From $499 USD Per Person


  • Trips Managed by Local Experts
  • Easy, Fast, Risk-Free Bookings
  • Personalized Small Group Tours
  • Great Value for Money
  • Unique, Customized Itineraries
  • Best Local Certified Guides.
You need assistance?

Ultimate Ausangate Trek 3 days with Rainbow Mountain + Upis Lake + 7 Lake Hike

Duration: 3 Days / 2 Nights
Group Size 2 to 8 people
Max Altitude: 4,800 m.s.n.m
Type Service: Group/Private
Transportation: Van , Hike
Difficulty: Moderate
Duration: 3 Days / 2 Nights

Start a 3-day journey that will connect you with the true essence of nature. From the vibrant colors of the Rainbow Mountain to the pure glaciers that surround Ausangate, discover with us a unique hike that will take you through landscapes that only the Peruvian Andes can offer. Enjoy 3 days among lakes, mountains, and glaciers. Are you ready?

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Walk through the Rainbow Mountain, a natural wonder unique in the world.
  •  Visit the Red Valley and feel like you are walking on Mars through its red trails.
  •  Camp in unique places with spectacular views and the best equipment.
  •  Enjoy a calm hike away from the crowds.
  •  Admire crystal-clear lakes with vivid colors
  • Hike up to the Upis Lake
  • Explore the  7 lakes in Ausangate.

Trip Details

Day 1: Cusco – Llaqto – Red Valley – Rainbow Mountain – Anantapata Campsite

Our adventure will start with a pick-up from your hotel in Cusco to go toward Cusipata, then continue for about 45 minutes to Llacto, the starting point of the hike.

We will get ready and begin the ascent for about 1 hour and a half to reach the viewpoint of the Rainbow Mountain. As we get closer, we will see how the colors lie on the mountain, perfectly forming a rainbow.

After taking pictures and admiring the impressive Ausangate mountain in the distance, we will continue toward the Red Valley, with its red trails that look like another planet.

After 45 minutes, we will arrive at the viewpoint of the Red Valley. Surrounded by so much beauty, it will be time to continue walking down to our lunch spot in the middle of the mountains, where you can enjoy a picnic surrounded by nature.

After recharging energy, we will continue for about 2 more hours toward Anantapata. To reach our campsite, we will cross the Warmisaya pass, located at almost 5000 m.a.s.l. Here you will be face to face with the glacier—take a moment to admire its beauty and breathe the pure mountain air.

In the afternoon, we will arrive at the campsite to enjoy a delicious dinner and hot tea, ready to rest and excited for the next day’s adventure.

Highlights of the day:

  • Distance: 12.64 km / 7mi
  • Maximum altitude: 5000 m / 16404 ft
  • Meals: Lunch, Dinner

Day 2: Anantapata Campsite – Apacheta Pass – Upis Campsite

After a good night’s rest, a new challenge awaits us. Today, after breakfast, we will continue our hike toward the Apacheta pass at 4903 m.a.s.l. This will be the highest point of the day and a great place to admire the impressive Ausangate glacier, the sacred protector of Cusco. Here, we will take a moment to thank Pachamama (Mother Earth) for allowing us to visit such incredible places.

We will then descend for about 2 and a half hours along the Ausangate trail toward the community of Upis. Along the way, we will stop for a well-deserved lunch before reaching our campsite. Full belly, happy heart!

Continue the trail until you reach Upis Lake, where you can enjoy beautiful views and the peace of the mountains. Dinner will be served at camp, and afterward, you can rest under a million stars—the best natural hotel there is!

Highlights of the day:

  • Distance: 16 km / 10 mi
  • Maximum altitude: 4903 m / 16086 ft
  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3: Upis Campsite – 7 Lakes of Ausangate – Pacchanta

Today we’ll wake up early, full of energy after a delicious breakfast, because the reward is getting close: the Pacchanta hot springs and the 7 Lakes of Ausangate!

We will follow the trail down toward the viewpoint of the 7 Lakes, passing through valleys and snow-capped peaks, enjoying nature on this final part of our adventure.

Upon reaching the Azulcocha area, our team will be waiting to serve our last lunch surrounded by mountains. After this farewell meal, we’ll continue to visit the lakes:

  • Male and Female Otorongos
  • Azulqocha
  • Alqacocha
  • Pukaqocha
  • Qomerqocha
  • Orqoqocha

After taking our last photos, we will descend to the village of Pacchanta, where at the end of the trail, we can relax in the natural hot springs—a true reward after our hike.

After some relaxing time, our transportation will take you back to Cusco.

What is Included for the Ausangate Trek 3 days?

Included

  • Private transportation to start of the trek
  • Professional guide, fluent in English
  • Meals as indicated in the itinerary
  • 7kgs personal luggage allowance to put on the horses
  • Personal duffel bags for your extra luggage to put on the horses
  • Spacious tents ; sleeping mats ; dining tent, kitchen tent, toilet tent
  • Horses to carry the group’s equipment (food, tents, tables, etc.)
  • Emergency horse to ride if you are tired or ill
  • Emergency oxygen bottle and first aid kit

Not Included

  • Breakfast on the 1st day
  • Dinner on the 4th day
  • Sleeping Bag –$20 USD per person per trek (It will be clean and warm)
  • Air Mattress –$20 USD per person per trek (Therm-a-rest mattresses)
  • Walking Poles –$15 USD per pair per trek (Professional Poles that can be extended)
  • Personal tent -$30 USD – (Tent for solo trekkers)
  • Tips for the crew, guide, cook and porters of SAM TRAVEL PERU

Best Price for 2026

The Ausangate Trek 3 days is available on almost any day that suits your schedule! We only need a minimum of two people in order to book! 

  • US$499 per person

Packing List

WHAT SHOULD YOU TAKE WITH YOU ?

  • Original Passport (it has to be the same you have used for booking your trek)
  • Comfortable daypack (the smaller, the better)
  • Water storage:  2-3 litre reusalbe bottles (please do not bring disposable bottles)
  • Comfortable hiking boots with ankle support
  • Sleeping bag (can be rented from SAM Travel)
  • Headlamp: essential
  • Toilet paper

WHAT TO PUT IN YOUR DUFFEL BAG

As a Professional Direct Local Tour operator we provide you with a duffel bag at your briefing and  INCLUDE an extra pack horse who will carry up to 7 kgs or 15 pounds including your 2.5kg sleeping bag, mattress and extra clothing. By Peruvian law, a duffel bag must not weigh more than 7 kilograms (15lbs). This limit is set to protect the health of the porters or horses. All bags will be weighed before being accepted. If you require more than 7 kilograms, it will then be your responsibility to carry the extra weight with your day pack. In this 7 kilos, please count 2 kilos for your sleeping bag and 1 kilo for your sleeping pad. This leaves you about 4 kilos for your personal gear.

  • 2 t-shirts
  • 2 hiking pants at least
  • 4 sets of undergarments
  • 3 sets of hiking socks
  • Bathing suit for the thermal waters
  • Fleece/ Thermals
  • Warm clothes, down jacket — 2nd campsite temp around 3º Celsius.
  • Waterproof gloves (even if they are ski gloves, take them)
  • Comfortable shoes for camp
  • Quickdry towel. We provide small ones, you might prefer something larger.
  • Small bottle of soap: we provide warm water each day to wash.
  • Battery Charger: No electricity along the trek
  • Large plastic bags will be provided at the office to line your duffel
  • Sleeping bag: It has to be at least -15ºC – This can be rented from us.

TOILETRIES

  • Face moisturizer
  • Hand sanitizer
  • Wet wipes
  • Toothbrush and paste
  • Personal medications
  • First aid kit: band aids, moleskin, etc.

WHAT TO PUT IN YOUR BACKPACK

We highly recommend a small backpack 30 to 40Litres for hiking in the day. A big backpack will not be allowed into Machu Picchu. The remainder of your belongings will be in your duffel bag at camp.

  • Water: Please supply your own water until the first lunch spot, then we will provide you with cold boiled water  at every meal time. Please bring your canteens.
  • Sun hat
  • Sunscreen
  • Headlamp: essential
  • Wool hat
  • Rain gear
  • Fleece
  • Snacks like chocolate bars, cereal bars or any dry fruits
  • Rain plastic poncho 
  • Gloves
  • Camera
  • Hand sanitiser
  • Toilet paper and small plastic bag for waste
  • Extra money for souvenirs, drinks & tips
  • Valuable items

Ultimate Ausangate Trek 3 days with Rainbow Mountain + Upis Lake + 7 Lake Hike
machu picchu tours

Join SAM Travel Peru for an Unforgettable Travel Experience In Peru

  • 100% Locally Owned and Operated
  • Years of Experience in all Areas of Peru
  • Knowledgeable Staff ready to Help You
  • Individually Curated Tours and Treks
  • Especially Designed Tours and Treks
  • The Highest Quality Personal Service
  • Fantastic Value for Money with Many Added Extras
Your adventure. Our expertise.

Why Travel with SAM travel Peru?

  • Superior Service
  • Inca Trail Specialists
  • 100% value for money
  • Small Groups with a maximum of 8 people
  • Delicious and nutritious meals
  • Sustainable Travel
  • Years of Professional Inca Trail Experience
9.6
K+

Happy Traveler

5.5
K+

Tours Success

99
.5%

Positives Review

24
+

Travel Guide

Excellent!

5.0 Rating out of 5.0 based on 5.107 reviews

Join the Thousands of Satisfied Customers who Rate us #1 on TripAdvisor

Anna R Mar 2026 • Friends

Fantastic 4 Day Salkantay Trek

I did the 4 day Salkantay trek with Joaquin (Guide), Matias (Chef) and Zenobio (Assistant Chef) and had the best time! The crew were so friendly and caring. It was well organised and they let us know what we would be doing each day. I struggled with the altitude and got a headache on day 2 so the crew gave me some oxygen to help. I felt very cared for. Joaquin was so knowledgable and gave us lots of information on the history of Machu Picchu. Matias and Zenobio’s cooking was incredible and much needed after long days of hiking. We had such a great time and I would highly recommend Sam Travels to anyone who is planning a trip to Peru!

Georgia Hayes Mar 2026 • Friends

Great experience with Sam Travel Peru!

I had a fantastic experience with Sam Travel Peru on the Salkantay Trek. Our guide Joaquin was great. He took great care of us throughout the journey, ensuring all our needs were met while also sharing fascinating historical insights that really added the experience. Chef Matias exceeded all expectations with his food. It was really delicious with generous portions. His assistant, Zenobio, was equally fantastic. The whole team had a great sense of humour, which made the experience even more enjoyable. When I started feeling unwell due to the altitude, they were incredibly attentive, making sure I was comfortable and providing any medicine I needed. I felt well looked after from start to finish. Would definitely recommend!

Danielle Nikka ... T Mar 2026

2 day Inca Trail with Sam Travel

Sam Travel has made our trip to Machu Picchu seamless. Joel Apaza was our guide and he has been extremely helpful throughout! I had stomach problems during our hike, not sure if it was food poisoning or altitude sickness, but I was extremely nauseated up to Winay Wayna which was the most strenuous part of the hike. He was very patient with us and even helped carry out daypacks with our heavy water bottles. We were stopping every 5 minutes because of my condition, but he was very gracious and still encouraging me that we can do it! We were able to reach the citadel after almost 9 hours and wouldn’t be able to do it if it wasn’t for Joel’s kindness. Definitely recommend!

dave d Mar 2026 • Couples

Two day tour of sacred valley and machu picchu

Carlos estrada was our guide for the 2 day sacred Valley and machu picchu tour .He was very knowledgeable and really courteous. As I am a man in his sixties and was in a group of twenty year old he paced the trip brilliantly .Great guy and guide

Reviews by Trip Advisor

5.0 8,155 opiniones
See More
Matt Ward 2026/01/29

We had a wonderful few days with Liz as our guide and Jair as our driver. We did a city tour of Cusco and then the Sacred Valley, culminating with an early start and Machupicchu on our final day. Liz was very patient and had incredible knowledgeable of all sites as well as telling us about all the history and importance of each site. She knew some ways to avoid packed areas and made each day special. Jair was a very skilled driver, courteous and made sure we were comfortable in the very clean car. Liz checked on us to make sure we arrived on time, smoothed the path for transport on the train and hotel stays, as well as entry to each site. Wilfredo was a good driver to take us back to Cusco and more than willing to stop so I could take photos of dairy cows. I’d highly recommend SAM tours as they had everything sorted for each amazing site, removed the stress and hassle of entry and logistics and made you feel like one of the family.

Tess Edwards 2026/01/29

We did the 3-day Cusco, Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu tour with Sam Travel, and it was an outstanding experience from start to finish. This was a real bucket-list trip for us, and with somewhere as iconic as Machu Picchu, expectations can sometimes be unrealistically high. In this case, the experience far exceeded them and was the highlight of our four weeks travelling in South America. Sam Travel is locally owned and operated, and our guide Liz Montesinos is also local. Liz has a university degree in tourism and a deep love for her history, culture and people — and that really shows. Her enthusiasm and knowledge made the three days feel meaningful rather than rushed or superficial.

Nina Shen 2025/10/29

We had an amazing experience visiting Machu Picchu with our guide, Liz Montesinos from SAM Travel Peru. She was so knowledgeable and passionate about the history and culture. Liz was also incredibly kind and patient, making sure everyone in our group was comfortable and enjoying the day. Plus, she took some of the best photos of our trip. She knows all the best spots and took truly great photos and didn’t try to make us do cheesy poses like some other guides try to. We couldn’t have asked for a better guide and would absolutely recommend her to anyone visiting Machu Picchu. She really made our 2-day trip to Sacred Valley and Machu Pichu very special!

Marcelle James 2026/02/29

We just completed our 3 day Sacred Valley and Machu tour with Sam Travel Peru (our guide was Jose). Firstly they were very easy to deal with, and able to add in airport transfers etc as needed. Jose was an excellent guide for the whole 3 days from airport pick up to the end of the tour. Jose was able to amend the itinerary as we went to suit the weather conditions and our ability to walk through all of the sites, ensuring we still got to see all of the most picturesque and important parts of each site. Jose is exceptionally knowledgeable and passionate about Peru as well as being very adaptable and positive - would absolutely recommend him.

Reviews by Google

5.0 1,890 opinions
See More
Cheri Buccino April 21, 2024
truspilot icons

Powerful! This journey tests your humanity and leaves you in awe of yourself and the beauty that Pachamama provides. April 2024 We conquered the Inca trail and it was only made possible with the help and guidance from our expert guides Jean Pierre (JP) and Jimmy. The knowledge these gentlemen shared was admired by all of our group and the envy of other trail hikers who stopped to listen. The hike has many layers of challenges including language barriers, altitude sensitivities and food specifications. The team at Sam travel exceeded the needs and went above to ensure our comforts were met. A special mention must be made to Mario, the Chef who somehow performed magic with nutritious flavourful meals to satisfy even the pickiest consumers and Francesco who was our lead porter who orchestrated the harmony that happened behind the scenes to get everything done. Nothing less than marvellous from this team. Thank you to each of the group who made our trek a remarkable experience.

BL
Bhavana Lalwani April 18, 2024
truspilot icons

Jose and Henry were great guides for our first time exploring machu pichu! They were very attentive and kept everything on a smooth schedule. Highly recommend!

RY
Ryan April 9, 2024
truspilot icons

The whole experience was amazing. Ray, our guide answered all of our questions and definitely had our best interest in mind the whole time. Timothy the cook made fantastic food and somehow found a way to prepare a birthday cake with no notice! Boni our head porter and his whole crew were kind, accommodating, and had such upbeat attitudes which really made the experience great!

Isabel Batteria April 17, 2024
truspilot icons

I spent two days with Sam Travel’s guide Raymier, who guided us through the one-day 12-km stretch of the Inca trail and then took us to Machu Picchu the next day. In my group, I was always the last one on the trail because I come from the coast and I’m not used to altitudes, and honestly I could also have prepared physically a little better. Raymier respected my pace, never rushed me, and supported me throughout the ardous trail. He had much knowledge to share. I speak Spanish, but ended up in an English tour, and Ray’s English was very good. He was funny, respectful, and versatile. He knew where to take all the best photos and patiently took photos of all of us. I would trust Sam Travel again especially if I was lucky enough to have Ray as a guide again.

Reviews by Trustpilot

5.0 105+ opinions
See More

Sam Travel stands out

Sam Travel is a renowned local travel agency based in Cusco -Peru, recognized for its commitment to customer satisfaction, expert travel advice and personalized itineraries that meet the needs and preferences of each traveler.

food on the inca trail to machu picchu - sam travel Peru
Best food on the Machu Picchu hike
best campsite on the inca trail
Best Camping Equipment
Inca trail porters
Our Porters
Empowering Women on the Inca Trail
Empowering Women
Safety on the Trail
Safety on the Trail
Our Christmas Party In The Andes
Tree-Planting-Social-Environmental-
Tree Planting Project
Dreams Come True For Student
What Defines Us !