Quelccaya Glacier Trek 2 Days / 1 Night

Quelccaya Glacier Trek 2 Days / 1 Night

DAY 1, Cusco – Phinaya – Base Camp

A representative of Vidal Expeditions will collect from your hotel located in Cusco early morning, then we’ll be heading up to Phinaya community located on the south of Cusco, the bus drive will be about 3 hours with a short stop in Cusipata for our breakfast, afterwards we continue driving to reach the trailhead. On this drive section we also have chance to enjoy the beautiful landscapes of the Vilcanota range and see the highest snow peak Ausangate,  (6,3684m / 20,944ft).

Our hike will begin at 4,580m / 15,026ft. Today we will hike only a couple hours to reach our base camp and enjoy the view while you are enjoying your lunch, at the after we will have a short hike to the brown lake where you can observe the incredible landscape around this area.

Back to our campsite 4,640 masl.  / 15,223fasl to enjoy our tea time and have some history, dinner and spend the first night here.

Hiking distance: 6 km / 3.7 miles
Minimum altitude: 4,360 masl / 14,304 fasl
Maximum altitude: 4,640 masl / 15,223fasl
Hiking time: 3 – 4hours

DAY 2, Base Camp – Quelccaya Glacier  –  Azul Qocha – Cusco

We wake up with a hot tea or coffee  enjoy our natural breakfast prepared by our Andean chef and begin the hike, it will be about 3 hours to reach the view point where you can observe the turquoise lakes and the Quelccaya glacier 5,100m / 16,732ft, we hike an hour more to be in the bottom of this glacier, also you will appreciate how the ice is melting from this big blocks pieces of ice, take your time to explore and get incredible photos, your guide will explain you why is important to preserve this glacier, afterwards you will hike to see more lakes and get more stunning views.

After have done exploring this we will return to our campsite following a path which offering different landscapes, during this way back you will appreciate some wild vicuñas and many wildlife from this area. Our lunch will be ready for us in our camp site, after have enjoyed it we will hike for a few hours to reach our bus and then board this to drive back to Cusco.

Our bus will drop off you at the same place that we pick you on the first day.

Hiking distance: 12 km / 7.4 miles
Minimum altitude: 4,640 masl / 15,223 fasl
Maximum altitude: 5,100 masl / 16,732 fasl
Hiking time: 7 – 8 hours

We are transparent and provide the specific details of what is included and excluded in our tours. We know this is very important so that you know what exactly to bring and you don’t miss anything. We provide this information to ensure that you have an incredible experience during your trek.

WE INCLUDE

• Pre-Departure briefing : Once you book the tour with us, you will get a notification about the pre-departure briefing, where you will meet with your trekking guide and the tour group in our office the night before your Quelccaya Trek departure. During this briefing, you will receive important details of the trek. After this time, you will receive your duffle bag for your extra luggage, which will be carried by the horses while you are hiking
• Professional Adventure Guide : All our tour guides have a great reputation in customer service, our tour guide have graduated with tourism career from National University San Antonio Abad of Cusco, they have also studied English in a private language institute. Through to their patience, responsibility, knowledge, passion for trekking and proud to have been born in the land of the Incas, we ensure our guides provide an excellent experience for you when you explore the amazing Rainbow mountain.
• Entrance Fees to Quelccaya :  Once we receive your details and the deposit for your tour, we purchase all the necessary tickets for your trek it will be for a specific date and will be in your name.
• Accommodations :  We include accommodations 1 night along the Quelccaya trek,  with a suitable camping equipment to make sure your trek is an experience of the life time. Our tents are Mountain gear or Doite pro Aconcagua for 4 people, which will be shared only for 2 people to ensure you comfort and enough place for your luggage. The same way we include Inflatable mattress. There will also be a spacious dining tent for you to enjoy each meal along this tour.
• Private Transport : We included all the transportations during your tour, we will pick you up from your hotel in Cusco and take you to the beginning of the trail, the bus returning from the Quelccaya to Cusco will drop off you at your hotel.
• Horses :  We include horses to transport all the duffle bags and equipment during this tour also will be a horse man. We know safety is first is for that we include an emergency horse in case someone feels tired or get altitude sickness.
• Personal Duffle bag : We included a personal duffle bag for your 2-day Quelccaya trek. You will get this duffle bag in our office during your pre-departure briefing the night before of your trek. This bag will be carried by horses during the trek. You will find it in your tent every afternoon you arrive to the campsite. It can be filled with your personal items, sleeping bag and mattress but the maximum allowable weight is 7kg/17lb. The duffle bag must be returned to our office no later than one day after your trek.
• Toilet Tents :  During our Quelccaya trek, we bring our own portable toilet tent because we know how important is to protect our environment and we are trained to don’t leave no traces along the route.
• Medical First Aid Kit :  All tour guides are very well trained in First aid. They received training courses every 6 months how to assist to someone who is in an emergency situation. Also, they are trained how to supply a balloon oxygen in the case if someone requires it.
• Meals :  We know food is such an important part of any vacation and getting the right fuel on an active holiday is crucial… We include 2 breakfast, 2 lunch and 1 dinner. And of course, we cater to all dietary restrictions Vegetarian, Vegan, Gluten free and others just let us know. Our chefs are well-trained to prepare the best food ever you’ve had with local and organic ingredients.
• Water : We will provide you water from the first lunch to the last breakfast. This water will be filtered, boiled and cooled by our Chef. You must bring your own water container, bottle or camelback that can hold water for hiking for a few hours. We recommend a capacity of 2 liters.

     WE NOT INCLUDED

• Sleeping bag: Every trekker along the Quelccaya trek needs a proper sleeping bag which has to be for -15°C / 5° F. We recommend you bring your own, but if you don’t want to bring your own or you don’t have one, you can rent a sleeping bag from us.
• Walking Sticks : Hiking with trekking poles has its benefits, protect your knees while you are hiking downhill, especially on the remote area which are many up and downhill, trekking poles help you during the ascent, increased stability, if you don’t have a pair of trekking poles you can rent them from our office.
• Travel Insurance : We recommend to buy a travel insurance before to leave your country in case something happen along your visit to Peru.
• Tips for our team : Tips are not included. Tipping the team is usual on any excursion to the Quelccaya, although we pay good salaries to our entire team, tips are welcome as a token of your appreciation for the team hard work.

In our company we focus to make your trip an unforgettable experience and we want to provide all details which you need to know before to leave your country and start your life experience in Peru.

What you need to pack?

Important

• Passport
• Immigration Card (given on the plane as you enter Peru)
• Good daypack (the smaller, the better)
• Water storage, Water reservoir like Camelback is encouraged – but enough for at least 2-3 liters.
• Comfortable hiking boots (lightweight with good soles)
• Trekking poles

FOR YOUR DUFFEL:

Horses will carry up to 7 kg of your personal items. This must include your sleeping bag and air matt (if you bring/rent one). From us these two items weigh 3 kg.

• 1-2 wicking t-shirts
• 1-2 hiking pants
• 2 sets of undergarments.
• 1 Fleece
• 1 Warm, down jacket: gets very cold at night
• 1 Rain jacket and pants
• 1 sun hat
• 1 wool hat
• Bathers / swimsuit for the hot spring
• Small towel
• Headlamp: essential
• Waterproof gloves
• Comfortable shoes for camp or flip flops
• Walking boots
• Waterproof jacket/rain poncho

Battery Charger: There is no place to plug in while trekking!

Large plastic bags: to help organize and keep clean from dirty.

Sleeping bag: Recommend down bags for -10C at least

INSIDE YOUR DAY BACKPACK:

Daypack can be any size for hiking, but we always say the smaller, the better. If it is larger try to bring it as lighter as possible.

Water: we supply clean water at each meal. You are responsible for your first morning of water only as we won’t have time to filter water until your first lunch.

• Sun hat
• Rain gear
• Fleece
• Camera
• Music (iPhone)
• Hand sanitizer
• Toilet paper and small plastic bag for waste
• Extra Money for Souvenirs, Drinks & Tips
• Earplugs
• Snacks (chocolate, energy bars, fruits, etc.)

TOILETRIES:

• Sunscreen
• Face moisturizer
• Bug spray
• Hand sanitizer
• Wet wipes
• Toothbrush and paste
• Toilet paper
• Personal medication
• First aid kit: band aids, moleskin, etc.

IMPORTANT INFO FOR QUELCCAYA TREK

On the Ausangate trek tour, don’t forget water! Drinking lots of water will help with the elevation. We advise bringing at least 2 liters per person on the hike with you. Also, you will have chance to buy water at the beginning of the trek.

We skip the crowds! Everybody else goes Ausangate trek tour at the same time. That means they’re all want to take the best camping spots on this route.  Since we leave from Cusco at 05:00 am.  You will get to the view point and the camp site before the crowd, and enjoy this fantastic landscape.

Our guide always brings oxygen tank which are important as you get over 4620 meters/15,255feet above sea level! Not all travel agencies offer this, so this is definitely something to look out for when choosing the best Ausangate tour operator.

The best time to visit the Ausangate is going to be in the from April to October before the rainy season begins

This hike  is very demanding. And the constantly changing weather conditions, combined with high altitude, can be a challenge for experienced hikers. But if done right it’s manageable even for those who don’t hike much.

We Recommend for Quelccaya Trek

Make sure that you have been a few days in Cusco to acclimatize to the elevation before you set off on your hike to Ausangate Tour. This is by far the best insurance for a smooth and enjoyable trip.

Go to sleep early and try to avoid drinking or partying the night before, because We will pick you up at 05:00 am and the physically challenging trek will be much more bearable without a hangover.

If you have altitude sickness symptoms, descend as quickly as you can. It’s nothing to mess around with.

Try to go all the way to the viewpoint. You get a 360° view not just the Ausangate trek but of the nearby glacier and a gorgeous valley in the other direction. We think most people didn’t realize what they were missing by not going all the way up.

If you are going to Machu Picchu the day before your trip to the Ausangate, tell your travel company to book your return train ticket early.

Higher elevation also means colder, nearly freezing temperatures, so be prepared. Whether you decide to take a one-day tour, make sure to wear very warm clothes. Also bring coca leaves to fight off altitude sickness and carry the minimum gear possible to ease the hike.

• From $220.00 per person
• Price per group: $400.00 up to 2 People

Online Payment

To book any tour/trek through with Ausangate Tours, we do require a 50% deposit per person. PayPal does charge us a fee of 8% which we ask the client to cover. This taxes is just for deposits, the remaining, you will pay in cash(briefing day) without taxes.