Ausangate to Laguna Sibinacocha 6D

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Duration: 6 Days / 5 Nights
Availability : Every Day.
Depart: Tinqui
Destination: Cusco
Min Age : 10
Max People : 12

About the Ausangate to Laguna Sibinacocha Hike

Our Laguna Sibinacocha trek is an unforgettable trail for nature lovers and those seeking to get off the beaten path. Leave the crowds behind as you deviate from the normal Ausangate route and take in the majestic Sibinacocha Lake. 

Note: Due to the extreme high altitude of this trek, you MUST spend at least 3 days acclimatizating before beginning the hike.

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See a side of Ausangate that few people get to see. This is your chance to really commune with nature and appreciate the Ausangate region in all its glory!

Our 6 day Ausangate Sibinacocha Lake trek starts with a 3 hour drive south from Cusco along the Trans-Oceanic highway. Arriving in Tinke, it’s another 3 hours to hike to Pacchanta where we camp for the first night.

The next 4 days are filled with a series of stunning, jewel-like glacial lakes set against a backdrop of endless snow-capped peaks as you hike the Ausangate circuit towards Lake Sibinacocha. Along the way you’ll cross a whopping 5 passes, all above 5000m (16,404 ft).

Throughout our entire trip you’ll be amazed by the spectacular mountain views and the abundant wildlife: geese, llamas, alpacas, vicuñas, possibly even flamingoes!

For the extra fit adventure-seekers, on Day 5 you have the option to add a non-technical scramble up Cerro Yayamari!

The Ausangate to Laguna Sibinacocha hike ends at Phinaya on Day 6, a remote Andean community free of vehicles other than horses and the occasional bike. From Phinaya it’s a 6 hour drive back to Cusco, where we will leave you at your hotel.

We treat our staff right!

The Andean treks around Cusco are notorious for the mistreatment of porters, mules and other trail staff who are asked to carry more than government regulation allow. At Apus Peru, we do things differently, going above and beyond these minimums. Read more about how we take care of all our staff, including porters and horsemen.

Laguna Sibinacocha 6 Day Trek Highlights

  • Spectacular mountain views, hot springs, and gorgeous glacial lakes – often just outside your tent!
  • Abundant Andean wildlife, including geese, ducks, alpacas, llamas and possibly even vicuñas!
  • Optional scramble up Cerro Yayamari for extra adventure!
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Price

Prices are per person in USD, based on group size. We do not have fixed-date group departures. If you do not want to book a private trek, please see our Trekkers Wanted page for a list of open departures within your dates.

2 people

$1849

3 people

$1395

4-6 people

$1085

7+ people

$929
WHY BOOK WITH US?

High quality personalized experience

Unique, off-the-beaten track routes

Experienced staff

Verified sustainability practices

$20 of every trek donated to Threads of Peru

Important Details About the Ausangate Sibinacocha Trek

What is Included?

Accommodations

  • Tent: 2 people in a 4-person tent, allowing for greater comfort and backpack storage!
  • Camping pillows
  • Basic foam mattress. If you require greater comfort during the trek we can rent you an inflatable mattress. See Optional Extras & Upgrades below.
  • Toilet tent

Meals

  • Cook and cooking equipment, plus assistants for larger groups.
  • Dining tent with camp tables and chairs, and kitchen tent for the cook to prepare meals
  • Meals as indicated in the itinerary. Our professional cooks prepare a combination of traditional Peruvian and Western cuisine. Talk to your Travel Consultant during the booking process if you have certain preferences! Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options available. When served, salads are washed in boiled water.
  • Filtered and/or boiled water (which you can carry in your own reusable water bottle on the trail)

Transport

  • Collection from your hotel on the morning of the Ausangate hike to Sibinacocha
  • Private transport from Cusco to the trailhead and return at the end of the trek

Trekking Team

  • English/Quechua/Spanish speaking professional guide, plus an assistant guide for groups over 8
  • Horses and horsemen, who carry camping equipment, food and kitchen utensils. We provide duffel bags at your briefing for your personal items (up to 10kg/22lbs per person).
  • Tents, sleeping bags and mattresses for our staff to sleep in, plus a budget for their meals

Safety

  • 1 emergency horse which can be ridden if you are feeling ill or if you are a little slower
  • First aid kit including emergency oxygen bottle

Additional inclusions

  • Pre-trek briefing
  • Entry fee to Ausangate Mountain

What is Not Included?

Meals

  • Breakfast on the first morning
  • Dinner on the last night

Equipment

  • Sleeping bags. Available for rent if you don’t have one with you. Sleeping bags good to at least -15˚C (5˚F) are recommended.
  • Additional horses for your personal luggage

Optional Activities

  • Cerro Yayamari scramble (let us know at booking if you would like to add this!

Other

  • Tips for the guide, cook and muleteers
  • Flights to/from Cusco
  • Travel Insurance

Optional Extras & Upgrades

We offer you the opportunity to personalize your trek and make your experience more comfortable through our Optional Extras and Upgrades. All options are available during the reservation process; please ask your sales consultant for more information.

Equipment Available for Rent

  • Extra horse to carry luggage exceeding the allowed 10kg (22lbs) per person
  • Extra horse for you to ride, and horseman to lead it
  • Sleeping Bag suitable for -5˚C
  • Deluxe sleeping bag suitable for -15˚C
  • Light-weight aluminum walking stick. Two sticks are recommended for tough hikes.
  • Thermarest inflatable mattress

Service Upgrades

Optional Activities

Important!

  • When calculating the cost of renting equipment, calculate using the length of the entire trip, not just the number of trekking days.
  • Please be careful with rented equipment! You are responsible for the cost of replacement if something is damaged or broken.
  • Any upgrades or trip extensions must be requested at time of booking.

What to Pack for the Sibinacocha Lake Trek

The 6 day Ausangate to Laguna Sibinacocha trek is a high elevation trek. It will be cold especially at night, with temperatures reaching sub-zero. In the winter months of May to August temperatures can reach as low as -15°C (5°F)!

To make sure you’re adequately prepared, we recommend that you bring the following items with you:

  • A warm fleece or down jacket is your best friend at this elevation. The icy cold winds coming off the Ausangate mountain can make the already low temperatures feel even colder!
  • Thermals are especially important for when temperatures plummet in the evenings.
  • Comfortable hiking trousers
  • A waterproof jacket or rain poncho is also important. It may rain or snow at any given time in the high Andes, even in the dry season!
  • Water-resistant trekking boots are a must for this adventurous hike to protect your feet from the tough terrain as well as to keep them dry. Bring extra socks too!
  • The sun is vicious at this elevation even when it is cloudy, so please don’t forget to bring a high factor (SPF) sunscreen, a sun hat and sunglasses.
  • You will need a daypack to carry your necessary items for each day’s hiking.
  • A headlamp or torch for the remote campsites.
  • Swimwear so that you can enjoy the hot springs along the route.

For more packing recommendations, check out our blog How to Prepare for a Trek in Peru. Also see our comprehensive guidelines on What to Bring for a trek in the Andes.

Available Discounts

  • Students: USD $30 off, in certain circumstances. Please enquire for details about eligibility.
  • Youth 12-17: 5% off. A valid passport must be presented upon booking.
  • Children 5-11 years: 15% off. A valid passport must be presented upon booking.
  • Children 0-4 years: Free. A valid passport must be presented upon booking. Children under 4 will not count towards the total number of guests in a group. Car seats, cribs and other baby needs may not be included and must be discussed in advance. For more information about travelling with infants and toddlers, please see this blog as well as the Age Requirements section of our Booking Conditions.
  • 5% off a day tour listed price when you also book a 3-day or longer trek operated by Apus Peru

Guides & Safety on the Sibinacocha Lake Trek

All of our guides are experts on trekking in this remote region. The team is carefully chosen for their experience and personality so that you have the best possible time on your trek. In addition to being fully licensed, we provide our guides with extra training every year, including mountain rescue and first aid.

Meet our team!

Apus Peru is one of a select group of trek operators that put people above profit. Chief among our priorities is safety on the trail. This is why we have a comprehensive risk assessment policy that covers a lot of the potential problems we could face on the trek and how to mitigate them, including altitude sickness, injuries and evacuation procedures.

Please note that, in an abundance of caution, we will not operate certain treks during the rainy season. This is due to safety considerations as heavy rains can make the trails unsafe, especially in the Ausangate region.

Trekkers Wanted

Want to join an Ausangate Sibinacocha Lake trek? Ready to confirm a departure date of your own, but interested in having others join you? Then Trekkers Wanted is for you! Our innovative Trekkers Wanted system matches people up who are interested in hiking the same trek, bringing costs down and multiplying the fun for everyone!

Read More about Trekkers Wanted, post your trek or search for confirmed departures!

Important Info

  • Each guide has their own preferred route and so the route you trek might not correspond exactly to the route described here.
  • The times cited in this itinerary are approximate. Walking times depend on the group, and the guide may change lunch spots and campsites, depending on the progress of the group.
  • The Ausangate to Laguna Sibinacocha 6 day hike is at a very high altitude, and, you’ll be hiking close to glaciers and snow-covered mountains. Translation: it’s very cold! Temperatures can fall well below freezing at night. We strongly recommend using a sleeping bag good for at least -15˚C (5˚F).
  • The Sibinacocha Lake route is a totally off-the-beaten path trek, and tourist infrastructure is very limited. Instead, we’ll be making use of local facilities where possible.
  • This is a true adventure and things may not go exactly according to plan! Keep an open mind and let yourself enjoy the cultural differences you may experience. There is always an opportunity to learn something!

Ready to Book?

  • Does this trek sound like just what you were looking for? If you’re ready to book or just want to find out a bit more information, fill out the Inquiry Form in the top right-hand corner of this page to get the ball rolling. You’ll be connected with one of our amazing sales people who will be able to turn your dream of hiking in the Andes into a reality. For more information on the entire booking process, please see our How To Book page.
  • Travel insurance is a must! World Nomads offers travel insurance for adventure activities.

Ausangate Hike to Sibinacocha 6 Day Itinerary

Day 1Cusco - Tinke - Pacchanta

      • Total Walking Distance: 10km
      • Total Walking Time: 3.5 h
      • Minimum Altitude: 3800m (12,467 ft) / Maximum Altitude: 4100m (13,451 ft)
      • Altitude of Camp: 4100m (13,451 ft)
      • Approx. Night Temp: 0°C (32°F)

Day 1 of our Laguna Sibinacocha hike begins with a pick-up from your hotel in Cusco. We head south on the Trans-Oceanic Highway for a three-hour journey towards the 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 that, we continue on to Ocongate, capital of the region of the same name, and just a half hour from our destination, Tinke.

Once we arrive in Tinke (also spelled Tinki or Tinqui), we will have lunch and then start a 3-hour hike along the road to Pacchanta (4100m / 13,451 ft), where we will camp for the night. Pacchanta is a rural community that boasts some well-known hot springs where we might be able to enjoy a nice dip under the shadow of the imposing Ausangate Mountain.

Day 2Pacchanta - Qomerqocha Lagoon - Jampa Pampa

      • Total Walking Distance: 15 km
      • Total Walking Time: 7h
      • Minimum Altitude: 4100m (13,451 ft) / Maximum Altitude: 5060m (16,601 ft)
      • Altitude of Camp: 4500m (14,763 ft)
      • Approx. Night Temp: -5°C (23°F)

After a good night’s rest, we start Day 2 of our 6 day Laguna Sibinacocha trek with a slight climb up the Pacchanta Valley. We’ll be in the company of llamas and alpacas, casually grazing on the hillsides around us.

Eventually 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, with our batteries charged and spirits replenished, we will hike for about 3 hours towards the first mountain pass of our trek, the Abra de Q’ampa (also called Jampa). This is a tough climb that will take us up to a breathtaking (literally!) 5060m (16,601 ft).

From there, we continue another 2 hours until we reach Jampa Pampa. Here we will set up camp in an impressive valley overlooked by the huge and awesome Tres Picos, Colquecruz and Pucapunta peaks.

Day 3Jampa Pampa - Quillita

      • Total Walking Distance: 7km
      • Total Walking Time: 3 h
      • Minimum Altitude: 4500m (14,763 ft) / Maximum Altitude: 4710m (15,452 ft)
      • Altitude of Camp: 4710m (15,452 ft)
      • Approx. Night Temp: -5°C (23°F)

Day 3 morning begins with a gradual climb up to Yanaqocha lake whose dark color gives it its name (Yanaqocha means “black lake” in Quechua). 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 / 16,732 ft) and then continue on to Quillita where we will camp for the night.

Day 4Quillita - Source of Sibinacocha Lake

      • Total Walking Distance: 16km
      • Total Walking Time: 7h
      • Minimum Altitude: 4897m (16,066 ft) / Maximum Altitude: 5221m (17,129 ft)
      • Altitude of Camp: 4897m (16,066 ft)
      • Approx. Night Temp: -5°C (23°F)

It’s Day 4 of our Ausangate to Laguna Sibinacocha trek and our toughest day awaits. But well-rested and with bellies full, we’re ready to meet the challenge that lies ahead: the Abra del Condor, or Condor Pass (5221m / 17,129 ft). This is the highest point on our trek, and it will be a tough climb.

As we reach our first milestone of the day, we’ll be 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.

From here it’s three hours to Laguna Sibinacocha, and we’ll cross another mountain pass and a valley before we get there. When we arrive, 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 (Andean geese), coots, and ducks as they visit the waters near our campsite.

Day 5Sibinacocha Lake - Ccascana

      • Total Walking Distance: 14km
      • Total Walking Time: 7h
      • Minimum Altitude: 4900m (16,076 ft) / Maximum Altitude: 5040m (16,535 ft)
      • Altitude of Camp: 4900m (16,076 ft)
      • Approx. Night Temp: -5°C (23°F)

From our lakeside camp, we start Day 5 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 and alpacas, and, if we’re lucky, vicuñas as well, until we reach the Abra Ccascana (5040m / 16,535 ft).

Surrounded by the 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 flamingoes!

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

Day 6Ccascana - Phinaya - Cusco

      • Total Walking Distance: 7km
      • Total Walking Time: 3.5h
      • Minimum Altitude: 4800m (15,748 ft)
      • Maximum Altitude: 4920m (16,141 ft)

Our last day of the Ausangate to Laguna Sibinacocha hike sees us leave Ccascana Lake behind as we make the 3.5h 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.

Ausangate to Laguna Sibinacocha Trek FAQs

How difficult is the Ausangate to Laguna Sibinacocha trek?

We rate this 6 day Ausangate to Laguna Sibinacocha trek as challenging. (See how we rate all our treks!)

The extreme high altitude as well as the series of steep ascents and descents are what make this trek more challenging than others in the region, though bear in mind, there are no “easy” treks in the Andes!

During the course of the six days, we will cross a number of mountain passes on the Ausangate Sibinacocha trek, each over 5000m (16,404 ft). We will hike, on average, 7 hours per day ascending and descending the mountain passes.

The campsites along the route are located at particularly high elevations. Sleeping at high altitudes is hard on the body, for which reason you must make sure you are well acclimatized before beginning this trek.

The high altitude also creates cold, windy and even wet weather conditions. This can be a challenge if you are not used to camping in extreme circumstances.

What fitness/training do you recommend?

Our most basic advice for any trek in the Andes is: the fitter you are, the easier you will find it!

If you are seasoned multi-day hiker with a well-established exercise routine, you are probably already well prepared to meet the challenges of this trek as long as you take the time to properly acclimatize.

On the other hand, if you’re new to hiking or don’t normally exercise that much, you should definitely spend time preparing for this trek. What that training regimen includes will depend on your physical abilities and current fitness levels, and it should be developed alongside a medical or fitness professional.

Most likely you will want to combine a cardiovascular training plan with some long-distance “practice” hikes in your area. Day hikes, or even some multi-day hikes, will help you to build up your stamina so you can endure long days of trekking.

For more training advice, check out our Trekking Tip #3.

How can I avoid altitude sickness on this trek?

The best way to prepare yourself for the high altitudes reached on the Sibinacocha Lake trek is to spend time at altitude. That means, acclimatizing in a high-altitude place like Cusco for at least 3 days before the trek. In fact, the more time spent acclimatizing, the better!

Be nice to yourself and stay healthy before the trek. Drink plenty of water and eat small, light meals. Fun fact: your digestion slows down at high elevations! Get lots of rest and avoid alcohol, too.

Learn more about Altitude and How to Acclimatize before you begin your hike.

What is the best time of year for the Sibinacocha Lake trek?

May and August are the best months to plan your trek as this is “dry season” in the Andes. Dry season coincides with winter, so night-time temperatures are way below the freezing point! The good news is that we should avoid any wet weather, however, the Andes are famous for constantly surprising us and a storm can hit at any time!

We do not operate this trekking route in the rainy season which runs from December to March. Wet weather means snow at high elevations which makes the route dangerous and your safety always comes first!

You can also trek the Sibinacocha Lake route in April, September or October, which are either side of the rainy season. The issue is that the weather is even harder to predict and that is why we have a wet season policy. This gives us the option to change the trekking route at the last minute, if weather conditions are deemed unsafe.

Read more about the best time to hike and read our wet season trekking policy.

How many hours of trekking are there each day?

Most days you will hike for about 7 hours. Days 1 and 6 are shorter given the additional driving time to travel to and from Cusco.

Can I charge my devices en route?

Yes! Our team will take solar-powered battery chargers on the trek. We recommend you bring an extra battery pack if you have one, just in case!

What will the food & accommodation be like on the Sibinacocha Lake hike?

For all the details, find everything you need to know here about What to Expect on the Trail.

Accommodation: Camping

We will spend five nights camping during the 6 day Laguna Sibinacocha trek, but you have nothing to worry about! Our deluxe all-season tents and comfortable foam mattresses will keep you well protected from the elements so you can sleep soundly each night. We can rent you a warm sleeping bag (good to -15°C (5°F)), but if you choose to bring your own, make sure it is suitable for temperatures well below freezing!

If you would like more comfort on the trail, you can also opt for our Comfort Camping upgrade. This somewhat luxurious option includes larger tents, a deluxe sleeping bag, an inflatable mattress bed and even a hot shower (yes HOT!).

Meals & Snacks on the Trail

Make no mistake: this is not your regular trail food! One of our very creative professional trail chefs will accompany you along the trek and will take care of all your dietary needs. The quality of the meals produced half way up a mountain rival any of the best restaurants in Cusco!

Our trail chefs attend regular training courses, providing you with a wide variety of healthy, nutritious meals for the trek. They can cater to just about any dietary needs as well. If you are vegetarian, vegan, gluten-intolerant or have any other special preferences, just let us know at booking.

We also provide snacks to take with you on the trail (to help give you the energey you need to get over those mountain passes!), and of course, boiled water with which you can refill your reusable water bottles.

Water is provided only at meal times so make sure you fill up with enough to last you. If you think you will need more, consider bringing purification tablets so you can fill up from streams..

What permits do I need for this trek?

Any entry fees required to enter Ausangate or Sibinacocha Lake are included in the price of your trek. You do not need to purchase any additional permits to do this trek.

Can I customize my trek to Laguna Sibinacocha?

Yes! We are happy to provide a customized experience for your Sibinacocha Lake trek, including making it a 7 day trek.

The Ausangate Sibinacocha route is unique in that there are some optional activities that can be added, including fishing on Sibinacocha Lake and doing the Yayamari Scramble. More details about both of these activities can be found here.

If the Sibinacocha trek interests you but you are looking for a longer or more hard-core experience, you might consider our 9 day Carabaya Trek. The Carabaya trek starts in Puno and makes its way up until it joins the Sibinacocha trek. You can also start from Cusco, making it a 10 day trek.

Last but not least, the 6 day Ausangate to Laguna Sibinacocha trek does NOT visit Machu Picchu. Ausangate is actually in a totally different region! We do offer a trek extension for those who want to visit Machu Picchu after the trek. You can see more information here.

What will I need to carry on the hike?

The only thing you personally need to carry is a light day pack for things like your water bottle, camera, rain poncho, extra layers and sun protection (hat, glasses and sunblock)!

Make sure you pack enough water with you for each leg of the hike (we recommend 2L per day). We provide boiled water for you to fill up your water bottle in the morning and at lunch time. If you think you will need more water than what your water bottle can hold, you might want to bring a water purification system (tablets or a filter) so that you can fill up at streams along the trail.

For everything else you want to bring with you on the hike we will give you a duffle bag which will be carried by mules. The mules often go on ahead so that the muleteers can help set up the campsite in time for your arrival, so they are not with you all along the trail. You will have access to your duffle bag only once you reach the campsite. Therefore, everything you will actually need during the hike should go in your daypack.

Is the 6 day Ausangate to Laguna Sibinacocha trek right for me?

To figure out whether this is the right trek for you, ask yourself the following questions:

    • Do I have adequate time to acclimatize for this trek? – This is a particularly high elevation trek. We will be crossing several passes over 5000m (16,404 ft). You need to spend at least 3 days acclimatizing prior to the trek. Altitude sickness is NO joke, so please take acclimatization seriously!
    • Am I looking for a serious trek that is truly off the beaten path? – This 6 day trek requires a considerable amount of physical fitness and stamina to be able to climb its series of high mountain passes, and weather the tough conditions. This unique route is also quite remote, and it is quite normal not to see another trekker.
    • Am I interested in spectacular scenery, glacial lakes and Andean wildlife? – If so, this trek is for you! The Laguna Sibinacocha trek is one of the best in the region for appreciating stunning mountain landscapes, rich in Andean wildlife.
    • Am I eager to interact with locals and learn about their culture and lifestyle? – On the Sibinacocha trek, we will pass through some rural farming communities where you are likely to see schools, villagers tending their alpacas, or women weaving and spinning. However, for more cultural immersion, we recommend one of our Lares treks.
    • Do I want to see Incan Ruins on my trek? – This trek is all about natural scenery and there are no archaeological sites. If you are keen to see Inca sites one of our Choquequirao treks might be a better option.
    • Do I want to hike to Machu Picchu? – The Sibinacocha Lake trek does not include Machu Picchu, but you can add an extra day in order to visit this incredible site.

For more information about other treks in the Ausangate area, check out our Ausangate landing page.

How can I travel to Cusco, Peru?

    • The Laguna Sibinacocha trek begins and ends in Cusco. International travel to/from Cusco is not included in the price of your tour.

Travel Direct…

      • By Plane.Most international flights land in Lima, Peru’s capital. From here, you can take a domestic flight to Cusco. Some international flights go through other South American capitals, like Bogotá, Colombia, which also has connecting flights to Cusco.
      • By Bus.You can take an overnight bus from Lima to Cusco (it takes about 20-23 hours). One of the benefits of travelling slowly up from the coast is that you are automatically acclimatising as you travel. Not to mention you get an idea of the stunning landscape and mountains as you travel! The top recommended buses are Cruz del Sur, Palomino and ExcluCiva.

….or Take the Long Way

    • Via Arequipa and/or Puno – If you have the time, spend a day or two in Lima and then head to Arequipa or Puno (or both!) to gradually acclimatize to the altitude over the space of several days before you arrive in Cusco for your trek. We offer 3 and 4 day package tours to Arequipa and Puno that you can add onto to your trek.

More resources about Sibinacocha Lake & the Ausangate region

    For more information about the Sibinacocha Lake and the Ausangate region, check out these helpful articles from our blog:

    • Off the Beaten Path Peru: Sibinacocha – A thorough description of one pair of hikers’ experience trekking to Sibinacocha with Apus Peru. See what the experience is really like, through the eyes of fellow hikers!
    • Why You Should Trek to Ausangate, Cusco – This article provides an overview of the Ausangate region, all the trekking options we offer there, and what makes Ausangate unique compared to the other Cusco trekking options. It also talks about some of the cultural significance of the area, including the annual Qoyllur Rit’i festival.
    • Vicuñas: The Golden Camelid of Peru – Learn all about Peru’s national animal, the vicuña! One of 4 camelid species native to the Andes, vicuñas are the smallest and produce one of the finest natural fibres in the world.
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3 Reviews
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Gabi R.

Family Traveller

Great professionalism and obvious a lot of experience in doing such things! [Our guide Urbano has a] great sense of humor, fits well with families like ours. Added much fun to the trip!

Normally we aren’t too happy to trust other drivers but Ever is a safe, cautious driver and we felt perfectly safe with him on the wheel.

It still boggles my mind what [cook Herbert] can make in the middle of nowhere!

8 August, 2022

Aberdeen from UK

Family Traveller

We are a family of 5 (2 adults, 3 kids – 18, 15 and 14) and we chose this trek (6 days/ 5 nights) because we wanted something off the beaten track and certainly didn’t want to trek with 500 others on the Inca Trail. I think we only saw 4 other trekkers (on the second day) and none after that.

Pre trek organisation both from the UK and meeting in Cusco were all fantastic, easy communication and heaps of useful information. And on the trek all the staff were superb, from our guide who gave us brilliant Peruvian history lessons each evening, the cook who never stopped smiling and managed to prepare the most incredible meals. Anyone prepared to bring me a cup of tea in bed at 6.00 am when there’s half of foot of snow outside deserves a medal!

The scenery on the trek is spectacular, the areas we camped in all stunning and always left spotlessly clean. The distances covered/heights climbed are not too great but this is a hard trek because of the altitude (three of the nights we were camping above 4,900 m) and because of the cold (easily – 10 at night and not particularly warm during the day). We wore every single layer of clothing we had, including alpaca socks bought from 2 lovely ladies on the first day. We were prepared for the cold but maybe not prepared for the amount of snow that fell….it snowed overnight on three of the nights and the last day we walked out in over 8″ of snow, which the horses struggled through. The van luckily had made it to Phinaea and despite struggling up some of the bends it made it back too (not a given…over 70 km of dirt track much of which was covered in snow).

Overall a fantastic experience.

2 August, 2018

SNG56 from US

Couple Traveller

The trek was absolutely everything we could have wanted and more, gorgeous scenery, attentive guide, cook and horsemen. Although we are members of the senior set, we are avid hikers and spend much time in Colorado. We truly didn’t have a problem with the altitude in terms of sickness. Our tent was incredibly spacious and the sleeping bags provided kept us nice and warm at night. The horsemen set everything up for us so all we needed to carry was a daypack. It was so nice to arrive in camp and see everything ready for us. The cook was fantastic. His food was fresh, creative and plentiful. Especially memorable was a breakfast of fresh trout he prepared using fish that had been caught the night before. In addition to our 3 meals, we had a teatime with snacks (great popcorn). Absolutely fascinating. In addition, our guide knew the flowers, animals, and birds, we saw along the way.

My husband and I both felt that Roger was, hands down, the best guide we had ever had. All in all the trek was everything we had hoped for and truly exceeded our expectations. We also appreciate that a percentage of the monies received by Apus Peru goes to a worthy cause. I highly recommend this company and can guarantee that if you book with them, you will love your experience.

26 October, 2016

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