Peru: Expeditions Nevado Campa (5485 m) & Ausangate (6385 m)

10 Days/09 Nights   May to August   Demanding

About Nevado called Campa, Jampa, Qampa: The Qampa-Campa-Campa peak is one of the mountains of the Vilcanotas range, located to southeast of the Cusco city in the province of Quispicanchis. Is a majestic land whre we can observe diversity biological and cultural to the high andean like vicuña, vizcacha, andean fox, Cara cara cordillerano, peregrine falcon and others. One place where still remain the customs of their ancestors, in the use of his clothes, veneration of Apus. The Ausangate peak is a highest and most important mountain in Cusco, and is the protective deity of Andes. The most important economic activity is the cattle raising, like Alpacas, sheeps and Llamas, for to take advantage of wool to create his clothes and surpluses to economic income.

About Nevado Ausangate: (Quechua: Awsanqati) is a mountain of the Willkanuta mountain range in the Andes of Peru. With an elevation of 6,384 metres it is situated around 100 kilometres southeast of Cusco. The mountain has significance in Incan mythology. Every year the Quyllur Rit'i (Quechua for "star snow") festival which attracts thousands of Quechua pilgrims is celebrated about 20 km north of the Ausangate at the mountain Qullqipunku.

Ausangate is by far the most well-known big peak for mountaineering in Cusco since the normal route is not so technically difficult, although a good amount of stamina is needed for trail breaking on the summit plateau. Ausangate is the principal Apu of Cusco and can be seen from many places in the city.

It takes place one week before the Corpus Christi feast. The region is inhabited by llama and alpaca herding communities, and constitutes one of the few remaining pastoralist societies in the world. High mountain trails are used by these herders to trade with agricultural communities at lower elevations. Currently, one of these trails, "the road of the Apu Ausangate", is one of the most renowned treks in Peru.

The area has four major geological features, the Andean uplift formed by Granits, the hanging glaciers and glacial erosional valleys, the Permian formation with its singular colors: red, ochre, and turquoise and the Cretaceous, limestone forests.

The name of the mountain Kitarahu correlates with the name of the nearby lake Kitaqucha (Quechua for storage lake, hispanicized Quitacocha).

Cordillera Vilcanota: is located in Peru east of Cusco in the Cusco Region and in the Puno Region. It extends between 13°39' and 14°29'S and 70°31' and 71°20'W for about 80 km. It is made up of 469 glaciers. To the east the rivers San Gabán and Azángaro are the natural boundary which separates it from the Kallawaya range. The La Raya range near the La Raya pass is sometimes included or listed separately.

A mountain dominating the sacred city of Cusco: There are three main routes on Ausangate meaning that it can be climbed by beginner and expert alike. Nevado Ausangate is the fifth highest peak in Peru at 6,384m, and the highest of the seven 6,000m peaks in the Cusco Region. The first ascent to the main summit in 1953 was led by the famous Austrian mountaineer Heinrich Harrer, part of the first team to conquer the north face of the Eiger and made famous in the modern day from the book/movie (Seven Years in Tibet).

Ausangate is by far the most well-known big peak for mountaineering in Cusco since the normal route is not technically difficult - although a good deal of stamina is needed for trail breaking on the summit plateau. Ausangate is the principal Apu (mountain) of Cusco and can be seen from many places in the city.
There are much fewer visitors coming to this area of the Cusco region, however, it is becoming increasingly popular as a trekking destination. Mountaineering here is still in its infancy. Brush up on your Peruvian history before you travel.

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