Highlights
Discovering the Ausangate Trail
Join us on this breathtaking 9 day / 8 night trip through the Andes Mountains as you traverse epic landscapes and bring healthcare to remote communities.
To book an Ausungate Service Learning Trip, contact us today!
Included
- 4 hostel nights and 4 nights in Andean Lodges
- Breakfast at all hotels
- All meals during Ausangate Excursion
- All private tours stated in the itinerary
- English speaking tour guides
- Transfers and entrance fees
- Trains to/from Machu Picchu
Not Included
- International airfare
- Domestic airfare (see requested arrival times in itinerary)
- Lunches and dinners (unless specified otherwise)
- Tips
Itinerary In Brief
Day 1:
Arrive to Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport, Cusco.
Day 2:
Head out on a full day Cusco Reality Tour that will help get you oriented to the geographical, political, and social realities of the region.
Day 3:
Depart from your Cusco accommodation and journey to Chillca Lodge, Japura for your first day of volunteering at a MEDLIFE Mobile Clinic. This location is also the first stop on your Ausangate hike.
Day 4:
Spend your second day of volunteering bringing high-quality healthcare to communities who lack access to basic health services.
Day 5:
Today you will start the first leg of your trek. After leaving the Ausangate community, you will see the south face of the sacred Ausangate Mountain and continue trek towards the red sandstone formations of the ‘Nevado del Inca.’
Day 6:
Tackle the second mountain pass (16,339ft / 4,980m above sea level) before hiking alongside Lake Kayrawiri. You will end this challenging day of trekking by witnessing the famous Rainbow Mountain!
Day 7:
Experience spectacular mountain views on your way to the final pass at 16,102ft (4,908m) above sea level before boarding the bus for your transfer back to Cusco.
Day 8:
Train from Sacred Valley to Machu Picchu. Guided half day tour of Machu Picchu. Return train to Sacred Valley and transfer to Cusco. Overnight in Cusco hotel.
Day 9:
Depart Cusco or explore more of Peru on some of our optional itinerary add-ons like a 4 day trip to the biodiverse Amazon Jungle or the spectacular Lake Titicaca
Contact us to book your trip!
Itinerary In Detail
Ausangate Lodge to Lodge Trek
Day 1: Arrival to Cusco
Arrive into Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport (CUZ) between 5am and 12pm. A MEDLIFE associate will be waiting for all volunteers outside of the airport with a MEDLIFE sign. Volunteers will then be transported to Hotel Selina to rest and acclimatize to Cusco’s altitude.
Day 2: Reality Tour
Today head out on a full day Cusco Reality Tour that will help get you oriented to the geographical, political, and social realities of the region. During the tour, visit various districts of Cusco before leaving the city for the Sacred Valley. Within the Sacred Valley you will visit a rural primary school, a health facility as well as make a stop at Ccochahuahsi animal refuge. For lunch, volunteers will picnic at Mirador Taray, overlooking the Sacred Valley.
Upon return to the hotel at approximately 3pm, volunteers will have until 5pm to rest and relax. At 5pm all volunteers head into the conference room for a presentation about MEDLIFE’s work and in which you will receive your Mobile Clinic assignments for the week. You will be assigned to volunteer at two of the seven Mobile Clinic stations each day. Afterward, volunteers are free for the night.
Days 3-4: Mobile Clinics
Depart from your Cusco accommodation bright and early for the 3-hour bus journey to Chillca Lodge, Japura. This is the first stop on the Ausangate hike and the location of your Mobile Clinic.
Upon arriving to the community, volunteers will unpack all medical supplies from the bus and meet the health professionals who they will be assisting that day. After unloading all Mobile Clinic supplies, volunteers will report to the Mobile Clinic station that they have been assigned to that morning. A brief training session will be provided by the health professionals at each station, and the clinic will begin accepting patients between 8-9am.
You will stay at your assigned station until you are relieved for lunch by the Trip Leader at around 11:30am. Enjoy lunch on the bus and then report to your second station assignment for the afternoon. Finally, Mobile Clinics will close anywhere from 1-3pm, depending on the number of patients that day. As many as 200+ patients may pass through the Mobile Clinic throughout the day!
Volunteers can spend the evening sharing a meal and reflecting on the day. Overnight at the Lodge.
Days 5: Chillca – Anantapata
After a nutritious breakfast, you’ll start the trek near the Ausangate community. From there you will see the south face of the sacred Ausangate Mountain and continue the trek towards the red sandstone formations of the ‘Nevado del Inca.’ Overnight at Anantapata Tambo.
Day 6: Rainbow Mountain
After breakfast, you will set off to tackle the second mountain pass (16,339ft / 4,980m above sea level) before hiking alongside Lake Kayrawiri under the shadows of the rugged Andean peaks. Next, you’ll cross Cerro Laya Grande, passing through the huge Inca Glacier. Admire the beautiful colors in the sediments of the Yauricunca mountain as you enjoy a picnic lunch. Then continue to Huampococha Lodge where you’ll spend the night. Along the way, you’ll have the chance to see hundreds of nesting Andean geese in the cliffs of Anta and witness the formations of Apu Labrayani. Finally, you will experience the famous Rainbow Mountain & Red Valley from a vantage point that few tourists have the opportunity to visit!
Day 7: Huampococha – Cusco
Experience spectacular mountain views on your way to the final pass at 16,102ft (4,908m) above sea level. It’s all downhill from here, as you witness the fascinating limestone formations from the Cretaceous age during the hike towards the end of the trail in Trapiche. Here, you’ll have lunch before boarding the bus for your transfer back to Cusco.
Day 8: Machu Picchu Full Day
Begin your journey to Machu Picchu with a train ride through the Sacred Valley. Upon arrival to the base of the mountain, take a winding bus ride to the famed Inca fortress for a half-day tour. Your expert guide will lead you through Machu Picchu, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that has been astonishing explorers and travelers for years. Learn about the Incas who built the site, as you visit the temples, terraces and all the best spots for photos. After a thorough exploration of the ruins, return via train to the Sacred Valley for the drive back to Cusco.
Day 9: Optional Add-Ons or Departure
Depart Cusco or explore more of Peru on some of our optional itinerary add-ons like a 4 day trip to the biodiverse Amazon Jungle or the spectacular Lake Titicaca
Contact us to start your trip planning!
