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A.     High-Altitude Journeys (1-4 Day Routes)

Into this world we are born to live and die

On the journey to learn of the Love!

All around and inside, for when we will leave without a trace,

It is in Love; we will find our true face!

Christopher Gallup

According to Andean Cosmovision, Sacred Mountains are the major teachers.

If you feel or already know that being on top of mountains give a powerful opportunity to get deeper, you are invited to travel with us and to reach there without getting tired and involved in tourism.

These are real road-trips on exceptional routes, to powerful places.

We take you to special places in a beautiful way thanks to our experience and connections.

We offer the route, provide the appropriate equipment, make the preparations, hold the circle and take the responsibility of the action.

We make the organization of the journey. And then we all together make it real.

A Peaceful Journey with Intention and Adventure.

And there we meet strongly connected beings. Native communities, condors, apus, alpacas…

Connected to Oneness, to Life, to Mother Earth, to Spiritual powers.

1.      Introduction

We organize boutique journeys exclusive to small groups, an enchanting road-trip at remote places to powerful destinations, where you will meet a different part of yourself.

We make an interview to understand what kind of experience you are looking for. (about your expectations, the route and its conditions, food, trekking conditions etc.)

We go uphill to the picks or downhill to the jungle with a comfortable 4×4 car and proper equipment. We stop whenever we feel like it.

From another perspective: accompanied by the deep silence and breathtaking views of the mountains, we embark on a mountain safari to the most special spots in this magical region, with the intention of listening to our hearts and minds.

Ultimately, I invite you to a beautiful adventure and a heartfelt experience—a meeting with the earth, water, air, fire, and your own heart. A powerful and adventurous journey awaits you in the mighty realms of these mountains.

If you contact us, we can begin creating the ideal trip for you.

2.      Concept

If;

Depending on the route, we may enter to natural hot springs, camp, enjoy waterfalls, make fire at altitudes (where there is not even one tree), meet glaciers, visit native indigenous communities and make spiritual connections.

Notes:

We give service in Spanish, English, French, Turkish, Quechua and Czech languages.

Some of the routes can be demanding for small children under 5 years old. In case, please contact us.

Camping, horse-riding or hiking are optional, depending on the route.

a.      High-Altitudes

“The important thing is to be able to look at everything from an equal distance,

no matter how high you rise.”

Shams Tabriz

Here is close to the Equator Line. In this part of the Earth, we meet life (people, plants and animals) until 4.500 meters (15.000 feet) above sea level (a.s.l.).

Peaceful vibration of Sacred Valley and Cusco (3.000-3.400m asl) is already amazing but when we go higher, it gets somewhere else. Mountaineers know it very well that being close to the top of a powerful mountain is an extraordinary experience. There we meet with closer clouds, a bluer sky, contrast enhancement in both outer and inner worlds and a very very quiet environment (we hear much more clearly our breathing, all little rustles and even our heart beats).

We witness the wilderness and calmness. We explore energetically clean spots, beautiful landscapes and an untouched life surrounded by a powerful vibe. Whether we are planning, chatting, thinking, or simply enjoying a cup of coffee, being high up in the mountains allows us to concentrate better and experience the present moment more deeply.

And yes, moving with a SUV car at such elevations is a privileged easiness.

Depending on the route, we may be staying overnight at 2.000 to 5.000m (6.500 to 16.500ft) a.s.l.

There are three levels of altitude in mountaineering parlance:

We recommend you to acclimatize 1-3 days before participating, depending on the route.

Yes, it is sometimes a bit hard but there is a fact: As the altitude increases, the journey becomes deeper.

b.      Apus Sagrados

According to the Andean cosmo vision, Apus Sagrados (Sacred Mountains) are the major teachers. They are powerful natural sites that generate and transform energy.

In Quechua, Apu means the vibration of a mountain. So here we talk about the spirit it has, rather than the physical presence of it. Apus Sagrados hold an amazing space for us to connect with our our heart and we are guided to renew our relations with the 5 elements: Earth, Air, Water, Fire and the spirits. It is said that if we are ready to hear, we may receive the information we need from them.

Each community has its sacred mountains. They are their channels to get connected to the main source.

Additionally, it is said that glaciers hold sacred information from the last ice age, which is being released as they melt. To honor this power, native traditions always involve asking the Apus for permission before praying, starting energy work, or beginning a journey.

In the region of Cusco and the Sacred Valley, the following twelve sacred mountains hold space: Apu Ausangate, Apu Salkantay, Apu Veronica, Apu Mama Simona, Apu Pillku Urqu, Apu Manuel Pinta, Apu Wanakawri, Apu Pachatusan, Apu Pikchu, Apu Sacsaywaman, Apu Viraqochan, Apu Pukin, and Apu Sinqa.

Since 2012 I’ve been connecting people with apu spirits. I facilitate the enchanting journey bringing you together with the Apu to experience their transformative power firsthand.

I would like to mention that it is a great honor for me to bring together those of you who are ready with the mystical atmosphere and knowledge of these lands.

c.       Adventure

One of the most meaningful aspects of our travels is the opportunity to truly get to know one another and experience the shared joy and collective responsibility of traveling as a group.

These journeys are not mass-produced tourist excursions. Instead, they are organized with a “circle spirit,” where many decisions are made collaboratively along the way. Guided by Vamoss, these trips are shaped by the group, allowing everyone to participate in the process as much as they wish within an intimate, community-focused environment.

d.      Itinerary

(:

We have no strict itinerary.

e.      Program

Note:

Thank you for giving a little bit more space to the driver while enjoying the breaks.

f.        Accommodation

g.      What We Bring

You can probably see by now that our perspective is very different from a standard travel agency.

To eat well and healthy, to travel comfortably and safely, and to feel at ease in nature, we carry a lot of carefully chosen equipment with us.

And the food we serve on the road is the same quality we eat when we travel as a family.

+ We have a wide range of equipment in stock, including underwear, hats, gloves, scarves, neck warmers, tripods, thermoses, water bottles, musical instruments, jackets, and many different sizes of hiking boots, mostly from the Salomon brand. Therefore, we can largely cover any shortages you may have (please notify us in advance).

Please contact us for any other requests you may have.

h.      Our Car

We drive from one mountain to another.

We sometimes drive from one to another top of big mountains, to an altitude from 4.000m to 5.000m (13.000 to 16.500ft).

It looks like the surface of Mars. There are no plant, animal or people around.

Since our routes include challenging roads and high altitudes, our choice of vehicle is important. For safety reasons, we use the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado, which has a capacity of 7+1 and provides a more comfortable journey on the rugged mountain roads.

i.        Some Warnings

j.        Spiritually

We go to powerful places on the Andes where you will have an inner process, for sure (: Be careful: You will have enough space and time to see what you are seeking for. This is a big opportunity to discover, to learn, to receive power.

The places we go already have a way of carrying us away—and while they carry us, they also bring us back to ourselves. In a sense, everything flows on its own. My main role is to hold space so you can gently dive into the depth that this unique moment—and this powerful land—naturally offers.

The places we visit are like ceremony grounds in themselves.

In that clean energy, alone with the mountain, we can hear our inner voice more clearly. We can accept—more easily—the vibrations and tensions that shape our thoughts. And if we are aware of certain patterns we want to change, and we are truly ready, we can begin to hear what needs to shift first in our lives.

And if you wish, during your journey we can also do simple works and rituals that strengthen our connection to life—and to the heart.

Besides, I love to share my connections with you so that you can receive what you need.

Before we hit the road we ask permission:

May we have safe and powerful journeys bringing love to us, love for all!

k.       Huachuma (San Pedro)

In case you feel like, I (Arda Kurtoğlu) would like to share my connection and love with Huachuma (San Pedro). It is a pleasure and honor for me to help you connect with this wise spirit.

Please check this page for more details. (LINK TO: HUACHUMA CEREMONIES)

At this point, we would like to remind you: When we are alone with the mountain, we are already in a state of ceremony. We don’t really need anything else besides our heart and our breath.

So, we warn you: At high altitudes, any inner work gets deeper and stronger.

3.      Routes

We offer routes designed for first-time visitors, advanced routes for those who return here repeatedly, and even journeys for those who already live in these powerful lands.

The destinations we visit are so profound that our role is simply to bring you there, support you as needed, and provide space for your own personal experience. To help you envision the journey, we will share information about these special routes, though words can never fully capture their essence.

Please note that for some of these locations, it is possible to travel with a tour company or on your own. We share this information to support all travelers; if these details help you, a quiet “thank you” from the heart is all we ask.

If you don’t need much more information to decide—or if you feel a clear call in your heart right now—you can contact us directly: reservas@vamoss.pe

And for those who want to keep reading—enjoy the journey through these words.

a)      Route 1: Meeting with Ausangate (Day Trip)

Hot Springs of Ausangate and Trekking / Horseback Ascent to the 7 Lakes

                       i.     Introduction

This route offers a powerful one-day journey for those who want to walk a little, pause, reflect, and feel—right in the heart of the Ausangate 7 Lakes area, beneath Ausangate, the highest mountain in the Cusco region. Apu Ausangate holds a very strong field of nature, culture, and energy.

Along the way—surrounded by breathtaking views—we also enter the natural hot springs that Ausangate gifts to us. Beyond their other healing qualities, these waters are widely known for being especially good for the skin—something many people who carefully observe and care for their skin say they can clearly notice. The point we reach by vehicle is also one of the base-camp areas used by Ausangate climbers.

Among the route’s beauties: having breakfast by Lake Urcos, taking a tea/coffee/cacao pause at Cuyuni Pass, and visiting one of the most original markets in this region—still largely untouched in its culture.

“Ausangate is still considered deeply sacred by the people of this region—so sacred that energy works and even prayers are traditionally done by first asking permission. As Ausangate mirrors us, being here—at such high altitude, in the presence of a mountain so vast and powerful—helps us face ourselves. It gives us a chance to see our life, and the point we are standing at within it, from a slightly higher place.

                     ii.     Route

Summary:

  1. Sacred Valley- Ausangate Road

 Click for a satellite view of Ausangate Mountain

  1. Lake Urcos [3.156m]

Click for drone footage of Lake Urcos

Click for a satellite view of Lake Urcos

  1. Cuyuni Mountain Pass [4.200m]

Click for a satellite view of the pass

  1. Ocongate Market
    1. Tinqui [3.780m]
    1. Pacchanta or Upis Community (based on your preference)

Click for a satellite view of the Pacchanta Community

Click for a satellite view of the Upis Community

Click for a satellite view of Ausangate 7 Lakes

U Upis Option: Trekking- Upis Lake (4,560 m)

Click for a satellite view of Upis Lake

Upis Option: Natural Hot Springs [4.450m]

  1. Return Road

Details:

Sacred Valley-Tinqui Road:

I set out from Vamoss Experience (San Salvador). We meet in Pisac (or wherever you prefer), chew a little coca, load your bags into our vehicle, and begin the road. (3,000 m)

We move through the valley—not toward Machu Picchu this time, but in the other direction—until we reach Urcos.

After a beautiful breakfast by Lake Urcos, we begin climbing by car. We pass through Cuyuni Mountain Pass (4,200 m), and at the first point where we meet Ausangate’s powerful presence face to face, we can take a tea/coffee pause if you wish.

From there, we descend into the Tinqui Valley and visit the market of Ocongate Village (many small highland communities are connected to it).

This is a place where you can clearly feel the life of people living at altitude—and where tourists simply don’t pass through. Then we arrive at Tinqui (3,780 m)—the last town before we begin the final climb toward Ausangate.

This entire road is asphalt. The distance is about 130 km, and in normal conditions—excluding stops—we cover it in roughly 2.5 hours.

Tinqui- Pacchanta or Upis Road:

In our call before the journey, we decide together whether you prefer Pacchanta or Upis.

From the moment we enter the community road, Ausangate’s magnificent presence begins to grow—bigger and closer with every turn. Both communities are reached by a demanding stone road. Although it’s only 15 km, it takes us about one hour—because along the way we cross many streams, and pass right through the living spaces of people who make their home high in the mountains.

Walking & Hot Springs in Pacchanta / Upis – Ausangate

Both options are beautiful, and they offer a similar essence. The first is a little closer to “tourism”; the second is a much more isolated experience. In our call, it will be easy to feel which one suits you.

1. Option One: Pacchanta: At the end of the road we arrive in Pacchanta (4,315 m)—a place travelers choose more often than Upis. (When we say “touristic,” we mean this: we might come across 5–30 other travelers, but we will barely see them during the day.) Compared to Upis, Pacchanta has more developed hot springs (large pools at different temperatures), small local shops for basic needs, and relatively better accommodation options.

From here, we climb to Ausangate 7 Lakes—either on foot, or (if you prefer) by horse (extra payment + advance notice required; no riding experience needed). The ascent (4,315- ~4,850 m) is not steep, but it is about 6 km and takes around 3 hours. As we get closer to Ausangate’s glacier, the landscape becomes truly breathtaking. In my own view—among all the places in South America—this route belongs in the top three, alongside Patagonia’s W Trek and the Uyuni–San Pedro crossing.

In Pacchanta, we are accompanied and supported by a beautiful local family we feel deeply connected to—who help us with food, horses (if needed), and presence along the way.

We stop whenever we wish, and refresh ourselves with the flowing glacier water.

We return to Pacchanta before dark. After dinner prepared by our local auntie (Sra. Brigida), we warm up in the hot springs at 4,315 meters—held by silence, sharp mountain cold, the Ausangate view, and the stars.

2. Option Two: Upis: At the end of the road we reach the Upis community (4,450 m)—and in the final part there are barely even 10 houses. Almost no tourists come here. The hot spring is very simple and small. There are no shops, and accommodation is truly minimal. We will be with an Indigenous family we are deeply bonded with, living right at the edge of the glacier—extraordinary people. Besides them, we might meet only 3–5 other locals, and that’s all. The Upis option offers a much closer contact with local highland life.

The point we reach by vehicle in Upis is very, very close to the glacier. From there we walk up to Upis Lake. The climb is not steep and takes only about one hour—bringing us even nearer to Ausangate’s ice.

By the lake, we stay 2–4 hours, depending on your preference. The silence and the view here are powerful. From that point on, it’s between Ausangate and us. We have spacious time—for meditation, preparing an offering for Mother Earth, a mapacho and rapé ritual, even swimming in the cold water where pieces of ice drift… if that is what you feel called to.

We return to Upis before dark. After dinner prepared by our local auntie (Sra. Calletano), we warm up in the hot spring at 4,450 meters—again with silence, sharp cold, the Ausangate view, and the stars—then we begin the return road.

Return Road

We return the same way. We usually set out around 7–8 pm. While you rest—often sleeping with a beautiful playlist in the background—I drive with quiet joy. We are usually back around 10 pm.

                   iii.     Program

Our program is not fixed—it shapes itself on the road. Still, to help you feel the flow, here is a sample outline:

Pacchanta Option:

05:00                    Depart from the Sacred Valley

06:00                    Breakfast at Lake Urcos

07:00                    Pause at Cuyuni Mountain Pass

08:00                    Ocongate Market

08:30                    Begin the climb from Tinqui

09:30                    Arrive in Pacchanta

10:00                    Start trekking (or horseback)

10:30                    Mirador Ausangate

12:30                    Ausangate Seven Lakes

16:30                    Dinner

17:15                    Natural Hot Springs

19:15                    Return road

22:30                    Back in our beds

Upis Option:

05:00                    Depart from the Sacred Valley

06:00                    Breakfast at Lake Urcos

07:15                    Pause at Cuyuni Mountain Pass

08:30                    Ocongate Market

09:30                    Begin the climb from Tinqui

10:30                    Arrive in Upis

11:00                    Trekking

12:00                    Upis Lake

16:30                    Dinner

17:30                    Natural Hot Springs

19:15                    Return road

22:30                    Back in our beds

                   iv.     What to Bring

If you don’t have some of the items above, let us know—we may be able to lend them.

If we are more than 5 people, we place suitcases and backpacks on the roof. In that case, please keep only the essentials with you inside the car.

                     v.     Food

We’d like to say this clearly: preparing in harmony with your diet (if you have one) is a pleasure for us. Please let us know in advance.

For the road, we bring plenty of coca leaves, cacao beans, maca, different teas, coffee, fruit, peanuts, and raisins—so the journey stays supported and steady.

Homemade muesli (oats, pumpkin seeds, coconut oil, chia seeds, walnuts), homemade yogurt or almond milk, fruit, gluten-free or sourdough bread, avocado, Peru’s lovely green olives and beautiful olive oil, farm eggs from the valley, goat cheese, butter, honey from a community we know, a variety of teas, coffee, and hot chocolate.

Because we are climbing, simple is best: we chew coca leaves, eat fruit and nuts—and it’s usually more than enough.

A filling quinoa soup with plenty of vegetables, fresh trout from Ausangate’s lakes, served with native-seed potatoes and salad. And if you have a preferred dish, please tell us—sometimes we can arrange it in advance.

                   vi.     Participation Fee
ParticipationPrice ($)
1300
2200
3175
4160
5140
6130
7120

Extras:

b)      Route 2: Apu Ausangate (1N/2D)

One Night in Ausangate’s Hot Springs + Trekking / Horseback Ascent to the 7 Lakes

        i.           Introduction

We created this route for those who want to walk, pause, reflect, and feel—right in the heart of Ausangate (6,384 m), a mountain we experience as the crown chakra of the Cusco region. And for those who want to go even deeper: to stay one night, and truly sink into this powerful field. Apu Ausangate holds a very strong space of nature, culture, and energy.

With a breathtaking view around us, we enter the natural hot springs—Ausangate’s gift to us. Beyond their other healing qualities, these waters are known for being especially good for the skin—something people who closely observe and care for their skin often notice clearly. The point we reach by vehicle is also one of the base-camp zones used by Ausangate climbers.

Among the route’s beauties: sipping tea/coffee/cacao by Lake Urcos, pausing at Cuyuni Mountain Pass, and visiting one of the most original markets in this region—still largely untouched in its culture.

“Ausangate is still considered deeply sacred by the people of this region—so sacred that energy works and even prayers are traditionally done by first asking permission. As Ausangate mirrors us, being here—at such high altitude, in the presence of a mountain so vast and powerful—helps us face ourselves. It gives us a chance to see our connection to the moment, and the point we stand at in our lives, from a slightly higher place.”

      ii.           Route

Summary:

  1. Sacred Valley- Ausangate Road (as you’ll see in the extras, if you prefer we can travel not on the asphalt road, but over the mountain tops instead)

Click for a satellite view of Ausangate Mountain

  1.  Lake Urcos [3.156m]

Click for drone footage of Lake Urcos

Click for a satellite view of Lake Urcos

  1. Cuyuni Mountain Pass [4.200m]

Click for a satellite view of the pass

  1. Ocongate Market
  2. Tinqui [3.780m]
  3. Pacchanta or Upis Community (based on your preference)

Click for a satellite view of the Pacchanta Community

Click for a satellite view of the Upis Community

Click for a satellite view of Ausangate 7 Lakes

U pis Option: Trekking- Upis Lake (easy, ~1 hour, 4,450–4,560 m)

Click for a satellite view of Upis Lake

Upis Option: Natural Hot Springs (4,450 m)

  1. Return Road

Details:

Sacred Valley- Tinqui Road:

I set out from Vamoss Experience (San Salvador). We meet in Pisac (or wherever you prefer), chew a little coca, load your bags into our vehicle, and begin the road. (3,000 m)

We move through the valley—not toward Machu Picchu this time, but in the other direction—until we reach Urcos. By Lake Urcos (3,156 m) we take a tea/coffee pause. Then we stop at Cuyuni Mountain Pass (4,200 m)—the first point where we stand face to face with Ausangate’s majestic presence.

From there, we descend into the Tinqui Valley and visit the market of Ocongate Village (many small highland communities are connected to it). This is a place where you can see high-altitude life up close—untouched by tourism. Then we arrive at Tinqui (3,780 m), the last town before we begin the next climb toward Ausangate.

This entire road is asphalt. The distance is about 130 km, and in normal conditions—excluding stops—we cover it in roughly 2.5 hours.

Note: If you wish (extra payment + advance notice required), we can do the journey there or back not on the asphalt road, but over the mountain tops. There are dreamlike roads that rise above Pisac or San Salvador and travel through the 4,000-meter range—wild, quiet, and so beautiful that almost no one passes through. In that case, we move through extraordinary views and villages, and depending on your preference the travel time can extend to around 2 to 4 hours. These roads are stony and full of curves—but they are truly, truly beautiful.

Tinqui- Pacchanta or Upis Road:

In our call before the journey, we decide together whether you prefer Pacchanta or Upis.

From the moment we enter the community road, Ausangate’s magnificent presence begins to grow—bigger and closer with every curve. Both communities are reached by a demanding stone road. Although it’s only 15 km, it takes about one hour—and on both roads we pass through multiple streams and right through the living spaces of people who make their home high in the mountains.

Walking & Hot Springs in Pacchanta or Upis — Ausangate (1 Night)

Both options are truly beautiful and carry a similar essence. The first is a little closer to “tourism,” while the second offers a much more isolated experience. In our call, it will be easy to feel which one is for you.

1. Option One: Pacchanta: At the end of the road we arrive in Pacchanta (4,315 m)—a place travelers choose more often than Upis. (When we say “touristic,” we mean this: we might come across 5–30 other travelers, but we will barely see them during the day.) Compared to Upis, Pacchanta has more developed hot springs (large pools at different temperatures), small local shops for basic needs, and relatively better accommodation options.

After dinner prepared by our local auntie (Sra. Brigida), we warm up in the hot springs at 4,315 meters, facing Ausangate’s peak—held by the stars.

Sleeping at this altitude, in a place like this, has its own taste. After a night of silence, sharp cold, stars, and hot springs, we get the chance to enter the waters again in the morning.

After breakfast, we climb to Ausangate 7 Lakes—either on foot, or (if you prefer) by horse (extra payment + advance notice required; no riding experience needed).

The ascent (4,315- ~4,850 m) is not steep, but it is about 6 km and takes around 3 hours. As we get closer to Ausangate’s glacier, the landscape becomes breathtaking. Among all the views in South America, I would place this route in the top three—alongside Patagonia’s W Trek and the Uyuni–San Pedro crossing.

We stop whenever we wish, and refresh ourselves with the flowing glacier water.

We return to Pacchanta as the light begins to fade. We enter the hot springs once more, and then begin the return road.

2. Option Two: Upis: At the end of the road we reach the Upis community (4,450 m)—and in the final section there are barely even 10 houses. Almost no tourists come here. The hot spring is very simple and small. There are no shops, and accommodation is truly minimal.

We will be with an Indigenous family we are deeply bonded with, living right at the edge of the glacier—extraordinary people. Besides them, we might meet only 3–5 other locals, and that’s all. The Upis option offers a much closer contact with local highland life.

The point we reach by vehicle in Upis is very, very close to the glacier. After dinner prepared by our local auntie (Sra. Calletano), we warm up in the hot spring at 4,450 meters, with Ausangate’s presence and the stars above us.

Sleeping at this altitude, in a place like this, has its own taste. After a night of silence, sharp cold, stars, and hot springs, we get the chance to enter the waters again in the morning.

After breakfast, we walk up to Upis Lake (4,560 m). The climb is not steep and takes only about one hour—bringing us even nearer to Ausangate’s glacier.

By the lake, we stay 2–4 hours, depending on your preference. The silence and the view here are powerful. From that point on, it’s between Ausangate and us. We have spacious time—for meditation, preparing an offering for Mother Earth, a mapacho and rapé ritual, even swimming in the cold water where pieces of ice drift… if that is what you feel called to.

We return to Upis before dark. We enter the hot springs—of course—one more time, and then begin the return road.

Pacchanta / Upis- Sacred Valley Road:

We return by the main road. We usually set out around 7–8 pm. While you rest—often falling asleep with a beautiful playlist in the background—I drive with quiet joy. We’re usually back around 10 pm.

     iii.           Program

Our program isn’t fixed—it shapes itself on the road. Still, to help you feel the rhythm, here is a sample flow:

Pacchanta Option

Day 1

09:00 — Depart from the Sacred Valley

Note: If you prefer the mountain-top road, it’s better to leave around 7:00–8:00.

10:00 — Stop at Lake Urcos

11:30 — Tea / coffee pause at Cuyuni Mountain Pass

12:30 — Ocongate Market + Lunch

13:30 — Begin the climb from Tinqui

14:30 — Arrive in Pacchanta

15:00 — Natural Hot Springs

18:00 — Dinner

Note: We can enjoy the hot springs all night long.

Day 2

07:00 — Breakfast

08:30 — Start trekking (or horseback)

09:30 — Mirador Ausangate viewpoint

10:30 — Ausangate 7 Lakes

11:00 — A little more hot-spring time + Food

17:00 — Depart for the return road

20:00 — Back in our beds

Upis Option:

Day 1

09:00 — Depart from the Sacred Valley

Note: If you prefer the mountain-top road, it’s better to leave around 8:00.

10:00 — Pause at Lake Urcos

11:30 — Pause at Cuyuni Mountain Pass

12:30 — Ocongate Market + Lunch

13:30 — Begin the climb from Tinqui

14:30 — Arrive in Upis

15:00 — Time with the locals

16:00 — Natural Hot Springs

18:00 — Dinner

Note: We can enjoy the hot springs all night long.

Da 2

08:00 — Breakfast

10:00 — Trekking begins

12:00 — Upis Lake

15:00 — Food

16:00 — A little more hot-spring time

17:00 — Depart for the return road

20:00 — Back in our beds

                   iv.     What to Bring

If you don’t have some of the items above, let us know—we may be able to lend them.

If we are more than 5 people, we place suitcases and backpacks on the roof. In that case, please keep only the essentials with you inside the car.

                     v.     Food

We’d like to say this clearly: preparing in harmony with your diet (if you have one) is a pleasure for us. Please let us know in advance.

To support the journey, we bring plenty of coca leaves, cacao beans, maca, different teas, coffee, fruit, peanuts, and raisins—so the road stays steady and well held.

Day 1

Lunch

We eat from the day’s lunch menu at the Ocongate Market.

Dinner (in Ausangate)

A filling quinoa soup with plenty of vegetables, fresh trout from Ausangate’s lakes, served with native-seed potatoes and salad. And if you have a preferred dish, please tell us—sometimes we can arrange it in advance.

Day 2

Breakfast

Homemade muesli (oats, pumpkin seeds, coconut oil, chia seeds, walnuts), homemade yogurt or almond milk, fruit, gluten-free or sourdough bread, avocado, Peru’s lovely green olives and beautiful olive oil, farm eggs from the valley, goat cheese, butter, honey from a community we know, a variety of teas, coffee, and hot chocolate.

Lunch

Because we are climbing, simple is best: we chew coca leaves and eat the fruit and nuts we carry with us—and it’s usually more than enough.

Dinner

Vegetable soup, village chicken cooked in a pan, and fries. And if you have a preferred dish, please tell us—sometimes we can arrange it in advance.

                   vi.     Participation Fee
ParticipationPrice ($)
1375
2275
3240
4220
5200
6180
7180

Extras:

   vii.           Accommodation

If you choose Upis, we should gently prepare you: accommodation here is very basic. There are three rooms in total—one with one double bed, one with two single beds, and one with five single beds. There are plenty of blankets, so we can sleep warm, but the sheets and mattresses are well below standard. If you prefer, we can provide a sleeping bag (and clean thermal base layers that we wash after every use).

If you choose Pacchanta, you will most likely sleep with cleaner, newer sheets compared to Upis. We usually stay in five-person rooms, though if you wish, it can sometimes be possible to arrange a two-person room. And again, if you prefer, we can provide a sleeping bag (with clean thermal base layers washed after every use).

If you’d rather stay in a tent—either beside the hot springs or up by the lakes—instead of sleeping in local rooms, we have all the equipment. Please just let us know in advance.

c)      Route 3: Circuit Around Ausangate (2N/3D)

        i.           Introduction

One Night Camping (or Basic Local Rooms) + One Night in the Hot Springs

This route is very special—close to our heart, and carrying its own weight for us. Without needing long or difficult treks, we make a full circuit around Ausangate, the highest mountain in the Cusco region. We witness unreal landscapes and rise into very high altitudes. Apu Ausangate holds an exceptionally strong field of nature, culture, and energy.

We pass through dreamlike roads between Indigenous communities living around 4,500 meters. At a point we can reach by vehicle—challenging, but possible—we camp by a very special lake at 4,900 meters, surrounded by peaks that rise toward 6,000 meters. (If you prefer, there is also an option to stay in the simple rooms of a local family about 30 minutesfrom the lake.) Up there, there is almost no sound—only the voice of the glaciers.

On this route, we cross two very high mountain passes that let us move between the peaks. Finding these passes was not easy—and as far as we can tell, almost no one uses them except us.

And at the end of the journey, we have a beautiful gift: in a stunning landscape, high above Ausangate, we enter the natural hot springs—the mountain’s offering to us.

Important: The altitude is high. You must be properly acclimatized. Especially during the first two days, even though we are in the vehicle, we are continuously traveling between mountain summits.

      ii.           Route

Summary:

  1. Sacred Valley- Ausangate Road

Click for a satellite view of Ausangate Mountain

Click for drone footage of Lake Urcos

Click for a satellite view of Lake Urcos

Click for a satellite image of the pass

Click for a satellite image of the lake

Click for two timelapses at the lake by a user named Geolimber

Click for a satellite image of the lake

Click for a satellite image of the 5,200 m mountain pass

  1. Marcapata [2.870m]
  2. Lake Singrenacocha [4.337m]

Click for a satellite image of the lake

Click for a satellite view of the Pacchanta Community

Click for a satellite view of the Upis Community

Click for a satellite view of Ausangate 7 Lakes

Upis Option: Trekking- Upis Lake [4.560m]

Click for a satellite view of Upis Lake

Upis Natural Hot Springs [4.450m]

Click for a satellite view of the pass

Details:

  1. Sacred Valley- Ccascana Lake Road:

I set out from Vamoss Experience (San Salvador). We meet in Pisac (or wherever you prefer), chew a little coca, load your bags into our vehicle, and begin the road. (3,000 m)

We move through the valley—not toward Machu Picchu this time, but in the other direction—covering 90 km in about 1.5 hours until we reach Urcos. After a beautiful breakfast by Lake Urcos, we’re ready to step away from “civilization.”

Once we reach Checacupe Village, we truly leave the main road behind.

For the next 100 km, we travel along the mountain tops. Here we pass through a genuinely special high pass at 5,070 m, moving right beneath Ausangate’s summit. At this pass, we may meet snow—or even a hailstorm.

After the pass, we reach Sibinacocha Lake (4,873 m). This isn’t a place with a “comfortable spot” to relax for long. We take a short pause, and then continue toward our real destination.

The road from the Phinaya Community to the lake is legendary. After about one hour of off-road, we arrive at Ccascana Lake (4,907 m)—surrounded by peaks rising toward 6,000 meters.

And here, in this almost unbelievable place, we spend one night. If the weather allows (so far it always has), we light a fire with the wood we bring, and spend the night by a glacier-held lake.

If you don’t want to sleep in a tent, there is a very simple guesthouse run by a family in the Phinaya Community—we can stay there instead.

These two passes are the highest gateways in the region—cutting through the peaks of the Vilcanota Range, where many summits rise above 6,000 meters, including Ausangate itself. Thanks to these passes—and our 4×4—we can reach the other side of Ausangate without having to descend all the way toward the Amazon first. The road is demanding, yes, but it opens a rare path.

Those who have spent time in the mountains know: passes like these are powerful points. We arrive, we take a breath, we pause—and then we continue.

From Ccascana Lake to Marcapata, if we connect via the 5,200 m pass (70 km), it’s about 3 hours of high-altitude driving in normal conditions (excluding stops). If we connect via the 4,800 m pass (85 km), it’s also about 3 hours—again, mostly at high altitude. We decide which pass to take on the road, based on weather and road conditions.

Both passes bring us down to the Amazon gateway—Marcapata (2,870 m)—and connect us back to the asphalt road.

We travel through the Tinqui Valley and make our way to a turquoise lake called Singrenacocha. In a way, it feels like the younger sibling of Sibinacocha, where we paused the day before. I have never met another tourist at this lake—not even once.

The descent to the lake is a stony, truly off-road track, and it takes about 45 minutes.

By the water, we can stay 1–2 hours, depending on what you feel. This is a beautiful turquoise lake, fed by the glacier waters of Ausangate.

In our call before the journey, we decide together whether you prefer Pacchanta or Upis.

From the moment we enter the community road, Ausangate’s magnificent presence begins to grow—bigger and closer with every curve. Both communities are reached by a demanding stone road.

Although it’s only 15 km, it takes about one hour—because along the way we pass through multiple streams and right through the living spaces of people who make their home high in the mountains.

Both options are truly beautiful and carry a similar essence. The first is a little closer to “tourism,” while the second offers a much more isolated experience. In our call, it will be easy to feel which one is for you.

1. Option One: Pacchanta: At the end of the road we arrive in Pacchanta (4,315 m)—a place travelers choose more often than Upis. (When we say “touristic,” we mean this: we might come across 5–30 other travelers, but we will barely see them during the day.) Compared to Upis, Pacchanta has more developed hot springs (large pools at different temperatures), small shops for basic needs, and relatively better accommodation options.

After dinner prepared by our local auntie (Sra. Brigida), we warm up in the hot springs at 4,315 meters, facing Ausangate’s summit—held by the stars.

Sleeping at this altitude, in a place like this, has its own taste. After a night of silence, sharp cold, stars, and hot springs, we get the chance to enter the waters again in the morning.

After breakfast, we climb to Ausangate 7 Lakes—either on foot, or (if you prefer) by horse (extra payment + advance notice required; no riding experience needed). The ascent (4,315- 4,850 m) is not steep, but it is about 6 km and takes around 3 hours. As we approach Ausangate’s glacier, the landscape becomes breathtaking. Among all the views in South America, I would place this route in the top three—alongside Patagonia’s W Trek and the Uyuni–San Pedro crossing.

We stop wherever we wish, and refresh ourselves with the flowing glacier water.

We return to Pacchanta as the light begins to fade. We enter the hot springs once more, and then begin the return road.

2) Option Two: Upis: At the end of the road we reach the Upis community (4,450 m)—and in the final section there are barely even 10 houses. Almost no tourists come here. The hot spring is very simple and small. There are no shops, and accommodation is truly minimal. We will be with an Indigenous family we are deeply bonded with, living right at the edge of the glacier—extraordinary people. Besides them, we might meet only 3–5 other locals, and that’s all. The Upis option offers a much closer contact with local highland life.

The point we reach by vehicle in Upis is very, very close to the glacier. After dinner prepared by our local auntie (Sra. Calletano), we warm up in the hot spring at 4,450 meters, with Ausangate’s presence and the stars above us.

Sleeping at this altitude, in a place like this, has its own taste. After a night of silence, sharp cold, stars, and hot springs, we get the chance to enter the waters again in the morning.

After breakfast, we walk up to Upis Lake (4,560 m). The climb is not steep and takes only about one hour—bringing us even nearer to Ausangate’s glacier.

By the lake, we stay 2–4 hours, depending on what you feel. The silence and the view here are powerful. From that point on, it’s between Ausangate and us. We have spacious time—for meditation, preparing an offering for Mother Earth, a mapacho and rapé ritual, even swimming in the cold water where pieces of ice drift… if that is what you feel called to.

We return to Upis before dark. We enter the hot springs—of course—one more time, and then begin the return road.

We return by the main road. We usually set out around 7–8 pm. While you rest—often falling asleep with a beautiful playlist in the background—I drive with quiet joy. We’re usually back around 10 pm.

     iii.           Program

Our program isn’t fixed—it shapes itself on the road. Still, to help you feel the flow, here is a sample rhythm:

Day 1

07:00 — Depart from the Sacred Valley
08:30 — Breakfast pleasure by Lake Urcos
09:30 — From Checacupe onward, we are up in the highlands
13:00 — Lunch at a lake we choose on the way, held by the view
16:00 — Setting up camp
18:00 — Dinner by the fire, between the glaciers

Day 2

09:00 — We pack up camp
11:00 — The high mountain pass at 5,200 m
13:00 — Lunch in Marcapata
15:00 — Singrenacocha Lake
16:30 — The climb begins from Tinqui
17:30 — Arrival in Pacchanta or Upis
    After a route like this, the hot springs feel like a true blessing.
19:00 — Dinner
Note: We can enjoy the hot springs all night long.

Day 3 (If you choose Pacchanta)

08:00 — Breakfast
09:00 — Trekking begins (or horseback)
09:30 — Mirador Ausangate viewpoint
12:00 — Ausangate 7 Lakes
16:30 — Dinner
17:15 — A little more hot-spring time
18:30 — Depart for the return road
21:30 — Back in our beds

Day 3 (If you choose Upis)

08:00 — Breakfast
10:00 — Trekking begins
11:00 — Upis Lake
15:00 — Late lunch
16:00 — A little more hot-spring time
17:30 — Depart for the return road
20:30 — Back in our beds

                   iv.     What to Bring

If you don’t have some of the items above, let us know—we may be able to lend them.

If we are more than 5 people, we place suitcases and backpacks on the roof. In that case, please keep only the essentials with you inside the car.

                     v.     Food

We want to say this clearly: if you have a specific diet, preparing in harmony with it is a pleasure for us. Please inform us in advance.

To keep the journey steady and supported, we carry plenty of coca leaves, cacao beans, maca, different teas, coffee, fruit, peanuts, and raisins with us along the way.

Day 1

Breakfast — by Lake Urcos (3,156 m)

Homemade muesli (oats, pumpkin seeds, coconut oil, chia seeds, walnuts), homemade yogurt or almond milk, fruit, gluten-free or sourdough bread, avocado, Peru’s lovely green olives and beautiful olive oil, farm eggs from the valley, goat cheese, butter, honey from a community we know, a variety of teas, coffee, and hot chocolate.

Lunch — by Sibinacocha Lake (4,873 m)

A filling quinoa soup with plenty of vegetables, plus salad.

Dinner — by Ccascana Lake (4,900 m)

Vegetable rice cooked at camp, served with yogurt.

Day 2

Breakfast — at camp

Homemade muesli (oats, pumpkin seeds, coconut oil, chia seeds, walnuts), homemade yogurt or almond milk, fruit, gluten-free or sourdough bread, avocado, Peru’s lovely green olives and beautiful olive oil, farm eggs from the valley, goat cheese, butter, honey from a community we know, a variety of teas, coffee, and hot chocolate.

Lunch — in Marcapata (2,870 m)

We eat from the day’s lunch menu at a local restaurant.

Dinner — with an Ausangate view

A hearty quinoa soup with plenty of vegetables, fresh trout from Ausangate’s lakes, served with native-seed potatoes and salad. If you have a preferred dish, please tell us—sometimes we can arrange it in advance.

Day 3

Breakfast — in Ausangate

Homemade muesli (oats, pumpkin seeds, coconut oil, chia seeds, walnuts), homemade yogurt or almond milk, fruit, gluten-free or sourdough bread, avocado, Peru’s lovely green olives and beautiful olive oil, farm eggs from the valley, goat cheese, butter, honey from a community we know, a variety of teas, coffee, and hot chocolate.

Lunch

Because we are climbing, simple is best: we chew coca leaves and eat the fruit and nuts we carry with us—and it’s usually enough.

Dinner

Vegetable soup, village chicken cooked in a pan, and fries. If you have a preferred dish, please tell us—sometimes we can arrange it in advance.

                   vi.     Participation Fee
ParticipationPrice ($)
1600
2475
3425
4390
5370
6350
7350

Extras:

   vii.           Accommodation

For the first night, we have two gentle options:

•             We can camp by the lake, or

•             We can sleep in beds at a very simple guesthouse in Phinaya, a tiny village about 45 minutes from the lake.

If we camp, we get to taste something rare: sleeping at very high altitude, camping up among the mountain tops—held by silence and stars. And there’s another beautiful detail: we bring wood with us, so we can light a proper campfire. At these altitudes, there are no trees, no wood—nothing grows. But this is one of the differences we can create, and it becomes a very special part of the night.

For the second night, if you choose Upis, we should prepare you: accommodation is very basic. There are only three rooms in total—one with one double bed, one with two single beds, and one with five single beds. There are plenty of blankets, so we can sleep warm, but the sheets and mattresses are far below standard. If you prefer, we can provide a sleeping bag, together with clean thermal base layers that we wash after every use.

If you choose Pacchanta, you will most likely sleep with cleaner, newer sheets compared to Upis. We usually stay in five-person rooms, though if you wish, it can sometimes be possible to arrange a two-person room. And again, if you prefer, we can provide a sleeping bag with clean thermal base layers washed after every use.

And if you’d rather stay in a tent instead of local rooms—either beside the hot springs or up by the lakes—we can camp again, just like on the first night.

d)      Route 4: Meeting Q’eros (2N/3D)

        i.           Overview

Traveling above the Clouds, and Meeting Q’eros

We are heading into a dreamlike place—recently discovered, and still unreachable for most. The Q’ero are a special community who, when the Spanish reached Cusco, sensed what was coming and chose to leave. They moved into an extremely remote region (around Ausangate) and lived largely apart from the outside world, sustaining their lives quietly, on their own terms.

They have protected their shamanic kn owledge to this day. They live in deep relationship with their mountains, the elements, their altars, their healers, and Pachamama (Mother Earth). This is a community that doesn’t simply “know” the Andean cosmovision—it lives it. And because of that, you cannot just arrive there casually. This place is not visited without permission.

In one of my published articles, I expressed—through my own lens—what they may have carried in their hearts when they chose to disappear into the mountains:

“We must hide in order to protect the sacred knowledge. When the waters flow and the time comes, they will realize that this stance has only brought harm to our existence—and they will begin to need the truth. That day, many who have awakened to what is happening will travel here from all over the world. We must take this responsibility now, so humanity does not vanish inside this hatred.”

A gentle warning: If you are not genuinely willing to learn from the Q’ero and from this experience, please do not join this journey. This route involves serious travel conditions and close, respectful contact with Indigenous life.

This is one of our most powerful routes. We set out for something both sacred and sensitive—stepping into a living story. Paq’o Salqa has been my friend since 2017. Knowing him, and meeting the Q’ero and their cultural heritage, is a true privilege.

There is so much to say about “Meeting the Q’ero.” If you feel the call but don’t know their story yet, you can begin with a simple online search and let the thread lead you.

      ii.           Route

Summary:

  1. Sacred Valley-Paucartambo
  2. Paucartambo-Cocha Moqo Hatun Qurus Mountain Pass [4.600m]
  3. Cocha Moqo [4.250m] (first night)
  4. Trekking: Ccata Cocha Lake [4.700m]
  5. Offering ceremony, Andean cosmovision, and a full day with the Q’ero & Salqa
  6. Cocha Moqo [4.250m] (second night)
  7. Return

Detailed Notes:

  1. Sacred Valley-Paucartambo

I depart from Vamoss Experience (San Salvador). We meet in Pisac (or anywhere you prefer), chew coca, load your bags into the car, and set off.

We travel the opposite direction from Machu Picchu, then begin a descent into Paucartambo along a winding road. We pause at a beautiful point for tea/coffee. This stretch is easy, passing small towns around 4,000m.

Paucartambo sits in the Mapacho River Valley, the last valley before the descent toward the rainforest begins. It’s a special threshold—close to both snowy peaks and jungle. Here we buy fresh coca leaves (we will need them the next day), for us and for the Q’ero.

We have lunch at the Paucartambo market, walk its narrow streets, and then continue. From this point on, our connection to modern life loosens.

The full road is asphalt; 100 km takes about 2 hours (excluding stops).

From Paucartambo onward, every minute takes us farther from civilization. The road worsens, then becomes empty—no one, nothing. Once we leave the Mapacho Valley and turn toward Cocha Moqo, the next 70 km takes about 3 hours(excluding stops). Elevation stays above 4,000m. It’s a road that makes you feel you’ve left the world behind.

About an hour after crossing Hatun Qurus, we arrive to the Q’ero area before night falls.

Before the night cold settles, we set up our tents inside the very simple local huts Salqa has built. After a light dinner under the stars, we sleep early.

After breakfast, we walk up to the Q’ero’s sacred lake: Ccata Cocha. The hike is easy in terrain, but altitude is real. Total time is around 2 hours up + 1 hour down.

Starting early is best—clouds tend to rise from the rainforest toward the mountains after midday. And if you don’t want to hike, that is completely okay. Being in this place, simply spending time inside the community, is already a journey.

At Ccata Cocha we will hold one of the most important Andean ceremonies: the offering (adak). If the weather allows, we do it by the lake. But rain, hail—even snow—can happen. If conditions are harsh, we spend time at the lake, then return and continue in the community’s ceremony space.

Afterwards, we listen to Salqa and speak about healing, self-healing, the Andean worldview, and Q’ero life.

We may visit other homes, chew coca with Q’ero families, and share quiet time. At this altitude, in this environment, it’s normal to feel shaken and tired. And that is part of the cleansing. We have a second night here—to sleep in this clean energy once again.

After two nights with the Q’ero, it becomes easier to connect—with the people, the children, and with the four apus that hold the community from four directions (Apu Wamanlipa, Apu Calvario, Apu Khochiyoq, Apu Aqo Urqo). After breakfast and a meditation circle, everyone can spend time alone in the landscape. We usually depart around midday and return via the same road.

If you wish, on the way back we can move closer to Ausangate, and after the Q’ero cold, warm ourselves deeply in Pacchanta’s natural hot springs before continuing home (details in Extras).

     iii.           Program

Our program is not fixed—it shapes itself on the road. Still, to help you feel the flow, here is an example:

Day 1

08:00                    Depart Sacred Valley

09:00                    Tea/Coffee/Cacao stop on the way

11:00                    Mapacho Valley & Paucartambo

12:00                    Lunch at Paucartambo Market

13:00                    Depart toward the Q’ero

17:00                    Arrive Cocha Moqo

Day 2

08:00                    Breakfast

09:30                    Trekking: Lake Ccata Cocha

12:00                    Offering Ceremony*

14:00                    Leave the lake

15:00                    Andean Cosmovision **

17:00                    Preparing for the night

Day 3

08:00                    Meditation

09:00                    Breakfast

11:00                    Preparing to depart

12:00                    On the road

18:00                    Arrive Sacred Valley

* For details about the offering ceremony, please click: LINK

** Topics may include: healing & self-healing; energies and how they work; the 3 worlds in flow; khuyas & chumpis; Harun Karpay and Ñusta Karpay initiations; offering ceremony; Q’ero teachings on Andean cosmovision; the Andean misa and its use; basics of connecting with the four elements; Mama Coca and sacred space; reconciling with Pachamama for self-healing; techniques of healing through khuyas; physical and emotional healing processes.

If you wish to go deeper and enter an initiation path, please contact us—this requires at least 3 concentrated days of focused work.

     iv.           What to Bring

If you’re missing anything on the list, tell us—we can often lend items from our gear stock.

If we are more than 5 people, suitcases and backpacks go on the roof rack; please keep only essentials inside the car.

      v.           Food

If you follow a specific diet, it’s a joy for us to prepare accordingly—please let us know.

We bring plenty of travel support with us: coca leaves, cacao beans, maca, teas, coffee, fruit, peanuts, and raisins. Food is one of our priorities—we care about eating naturally and well. Still, on this route, meals become simpler, both out of respect for Q’ero life and because of the altitude. At around 4,500m / 15,000 ft, water boils at 85°C / 185°F, so cooking takes much longer.

Q’ero cuisine is quite minimal. Salqa says it best: “We Q’ero are not very skilled at cooking delicious food.” They eat very simply. We bring ample supplies to cook and leave with the families, and alongside what we bring, we eat a lot of their heritage potatoes.

Day 1

Day 2

3. Gün

     vi.           About Salqa

During one of our journeys with two vehicles, my friend Raul recorded a portion of Salqa’s talk on the Andean Cosmovision. You’re warmly invited to watch it here:

Salqa’s autobiography, in his own words (originally a mix of Quechua and Spanish):

My name is Santos Apaza Cruz, but today I am known as Salqa. I was born in the Q’eros community, in the province of Paucartambo, in the Cusco region of Peru. I come from a healing lineage, from a tradition known as Ultimo ayllu Incawithin the Q’eros community. The Andean people are known as paq’oruna, and we receive the teachings of our ancestors through the grandmothers and grandfathers of the Q’eros. I was born at 4,500 meters above sea level, in this special village—an event that is, in itself, a ritual of Mother Earth and the universe.

When I was a child, my father tried to explain to me that I carried certain advantages compared to other boys my age. From a very young age, I wanted to learn how the Inca shamanic ceremonies were performed within the Q’ero tradition, and I also enjoyed learning from other cultures. I was born to be a guardian of the mountains as an Andean healer in the rank of Pampa Misayoq, and I come from a lineage known as paqorunas or missayoqkuna. I carry the teachings of my ancestors—of the grandmothers and grandfathers of the Q’ero community—with care and discipline. Like my siblings, I grew up among llamas and alpacas—living close to rain, snow, hail, clouds, and all the natural forces of the world’s cosmos.

My father’s name was Don Domingo Apaza Quispe, a Pampa Misayoq, and my mother’s name is Juliana Cruz Quispe. My father Don Domingo passed away in 2012, at the age of 54. I had the blessing of learning from him. Receiving his words, I decided to take my first steps and search for my own path. In this training—where everything we do in daily life exists in relationship with the thought of the apus—it can be difficult to understand this way for those who do not know Q’eros wisdom and culture. The sacred apus helped me find my path, and I was sure they were the only beings who could truly help me. Later, I was appointed to the sacred Apu Wamanlipa, known as a protector of the Q’ero community, and I decided to begin my work in full.

When I was 19, I left home to follow my dream at the time: to find my path. That meant learning to speak Spanish, to read, and to write. Alongside my desire to understand the written world, I found the possibility to move forward through learning the Andean cosmovision and Inca knowledge more deeply.

Since then, I have been a pilgrim among people—hampik—serving as a spiritual, physical, and emotional healer. My purpose is to create projects that restore balance between human beings and nature. I serve the awareness and protection of the culture of the last Inca ayllu, and of ancestral wisdom.

After walking for three years, I realized there was no need to keep searching “for it.” What was needed was to return to what we had already expressed—to come back, and then investigate more deeply what we truly are. What I do now is to keep sharing what I know must continue to be shared among people, so that we may build a united humanity in a process of mental and personal evolution. I am now continuing to walk toward that same spiritual path.

Don Faustino Apaza Zamata was my grandfather—an alto Misayoq—and he was also the father of my own father, Don Domingo Apaza Quispe, who was an alto Misayoq consulted in exceptional cases. They carry the ability to offer despachos (offerings) and to work with prophetic capacities. They also hold a wider field of action than the Pampa Misayoq: the power to communicate with different apu spirits on the hills and with the natural intelligences of the cosmos, and also to heal harms caused by certain spirits.

   vii.           About the Q’eros

The Q’eros are known as the guardians of the wisdom of the Andes. They are organic potato producers, shepherds of alpacas, musicians and weavers who live in remote villages at 14,500 feet. Considered the last Incas of Peru, the Q’eros strive to preserve their indigenous ethnic identity. They are one of the most isolated Andean communities, which move with the stations to live and work at various altitudes. The Q’eros are known for the beauty of their traditional fabrics that are encoded with ancestral symbols and earth-centered cultural knowledge. The Q’eros people live a working life on par with nature. They make offerings to Pacha Mama, Mother Earth and the Apus, mountain spirits, in exchange for their well-being and that of their animals and crops. The ayni concepts of the worldview, the importance of reciprocally sharing and animu, the awareness of an animated essence in all things, shape their interactions between them and their environment.

A Q’ero healer once shared a prophecy:

“When enough seeds awaken—when they free themselves from fear and from the other negative aspects of the third and fourth levels of consciousness—the seeds of the fifth level will be able to sprout within humanity and form a Whole.”

For their history and further context:

The Q’eros: Descendants of the Incas
https://hermandadblanca.org/sabiduria-indigena-la-profecia-los-qeros-incas

You can find many videos online now (for example):

https://vimeo.com/search?q=qeros

A documentary on the Q’eros:

https://www.cultureunplugged.com/documentary/watch-online/play/51917/INKARRI-500-years-of-resistance-of-the-incan-Spirit-in-Peru

The original text of my article featured as the cover story in the September 2020 issue of Atlas, Turkey’s most established geography and exploration magazine:

THE 500-YEAR GUARDIANS OF ANCIENT WISDOM:

Q’EROS

I’m here in Peru—in these mystical lands that draw me inward, straight into the depths of my heart. This beautiful country holds three powerful geographical worlds, both natural and cultural: the Pacific coast, the Andes, and the Amazon Rainforest, and within them, many Indigenous communities.

I am in a place where I almost hesitate to step out of my tent and stretch, slowly and happily, letting my eyes wander. The idea of coming here feels exciting—yet being here makes something inside me tremble. I hold deep respect for these people, who live far from “civilization,” in conditions that are materially very basic, in order to protect the culture they love and honor.

In the Cusco region, within the energetic field held by the most sacred mountain—Ausangate (6,384m)—I am with a community called Q’eros, sheltered by four sacred mountains, in a place named Cocha Moqo, where certain secrets humanity has long been searching for seem to be quietly kept. Hidden among the mountains, the Q’eros have lived here for the last five hundred years in near-total isolation, with a conscious commitment to protect the ancient knowledge they carry.

When the invaders reached the Andes and Cusco, the capital of the Inca civilization (A.D. 1533), the people they encountered—the Quechua—were communities who had not yet used writing or even the wheel, who had never seen a horse, never seen weapons. In the end, the entire continent was invaded, and a large part of the Indigenous population was massacred.

The Q’eros, however, sensed the invaders’ greed in advance. Rather than fighting, they secretly migrated to a place they could not be found, and for a very long time they remained hidden. Their existence was “discovered” in 1955; since then, they have continued to live detached from modern life at around 4,400 meters. And perhaps, back then, the decision they made sounded something like this:

“These people clearly did not come to learn or to share. What a pity.

They think they can possess this sacred valley, and they cannot see how vast these mountains are.

They have forgotten certain ancient truths.

Let us wish that these powerful lands may bring them back to the beauty of love and peace—

and let us climb into the mountains where they cannot find us, migrating even higher, to a sheltered place.

We must hide in order to protect sacred knowledge. When the waters flow and time arrives, they will realize that this attitude has only harmed their very existence, and they will need the truth. That day, many who have understood what is happening will rise from all corners of the world and come here. For those days, we must take this responsibility now, so that humanity does not disappear into this hatred.

When the time comes, everything will reveal itself. There is nothing to fear, nothing to lose.”

To visit this community—who have successfully preserved the Andean cosmovision (a worldview built on spiritual foundations) and their spiritual connections—is only possible with permission. Here, people believe they receive their power from the apus—the mountain spirits—understood as a masculine force, and from Pachamama, Mother Earth—understood not merely as “soil,” but as a living field that holds all elements and energies.

There is no doctor in the village, no pharmacy—and access to such things is extremely limited. The youth population is slowly decreasing; still, some choose to remain. I cannot forget the words of my friend Salqa, who is 25, who has chosen to stay, and who has been invited to many places around the world to share his vision:

“Each of us is a healer. When one of us gets sick, when a journey is about to begin, for our animals, for our families, for abundance and fertility, for healing—we do ceremony. We ask permission from the mountains around us, from the twelve sacred apus of the region, and from Pachamama, and we offer the despacho we prepared as a gift to them. None of us here has a health problem.”

The ceremony he speaks of is, in many ways, one of Peru’s most central rituals. Wishes are spoken, thanks are offered to Mother Earth, and the ritual is carried out with coca, the sacred plant of the region, after permission is received from the apus. A bundle is prepared—filled with flowers, seeds, nuts, and symbolic objects—and at the end it is either released into flowing water or given to fire. They turn their backs to the offering, believing that when their eyes are not “on” it, the bundle—and the intention inside it—travels more freely and reaches the Universe more easily.

They say they can receive knowledge and strength from each element. They speak of being able to communicate with the vibrations of all beings—living and non-living. Those with strong shamanic connection are given the title paq’o, and within paq’o-hood there are different levels. The emphasis they place on transformation and the transmission of knowledge reveals the depth of their vision and the largeness of their hearts.

“Night and day, light and dark—are one,” they say. “Energies become whole only when they are with their counterparts; only then can they move forward.” They give great importance to duality—to paired existence—and they say everyone in their village has a partner. Their colorful clothes and the ponchos they wear constantly (they have a special poncho used only in ceremony) protect them somewhat from the cold. Yet on their feet, they wear sandals made by cutting car tires—custom-fitted to each person’s foot—without socks. And you realize: because they fit perfectly and because they are rubber, these sandals can be more durable and more functional than the best hiking boots.

A road was opened in recent years to reach Paucartambo, the nearest settlement (population around ten thousand). The route takes about four hours, stays above 4,000 meters, and can only be crossed by a proper off-road vehicle.

The Q’eros live as families in one-room houses of about 20 square meters. They use the open land for the toilet. They wash both their clothes and themselves in waterfalls fed by glacial water. Food is cooked inside the home over fires made from dung and eucalyptus. Their staple foods include dozens of varieties of potatoes they grow together (Peru has over a thousand potato varieties), fava beans, corn, and alpaca meat.

The animals they raise are, in truth, their closest companions. In this village of around 200 people, there are roughly 2,000 llamas. Children begin herding from the age of five. They make music with instruments they craft themselves. Women, especially, are masterful weavers, working with llama and alpaca wool. Their work system is called ayni: everything is planned and done together—“today for you, tomorrow for me,” they say, with a deep sense of consciousness.

The Q’eros are not only “in harmony” with nature—at times it feels as if they are nature. They have not forgotten that humans are part of the earth. Their homes are simply four walls and a roof—enough to protect from wind and rain. They have not placed themselves above anything. It is as if they have taken on the color of the land they live on. Their warm, deep smiles reflect a pure connection to life. Even within this powerful landscape—high mountains and soft, cotton-like clouds—their presence does not feel out of place; it feels comforting, as if it quietly warms you from the inside.

By the end of the day, I find myself wishing that the paq’os will continue blowing coca leaves for all of humanity. The trembling inside me softens. I feel excited—alive.

And so, it feels right to leave the final word to these “guardians of wisdom”:

“Follow your own footprints. Learn from rivers, trees, and rocks. Honor your brothers and sisters. Honor Mother Earth. Honor the Great Spirit. Honor yourself and all of Creation. Look with the eyes of your spirit, and focus on what truly matters.”

 viii.           Participation Fee
ParticipationFee ($)
1550
2450
3415
4390
5370
6350
7350

At least 10-16% of the revenue we earn from this route is donated to the Q’ero community.

Extras:

I do not include the offering ceremony in the participation fee because I believe it is more appropriate for you to make your payment for the ceremony to Salqa with your own hands.

– Suggested donation for the offering ceremony: 

For 1-3 participants, 150 soles per person; for 4-7 participants, 100 soles per person.

–    Recommended donation for the initiation ceremony, if you choose to have it:

250 soles per person

–    If you want to warm up in the beautiful hot springs of Ausangate on your way back, we need to leave around 10 a.m. on the 3rd day (the day of return).

An extra payment of $30 per person and $50 to be divided among the participants is required. (for the extra distance’s fuel and depreciation costs, Pacchanta community entrance, and hot spring entrance)

     ix.           Accommodation

We are staying in two simple huts that Salqa built for us. We set up our tents inside the huts and sleep in the sleeping bags and clean sheets we provide. These huts are really very basic, just four walls and a roof, so please be prepared for a truly authentic experience.

e)      Route 5: Rainbow Mountains (Day Trip)

        i.           Overview

We’re heading to the Red Valley, and entering the Rainbow Mountains through the back door

Because this route suddenly became “a thing” in recent years, I refused to include it for a long time—I assumed it was simply a marketing miracle. And to be fair, I’ve seen many colorful mountains in this region. But when two beautiful souls insisted on going with me and I finally gave in, I realized: it truly is worth it. So we added this classic spot to our routes—for those who want to see Ausangate up close, reach high altitudes without pushing too hard, and witness a landscape so vividly colored it feels painted.

Most travel agencies leaving Cusco depart at the same hour. Since we design our day outside those peak times, we don’t find ourselves swallowed by the crowds. In fact—hard as it is to believe—we’ve gone to this beautiful place many times with not a single local person or tourist in sight.

Because tourist minibuses struggle on rough roads, we take the side that fewer agencies choose. When you approach popular places this way, you can actually feel their beauty—without losing it inside a sea of people.

Note: Sometimes, due to disagreements between communities—or if you prefer—we can also reach the Rainbow Mountains via Checacupe (Pumamarca) and include the Red Valley as part of the route.

      ii.           Route

Summary:

  1. Sacred Valley- Urcos Lake Road
  2. Breakfast at Urcos Lake [3,156m]

Click for drone footage of Urcos Lake

Click for satellite view of Urcos Lake

  1. Urcos Lake- Cusipata Road [3,330m]
  2. Cusipata- Rainbow Mountains Road [4,650m]
  3. Trekking: Rainbow Mountains Viewpoint [Easy, 1 hour, 4,650–5,000m]

Click for satellite view of Ausangate Mountain

Satellite photo of the Rainbow Mountains viewpoint

  1. Trekking: The LAke [4,900m]

Satellite photo of the lake we will walk to

Details:

  1. Sacred Valley- Cusipata- Rainbow Mountains Road:

I set off from Vamoss Experience (San Salvador). I meet you in Pisac (or wherever you prefer), we chew coca, load your bags into the car, and we begin.

We travel through the valley—not toward Machu Picchu, but in the other direction—and reach Urcos. After breakfast by Urcos Lake, we continue along the main road all the way to Cusipata Village.

This entire road is asphalt; we cover the 90 km in about 1.5 hours (not including stops).

From Cusipata, we begin our ascent [3,330m- 4,650m]. From this point on, the road is rocky. Even if we drove the 25 km without stopping (and there are many places that make you want to stop), it still takes more than an hour. The point we reach is right behind Ausangate Mountain: the Rainbow Mountains.

This is the Rainbow Mountains—newly “discovered” in recent years, with mountains painted in natural color. From where we leave the car to the viewpoint [4,650–5,000m], there is a trekking trail that is not steep. The distance is a little over 3 km, and the ascent takes up to 1.5 hours.

From the viewpoint we watch the glaciers right in front of us, the clouds hovering close above, and the rainbow-colored mountains spreading out like a living painting. Then, with an easy 2 km walk, we reach one of Ausangate’s beautiful lakes [4,900m]. Ausangate and the Rainbow Mountains are almost like neighbors—side by side. And since the tourist crowds that flood the Rainbow Mountains do not come to this lake, we can often be there—just us.

We return the same way.

     iii.           Sample Program

Our program isn’t fixed—it shapes itself on the road. To help you sense the flow, here is an example:

06:00 — Depart from the Sacred Valley

07:00 — A beautiful breakfast by Urcos Lake

09:00 — Cusipata Market + final small shopping

11:00 — End of the road / we leave the car

Trekking: Rainbow Mountains viewpoint

12:30 — We’re with the view

14:00 — Walk to the lake

15:00 — Silence at the lake

17:00 — Meal by our car

17:30 — Begin the return

20:30 — Back in our beds

     iv.           What to bring

If you don’t have some of the items above, let us know—we can usually lend them.

If we are more than 5 people, we place suitcases and backpacks on the roof of the vehicle. In that case, please bring only essential items inside the car.

      v.           Food

We want to note that preparing for your dietary needs (if you have any) is truly a pleasure for us—please keep us informed.

Throughout the trip, we bring plenty of coca leaves, cacao beans, maca, tea varieties, coffee, fruit, peanuts, and raisins for everyone.

Urcos Lake breakfast — contents:

Homemade muesli (oats, pumpkin seeds, coconut oil, chia seeds, walnuts), homemade yogurt or almond milk, fruit, gluten-free or sourdough bread, avocado, Peru’s surprisingly lovely green olives, Peru’s beautiful olive oil, village eggs from a farm in the valley, goat cheese, butter, honey from a community we know, tea varieties, coffee, hot chocolate.

Lunch:

Since we are ascending, we chew coca leaves and eat the fruit and nuts we bring with us—it’s enough.

Dinner:

Vegetable quinoa soup, salad.

     vi.           Participation Fee
ParticipationFee ($)
1250
2180
3160
4140
5120
6110
7100

f)       Route 6: Machu Picchu (1N/2D)

        i.           Description

A A loop around Apu Veronica, crossing from the Andes into the Amazon, and arriving at Machu Picchu

This route exists for those who don’t want to reach Machu Picchu through the classic tourist route.

On this path, we cross the Malaga Mountain Pass, which separates the Andes from the Amazon. There—speaking as a true cacao lover—you will most likely drink the best hot chocolate of your life. We get close to Veronica Mountain, and along the way we stay in contact with both culture and nature—the Andes and the Amazon—descending gradually into the rainforest and, if you wish, pausing at the beautiful hot springs of Santa Teresa.

In this way, we drive all the way to the other end of the Sacred Valley. From there, with an easy and truly enjoyable 2.5-hour walk along the river inside the valley, we reach Aguas Calientes, the town located right beneath Machu Picchu. As you’ll see under “Extras,” there is also a train option for those who do not want to walk.

After visiting the Wonder of the World, you return by panoramic train, because that journey is also a beautiful experience in itself. (If you prefer, you can also save money by returning the same way by car.)

      ii.           Route

Summary:

  1. Sacred Valley- Ollantaytambo

Click for the satellite photo of the ascent from Ollantaytambo

  1.  Ollantaytambo- Abra Malaga Mountain Pass [4,350m]

Click for the satellite view of the Malaga Mountain Pass

Birdwatching Association footage about Apu Veronica and the Malaga Mountain Pass

  1.  Descent toward the Amazon: Santa Maria [1,172m]
  2. Santa Maria – Santa Teresa [1,480m]
  3. Cocalmayo Hot Springs

A video about Santa Teresa village and the hot springs

Detailed Information:

  1. Sacred Valley- Hidroelectrica Road:

I set off from Vamoss Experience (San Salvador). I meet you in Pisac (or wherever you prefer), we chew coca, load your bags into the car, and we begin.

After driving about 2 hours from the Sacred Valley toward Ollantaytambo along the banks of the Urubamba/Vilcanota River, we turn into a side valley and begin to climb. On a winding road we ascend to the Malaga Mountain Pass [4,350m]. We travel with the view of Veronica Mountain [5,893m], believed to be one of the 12 mountains that “hold” Cusco, and of course we take a break at this beautiful pass. If you wish, we can also do an 800-meter trek from the pass to a hill where we can see Veronica clearly.

Here, there is a small café run by a very special cacao producer using a unique fermentation method. If you like, you can purchase their cacao—and, as everyone I’ve ever taken there agrees, you can drink an exceptional hot chocolate.

From the pass, we begin descending toward the Yanatile Valley, which runs parallel to the Sacred Valley and is locally referred to simply as “the Valley.” Many tropical products from the Cusco region—including coca, coffee, and cacao—come from this valley.

Now we are in the Amazon. We pass through fertile lands known as the high rainforest, seeing tropical produce for sale everywhere. After Santa Maria [1,172m], we arrive in Santa Teresa [1,480m].

Here you’ll find some of Cusco’s most beautiful natural hot springs. If you wish, we take a 1-hour break in these springs—deep in the Amazon—to rest and reset. From Santa Teresa, we still have a cliffside road of about 1 hour (under normal conditions) to reach Hidroelectrica.

The road from Pisac to Santa Teresa is asphalt. It is approximately 200 km and takes about 5 hours. The road from Santa Teresa to Hidroelectrica used to be a difficult rocky road, but a new road construction has been underway for some time.

We park the car at Hidroelectrica, put on our backpacks, and start walking toward Machu Picchu—this time from the other side of the Sacred Valley (toward the Pisac direction). For 10 km, we walk alongside the train tracks through a nature that is not only lush, but truly special, all the way to Aguas Calientes. The walk takes on average 2.5–3 hours. Because we are at low altitude and always by the river, the weather is warm and the walk is easy.

For those who do not want to walk, there is now also a train option from this point. It’s possible to reach Aguas Calientes with a 1-hour train ride that runs right next to the walking route.

We spend one night in Aguas Calientes, the town located directly beneath Machu Picchu. This is not an ancient Inca town—it is a highly touristic village that formed after Machu Picchu was discovered. After dinner in one of the 2–3 warm, sincere restaurants we love (without getting too tangled in the crowds), we rest—because tomorrow is a special day.

Early in the morning, we take the shuttle up to Machu Picchu. There isn’t much to “explain” here—it truly is a Wonder of the World. Going early is beautiful: the light is strong, the clouds are alive, and the crowds are still minimal.

With those who wish (extra payment and advance notice required), we climb Huayna Picchu. This is another peak located within Machu Picchu—said to be Huayna Capac’s meditation place, and perhaps one of the most important energy centers within the ruins.

After visiting this mystical place, we descend back down to Aguas Calientes. You spend time there, and in the afternoon you take the panoramic train to Ollantaytambo. Meanwhile, I return the same way to Hidroelectrica and set off by car. We meet at the Ollantaytambo train station.

Reaching Machu Picchu by car and then on foot is beautiful, and the train journey through the valley is also wonderful. I designed the route so you return by train. (If you don’t want to return by train, we can also return together by vehicle the same way.)

The trains to Ollantaytambo are tourist trains. After a comfortable, panoramic, and very scenic 2-hour ride with large windows, we meet at the Ollantaytambo Train Station, and I drop you off at your accommodation for the night.

There are two railway companies operating toward Machu Picchu. Because PeruRail offers a higher-quality service, we choose this company for your journey.

     iii.           Sample Program

Our program isn’t fixed—it shapes itself on the road. To help you sense the flow, here is an example:

Day 1

07:00 — Depart toward Machu Picchu

08:30 — We turn from the Sacred Valley into a side valley and begin the ascent

09:30 — Break at the Malaga Mountain Pass

10:30 — Lunch in Alfamayo

13:15 — Santa Teresa

13:30 — Cocalmayo Natural Hot Springs

14:30 — Depart from Santa Teresa

15:30 — Trekking from Hidroelectrica (we leave the car)

14:50 — Train departure time for those who don’t want to walk

18:00 — We are in our rooms in Aguas Calientes (if we go by train: 16:30)

Day 2

06:30 — Shuttle ascent to the ruins

07:30 — Machu Picchu (on your preferred circuit)

11:30 — Aguas Calientes

15:30 — Panoramic train departure

18:00 — Meeting at Ollantaytambo Train Station

20:00 — Arrival

     iv.           Machu Picchu Ticket Options

With the pandemic era, Peru’s Ministry of Culture created different circuits inside Machu Picchu, and unfortunately it is no longer possible to move freely inside the ruins. Each circuit follows a different path, and on that path we can only walk in one direction. Since this new system can be confusing, we wanted to summarize it briefly here:

Circuit 1: Includes 4 routes that tour the upper part of the ruins. They allow you to see the central and popular areas from above, but they do not take you deep inside.

Route 1-A gives access to the climb to Machu Picchu Mountain, the mountain that gives the site its name. If your priority in Peru is trekking—climbing to high and special places—we recommend Machu Picchu Mountain. This climb takes about 2 hours and is moderately challenging. The summit is around 3,000m.

Route 1-D offers the walk to the Inca Bridge. This is an easy walk and takes about 20 minutes.

Route 1-C takes you to Intipunku, the famous Sun Gate.

All Circuit 1 routes offer a beautiful angle from above; we recommend them for travelers whose priority is photography.

Circuit 2: Includes 2 routes that go the most inside the ruins. You still get a good chance to photograph the ruins from above (though not as much as Circuit 1). They can be completed comfortably in 2–3 hours. There is almost no difference between 2-A and 2-B.

Circuit 3: Passes through the inner parts of the ruins, but does not allow you to see a very wide area. However, those who choose this circuit gain access to special add-ons: Huayna Picchu (3-A), Temple of the Sun (3-B), Great Cave (3-C), or the walk to Huchuy Picchu. The Huayna Picchu climb requires 2–3 hours total time and a meaningful physical effort.

If you experience Peru mainly through a cultural lens, with deep interest in Inca culture and a desire to explore the ruins in more detail, Circuit 2 is usually the most appropriate.

If you experience Peru more in a photographic way, choose Circuit 1.

If you experience Peru more in a spiritual way—and you don’t feel the need to see every corner of Machu Picchu, but rather want to feel its mystic atmosphere, experience its mystery, and climb Huayna Picchu, the most special of the site’s energy points—then Circuit 3 is suitable.

If you want to do more than one circuit, it is also possible to buy two tickets (with an additional cost).

We will also talk about ticket selection during our meeting with you.

You can find detailed information and a map of the circuits on this site:

https://tuboleto.cultura.pe/llaqta_machupicchu
      v.           Machu Picchu Details

Should you go?

First, we should say this clearly: Peru is absolutely, definitely not “just Machu Picchu.” We have had many visitors who came without building their whole program around it—and after seeing other ruins, meeting Indigenous communities, stumbling upon festivals, experiencing high altitudes, the Amazon, or the Pacific coast, they decided not to go to Machu Picchu at all. For example, the Pisac Ruins are very much like Machu Picchu—some would even say more impressive from certain angles.

Seasonality:

Machu Picchu can be visited comfortably all year round. In the rainy season, of course, it rains more—but the rain does not prevent our visit or stop us from seeing the ruins. Still, especially in January–March, choosing an entry time a bit later rather than 6 or 7 a.m. can make the experience more pleasant. The rare situation where the ruins become invisible due to heavy mist happens very infrequently (perhaps once every 1–2 years).

Since the ruins sit at the meeting point of the Andes and the Amazon, the area is generally misty and cloudy throughout the year. But the cloud circulation here is very fast. So the ruins appear, disappear, and appear again—creating an even more mystical atmosphere. For this reason, I personally tend to prefer and recommend going in the rainy season.

Trekking and Machu Picchu:

Salkantay Trek:

Arriving at the ruins after several days of mountain trekking is of course very beautiful. If the walking route in Route 7 feels too simple for you and you like pushing yourself, our suggestion would be the Salkantay Trek. This route is difficult. It includes high passes, but offers magnificent glacier views, the experience of moving around a special mountain like Salkantay, and a real high-altitude journey. Since the route has become very popular, we no longer operate it; many large tour operators out of Cusco offer it, and you can easily find a good company online. Prices vary depending on accommodation standards, but they all follow the same route. With most companies, porters carry your bag.

Inca Trail:

This is the most preferred trekking route to Machu Picchu. It requires reservation months in advance. It is beautiful, yes—but because it has been heavily marketed for a very long time, prices are unnecessarily high and it tends to be overrated. Yes, it is a good route, passing through high altitudes and other Inca ruins. I have never done it; unless you have a specific interest, I don’t particularly recommend it.

We can say with ease: instead of reaching Machu Picchu through these two touristic programs, visiting some hidden but very special ruins around the Sacred Valley and seeing Ausangate Mountain can give you far more than what you would experience on the Salkantay Trek or the Inca Trail.

     vi.           Buying the Machu ticket

Machu Picchu entry tickets—depending on the season and the chosen circuit—sell out 2 to 4 months in advance.

If ticket sales on the internet have not yet closed for your dates, we purchase your entry tickets immediately after you make your prepayment and confirm your trip.

If the tickets sold online are already sold out for your travel dates, we obtain your tickets from the Peru Ministry of Culture office in Aguas Calientes, from an additional quota of 1,000 people that opens for the next day. This normally does not change our program. Since we already arrive in Aguas Calientes the day before visiting the ruins, we can usually secure tickets for the next day without waiting too long.

However, on certain periods or days, the number of people coming to use this method can be very high (Easter week, Christmas holidays, etc.). Before we set off toward Machu Picchu, we check the crowd situation through our contacts in Aguas Calientes. At this point, we should note that based on what we learn, we may need to adjust the program.

Although we have used this extra quota for many years without problems, during very busy periods we have also had cases where we needed to buy tickets not for the next day, but for the day after. For this reason, we may need to add one extra “spare day” after the program as a backup.

   vii.           What to Bring

If you don’t have some of the items above, let us know—we can lend them to you.

If we are more than 5 people, we place suitcases and backpacks on the roof of the vehicle. In that case, please bring only essential items inside the car.

 viii.           Food

We want to note that preparing for your dietary needs (if you have any) is truly a pleasure for us—please keep us informed.

Throughout the trip, we bring plenty of coca leaves, cacao beans, maca, tea varieties, coffee, fruit, peanuts, and raisins for everyone.

Day 1

Lunch in Alfamayo:

At this point overlooking the rainforest from above, we eat from the day’s lunch menu—or, if available (it may not be every day), the region’s famous Caldo de Gallina (a hearty village chicken soup with vegetables such as carrot, yuca, three kinds of potatoes, rice, etc.).

Day 2

Breakfast at the hotel:

You have breakfast at your hotel. Since Machu Picchu entries begin at 6:00 a.m., hotels start serving breakfast from 5:00 a.m.

Other meals:

We did not include other meals in the program, since there are many options in Aguas Calientes.

     ix.           Participation Fee
ParticipationFee ($)
1660
2480
3450
4420
5400
6380
7370

Extras and discounts::

      x.           Accommodation

Some of the hotels we prefer for accommodation include: Sayac Marca Classic Inn, Inkas Land, Margarita’s House, Machu Picchu Dream. These are straightforward traveler hotels run by Peruvians. The rooms are, of course, very clean and have private bathrooms, but they do not offer the luxury or modern style of large hotel chains, and even if they are “richer,” they still serve an American breakfast.

If you have a specific place, you especially want for accommodation, please let us know in advance. In that case, we will make the reservation and ask you to cover the price difference.

If you change your accommodation to one of the hotels below, the average per-person difference you would pay is:

Ausangate Hotel: $40

Jaya Suite: $70

Casa del Sol: $100

Inka Terra: $200

Sanctuary Lodge: $740

g)      Route 7: The Amazon + Machu Picchu (2N/3D)

        i.           Description

A tour around Apu Veronica, crossing from the Andes into the Amazon, a tasting at an Indigenous family’s organically-run coffee farm, a special waterfall in the Amazon, and Machu Picchu

We designed this route for those who don’t want to go to Machu Picchu via the classic tourist route, and for those looking for an opportunity to experience a natural wonder like the Amazon.

On this route, we cross the Malaga Mountain Pass, which separates the Andes from the Amazon. There (as a true cacao lover, I can tell you), you will most likely drink the best hot chocolate you’ve ever had in your life, see Veronica Mountain up close, and be able to connect closely with both culture and nature (in both the Andes and the Amazon).

We travel into the region where all of Cusco’s tropical products come from (including coca, coffee, and cacao). While we are at 3,000 meters in the Sacred Valley, on the road we climb up to 4,350 meters, and then descend to Quillabamba at 1,000 meters.

There, we visit a small family-run coffee farm producing high-quality coffee, learn the coffee process, and join a special coffee tasting prepared for us. We also walk to a truly special waterfall. We spend one night in the high rainforest, experiencing the Amazon’s warmth and nature.

The next day, we can stop at Santa Teresa’s beautiful hot springs. Then we continue by vehicle to the other end of the Sacred Valley, and from there we reach Aguas Calientes (the town right below Machu Picchu) via an easy and very enjoyable 2.5-hour walk along the river inside the Sacred Valley.

Your return is by the panoramic train, because that, too, is a beautiful experience. (If you prefer, you can also return by car in the same way to save money.)

      ii.           Route

Summary:

  1. Sacred Valley – Ollantaytambo

Click for the satellite photo of the climb from Ollantaytambo

  1. Ollantaytambo – Abra Malaga Mountain Pass [4,350m]

Click for the satellite image of the Malaga Mountain Pass

Birdwatching Association footage about Apu Veronica and the Malaga Mountain Pass

  1.  Descent toward the Amazon: Santa Maria [1,172m]
  2. Coffee time at a farm run by an Indigenous family
  3. Trekking: Waterfall (2 km, easy, 1 hour)
  4. One night in Quillabamba [1,000m]
  5. Santa Maria – Santa Teresa [1,480m]
  6. Cocalmayo Hot Springs

Video about Santa Teresa village and the hot springs

  1. Santa Teresa – Hidroelectrica [1,805m]
  2. Trekking: Aguas Calientes [2,050m] (10 km, easy, 2.5 hours) (or train option)
  3. 1 night in Aguas Calientes
  4. Machu Picchu
  5. Huayna Picchu (optional)
  6. Return to Ollantaytambo by train

Details:

  1. Kutsal Vadi-Quillabamba Route:

I depart from Vamoss Experience (San Salvador). I meet you in Pisac (or at any point you prefer), we chew coca, load your bags into our vehicle, and set off.

After traveling about 2 hours along the Urubamba/Vilcanota River from the Sacred Valley toward Ollantaytambo, we turn into a side valley, begin the ascent, and climb via a winding road to the Malaga Mountain Pass [4,350m]. We travel with the view of Veronica Mountain [5,893m], one of the 12 mountains believed to “hold” Cusco, and of course we stop at this beautiful pass. If you wish, we can walk 800 meters from the pass to a hill where we can see Veronica clearly.

Here, there is a small café run by a very special cacao producer using a unique fermentation process. If you wish, you can buy their cacao products and—everyone I’ve taken there agrees—drink an exceptionally good hot chocolate.

From the pass, we begin descending toward the Yanatile Valley, which runs parallel to the Sacred Valley and is known locally simply as “the Valley.” The road is 215 km and takes between 4 and 5 hours.

Many of Cusco’s tropical products (including coca, coffee, and cacao) come from this valley. We are in the Amazon now. We pass through fertile lands known as the high rainforest, and we see tropical products being sold everywhere.

Amazon people, culture, nature, air, and crops are completely different. Quillabamba is a small town of 30,000 in the middle of lush greenery. Life here is much faster than in the mountains, and people are much warmer.

We will walk around, visit the local market with products quite different from the Andes, then visit a small coffee farm run by a local family to learn about their high-quality coffee production process, join a coffee degustation prepared especially for us, and walk to a very special waterfall.

We stay one night in Quillabamba with the sound of the river, and the next day after breakfast we set off toward Machu Picchu.

After Santa Maria [1,172m], we reach Santa Teresa [1,480m].

Here are some of the most beautiful natural hot springs in all Cusco. If you wish, we take about a 1-hour break to rest in the hot springs located inside the Amazon. From Santa Teresa, we have about 1 hour to reach Hidroelectrica in normal conditions, on a road with many cliff edges.

The road from Santa Teresa to Hidroelectrica used to be a difficult stone road, but a new road construction has been ongoing for some time.

At Hidroelectrica we park the vehicle and, with our backpacks, start walking toward Machu Picchu from the other side of the Sacred Valley (toward Pisac). For 10 km, we walk beside the train tracks through nature that is not only lush green but truly special, until we reach Aguas Calientes. The walk usually takes 2.5–3 hours. Because we are at low altitude and always by the river, the weather is warm and the walk is easy.

For those who don’t want to walk, there is now a train option here too: a 1-hour train ride runs right next to the walking route and can take you to Aguas Calientes.

We stay one night in Aguas Calientes, the town right below Machu Picchu. This is not an old Inca town; it is a very touristy village that formed after Machu Picchu was discovered. Without getting too caught in the crowds, we have dinner at one of the 2–3 friendly restaurants we like, then we rest—because tomorrow is a special day.

Early in the morning, we go up to Machu Picchu by shuttle. There isn’t much to say—this truly is a Wonder of the World. Going early is great: the light is strong, the clouds are dynamic, and the crowds are smaller.

With those who wish (requires extra payment and advance notice), we climb Huayna Picchu. This is another summit within Machu Picchu, said to be Huayna Capac’s meditation spot, and perhaps one of the most important energy centers of the ruins.

After visiting this mystical place, we descend back to Aguas Calientes. You spend time there and then take the panoramic train in the afternoon to Ollantaytambo. I go to Hidroelectrica and set off by vehicle. We meet at the Ollantaytambo train station.

Reaching Machu Picchu by car and then on foot is beautiful, and the train journey through the valley is also wonderful. I designed the route so you return by train. (If you don’t want to return by train, we can also return together by vehicle the same way.)

The trains to Ollantaytambo are tourist trains. After a comfortable, panoramic, and very scenic 2-hour ride with large windows, we meet at the Ollantaytambo Train Station, and I drop you off at your accommodation for the night.

There are two railway companies operating toward Machu Picchu. Because PeruRail offers a higher-quality service, we choose this company for your journey.

     iii.           Sample Program

Our program is not fixed; it takes shape on the road. To help you understand the flow, here is an example program:

Day 1
07:00 Depart toward the Amazon
08:30 We start the ascent by car from the Sacred Valley through a side valley
09:30 Break at the Malaga Mountain Pass
10:30 Lunch in Alfamayo
13:00 Arrival in Quillabamba + Quillabamba Central Market
14:30 Coffee farm
15:30 Trekking: Cataratas del Duende Waterfall
18:30 Dinner

Day 2
07:30 A nice breakfast
08:30 Depart from Quillabamba
10:00 Cocalmayo Natural Hot Springs
13:00 Depart from Santa Teresa
14:30 Trekking: Hidroelectrica – Aguas Calientes (10 km, easy, 2.5 hours)
14:50 Train departure time for those who don’t want to walk
17:30 We are in our rooms in Aguas Calientes (16:30 if we go by train)

Day 3
06:30 Shuttle up to the ruins
07:30 Machu Picchu (on whichever circuit you prefer)
11:30 Aguas Calientes
15:30 Panoramic train departure time
18:00 Meet at Ollantaytambo Train Station
20:00 Arrival

     iv.           Machu Picchu Ticket Options

With the pandemic era, Peru’s Ministry of Culture created different circuits inside Machu Picchu, and unfortunately it is no longer possible to move freely inside the ruins. Each circuit follows a different path, and on that path we can only walk in one direction. Since this new system can be confusing, we wanted to summarize it briefly here:

Circuit 1: Includes 4 routes that tour the upper part of the ruins. They allow you to see the central and popular areas from above, but they do not take you deep inside.

Route 1-A gives access to the climb to Machu Picchu Mountain, the mountain that gives the site its name. If your priority in Peru is trekking—climbing to high and special places—we recommend Machu Picchu Mountain. This climb takes about 2 hours and is moderately challenging. The summit is around 3,000m.

Route 1-D offers the walk to the Inca Bridge. This is an easy walk and takes about 20 minutes.

Route 1-C takes you to Intipunku, the famous Sun Gate.

All Circuit 1 routes offer a beautiful angle from above; we recommend them for travelers whose priority is photography.

Circuit 2: Includes 2 routes that go the most inside the ruins. You still get a good chance to photograph the ruins from above (though not as much as Circuit 1). They can be completed comfortably in 2–3 hours. There is almost no difference between 2-A and 2-B.

Circuit 3: Passes through the inner parts of the ruins, but does not allow you to see a very wide area. However, those who choose this circuit gain access to special add-ons: Huayna Picchu (3-A), Temple of the Sun (3-B), Great Cave (3-C), or the walk to Huchuy Picchu. The Huayna Picchu climb requires 2–3 hours total time and a meaningful physical effort.

If you experience Peru mainly through a cultural lens, with deep interest in Inca culture and a desire to explore the ruins in more detail, Circuit 2 is usually the most appropriate.

If you experience Peru more in a photographic way, choose Circuit 1.

If you experience Peru more in a spiritual way—and you don’t feel the need to see every corner of Machu Picchu, but rather want to feel its mystic atmosphere, experience its mystery, and climb Huayna Picchu, the most special of the site’s energy points—then Circuit 3 is suitable.

If you want to do more than one circuit, it is also possible to buy two tickets (with an additional cost).

We will also talk about ticket selection during our meeting with you.

You can find detailed information and a map of the circuits on this site:

https://tuboleto.cultura.pe/llaqta_machupicchu
      v.           Machu Picchu Details

Should you go?

First, we should say this clearly: Peru is absolutely, definitely not “just Machu Picchu.” We have had many visitors who came without building their whole program around it—and after seeing other ruins, meeting Indigenous communities, stumbling upon festivals, experiencing high altitudes, the Amazon, or the Pacific coast, they decided not to go to Machu Picchu at all. For example, the Pisac Ruins are very much like Machu Picchu—some would even say more impressive from certain angles.

Seasonality:

Machu Picchu can be visited comfortably all year round. In the rainy season, of course, it rains more—but the rain does not prevent our visit or stop us from seeing the ruins. Still, especially in January–March, choosing an entry time a bit later rather than 6 or 7 a.m. can make the experience more pleasant. The rare situation where the ruins become invisible due to heavy mist happens very infrequently (perhaps once every 1–2 years).

Since the ruins sit at the meeting point of the Andes and the Amazon, the area is generally misty and cloudy throughout the year. But the cloud circulation here is very fast. So the ruins appear, disappear, and appear again—creating an even more mystical atmosphere. For this reason, I personally tend to prefer and recommend going in the rainy season.

Trekking and Machu Picchu:

Salkantay Trek:

Arriving at the ruins after several days of mountain trekking is of course very beautiful. If the walking route in Route 7 feels too simple for you and you like pushing yourself, our suggestion would be the Salkantay Trek. This route is difficult. It includes high passes, but offers magnificent glacier views, the experience of moving around a special mountain like Salkantay, and a real high-altitude journey. Since the route has become very popular, we no longer operate it; many large tour operators out of Cusco offer it, and you can easily find a good company online. Prices vary depending on accommodation standards, but they all follow the same route. With most companies, porters carry your bag.

Inca Trail:

This is the most preferred trekking route to Machu Picchu. It requires reservation months in advance. It is beautiful, yes—but because it has been heavily marketed for a very long time, prices are unnecessarily high and it tends to be overrated. Yes, it is a good route, passing through high altitudes and other Inca ruins. I have never done it; unless you have a specific interest, I don’t particularly recommend it.

We can say with ease: instead of reaching Machu Picchu through these two touristic programs, visiting some hidden but very special ruins around the Sacred Valley and seeing Ausangate Mountain can give you far more than what you would experience on the Salkantay Trek or the Inca Trail.

     vi.           Buying the Machu ticket

Machu Picchu entry tickets—depending on the season and the chosen circuit—sell out 2 to 4 months in advance.

If ticket sales on the internet have not yet closed for your dates, we purchase your entry tickets immediately after you make your prepayment and confirm your trip.

If the tickets sold online are already sold out for your travel dates, we obtain your tickets from the Peru Ministry of Culture office in Aguas Calientes, from an additional quota of 1,000 people that opens for the next day. This normally does not change our program. Since we already arrive in Aguas Calientes the day before visiting the ruins, we can usually secure tickets for the next day without waiting too long.

However, on certain periods or days, the number of people coming to use this method can be very high (Easter week, Christmas holidays, etc.). Before we set off toward Machu Picchu, we check the crowd situation through our contacts in Aguas Calientes. At this point, we should note that based on what we learn, we may need to adjust the program.

Although we have used this extra quota for many years without problems, during very busy periods we have also had cases where we needed to buy tickets not for the next day, but for the day after. For this reason, we may need to add one extra “spare day” after the program as a backup.

   vii.           What to Bring

If you don’t have some of the items above, let us know—we can lend them to you.

If we are more than 5 people, we place suitcases and backpacks on the roof of the vehicle. In that case, please bring only essential items inside the car.

 viii.           Food

We would like to note that preparing according to your diet (if you have one) is a pleasure for us. Please inform us about it.

Throughout the trip, we bring plenty of coca leaves, cacao beans, maca, different kinds of tea, coffee, fruit, peanuts, and raisins.

Day 1

Lunch in Alfamayo:

At this point overlooking the rainforest from above, we eat from the day’s lunch menu, or—if available (it may not be available every day)—the region’s famous Caldo de Gallina (a hearty village chicken soup with vegetables such as carrot, yuca, three kinds of potatoes, rice, etc.).

Day 2

Breakfast:

We have breakfast at the hotel where we stay. With the extras we bring, we enrich the hotel breakfast: homemade muesli (oats, pumpkin seeds, coconut oil, chia seeds, walnuts), homemade yogurt or almond milk, fruit, gluten-free or sourdough bread, avocado, Peru’s quite good green olives and its lovely olive oil, goat cheese, butter, honey from a community we know, a variety of teas, coffee, and hot chocolate.

Other meals:

We did not include other meals in the program, since there are many options available in both Quillabamba and Aguas Calientes.

     ix.           Participation Fee
ParticipationFee ($)
1850
2600
3550
4510
5480
6460
7450

Extras and discounts:

      x.           Accommodation

Quillabamba is a destination that almost no foreign tourists visit, and for that reason its cultural fabric has not been disrupted. Here we will stay at one of the best eco-hotels catering mainly to local tourists: Eco Hotel Villa Suites.

In Aguas Calientes, some of the hotels we prefer are: Sayac Marca Classic Inn, Inkas Land, Margarita’s House, Machu Picchu Dream. These are simple traveler hotels run by Peruvians. The rooms are, of course, very clean and have private bathrooms, but they do not offer the luxury or modernity of large hotel chains, and they serve only an American-style breakfast.

If you have a specific place you particularly want for accommodation, please let us know in advance. In that case, we make the reservation and kindly ask you to cover the price difference.

Average per-person price difference if you switch your accommodation to one of the hotels below:

Ausangate Hotel: $40

Jaya Suite: $70

Casa del Sol: $100

Inka Terra: $200

Sanctuary Lodge: $740

h)      Route 8: The Sacred Valley from Above (Day Trip)

        i.           Description

Looking over the Sacred Valley from Cancan Lake and/or Huchuy Q’osqo

If you have one day here and want to get away from the crowds and go to a special spot up high, these two places are well worth seeing.

Cancan Lake is a great gift bestowed upon us by Pitusiray [4,991 m], one of the rare female mountains. The story of Pitusiray’s love with Sahuasiray Mountain [5,818 m], which stands just behind her, is very sweet. Pitusiray’s appearance is truly majestic; her stance is powerful. With her nearly 5,000-meter height, the wide area she holds and the shape of the rocks at her summit are quite striking. Cancan Lake is surrounded by steep cliffs, leaving no doubt that you are in a sheltered place. We used to reach this waterfall-fed lake by hiking a steep path all day long, but a new road has now been opened. Today we can easily reach the lake by vehicle without needing to walk at all. The way the light plays on the water and the lake’s stillness create an ideal setting for a quiet, peaceful day.

Huchuy Q’osqo is a set of Inca ruins located in the center of the valley, yet preserved thanks to how difficult they are to reach. With a name meaning “Little Cusco,” you can already sense how important it was for the Incas. Walking through these ruins, built beside another valley that flows into the Sacred Valley, is a very special experience. While the view of Apu Pitusiray from the opposite side is breathtaking, it is something else entirely to watch the Sacred Valley spread out before you from the ruins at 3,650 meters, and to follow the movement of the clouds passing right above you.

If you wish, we can see both of these spots in one day (if we start early in the morning). In that case, we can spend about two hours at each place.

      ii.           What to Bring

If you don’t have some of the items above, let us know—we can lend them to you.

     iii.           Food

We would like to note that preparing for your diet (if you have one) is a pleasure for us. Please inform us about it.

Throughout the trip, we bring plenty of coca leaves, cacao beans, maca, different teas, coffee, fruit, peanuts, and raisins.

Lunch:

A hearty vegetable quinoa soup, salad.

     iv.           Participation Fee
ParticipationFee ($)
1160
2120
3100
490
580
670
765

i)        Route 9: Lares Natural Hot Springs (Day Trip)

        i.           Description

Through the Yanatile Valley to Lares’ Beautiful Hot Springs

This route takes us to the famous Lares Hot Springs after a very beautiful 2-hour mountain drive. In Calca, we stop briefly across from Mount Pitusiray and visit Calca Market, one of the nicest markets in the valley. Leaving Calca town center, we ascend by vehicle for about 30 minutes, passing the Ancasmarca Ruins, which date back to the pre-Inca period. We then climb further to reach the Lares Mountain Pass [4,450 m]. Circling around Sahuasiray Mountain [5,750 m], we begin our descent toward the Amazon side and arrive in Lares.

Although Lares sits at 3,200 meters, it has a milder climate because it lies on the Amazon-facing side of the mountains, and it hosts some of the best and most organized natural hot springs in the Cusco region. These thermal waters—also popular with locals—include many pools at different temperatures. A powerful river runs right beside the hot springs. The springs are about 10 minutes by car from the town of Lares and are generally not very crowded except on Sundays.

      ii.           Route

Summary:

  1. Sacred Valley-Lares Road
  2. Calca Market

A friend filmed us in 2018 while going to Calca Market with Christopher

  1. Ancasmarca Ruins [4,000m]
  2. Lares Mountain Pass [4,450m]

Click for satellite images of Lares Mountain Pass and Sahuasiray

Click for drone footage of Lares Hot Springs

Detailed Information:

  1. Sacred Valley- Lares Road:

We depart from Pisac and drive through the Sacred Valley toward Calca, then begin climbing the Calca Valley. Along the way, we visit Ancasmarca, one of the region’s rarer pre-Inca ruins (even if it isn’t widely known).

Continuing the ascent, we cross the Lares Mountain Pass [4,450 m]. This pass is a transition point between the Andes and the Amazon side and offers a beautiful view of Sahuasiray Mountain [5,750 m]. Of course, we take a break here.

Lares marks the entrance to the Yanatile Valley, which runs parallel to the Sacred Valley and is referred to locally simply as “the Valley.” Many tropical products from the Cusco region—including coca, coffee, and cacao—come from this valley.

Along the way, we see a few scattered homes belonging to people living at very high altitudes. The distance between Pisac and Lares is 75 km, and although most of the road is asphalt, it still takes about 2 hours (excluding stops).

Click for drone footage of Lares Hot Springs

We return the same way.

     iii.           Sample Program

Our program is not fixed; it takes shape on the road. To help you get a sense of the flow, here is an example:

07:00 Depart from the Sacred Valley toward Lares

07:30 Calca Market

08:30 Ancasmarca

10:30 Break at Lares Mountain Pass

11:30 Lares town, lunch

12:00 Natural Hot Springs

16:30 Depart from Lares

19:00 Arrival in Pisac

     iv.           What to Bring

If you don’t have some of the items above, let us know—we can lend them to you.

If we are more than 5 people, we place suitcases and backpacks on the roof of the vehicle. In that case, please bring very little into the car.

      v.           Food

We would like to note that preparing for your diet (if you have one) is a pleasure for us. Please inform us about it.

Throughout the trip, we bring plenty of coca leaves, cacao beans, maca, different teas, coffee, fruit, peanuts, and raisins.

Lunch:

We eat the day’s set menu (including soup) from the local women at the entrance to the hot springs

     vi.           Participation Fee
ParticipationFee ($)
1200
2150
3130
4110
5100
690
780

j)       Route 10: Lares Hot Springs After Camping (1N/2D)

        i.           Overview

Trekking or Vehicle Ascent + Camping (in the Andes or the Amazon) + Lares Hot Springs

We designed this route for those who know how wonderful it is to soak in hot springs after a night of camping—followed by a beautiful hike in the mountains or the rainforest.

The area around Lares is home to untouched Indigenous communities and lakes, and its hot springs are truly beautiful.

Trekking version: Depending on your preference, we camp for one night either in the mountains or in the rainforest. We reach stunning lakes—far from any crowds—by trekking and set up camp beside them. The next day we walk downhill and arrive at the Lares Hot Springs. The hike on this route is 3/5 in difficulty. It is done with a backpack, and everyone carries their share of camping gear and food.

Vehicle version: We drive to a camping spot at one of the locations from Route 8 (Huchuy Q’osqo or Cancan Lake) or to a high rainforest zone in the Amazon among waterfalls. All three are excellent camping locations. If you prefer, we can drive to one of these places, then continue by vehicle to Lares in the afternoon, and stay there either in a tent right beside the springs or in simple rooms.

If this route excites you, we will decide the overnight location together during our meeting.

Although Lares is at 3,200 meters, it has a milder climate because it lies on the Amazon-facing side of the mountains, and it has some of the best and most organized natural hot springs in Cusco. These thermal waters—also frequented by locals—offer multiple pools at different temperatures. A powerful river runs right next to the springs. The springs are about 10 minutes by car from the town of Lares and are not crowded except on Sundays.

      ii.           Route

Summary:

  1. Sacred Valley-Lares Road
  2. Calca Market
  3. Lares High Mountain Pass [4,450m]

Click for satellite images of Lares Mountain Pass and Sahuasiray

  1. Quiswarani Community or Yanatile town- Amazon [1,164m]
    1. Reaching the camp spot by trekking:

Trekking: Quiswarani [3,820m]-Lakes (4 km, 2 hours, mountain pass-4.400m)

View the satellite image to locate Quiswarani

Camping at Quellacocha Lakes [4,170 m]

Click for the lakes’ satellite image

Trekking: Lakes- Lares Thermal Waters (9 km, 3.5 hours, downhill)

Click for drone footage of Lares Hot Springs

Detailed Information:

  1. Option 1: Serious trekking + camping at a very special spot in the Andes.

Sacred Valley-Quiswarani Road

We depart from Pisac and travel through the Sacred Valley toward Calca. In Calca, we stop briefly to see beautiful Mount Pitusiray and visit Calca Market, one of the nicest in the valley. Then we climb to the Lares Mountain Pass [4,450 m]. This pass is a transition point between the Andes and the Amazon side and offers a beautiful view of Sahuasiray Mountain [5,750 m]. The light is wonderful here, and we take a break. Circling around Sahuasiray, we turn into a side valley shortly before reaching Lares.

After turning toward Quiswarani, the landscape becomes very remote, with only a few people living in scattered spots. Once we reach the community, we leave the vehicle and start hiking with our backpacks.

Lares is the entrance to the Yanatile Valley, which runs parallel to the Sacred Valley and is locally called simply “the Valley.” Many tropical products from the Cusco region—including coca, coffee, and cacao—come from this valley.

The distance from Pisac to Quiswarani is 75 km, about 2 hours. The road is fully paved except for the final 30-minute ascent to Quiswarani.

Trekking: Quiswarani- Quellacocha Lakes [3,820–4,400–4,150 m]

From Quiswarani [3,820 m], we have a 4 km trek to the lakes. During the hike we cross a mountain pass at 4,400 m and, after about 2–3 hours, reach the Quellacocha Lakes.

Camping: Quellacocha Lakes (1 Night)

There are three lakes right next to each other. We set up camp in a wonderfully silent area far from even the nearest community. We spend a dreamlike night here. After breakfast the next morning, we walk down to Lares: an 11 km, 4–5 hour downhill trek [4,150–3,250 m], arriving at Lares.

In this option, we descend from the Lares Mountain Pass into the Yanatile Valley and suddenly find ourselves in the Amazon: lush green everywhere, waterfalls, trees, warm air, and clouds…

There is no difficult trekking in this option—only as many light walks as you want. We camp at a beautiful spot inside the rainforest.

We camp at one of the two Route 8 locations. We make a fire with the wood we bring.

We can visit Cancan Lake and/or Huchuy Q’osqo during the day, arrive in Lares in the afternoon, and spend the night and the next day at the hot springs. We can set up a tent right beside the pools. You can be warm in the springs and then slip straight into your sleeping bag. Simple rooms are also available if you prefer.

Lares has some of the best and most organized natural hot springs in Cusco. There are multiple pools at different temperatures, and a powerful river runs right alongside the springs. The hot springs are about 10 minutes by car from Lares town and are generally not crowded on weekdays (Sundays tend to be busy).

We return the same way back home.

     iii.           Sample Program

Our program is not fixed; it takes shape on the road. Here is an example to help you understand the flow:

Andes Camping + Lares option

Day 1

06:00 Depart from the Sacred Valley

06:30 Calca Market

07:15 Breakfast at a beautiful spot on the way

08:30 Break at Lares Mountain Pass

10:00 Arrive in Quiswarani

10:30 Early lunch

11:30 Trekking

14:30 Arrive at the lakes and set up camp

17:00 Dinner

Day 2

08:00 Breakfast

10:30 Time to leave the lakes

14:00 Arrive at Lares Hot Springs + lunch

15:00 Lares Natural Hot Springs

18:00 Depart for the return

20:30 Back at our beds

Amazon Camping + Lares option

Day 1

06:00 Depart from the Sacred Valley

06:30 Calca Market

07:15 Breakfast at a beautiful spot on the way

08:30 Break at Lares Mountain Pass

12:00 Arrive in Yanatile

13:00 Early lunch

16:00 Camp

17:00 Dinner

Day 2

08:00 Breakfast

10:30 Time to leave the Amazon

14:00 Arrive at Lares Hot Springs + lunch

15:00 Lares Natural Hot Springs

18:00 Depart for the return

20:30 Back at our beds

Sacred Valley Camping + Lares option

Day 1

08:00 Depart from the Sacred Valley

08:30 Calca Market

11:00 Huchuy Q’osqo

13:30 Lunch

15:30 Setting up camp at Cancan Lake

17:00 Dinner

Day 2

08:00 Beautiful breakfast

09:30 Time to depart for Lares

12:00 Arrive at Lares Hot Springs + lunch

13:00 Lares Natural Hot Springs

18:00 Depart for the return

20:30 Back at our beds

Staying in Lares option

Day 1

07:30 Depart from the Sacred Valley

08:00 Calca Market

10:00 Huchuy Q’osqo or Cancan Lake

12:30 Lunch

14:00 Depart for Lares

16:30 Arrive in Lares

17:00 Dinner

The hot springs are open all night.

Day 2

09:00 Beautiful breakfast

10:30 Lares Natural Hot Springs

If you wish, we can take a walk; it’s also possible to spend the entire day in the springs.

13:00 Lunch

15:00 Return

18:30 Back at our rooms

     iv.           What to Bring

If you don’t have some of the items above, tell us—we can lend them to you.

If we are more than 5 people, we place suitcases and backpacks on the roof of the vehicle. In that case, please bring only essential items into the car.

      v.           Food

We would like to note that preparing for your diet (if you have one) is a pleasure for us. Please inform us about it.

Throughout the trip, we bring plenty of coca leaves, cacao beans, maca, different teas, coffee, fruit, peanuts, and raisins.

Breakfast in the Calca Valley:

Homemade muesli (oats, pumpkin seeds, coconut oil, chia seeds, walnuts), homemade yogurt or almond milk, fruit, gluten-free or sourdough bread, avocado, Peru’s surprisingly good green olives and its very nice olive oil, farm eggs from a valley farm, goat cheese, butter, honey from a community we know, assorted teas, coffee, hot chocolate.

Lunch in Quiswarani or Yanatile:

A hearty homemade quinoa soup packed with vegetables.

Lunch in Calca:

The local set menu at Calca’s beautiful market, including soup.

Dinner at the campsite:

Soup and a vegetable rice dish we cook at camp.

Breakfast at the campsite:

Homemade muesli (oats, pumpkin seeds, coconut oil, chia seeds, walnuts), homemade yogurt or almond milk, fruit, gluten-free bread, avocado, Peru’s green olives and Peru’s very nice olive oil, farm eggs, goat cheese, butter, honey from a community we know, assorted teas, coffee, hot chocolate.

Lunch in Lares:

We eat the day’s set menu (including soup) from the local women at the entrance to the hot springs.

     vi.           Participation Fee
ParticipationFee ($)
1400
2300
3270
4235
5210
6200
7190

Discounts:

If you bring your own tent, sleeping mat, and sleeping bag, you will pay $10 less.

   vii.           Accommodation

k)      Route 11: Isla Amantani, Titicaca (2N/3D)

We go to Peruvian Islands at 3.810m asl

        i.           Overview

For people who come to this region seeking nature, culture, and spirituality, my first recommendation is to see Lake Titicaca. The islands on the Peruvian side of Titicaca stand out thanks to easy access and good—sometimes very good—accommodation options.

Although the Bolivian side of the lake is somewhat less touched, the Peruvian side is definitely worth seeing.

The fact that such a vast lake exists up on the mountains at around 4,000 meters is already mesmerizing. We are heading to an island in the middle of Titicaca—surrounded by 6,000-meter peaks—which is, in a sense, a mountain summit left in the middle of water.

This route exists to experience Lake Titicaca, the atmosphere it creates, the views it offers, and the distinctly different culture found there. The Quechua culture we encounter around Cusco gradually gives way to Aymara culture as we approach Lake Titicaca. Average elevation rises from the 3,000s to the 4,000s, because we are now on the Altiplano, the world’s second-largest high plateau.

      ii.           Route

Summary:

  1. Sacred Valley-Puno Road
  2. Lake Urcos [3,156m]

Click for drone footage of Urcos Lake

Click for a satellite image of Urcos Lakei

  1. La Raya Mountain Pass [4,350m]

Please click for the pass’s satellite image

  1. Puno [4,000m] (1 Night)
  2. Amantani or Tinqui Island (1 Night)
  3. Return

Detailed Information:

  1. Sacred Valley – Puno Route:

I depart from Vamoss Experience (San Salvador). I meet you in Pisac (or at any point you prefer), we chew coca leaves, load your bags into our vehicle, and set off.

From the Sacred Valley—going in the opposite direction from Machu Picchu—we travel toward Lake Titicaca. We reach Urcos, have breakfast by Urcos Lake, and then begin the climb. A 400 km journey on paved roads brings us (excluding stops) in about 6.5 hours to Puno, the Peruvian city on the shores of Lake Titicaca.

The road generally runs at around 4,000 meters and offers wonderful mountain, lake, and human landscapes. At the midpoint of the drive, we pass through the La Raya Mountain pass [4,350m]. The summit of Chimboya Mountain [5,450m], right next to the pass, marks the boundary between the two high cities of Puno and Cusco.

With a population of 130,000, Puno is a city with a special view thanks to its location on the shores of Lake Titicaca. We rest here and stay 1 night.

From Puno, we take a boat (we will decide in advance) to Taquile or Amantani Islands—two islands on Peru’s side of Lake Titicaca. First, we go to the home where we will stay. Both islands have preserved their culture and offer beautiful views. Depending on your preference, we visit one of them and spend one night in a local family’s home. We walk to the island’s sacred areas and draw nourishment from the power of Titicaca.

We return the same way. Our arrival back in the Sacred Valley will be late at night.

     iii.           Sample Program

Our program is not fixed; it takes shape on the road. To help you understand the flow, here is a sample schedule:

Day 1

07:00 Depart from the Sacred Valley toward Lake Titicaca

08:30 Breakfast enjoyment at Urcos Lake

09:30 Begin the climb to La Raya Mountain Pass

11:00 Tea/Coffee/Cacao break

14:00 Lunch in Ayaviri

18:00 Puno (1 Night)

Day 2

07:00 Departure by boat on Titicaca

08:30 We are on the island

12:00 Lunch

13:30 Walk and exploration with beautiful views

18:00 Sunset; if possible, we light a fire

Day 3

07:00 Breakfast

12:00 Departure by boat

14:00 Lunch in Puno

23:00 Arrival in the Sacred Valley

     iv.           What You Bring

If you do not have some of the items above, let us know—we can lend them to you.

If we are more than 5 people, we place suitcases and backpacks on the roof of the car. In that case, please bring only essential items inside the vehicle.

      v.           Food

We would like to note that preparing for your dietary needs (if any) is a pleasure for us. Please inform us about this.
Throughout the trip, we bring plenty of coca leaves, cacao nibs, maca, different teas, coffee, fruit, peanuts, and raisins for us to consume along the way.

Day 1:

Breakfast by Urcos Lake [3,156m]:
Homemade granola (oats, pumpkin seeds, coconut oil, chia seeds, walnuts), homemade yogurt or almond milk, fruit, gluten-free or sourdough bread, avocado, Peru’s surprisingly good green olives and very nice olive oil, farm eggs from the valley, goat cheese, butter, honey from a community we know, various teas, coffee, hot chocolate.

Lunch:
In Ayaviri, we have the region’s Chairo soup—a hearty, nutrient-rich soup.

Day 2

Breakfast content:
We add items from our own stock to the breakfast provided by where we stay.

Lunch on Amantani or Taquile Island:
Lunch at local restaurants offering daily menus on the island (with a lake trout option).

Dinner:
Soup, polenta, egg, rice, salad.

Day 3

Breakfast on Titicaca:
Homemade granola (oats, pumpkin seeds, coconut oil, chia seeds, walnuts), homemade yogurt or almond milk, fruit, gluten-free or sourdough bread, avocado, Peru’s green olives and very nice olive oil, farm eggs from the valley, goat cheese, butter, honey from a community we know, various teas, coffee, hot chocolate.

Lunch in Puno:
Lunch at Loving Hut Vegan Restaurant.

     vi.           Participation Fee
ParticipationFee ($)
1850
2600
3550
4500
5450
6420
7400

Extras and Discounts:

If you prefer to stay in a luxury hotel in Puno, GHL Hotel Lago Titicaca or Jose Antonio Puno are hotels that can meet your comfort needs. (The average price difference is about USD 15 per person.)

If you are looking for an authentic experience, Uros Samaraña Uta Lodge or Uros Titicaca Lodge are accommodation options we like: they are built on the traditional floating islands, meaning you can sleep on the lake, with wonderful lake views, lovely rooms, and service that is quite good. (The average price difference is about USD 50 per person.)

   vii.           Accommodation

Puno is the largest city on the shores of Lake Titicaca and offers many accommodation options.

Our preference is Sol Plaza Hotel, located in the city center on Puno’s main square. For more luxurious or more authentic options, you can refer to the Participation Fee section.

On Amantani or Taquile, we stay in locals’ homes—in simple but sparkling clean rooms with fresh, clean sheets and clean bathrooms.

l)        Route 12: Isla del Sol and Isla de la Luna, Titicaca (4N/4D or 4N/3D)

        i.           Overview

We are going to where the Light is born: the Island of the Sun and the Island of the Moon

At high altitudes, the scenery feels very deep, the air is razor-sharp, night and day are dramatically different, and the light is highly contrasted. Naturally, people living here adapt to this environment, and the culture takes on a somewhat tough temperament.

And of course, having such a huge lake at 4,000 meters on top of mountains is already astonishing.

On this route, we go to two very special islands—Isla de la Luna and Isla del Sol—located in the middle of this incredible lake surrounded by 6,000-meter peaks; in other words, we are going to the summit of a mountain that has been left in the middle of the water.

On Isla de la Luna, we do a ceremony that feels almost unreal: we enjoy a beach day in the icy waters of Lake Titicaca. From there, we cross to Isla del Sol.

This is where the Incas believed the Sun was born: Isla del Sol [3,810m].

While average elevations around Cusco are about 3,000 meters, in Puno and Bolivia they rise to around 4,000. That means we are leaving Quechua culture behind and entering the lands of the Aymara people, who live at even higher altitudes.

Isla del Sol is already a powerful place—and the beach we will go to is a very special, hidden spot on the island.

Note: Many different programs are possible for this route—saving time by driving at night for at least one direction, staying one night on Isla de la Luna, and many other options. Please contact us to personalize the program.

      ii.           Route

Summary:

  1. Sacred Valley – Copacabana Road
  2. Urcos Lake [3,156m]

Click for drone footage of Urcos Lake

Click for a satellite image of Urcos Lake

  1. La Raya Mountain Pass [4,350m]

Please click for a satellite image of the pass

  1. Aramu Muru, Gate of Gods

Please click for photos of the ruins and the location

Please click for a satellite image of the border crossing

Please click for a satellite image of Copacabana

Please click for a satellite image of the island

Please click for a satellite image of the beach

  1. Sacred Valley – Copacabana Road:

I depart from Vamoss Experience (San Salvador). I meet you in Pisac (or wherever you prefer), we chew coca, load your bags into our car, and hit the road.

In the Sacred Valley, if we continue in the opposite direction of Machu Picchu, we travel toward Lake Titicaca. We head this way and arrive in Urcos. After breakfast by Urcos Lake, we begin ascending. A 400 km journey on paved roads brings us to Puno, Peru’s city on the shore of Lake Titicaca, in 6.5 hours (excluding stops).

This road usually runs around 4,000 meters. Without adding stops, we reach Puno—Peru’s city on the shore of Lake Titicaca—in 6.5 hours.

From Puno, one of the world’s highest-altitude cities, to Copacabana, the road is also paved; we can cover 150 km in about 3 hours. We enter Bolivia about 15 minutes before arriving in Copacabana.

At the midpoint of the journey, we cross the La Raya Mountain Pass [4,350m]. The summit of Chimboya Mountain [5,450m], right next to the pass, marks the boundary between the two high cities of Puno and Cusco.

Along the way, we stop at Aramu Muru Ruins, a powerful energy portal that few people know about and that is visited by almost no one other than a few local tourists. After visiting, we continue toward the border crossing.

The Peru–Bolivia border crossing (please check whether your passport requires a visa) is easy. Since we cross by car, it can take about 1 hour. The border closes at 19:00. From the border, Copacabana is 15 minutes away.

Copacabana is one of South America’s key meeting points for travelers. Sunset in this small town is particularly beautiful. We stay one night in Copacabana, and the next morning, after taking care of last needs and parking our car, we are ready to go to the island in the middle of this massive lake on top of the mountains.

With a private boat, we take a dreamlike 2-hour ride over Lake Titicaca at 3,810 meters elevation, heading to a very special spot on Isla de la Luna: the Healing Beach.

This island is tiny, Indigenous, extremely special, and one of the rare places that is still almost untouched. There is a beach believed to be healing, and spending time there is deeply special. Those who wish can swim here and regain strength.

Then we continue by boat to the Challapampa Community, in the north of Isla del Sol. This place is remote and truly extraordinary.

From the dock, a 20-minute walk takes us to Playa Serena.

On Isla del Sol, we will spend two nights in a very special part of this very special island, do walks through strangely beautiful landscapes, and visit the island’s sacred places.
It is impossible to describe the light, the feeling, the scenery, the people, the sky—I won’t even try.

We will stay with a family of Aymara Indigenous people. This is where I married my wife, Katerina. There is a private beach for us: fine white sand, donkeys, llamas, potato fields that the animals want to eat and locals try not to let them, the waters of Titicaca, the fire of the Sun, the cool breeze coming from the mountains surrounding the lake, and locals who never stop working the land—who have become one with it.

Our private beach is called Playa de Serena. The cave at one end is a complete point of transformation. Our connection here is special to us. The family’s connection to the island, to their hearts, and to us is very special. Sharing this place with the right people is a joy for us.

In the afternoon, we take a private boat back to the mainland and return to the Sacred Valley by the same route we came. We will arrive late at night.

     iii.           Program

Our program is not fixed; it takes shape on the road. To help you understand the flow, here is an example program:

Day 1
05:00 Depart from the Sacred Valley toward Lake Titicaca
06:30 Breakfast enjoyment at Urcos Lake
07:30 Ascend toward La Raya Mountain Pass
09:00 Tea/Coffee/Cacao break
12:00 Lunch in Ayaviri
15:30 Aramu Muru, Gate of Gods
17:00 Border crossing into Bolivia
19:00 (+1h) Copacabana

Day 2
09:00 Depart by private boat toward the middle of the lake
10:00 A different kind of healing experience at Isla de la Luna’s Healing Beach: Water Ceremony
12:00 Depart for Isla del Sol
13:30 Lunch in Challapampa
15:30 We are at the beach; settle into our rooms
18:00 The sun sets; if possible, we make a fire

Day 3
08:00 All day on the island, calm
09:00 After breakfast, a walk toward the community side
12:00 Lunch
15:00 Trekking through landscapes and ruins, the Sacred Stone
18:00 Watching the sun set from high above is beautiful
19:00 Dinner

Day 4
07:30 Breakfast
09:00 Depart by boat
12:00 Lunch in Copacabana
13:00 Depart from Copacabana by car
01:00 (-1h) Return to the Sacred Valley

     iv.           What to Bring

If you don’t have some of the items above, let us know—we can lend them to you.

If we are more than 5 people, we place suitcases and backpacks on the roof rack. In that case, please bring only necessary items into the car.

      v.           Food

We would like to note that preparing for your dietary needs (if any) is a pleasure for us. Please inform us about this.

Throughout the trip, we bring plenty of coca leaves, cacao beans, maca, various teas, coffee, fruit, peanuts, and raisins.

Day 1

Breakfast by Urcos Lake [3,156m]:

Homemade muesli (oats, pumpkin seeds, coconut oil, chia seeds, walnuts), homemade yogurt or almond milk, fruit, gluten-free or sourdough bread, avocado, Peru’s quite decent green olives and Peru’s very good olive oil, village eggs from a farm in the valley, goat cheese, butter, honey from a community we know, various teas, coffee, hot chocolate.

Lunch:

In Ayaviri, we drink the region’s Chairo soup—a hearty, nutrient-rich soup.

Dinner:

Dinner at a restaurant of your choice in Copacabana (excluding drinks and desserts).

Day 2

Breakfast:

We add our own supplies to the breakfast provided by where we stay.

Lunch on the island:

There are many trout farms on Lake Titicaca; we eat a fresh, tourist-style lunch menu with trout.

Dinner on the beach:

A filling, vegetable-rich quinoa soup and salad that we will cook together (if you do not want to take part in the cooking operation, please let us know in advance).

Day 3

Breakfast:

Breakfast we prepare together:

Homemade muesli (oats, pumpkin seeds, coconut oil, chia seeds, walnuts), homemade yogurt or almond milk, fruit, gluten-free or sourdough bread, avocado, Peru’s green olives and Peru’s very good olive oil, village eggs from a farm in the valley, goat cheese, butter, honey from a community we know, various teas, coffee, hot chocolate.

Lunch:

Since we are trekking uphill, we chew coca leaves and eat the sandwiches we prepared, plus fruit and nuts we brought—this is sufficient.

Dinner:

Soup, polenta, eggs, rice, avocado salad.

Day 4

Breakfast:

Breakfast we prepare together:

Homemade muesli (oats, pumpkin seeds, coconut oil, chia seeds, walnuts), homemade yogurt or almond milk, fruit, gluten-free or sourdough bread, avocado, Peru’s quite decent green olives and Peru’s very good olive oil, village eggs from a farm in the valley, goat cheese, butter, honey from a community we know, various teas, coffee, hot chocolate.

Late lunch:

Lunch at Loving Hut Vegan Restaurant.

     vi.           Participation Fee

4N / 4D Program:

ParticipationFee ($)
11200
2800
3700
4600
5550
6500
7500

If we travel overnight and don’t stay in Copacabana, it’s possible to shorten the same itinerary to 4 nights and 3 days. To be honest, it will be a bit tiring, but we do run this itinerary this way for people who want to see Isla del Sol and are short on time. In this case, the participation fee is as follows, and the same discounts apply.

4N / 3D Program:

ParticipationFee ($)
11050
2700
3600
4500
5450
6420
7420

Discounts:

   vii.           Accommodation

Copacabana, Bolivia

Here, we’ll be staying at Hostal las Olas. It’s a unique establishment featuring organic, beautifully crafted rooms built by hand with great care.

Isla del Sol, Bolivia

Here, in a dreamlike setting, we’ll be staying in very simple, natural, and equally special traditional rooms built by a local family living alone on a white-sand beach.

m)    Comfortable Isla del Sol or Machu Picchu

While traveling to Machu Picchu via Routes 6 and 7 is beautiful, it can also be a bit exhausting.

Similarly, exploring Isla del Sol via Route 12 offers a profound yet challenging experience.

However,

it is also possible to visit Machu Picchu on a day trip or with a comfortable overnight stay.

Similarly, we now have comfortable options for seeing Isla del Sol and even exploring it in depth. While there are quite good rooms in the island’s southern community, it’s also possible to stay at a very special boutique hotel in Copacabana and see the islands (Moon and Sun Islands) on a day-trip boat tour.

Planning your travel experience to suit your needs is easy for us during our consultation with you.

For your information,

n)      Comparison of the Routes

o)      Combination [2 + 5] (1N/2D)

One night at Ausangate’s hot springs, trekking / horseback ascent to the 7 Lakes, and Rainbow Mountains

        i.           Overview

This combination is the merging of Routes 2 and 5. You need to read the details of those two routes.

With this route, we see both faces of Ausangate: on one side the Rainbow Mountains, and on the other side the Pacchanta Hot Springs and the 7 Lakes route.

To reach the other side of Ausangate, we will use a newly opened mountain pass. The entire road is stone and dirt, and depending on the season, in some sections we may literally need to drive off-road. We reach the back of the mountain through places that no vehicle other than a 4×4 can access, and—apart from us—I think almost no one passes through there at all.

Behind Ausangate, the Red Valley that hosts the Rainbow Mountains welcomes us. This route is at an average altitude of around 4,500 meters; it is a strongly off-road 50 km stretch, and if we do not count stops, we can cover it in 3 hours.

      ii.           Participation Fee
ParticipationFee ($)
1450
2330
3290
4260
5230
6210
7200

Extras:

If we go via Cusipata, we need to add 70 km (1.5 hours).

If we go via Checacupe, we need to add 100 km (2 hours).

In that case:

Fuel difference:

Cusipata side: 0.35 × 70 km = 25 USD

Checacupe side: 0.35 × 100 km = 35 USD

Extra time & labor difference:

Cusipata side: 15 × 1.5 = 22.5 USD

Checacupe side: 15 × 2 = 30 USD

These extra costs are shared by the group.

p)      Combination [4 + 2] (3N/4D)

Meeting the Q’eros, 1 Night at Ausangate Hot Springs, and Trekking / Horse Ascent to the 7 Lakes

        i.           Overview

After meeting the Q’eros, seeing the environment they live in, and tasting the cold of Cocha Moqo, returning is not always easy. Once we leave Cocha Moqo, we may need additional time to process what we experienced and to rest our bodies.

Experiencing this process in Ausangate’s powerful landscape—grounding ourselves in the glacial scenery and warming up in its healing waters—can be truly wonderful.

In this case, about half an hour after leaving the Q’eros’ area, we will cross a mountain pass that is important for the Q’eros: Hatun Q’urus. There is no road on this pass. For about 15 minutes we follow our compass and do genuine off-road driving, and then, after a 2-hour descent, we connect to the Tinqui Valley. Although this pass turns into mud during the rainy season, we have been able to cross it every time we intended to; still, it is worth noting that there is a possibility we may not be able to pass.

For the next day’s program, you can read the details of Route 2.

      ii.           Participation Fee
ParticipationFee ($)
1750
2600
3550
4510
5480
6450
7440

The extras and discounts of these two routes apply.

q)      Combination [4 + 2 + 5] (4N/5D)

Meeting the Q’eros, the 7 Lakes Route in Ausangate, Hot Springs, and the Rainbow Mountains

        i.           Overview

This combination is the complete merger of these three routes.

      ii.           Participation Fee
ParticipationFee ($)
1900
2725
3660
4620
5580
6540
7520

The extras and discounts of these three routes apply.

r)       Combination [4 + 2 + 5 – Seven Lakes] (3N/4D)

Meeting the Q’eros, Hot Springs in Ausangate, Rainbow Mountains (Without the Seven Lakes Ascent)

        i.           Overview

We designed this combination so that after meeting the Q’eros, you go to Ausangate, rest in its hot springs, stay overnight, and the next day (without climbing to the Seven Lakes) go to the Rainbow Mountains. In this way, you are able to see all three places in four days.

      ii.           Participation Fee
ParticipationFee ($)
1800
2650
3580
4550
5510
6475
7460

The extras and discounts of these three routes apply.

s)      Other Combinations:

Ausangate + Isla del Sol (Titicaca)

Ausangate + Isla Amantani (Titicaca)

Circling Around Ausangate + Isla Amantani (Titicaca)

Circling Around Ausangate + Isla del Sol (Titicaca)

Ausangate + Amazonia

Circling Around Ausangate + Amazonia

Ausangate + Isla Amantani (Titicaca) + Amazonia

Ausangate + Isla del Sol (Titicaca) + Amazonia

Lake Titicaca is a place that surprises and enchants you in countless ways—through its light, scenery, culture, nature, the Sun, the Moon, clouds, water, mountains, beaches, the Aymara people, and the boat journeys across it. I have gone to the shores of Lake Titicaca more than 30 times since I moved here, and every single time I set off with the same joyful excitement, almost running.

Only a small portion of the lake is connected to tourism; the vast majority of it lives far from the crowds, in a life that is genuinely untouched. Ever since I saw this lake for the first time, I’ve had a dream—still unrealized—of circling it completely. As long as we have all our equipment with us, I’m sure it would be an incredibly enjoyable trip.

Half of the lake falls within Peru and the other half within Bolivia, so we will need to cross the border twice. There is a wonderful road that follows the shoreline, passing through isolated communities and opening up truly beautiful vantage points.

Setting off from the Sacred Valley, we will probably cover around 1,500 km. If there is anyone who would want to do a fully equipped circuit around this lake—surrounded by 6,000-meter peaks—my estimate is a 7–10 day journey, including two nights on Isla del Sol. If this speaks to you, please let me know. I would set off on that road with real pleasure.

4.      Dates and Participation

To see the dates and routes of our trips that are open to outside participants, please check our Instagram, Facebook, and Blog pages.

If you are considering traveling with us, we kindly ask you to answer any of the questions in the survey below—briefly and clearly (even in note form, if you prefer).

Based on this information, the conversation we will have with you will help us plan your experience more accurately.

Thank you,

See you soon,

5.      Application Form

If you get in touch with us, we can design the ideal trip for you.

About the Group:

About the Journey:

About Healing:

For Specialized Service Requests:

Your Personal Information:

Thank you—we will be in touch as soon as possible.

6.      Price, Payments and Discounts

The information provided here applies to all routes and route combinations. For each route, you can find the price as well as any additional costs or discounts specific to that route.

So basically, all the equipment, food, transportation, accommodation and entrance costs.

During the journey, the only money that comes out of your pocket is for meals that are not specified in the program and personal expenses.

If you want to be picked up from a place outside our route instead of Pisac, 1.5 sols per kilometer.

Prices are for accommodation in double rooms.

If someone other than you participates in the trip, the price you pay will decrease. You can look at the price table of the route.

If you do not want anyone else to join the route with you (if you want to be a closed group), you must pay an additional payment of 20% if you are 1-2 people, 10% if you are 3-4 people, and 5% if you are 5-6 people.

Peruvians from Cusco, those with a residence permit in Cusco and travelers (those who have been on the road for at least 40 days before travel or will be traveling for at least 30 days afterwards): We offer a

5% discount for participation of 1-2 people,

10% discount for participation of 3-5 people,

15% discount for participation of 6-7 people.

We offer a

75% discount for children aged 0-6.

50% discount for children aged 7-12.

We’re offering a 40% discount on your stay at Vamoss on the day before and the day after a trip that includes at least one night’s stay.

If you make additional requests during our journey or if the road we use on the route is closed, alternative options may be considered.

If the new route extends our distance and/or travel time, we calculate the additional cost as follows:

Fuel: 0.25 USD/km (divided by group)

Vehicle depreciation: 0.1 usd/km (divided by group)

Extra time: 10 USD/hour for additions less than 24 hours (divided by group), 100 USD/day (per participant) for additions exceeding 24 hours.

Additional labor: 5 USD/hour (divided by group)

Advance payment:

We must receive 50% payment in advance for your trip to be confirmed. You can make the payment in USD or Sol to our bank account in Peru, in USD, Euro or TRY to our bank account in Turkey or in crypto currency.

Cancellation Status:

If you submit your cancellation request more than 30 days before your trip, we will refund your entire deposit.

If you submit your cancellation request more than 4 days before your trip starts, we will refund half of your deposit.

If you submit your cancellation request less than 4 days before your trip, we cannot provide a refund.

Last payment:

We kindly request that you pay your remaining balance in cash before the start of your trip.

7.      Exclusive

You are so much welcome with new route ideas.

Also, we can make any of the routes shorter or longer and combine.

Chimur Hot Springs, Valle de Qosñipata, Paucartambo, Mirador Tres Cruces, Yanatile, Quellouno, Marcapata, Rio Branco in Brasil, La Paz in Bolivia, Uyuni, San Pedro de Atacama… We have been to so many places. There are endless beautiful destinations and route options. If you have an idea, just get in touch, we can make any combination (destination, program, accommodation) you prefer.

If you already have your group, maximum number of participants can be up to 12 people by renting a (second) car.

Please get in touch if you are looking for a personalized route: reservas@vamoss.pe

8.      From Arda

Here’s a summary of our service here:

I have been organizing private journeys in all South American countries and living in the Sacred Valley since 2012. Thanks to my heart and my experience, I offer journeys where you can get in touch with the beautiful nature, powerful places, wise people and spiritual connections of this region.

I have been hiking and motorbiking alternative routes since 2010. This is how I have discovered many secret roads and how I have met my native friends.

Until 2019 I had been providing these experiences by renting a car. Since 2019, I have my own SUV and appropriate equipment.

LINK MOTORLU FOTOĞRAFLAR

We enjoy being on the road and reaching special places. During our journey, we engage in practices and rituals that strengthen our connection to our lives and our hearts.

With the help of the sacred mountains, you get a powerful and healing experience.

Thank you,

Arda Kurtoğlu