Today we leave Cusco behind as we head south on the Trans-Oceanic Highway for a three-hour journey to the Ausangate Hike to Sibinacocha Lake trailhead. Our first stop is Urcos where we can snap some photos of the colorful local market. From here we continue on to Ccatcca, an agricultural and cattle-raising community which will give us spectacular views of the region.

After, we continue on to Ocongate, capital of the region with the same name, and just a half hour from our destination, Tinqui. Once we arrive in Tinqui, we will have lunch and then start a 3-hour hike by the road to Pacchanta (4100m/ 13,451ft), where we will camp for the night. Pacchanta is a rural community that boasts some well-known hot springs where we can enjoy a nice dip, under the shadow of the imposing Ausangate Mountain.

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 casually grazing on the hillsides around us, until we reach Ninaparayoc lagoon where we will stop for lunch. This is a spectacular spot with incredible views of all the major 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 about 3 hours towards the first mountain pass of our trek, the Abra de Q’ampa (also called Jampa), at a breathtaking (literally!) 5060 meters / 16,601 feet. With our batteries charged and spirits replenished, we continue another 2 hours until we reach Jampa Pampa where we set up camp in an impressive valley overlooked by the huge and awesome Tres Picos, Colquecruz, and Pucapunta peaks.

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 boasts an explosion of colored mountains, three gorgeous lagoons and a smattering 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 bellies full, we’re ready to meet the challenge that awaits: the Abra del Condor, or Condor Pass (5221m / 17,129ft), and the highest point on our Ausangate hike to Sibinacocha trek! As we reach our first milestone of the day, we’re rewarded with spectacular views of the Vilcanota mountain range and maybe even some wild vicuñas!.

The glacial-fed Sibinacocha Lake – our next destination – looms in the distance. It’s three hours from here to Sibinacocha, and we’ll cross another mountain pass and a valley before we get there. We’ll camp alongside the dark blue waters of the lagoon, not far from its glacial source. This is an area rich in biodiversity and with any luck, we’ll spot plenty of huallatas or Andean geese, coots, and ducks as they visit the waters near our campsite.

From our lakeside camp, we start out walking along the shores of Sibinacocha Lake until we reach Yayamari nestled beneath 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’re lucky!) until we reach the Abra Ccascana (5040m / 16,535ft). Surrounded by snow-capped peaks Montura and Chumpi, we reach Ccascana lagoon, where we will camp for the night.

We may be treated to more Andean wildlife in this spot, including Andean geese and maybe even flamingos!.

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

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

Phinaya is a small Andean community with a beautiful church and zero traffic besides horses and the occasional bicycle. Here we will have lunch before we start our long journey home by private vehicle.

We expect to reach Cusco after dark, after about 6 hours of driving.