We will pick you up from your hotel in Cusco promptly at 7 am with our private van, and drive for about 4 1/2 hours through pretty little towns and villages until we arrive at Pacchanta, right at the entrance to the trail circling the sacred mountain.

Once we have arrived at this high altitude village, we will enjoy a delicious traditional Peruvian meal prepared by our expert cooks, and relax for the evening exploring the town and soaking in the hot spring baths.

A little distance from the village center lives a family with alpacas of 30 different colors. You may wish to visit the farmer’s assortment of of curious stone formations he has collected over the years. We will end the day recounting the myths and legends of this sacred mountain before retiring to our tents for the night.

On this first day of hiking, we wake you early with a mug of hot coca leaf tea in your tent, followed by a satisfying breakfast. The trail climbs gently and moderately for the first hours, as we pass between the great Apu King Ausangate and his Ñusta, the Queen mountain Qayangate. We will arrive at “Pachaspata” for lunch where, tucked between the mountain pair, we will offer a traditional Andean ceremony, praying for good weather and protection along our path, as well as blessings for our lives.

As we continue to climb, we will see a group of colorful lakes with wild birds such as native ducks, geese, eagles and falcons. After reaching the Jampa Pass at 5,100 meters (16,700 ft.), the path descends gently until we reach our campsite “Suraqocha” beside rushing mountain streams.

Waking up again to a hot mug of coca leaf tea in our tents, we begin our trek after breakfast, with a more challenging day ahead. After an hour of moderate hiking, we begin an ascent to the second pass, the highest point along our trail, called the “Palomani Pass” at 5,200 meters (17,060 ft.) At this dizzying height, we will be at the closest point to the peak of the sacred mountain, where we will feel like we can practically touch the sky.

This highest point, where the altitude may be challenging, is where we will teach you an Andean breathing practice that connects you to the grounding energy of Pachamama and fortifies your sense of balance.

Afterwards, we climb steadily down to an encampment beside Ausangate Q’ocha, where we can hunt for a stone that the mountain may offer us as a gift for our mesas (the ceremonial bundle that Andean shamans use for healing ceremonies.)

After awakening with our daily hot coca leaf tea and a substantial breakfast, we begin our hike with a steep ascent to the third pass at 4.850 meters (15,750 ft.), followed by a steady descent, passing by many beautiful multi-colored lakes and herds of llamas and alpacas.

Once we arrive beside the blue lake of Pukaq’ocha, we will relax with a delicious lunch. There we will teach you an Andean traditional shamanic practice to release the heavy energy that holds us back from our highest good, and receive the light energy that nourishes and uplifts us.

With satisfied bellies, we continue to circle the great peak of the mountain until we arrive at the picturesque town of Upis. After we have set up our tents and had a light supper, we can relieve our sore muscles in the village hot baths, gazing upon a most majestic view of the sacred mountain of “Apu Ausangate.”

This day begins like all others, with an early mug of that daily hot tea to warm the fingers from the chill of the frosty altitude. We need to get on the trail rather quickly to get back to Pacchanta and board the van to Cusco. Fortunately, our sore limbs will find great comfort in the mostly gentle, rolling hike with more pretty scenery before we descend to the town where a hot lunch awaits you.

Before bidding farewell to the sacred mountain Ausangate, we will offer k’intus with prayers of gratitude for the blessings the great Apu has given us. For those learning the path of the Andean healer, we will perform a ritual to consecrate the stone, or “kuya”, that the mountain may have given you for your mesa.

After lunch the ride to Cusco will be filled with sharing photos, recounting memorable moments, messaging friends, and a welcome rest for tired feet.