AUSANGATE & SIBINACOCHA

DAY 1: CUSCO – OCONGATE – TINKI COMMUNITY

We depart Cusco in private transport and head toward the community of Tinki (3,800 m / 12,464 ft). Along the way, we make a brief stop in Urcos to admire its beautiful lagoon and continue to Cattca, a viewpoint offering sweeping panoramas of the Andes. We then pass through Ocongate, the district’s capital, located only 30 minutes from our final destination. After approximately six hours of travel, we arrive at Tinki, where we settle into our first campsite and prepare to begin our trek the following morning.

DAY 2: TINKI – PACCHANTA – QOMERQOCHA LAGOON

After breakfast, we visit the local public school in Tinki, meeting children from surrounding communities who study there.
We then begin a 2.5-hour hike toward Pacchanta (4,100 m / 13,448 ft), a charming rural village known for its therapeutic hot springs—an ideal stop for lunch and a rejuvenating soak with spectacular views of Ausangate.
In the afternoon, our gentle ascent continues through the Pacchanta Valley, passing herds of llamas and alpacas until we reach the serene Qomerqocha Lagoon. Here we set camp, surrounded by one of the most privileged viewpoints of the Ausangate massif.

DAY 3: QOMERQOCHA LAGOON – YANAMAYO

We leave camp around 7:00 am and begin the ascent toward the first major pass of the expedition, Abra Q’ampa (5,000 m / 16,400 ft), reached after approximately four hours.
We descend into the Ticllaqocha basin—home to a collection of turquoise lagoons—where we stop for lunch.
Afterward, we continue for another 2–3 hours until reaching Yanamayo, our next campsite, set within a striking valley watched over by the dramatic Tres Picos peaks.

DAY 4: YANAMAYO – CONDORPASO

We depart Yanamayo on a gradual climb toward Yanaqocha, or “Black Lagoon,” named for the deep, dark tone of its waters.
After crossing the Yanaqocha Pass (5,050 m / 16,564 ft), we enter an unexpectedly vibrant valley painted with multicolored mountains, dotted with lagoons, and inhabited by herds of alpacas and llamas.
We traverse this breathtaking landscape to reach another high pass (5,100 m / 16,728 ft), and after an additional hour of hiking, we arrive at Condorpass—our campsite for the evening—located near the mountain pass that will challenge us the following day.

DAY 5: CONDOR PASS – SOURCE OF SIBINACOCHA LAGOON

After breakfast, we begin a steady ascent toward Abra del Cóndor (5,200 m / 17,056 ft), reached after approximately two hours. From here, the vistas are nothing short of extraordinary: the Vilcanota mountain range unfolds before us, and the immense Sibinacocha Lagoon glimmers in the distance.
We then continue our trek for about three hours, crossing another pass before descending toward the source of the lagoon, where we establish our campsite. This area is rich in high-Andean birdlife such as coots, Andean geese (“huallatas”), and ducks—all easily observed from camp.

DAY 6: SOURCE OF SIBINACOCHA LAKE – CCASCANA

We begin early, walking along the shores of Sibinacocha for approximately three hours until reaching the remote Yayamari community (5,500 m / 18,040 ft).
We continue across broad pampas inhabited by large herds of alpacas, llamas, and—if we are fortunate—vicuñas.
From here, we ascend to Abra Ccascana (5,000 m / 16,400 ft), which leads us directly to the lagoon of the same name. This will be our final campsite, an ideal setting for observing Andean geese and possibly even flamingos.

DAY 7: CCASCANA – PHINAYA VILLAGE – RETURN TO CUSCO

After breakfast, we hike for approximately 3.5 hours toward Phinaya, a peaceful Andean settlement known for its picturesque small church. Here we enjoy lunch before meeting our private transport. In the afternoon, we travel back to Cusco, reaching the city after nightfall—concluding one of the most spectacular high-altitude journeys in the Vilcanota range.