A loop around the 6,384 m sacred mountain of the Quechua, almost entirely above 4,000 m, past turquoise glacial lakes, alpaca herds and five passes up to Palomani (5,165 to 5,200 m depending on the source). Rainbow Mountain can be added as a return walk from the Ananta camp, so you reach it from the empty back side instead of with the day-tour crowds from Cusco. This is a self-supported trek: a guide and an arriero with horses are strongly advised unless you are experienced at altitude. Cost is a DIY total from Tinki with your own gear: bus both ways, community fees and food. A guided trip costs much more; check current prices with Cusco operators.
On the trail now and the next 7 days
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The route
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On the map
Ausangate Circuit (with Rainbow Mountain) · Open in Google Maps ↗
The climb
How to reach the start
Cusco (CUZ) is the gateway; spend at least three or four days there first to acclimatise. Local buses to Tinki leave from the Paradero Livitaca stop near the Coliseo Cerrado in Cusco, about 10 soles (about ₹250) one way and 2.5 hours. Many organised groups now drive on to Upis by dirt road to cut the first stretch of walking; agree any taxi fare in Tinki before you set off.
Step 3 of 7Next: Permits↓Permits and rules
Rules change. Check the park office or official booking system before you travel.
Step 4 of 7Next: Gear↓What to carry
Altitude safety
Ausangate Circuit reaches 5,165 m, high enough for acute mountain sickness (AMS). Climb slowly, drink water, and tell your guide about headache, nausea, dizziness or breathlessness. If symptoms get worse, go down: descent is the treatment. Take travel insurance that covers trekking at this altitude and rescue.
What it costs
Ballpark ranges, not live quotes. Page updated 18 October 2026. Prices move with season and demand, so check live fares before you book.
Covers local transport, permits or entry, a guide where needed and food on the trail. Getting to Tinki (Tinqui) is extra.
Photos
Questions people ask
How hard is the Ausangate Circuit (with Rainbow Mountain) trek?
Very hard grade. It takes 5-6 days and climbs to about 5,165 m. A loop around the 6,384 m sacred mountain of the Quechua, almost entirely above 4,000 m, past turquoise glacial lakes, alpaca herds and five passes up to Palomani (5,165 to 5,200 m depending on the source). Rainbow Mountain can be added as a return walk from the Ananta camp, so you reach it from the empty back side instead of with the day-tour crowds from Cusco. This is a self-supported trek: a guide and an arriero with horses are strongly advised unless you are experienced at altitude. Cost is a DIY total from Tinki with your own gear: bus both ways, community fees and food. A guided trip costs much more; check current prices with Cusco operators.
Do I need a permit for Ausangate Circuit (with Rainbow Mountain)?
No permit and no national booking system. The circuit crosses land owned by Quechua communities, and each charges its own entry or camping fee in cash: a 10-sol entry at the kiosk leaving Tinki is standard, and walkers have reported further tolls of about 10 to 25 soles at Upis/Pacchanta, Ananta and Lago Ausangate, plus about 20 to 30 soles if you climb Rainbow Mountain (Vinicunca). Amounts change and are not published; carry plenty of small soles notes.
How do I reach the Ausangate Circuit (with Rainbow Mountain) trek?
Cusco (CUZ) is the gateway; spend at least three or four days there first to acclimatise. Local buses to Tinki leave from the Paradero Livitaca stop near the Coliseo Cerrado in Cusco, about 10 soles (about ₹250) one way and 2.5 hours. Many organised groups now drive on to Upis by dirt road to cut the first stretch of walking; agree any taxi fare in Tinki before you set off. Base: Tinki (Tinqui), about 100 km and 2.5 hours by road from Cusco.
What is the best season for Ausangate Circuit (with Rainbow Mountain)?
May to September, the dry season: clear days but nights well below 0°C. Avoid December to March, the wet season, when snow and storms hit the passes..
How much does the Ausangate Circuit (with Rainbow Mountain) trek cost?
From about ₹6,000 per person from the base, covering local transport, permits or entry, a guide where required and food. The journey to the base is extra.
What should I carry?
A four-season tent and a sleeping bag rated well below 0°C, stove and all food for the whole trek (there are no lodges or shops), water filter or tablets (streams carry alpaca waste), warm layers, sun protection, and a map or GPS track: there is little or no phone signal. Rental gear in Cusco runs about 160 to 260 soles.
Sources and last check
Checked 16 October 2026. Fees, hours and rules change, so confirm on the official site before you pay.
- gov.uk OfficialFCDO advises against all but essential travel only to the VRAEM and the Colombia border strip; Cusco region not listed (updated 9 Oct 2026)
- stingynomads.com6-day independent itinerary, about 70-80 km; passes Arapa 4,850, Puca Cocha 5,051, Ananta 4,500, Palomani 5,165-5,200, Qampa 5,000 m; camps; 10-sol entry at Tinki; Cusco-Tinki bus 10 soles, 2.5 h from Paradero Livitaca; reader-reported tolls (May 2024); Rainbow Mountain as return walk from Ananta; gear rental 160-260 soles; no lodges, water treatment, no signal (updated 12 Mar 2026)
- packing-up-the-pieces.com10 PEN entrance collected on the Tinki-Upis road, not every day; smaller fee at Pacchanta
- rainbowmountaintravels.comRainbow Mountain community entry about 25-30 soles, cash only (2026)
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By Gokul · Updated 18 October 2026 · Photo: sergejf · CC BY 2.0 · source · Photo: sergejf · CC BY 2.0 · source · Photo: Petr Meissner · CC BY 2.0 · source · Photo: sergejf · CC BY 2.0 · source · Photo: sergejf · CC BY 2.0 · source
