THE ADVENTURE COLLECTIVE® · Independent discovery and booking for outdoor travel
A private 3-day expedition from Cusco that combines a multi-day trek, glacier travel and a guided ascent to Nevado Qampa (≈5,500 m). Expect moraine trekking, cramponed ice, and high Andean scenery.
A private 3-day expedition from Cusco that combines a multi-day trek, glacier travel and a guided ascent to Nevado Qampa (≈5,500 m). Expect moraine trekking, cramponed ice, and high Andean scenery.
You wake before dawn in a thin, starlit air and the van hums out of Cusco toward the high puna. By midafternoon on day one the trail opens to broad, wind-scoured valleys, llamas grazing like punctuation on the slopes and the bulk of Ausangate pinned against the sky. Camp at Qampa Base Camp where the glacier and moraine visible above seem to wait — patient and uncompromising.
Verified experiences and guided adventures in the surrounding area.
Operated by CrossoverPeru Tours · Cusco, Cusco
You wake before dawn in a thin, starlit air and the van hums out of Cusco toward the high puna. By midafternoon on day one the trail opens to broad, wind-scoured valleys, llamas grazing like punctuation on the slopes and the bulk of Ausangate pinned against the sky. Camp at Qampa Base Camp where the glacier and moraine visible above seem to wait — patient and uncompromising.
The Cordillera Vilcanota carries a long human history: Quechua communities have traversed these passes for centuries and revere the peaks as apus (mountain spirits). Geologically the range is shaped by uplifted Andean crust and persistent glaciation; expect moraine fields, steep ice, and brittle rock where the glacier meets the headwall.
Day two begins at 3:00 a.m.: a cold, moraine slog leads to a crevassed glacier and technical sections that require crampons, rope, and deliberate footwork. At roughly 5,500 meters the summit offers raw, high-Andean panoramas — Ausangate (6,384 m) and neighboring snow peaks compressing the horizon.
Practical guidance: acclimatize in Cusco for 48+ hours before joining, carry high-calorie snacks and a hydration system that won’t freeze, and trust guides for route-finding on ice. Footing is mixed: loose moraine, icy glacier travel, and short rock pitches on the final ridge. Expect long, slow kilometers at altitude and plan for weather-driven schedule changes.
This trip is best for fit trekkers comfortable with high altitude and basic mountaineering training; it rewards effort with remote glacier terrain and culturally rich highland communities.
challenging.
3 days (approx. 72 hours).
High level of cardiovascular fitness and prior high-altitude trekking experience; comfortable with sustained uphill at >4,500 m.
No advanced experience is required but basic fitness and willingness to learn crampon and ice-axe techniques (training provided) are essential.
Nevado Qampa reaches about 5,500 meters; expect base camp to be high on the puna with a summit push involving several hundred meters of elevation gain and glacier travel.
The wet season brings afternoon storms and higher objective hazard from snow and ice; the dry winter months (June–August) offer the most stable conditions for summit attempts.
Round-trip transport from Cusco, guided support, mountain crew and mules, all camping equipment, meals as listed, and emergency oxygen/medical kit.
The Vilcanota range is central to Quechua spiritual geography; communities perform seasonal offerings to mountain apus and maintain pastoral trails used for centuries.
High-Andean ecosystems are fragile—minimize campfire use, stick to durable surfaces, and respect grazing areas to reduce impact.
CrossoverPeru Tours operates guided outdoor trips and adventures with an emphasis on safety, stewardship, and memorable experiences.
You wake before dawn in a thin, starlit air and the van hums out of Cusco toward the high puna. By midafternoon on day one the trail opens to broad, wind-scoured valleys, llamas grazing like punctuation on the slopes and the bulk of Ausangate pinned against the sky. Camp at Qampa Base Camp where the glacier and moraine visible above seem to wait — patient and uncompromising.
You wake before dawn in a thin, starlit air and the van hums out of Cusco toward the high puna. By midafternoon on day one the trail opens to broad, wind-scoured valleys, llamas grazing like punctuation on the slopes and the bulk of Ausangate pinned against the sky. Camp at Qampa Base Camp where the glacier and moraine visible above seem to wait — patient and uncompromising.
The Cordillera Vilcanota carries a long human history: Quechua communities have traversed these passes for centuries and revere the peaks as apus (mountain spirits). Geologically the range is shaped by uplifted Andean crust and persistent glaciation; expect moraine fields, steep ice, and brittle rock where the glacier meets the headwall.
Day two begins at 3:00 a.m.: a cold, moraine slog leads to a crevassed glacier and technical sections that require crampons, rope, and deliberate footwork. At roughly 5,500 meters the summit offers raw, high-Andean panoramas — Ausangate (6,384 m) and neighboring snow peaks compressing the horizon.
Practical guidance: acclimatize in Cusco for 48+ hours before joining, carry high-calorie snacks and a hydration system that won’t freeze, and trust guides for route-finding on ice. Footing is mixed: loose moraine, icy glacier travel, and short rock pitches on the final ridge. Expect long, slow kilometers at altitude and plan for weather-driven schedule changes.
This trip is best for fit trekkers comfortable with high altitude and basic mountaineering training; it rewards effort with remote glacier terrain and culturally rich highland communities.