Wow, this was one amazing place. Everything about it seemed so surreal. This hike was really tough, but so beautiful. It’s set in the Ausangate mountains in the Andes of Peru. The one day hike tour that we did has only been available since January 2016. In spite of that, it has quickly become one of the most popular hikes for those that are up for a challenge.
Pictures do not do this place justice. The green valley and the surrounding mountains, the Peruvians still farming the hillsides and herding their alpacas is made for a National Geographic special. This area is still very isolated even with the new one-lane gravel road. This gravel road has numerous switchbacks with non-existent guard rails and makes for an exciting ride even before you begin your hike.
The day starts early, we were picked up a little before 4am and takes a couple of hours to drive the 80km (50 miles) southeast of Cusco. We then stopped for the typical Peruvian breakfast, bread, with butter and jam; one egg; and tea or coffee.
The hike is about 9.25 miles long. So, distance wise it does pose a little challenging, but the altitude is the real killer. The hike begins at 4,300 meters (14,107 ft) and ends at 5,020 meters (16,470 ft). I found that I was having a difficult time with the lack of air, so I found a ride. Will sucked it up and did the entire hike on his own two feet.
The native people of this area are really amazing. There are many people there everyday with their horses offering rides to the hikers. These men and women lead their horses the entire time usually wearing sandals and carrying food for their horse on their backs. At no time did they seem tired or out of breath. They also follow the hikers along the route as many hikers change their mind about renting a horse as the air gets thinner.
The rainbow colors are the result of rock sediments. The sediments consist of red iron oxide rust, yellow sulphide, green chlorite and brown shades of sandstone.
