del Condor or Condor Pass (5221 m / 17,129 ft), and the highest point on our Ausangate to Sibinacocha trek! As we reach our first milestone of the day, we are rewarded with spectacular views of the Vilcanota mountain range and maybe even some wild vicuñas. Glacier-fed Lake Sibinacocha, our next destination, looms in the distance. It is three hours from here to Sibinacocha, and we will cross another mountain pass and valley before we get there. We will camp by the dark blue waters of the lagoon, not far from its glacial source. This is an area rich in biodiversity and, with luck, we will see many Andean geese, coots and ducks as they visit the waters near our campsite.

From our lakeside campsite, we start walking along the shores of Lake Sibinacocha until we reach Yayamari, located below the rocky mountain of the same name.

From here, we cross the pampa where we are likely to see hundreds of llamas, alpacas and vicuñas (if we are lucky!) until we reach Abra Ccascana (5040 m / 16,535 ft). Surrounded by snow-capped peaks such as Montura and Chumpi, we arrive at the Ccascana Lagoon, where we will camp for the night.

We may be treated to more Andean wildlife here, including Andean geese and even flamingos.

Looking for more adventure? add an extra day and do the Yayamari Scramble, a non-technical climb of this shale-covered peak!

Our last day of the Ausangate to Lake Sibinacocha trek sees us leave Lake Ccascana as we make the 3.5 hour hike to Phinaya.

Phinaya is a small Andean community with a beautiful church and zero traffic, plus horses and occasionally bicycles. Here we will have lunch before beginning our long drive home by private vehicle.

We expect to arrive in Cusco after sunset, after approximately 6 hours of driving.