A rich cultural heritage and magnificent landscape draws travellers from around the globe to this South American country. Peru is the land of the Incas and Chavin cultures, home to the ancient city of Machu Picchu and has the highest mountains anywhere in the tropics, the Andes. These dramatic mountains are also the most beautiful. Trekkers can circumvent entire mountain ranges passing glaciers, volcanoes, emerald alpine lakes, and remote villages.

Trekking in the Andes fires the imagination with its mega biodiversity. We will be taking a train to Machu Picchu and hiking The Ausangate Circuit. Please keep in mind that these treks include high altitude passes.

We have opted to visit Machu Picchu by train rather then hiking the Inca Trail. The trail has become so popular that they have limited the number of people to 500 per day. Rather then hike a trail that will seem more like a freeway with that much traffic we have decided to travel to Machu Picchu by train and spend the day exploring the ruins.

I had originally chosen 2 alternative treks that are less visited, more remote, and much more spectacular. Since completing a reconnaissance in May I have taken the Huayuash Circuit off the itinerary. I consider the area to be too unstable and the potential for incident great. We were met numerous times along the trail by men in masks or with rifles or both asking for money for passage and for protection. The number of these incidents is only going to increase until the government manages to regulate and patrol the area.

The Ausangate Circuit

This six-day, moderate trek involves a complete circuit of Nevado Ausangate, the highest mountain in the region. It is just one of many peaks in the Cordillera Vilcanota. The trek starts and finishes in the puna and crosses four high passes en route. “Consequently it features varied scenery, including fluted icy peaks, tumbling glaciers and turquoise lakes, rolling brown puna and green marshy valleys. There are warm mineral springs near Tinqui, at the start and finish of the walk.

Herds of alpacas and llamas graze the valley floors and vicunas can be sighted on the highest slopes. Viscachas inhabit almost any rocky slope. Most species of highland birds may be seen. The large black-winged Andean geese, several ducks and perhaps Andean gulls are the most obvious birds in the marshy puna valleys. Mountain caracaras are common, either wheeling overhead or scavenging on the ground. - Trekking in the Central Andes.

Duration: 6 days
Difficulty: moderate, 70 km
Start/Finish: Tinqui
Average hiking day: 4-6 hours
Summary: A complete circuit of Nevado Ausangate, the highest mountain in the region. The trek features varied and spectacular mountain scenery, lots of wildlife, turquoise lakes, and traditionally dressed indigenous inhabitants going about their lives as they have for centuries.

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