Day Highlight: Conquering the high mountain pass with sweeping views across multi-tiered ecological microclimates.
We pick you up at your hotel at 04:00 a.m. and drive for approximately 3 hours to Qanchipacha, where we have our hot breakfast prepared by our professional chef. Then we continue driving 20 minutes more until the trailhead where we will pack our belongings and go over the itinerary. We will begin our expedition at high altitude in the morning passing local houses, lush pampas and hundreds of llamas and alpacas.
Our destination to get passes to Pucacocha from where we have a grand view of the Ausangate glacier (the highest peak in Cusco 6,370 Msnm. / 20,000 ft.). After savoring the glacier and the colorful tarns (mountain lake or pond), we descend to our campsite and have a delicious lunch. As the sun sets, our staff set up the dining tent with chairs so you can unwind and savor playing soccer at over 4700 meters / 15,200 feet, if you can while dinner is being prepared by our private cook. Tonight you will observe a indelible night sky full of southern constellations.
Day Technical Data:
Timing: Early morning start with well-spaced afternoon transitions.
Terrain: Variable mountain stone paving, compacted soil paths, and loose gravel slopes.
Physical Effort: Moderate to demanding exertion adapted to traveler acclimatization.
Transport Profile: Private van pickup from Cusco hotel and dedicated linking transfers.
