Self-Launched Ausangate Circuit Trek (5 Days)
5 days · Ausangate, Cusco Region, Peru
Vidal Expeditions charges £490
No-markup version: ~£315 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of Vidal Expeditions' fully guided 5-day Ausangate trek, done independently from Cusco. You'll catch a local bus to Tinqui, hire a muleteer/arriero in the village to carry your pack (the standard local arrangement, ~£20-25 per day), and walk the classic circuit past the Upis hot springs, Arapa and Apacheta passes, the 5,200m Palomani pass and the coloured lakes before soaking in Pacchanta's thermal pools. Navigation is straightforward on this well-trodden route but you should carry a GPS app (Maps.me / Gaia GPS offline maps), be well acclimatised in Cusco first, and budget for the S/70 community trek fee. Costs below are rough per-person estimates for one traveller joining local services; total excludes flights to Peru and any Cusco day-trip add-ons.
Day-by-day
Cusco to Tinqui, trek to Upis hot springs
Cusco → Tinqui → Upis
Leave Cusco early (around 05:30-06:00) on a local combi or shared minibus from Avenida Grau / Terminal Santiago toward Urcos, then change to a local bus or shared taxi up to Tinqui (~4-5 hours total, S/25-40). In Tinqui, register at the community office and pay the S/70 trek fee, then arrange a muleteer and mules for the next four days — expect roughly S/90-110 per day for the arriero and S/25-30 per mule; sharing with another trekker halves this. Walk 4-5 hours up the valley to the Upis hot springs, where there's a basic campsite and the springs themselves.
🚌Local combi Cusco–Urcos (~S/8, 1.5-2 h), then local bus/shared taxi Urcos–Tinqui (~S/10-15, 2-3 h). No private van needed.
🛏Camp at Upis hot springs campsite (bring your own tent/sleeping bag to ~-5°C rating); ~S/15-20 per person camping fee
- →Pay community trek fee in Tinqui (S/70)
- →Hire local muleteer and mules directly in Tinqui
- →Trek Tinqui–Upis (~4-5 h)
- →Soak in Upis thermal springs
Upis to Apacheta over Arapa and Apacheta passes
Upis → Arapa Pass → Apacheta
A big day over two passes — Arapa and Apacheta — with magnificent views of the turquoise lakes Puqa Q'ocha, Jatun Puqa Q'ocha and Laguna Ausangate Q'ocha, and Ausangate itself looming overhead. Follow the obvious trail and the arriero's mules; if your arriero goes ahead, agree a clear lunch stop and camp location in the morning. Campsite at Apacheta is exposed and cold — pitch your tent sheltered and fill water from streams (treat or filter).
🚌On foot, 7-8 hours (mules carry bags)
🛏Camp at Apacheta (~4,600 m); camping fee ~S/10-15
- →Cross Arapa Pass
- →Cross Apacheta Pass
- →Photograph the turquoise lake chain below Ausangate
Apacheta to Río Q'ampa valley via Palomani Pass (5,200 m)
Apacheta → Palomani Pass → Pampa Jutunpata → Río Q'ampa
The high point of the trek: a gradual, breathless climb to Palomani Pass at 5,200 m, with the option to make your own small offering to Pachamama with coca leaves (buy a small bag in Cusco for a few soles). Descend past Tres Picos and Puca Punta through Pampa Jutunpata to camp in the Río Q'ampa valley. Start early — afternoon cloud and hail are common. Go slowly at altitude and take a rest day in Cusco beforehand if you've just flown in.
🚌On foot, 6-7 hours
🛏Camp in Río Q'ampa valley (~4,500 m); camping fee ~S/10-15
- →Summit Palomani Pass (5,200 m)
- →Personal Pachamama coca-leaf offering
- →Walk through Pampa Jutunpata to the Río Q'ampa valley
Q'ampa Pass to Pacchanta thermal springs
Río Q'ampa → Q'ampa Pass → Pacchanta
Climb to the Q'ampa Pass at 5,000 m and drop down past the coloured lakes (including Q'oma Q'ocha) toward the village of Pacchanta. Settle your muleteer here and soak in the village's outdoor thermal pools (small entry fee) with views of Ausangate. Camp in Pacchanta's field or, for a warmer night, take a bed in one of the simple family hospedajes in the village (S/30-50).
🚌On foot, 5-6 hours
🛏Camp at Pacchanta (~S/10-15) or basic family hospedaje S/30-50
- →Cross Q'ampa Pass (5,000 m)
- →View the coloured glacial lakes
- →Soak in Pacchanta thermal springs
- →Optional: sleep in a village hospedaje instead of camping
Pacchanta to Tinqui and back to Cusco
Pacchanta → Tinqui → Cusco
A relaxed 3-hour walk down to Tinqui, where you can grab a village lunch (a local soup and trout meal is a few soles). Catch a local bus or shared taxi down to Urcos and onward combi to Cusco, arriving late afternoon/early evening near the Plaza de Armas. Budget a flexible day — connections from Tinqui can be slow, and on occasion you may need to hitch or share a taxi to Urcos for S/20-30.
🚌On foot 3 h, then local bus/shared taxi Tinqui–Urcos (~S/10-15) and combi Urcos–Cusco (~S/8-10)
🛏Back in Cusco — hostel dorm in San Blas or Centro ~£10-15/night
- →Trek Pacchanta–Tinqui
- →Explore Tinqui village and eat a village lunch
- →Return to Cusco by local transport
Self-launched vs. Vidal Expeditions
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Vidal Expeditions | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£315 | £490 |
| Duration | 5 days | 5 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £175 per person (36%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Vidal Expeditions-style trips? Check them out here.~£315
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Self-Launched Ausangate Circuit Trek (5 Days) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £315 per person for 5 days in Ausangate, Cusco Region, Peru. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Vidal Expeditions?+
Yes — Vidal Expeditions charges around £490 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £315 — a saving of roughly £175 (36%) per person.
How long is the Ausangate, Cusco Region, Peru trip?+
This itinerary runs 5 days, covering 5 day-by-day stops through Ausangate, Cusco Region, Peru.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, hiking, budget trip through Ausangate, Cusco Region, Peru, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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