Cordillera Ausangate Lodge trek, Peru
Description of Cordillera Ausangate Lodge trek, Peru
Trek through the Cordillera Vilcanota, staying in cosy Andean lodges run by the local Chillca community. Over the following five days you'll pass the Rainbow Mountain as well as Ausangate, the most sacred mountain in the Cusco region and guardian of this pristine ecosystem.
Due to the altitude, you’ll need to spend a few days acclimatising beforehand in Cusco before heading to Chillca, via the Temple of the Immaculate in Checacupe. Here you’ll have your first taste of community life as you stay in your first tambo, a mountain lodge, with a relaxed evening of hearty Andean cuisine and entertainment from local musicians.
in fact you'll enjoy the warm welcome of a cosy, community-owned lodge every night on this trek. Comfortable double or twin rooms with private bathrooms and hot showers will leave you feeling refreshed for the day ahead, even if you've spent the night dancing and singing with your local hosts.
Day two takes you to the Upis Valley, shadowed by majestic glaciated mountains, and lined with waterfalls. The surrounding landscape is dotted with llamas and alpacas. The following day you’ll make a demanding crossing of the Palomani pass, heading down towards Ausangatecocha and the stunning red sandstone formations of the Nevado del Inca.
On day four you’ll get your first sight of the ‘Rainbow Mountain’, in an area of immense geological splendour that’s rife with colour. You’ll overnight next to a lagoon where Andean geese nest, and on the final day descend from the mountains into a ‘limestone forest’ where chinchillas poke their curious faces out to monitor your progress. Even hardened trekkers will find this trip difficult to forget.
Best time for trekking: April to October
Average daily hikes of six hours, covering approximately 15km
Recommended to spend 3-4 days in Cusco before you begin
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Responsible Travel
Planet
From the outset, the design and construction of the lodges aimed to minimise their environmental impact through the use of alternative technologies and resource-management practices.Biodegradable detergents are used in the bathrooms and restaurants, while human waste is processed through biodigesters. The anaerobic digestion process produces a nutrient-rich by-product that can be used as fertiliser, and the system could potentially be adapted in the future to produce biogas. Organic residues are collected in the community of Chillca and treated for composting, while inorganic materials are transported to a recycling facility near Cusco.
The lodges and their staff promote awareness of the local environment among community members. The use of llamas as pack animals also maintains a traditional form of transport while providing employment opportunities for local people.
The lodges purchase fresh, locally produced food and prioritise local products over imported goods where possible. This supports local producers and encourages the use of Andean ingredients in the cuisine.
The trek uses permanent lodges rather than seasonal campsites, reducing the need for temporary infrastructure. Waste is further reduced by selecting products with minimal packaging, ensuring that no litter is left along the routes and protecting local water sources from contamination. The trekking routes follow established and historic herding paths, limiting the need to create new trails.
We continue to contribute to a reforestation programme in Peru, which aims to plant one million native trees on Andean slopes. The programme is intended to address deforestation and contribute to the retention and restoration of Andean forest.
People
The trek is one of a small number of tourism projects in Latin America that directly involve small holders and shepherding communities as partners in a commercial enterprise. Through labour contributions, land valuation and direct investment, the Chillca community owns almost one-fifth of the company's shares. Profits generated by the enterprise are intended to support improvements in education and living conditions within the community.The project has created 24 full-time jobs and 30 or more temporary employment opportunities. It also provides a market for alpaca meat and fleece products and traditional woven textiles produced by women from Chillca and Osefina. During the first year, the direct employment created was expected to generate approximately USD 60,000 in salaries.
The project also aims to increase the involvement of community members in professional roles, with the intention that professional services would eventually be provided by members of the local communities.
Since 2006, we have supported the Huchuy Yachaq community project in the Hermanos Ayar neighbourhood on the outskirts of Cusco. The project was established by volunteer social workers and teachers and provides children with study and recreational activities, as well as holiday programmes. Donations have supported educational books and games, furniture, improvements to the community-owned building, the installation of functioning toilets, school materials and holiday activities.
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