The best way to prevent altitude sickness in Cusco is to be prepared. During your first 2 days you should take things easy. This means you shouldn’t take part in any strenuous activity. You should rest a lot and drink plenty of water. Alcohol and smoking isn’t a good idea as it can agitate you and make you feel a lot worse.

You can avoid altitude sickness by spending a few days taking it easy in Cusco before you head off on any kind of trek. Trying to do a tough activity too soon could make you very ill. You should also eat lightly and avoid alcohol to feel your best.

There’s no definite answer to this as there are many options. The Inca Trail is the most popular and needs to be booked months in advance as there are only a certain number of spots each day. The best alternative trek is considered to be Ausangate Trek, which offers a real adventure and fantastic scenery. Inca Jungle is great for those seeking a thrill and Lares is a top option if you want a quieter and more rural experience. If you have a lot of time and want to experience two incredible Inca sites, you can opt for the Choquequirao trek.

The best time to do the Ausangate Trek is between the months of May and September which coincides with the dry season. Rainfall is low and there is more chance of blue skies.

No. There are no dangerous areas or anything like that, the danger lies only in the altitude, the cold and the isolation. If you are lucky you will come across a couple of llama herders who may not even speak Spanish. In 3 days of trekking we may have met 12 people in total and 10 of them were in the same group. A week earlier some French people did it and they met ZERO people. It is assumed that we did it at the time of the year when most people do this trek.

It has no technical steps but it is a physically very hard route due to the altitude. A perfect acclimatization is necessary. Also, keep in mind that it is a very uncrowded route and in case of emergency it is very likely that you will not find anyone to help you. Of course, it is essential to have a travel insurance that includes assistance up to 5,400 meters (not all of them). If you are not sure you can do it, do not risk it, you have other routes such as the Salkantay Trek which is much easier and more accessible and very beautiful.

The Ausangate Trek is a high altitude 70km hike in the Peruvian mountains near Cusco with an average altitude of over 4000m.

Very cold. The cold can be intense, especially at night. In summer the temperature can drop to -5 or -10 degrees and there is always the possibility of a snowfall. Keep in mind that most of the time you walk above 4,000 meters above sea level.

Yes, it is not that there is not a marked path, it is that there are many and they cross each other, plus you get to esplanades where it is very easy to get disoriented. We recommend 100% the use of a GPS that works in the mountains, or an offline map. We used Maps.me and it worked for us.

To prepare for trekking at high altitudes we recommend you start to prepare a few weeks before. You should start a fitness regime that includes daily stretching and exercises, particularly for your legs. We recommend taking hikes at home weekly before you come to do the trail.

If you do feel sick, there are a few things you can try. One is to speak to your doctor before you come to see if you can get a prescription for pills to help. These can also be bought in pharmacies in Cusco. Other helpful ways are to drink coca or muna (Andean mint) tea, which have been in use since the Inca times. Small oxygen bottles are also available in pharmacies and can really help.

The coldest months in Cusco are from May to July. During this time the sun is strong in the day, but once it goes down or you spend much time in the shade, it can get very cold. It can go below zero at night, so warm clothes are a must during these months.

The best month in all the year is October. The climate is just right and the sky is usually very clear. It’s also not the busiest season so it isn’t overrun by visitors. However, anytime from May to October is a good time as it’s the dry season so you won’t get wet.

At Ausangate Trekking, we offer two variations of the Ausangate Trek, over four or five days.

The main difference is that on the 4-day trek, you’ll visit Rainbow Mountain, aka Vinicunca, which is a highly sought-after tourist destination. Do keep in mind, though, that if you opt for this trek, you’ll see more people and larger crowds when descending from Rainbow Mountain. Your time at the mountain itself will be quiet as we get there before the large groups.

The other main difference is the length and what you’ll see. Obviously, the 5-day trek is a little more challenging as it’s over more days. You’ll also get the chance to see more stunning views, visit different thermal baths, and spend more time in local communities to learn their customs and traditions.

One of the aspects you’re likely to be most amazed by is the food on the trek. Most guests mention how much they enjoyed the array of dishes prepared by our professional chefs on the route. You’ll be blown away by the food you eat in the middle of the mountains.

We know that nutrition on the routes is essential, as you need plenty of energy to get you through each day. For this reason, we worked long and hard, together with our chefs and top nutritionists to put together the most well-rounded menu possible for the Ausangate Trek.

Every time you sit down for a meal, you’ll be greeted with an array of options for you to choose what you like from and that include all the essential food groups for a well-balanced meal every time.

If you have an allergy or prefer not to eat certain foods, you don’t need to worry. All you need to do is let us know before the trek and we’ll ensure you eat as well as everyone else in your group and enjoy all the fresh and local ingredients possible.

It gets even better—we¿ll also give you a cloth bag that we provide snacks for every morning to keep you going. We also prepare a special “tea time” at every camp with tasty light bites and hot drinks to tide you over until dinner.

You can see that you certainly won’t go hungry on the Ausangate Trek and will get to try many of our traditional Peruvian dishes.

The price of the Ausangate Trek will differ depending on the company you travel with and the number of days you opt for. This is a summary of the costs when you decide to travel in a group tour with Ausangate Trekking. Prices are per person.

• AUSANGATE & RAINBOW MOUNTAIN TREK 4 DAYS — $450 USD
• AUSANGATE TREK 5 DAYS — $500 USD

Every day, you’ll walk around 6–7 hours on average. You’ll walk the furthest on day 4, but because it’s not as much uphill, it isn’t as difficult as days 2 and 3. Below is a breakdown of the distance you’ll cover on each day of the Classic Ausangate 5 Days Trek:

• DAY 1: 10 km / 6.21 miles
• DAY 2: 12.1 km / 7.5 miles
• DAY 3: 13 km / 8.1 miles
• DAY 4: 15 km / 9.3 miles
• DAY 5: 7.1 km / 4.4 miles

Yes. Most definitely! The Ausangate Trek is one of the best alternative routes in the Cusco region. This trek is especially suited to those who like to get off-the-beaten-path and escape the large crowds on some of the more popular trails.

You’ll be rewarded with some of the most incredible scenery imaginable after relatively difficult days of trekking. Expect to see snowy mountain peaks, crystalline lagoons, and plenty of local flora and fauna.