Before sunrise, at 4 a.m., our vehicle will pick you up at your hotel for an hour-and-a-half drive south of Cusco. The Vilcanota River will accompany us during the trip to Cusipata, where we will make our first stop. Here, at the Lupita restaurant, we will enjoy a hearty breakfast(fruit, cereal, egg and chorizo sandwich and coffee). Our batteries recharged, we will board the vehicle to drive to the Phuluwasipata gorge. Here, we will begin our 4-kilometer hike along the Chillihuani trail.

For those travelers who prefer renting a horse to ride up to the point located just 200 m away from the viewpoint, the muleteers will be waiting here to offer you one (at additional cost).

The ascending trail is sinuous and the altitude gradually increases up to 5000 m.a.s.l., right to the point where the magnificent Winikunka(a mountain of colors, in Quechua) rises above the valley. On a sunny day, the colors of this mountain boast bright hues, which get duller as the clouds cast their shadows on them. This mountain is rich in minerals such as quartz, iron, magnesium, copper oxide, among others.

Winikunka forms part of the Ausangate mountain range. Ausangate, with its perpetual snow, is right there in front, dominating the landscape and making the whole experience a truly Andean one.

After having enjoyed the beautiful views, we will walk back along the same trail down to Cusipata, where a lunch will be waiting for us (regional soup, a main dish (a choice of trout or chicken) and a cake with some ice-cream). We will be offered a typical chicha morada made of purple corn or a local fruit beverage. It´s then time to go back to Cusco.

Our licensed guides carry an oxygen tank along with some altitude sickness medications, in case you need any of them. Your guide will provide poles,  detailed instructions on how to walk at this altitude (slowly and with small steps) and how to breathe correctly. This full day experience is truly unique. We recommend prior acclimation of at least 2 nights at 3400 m or similar altitude.