Qoyllur Rit’i Pilgrimage Trek 4D

Accommodation

• Tent: 2 people in a 4-person tent, allowing for greater comfort and backpack storage!
• Camping pillows
• Basic foam mattress. If you require greater comfort during the trek we can rent you an inflatable mattress. See Optional Extras & Upgrades below.
• Toilet tent

Meals

• Cook and cooking equipment, plus assistants for larger groups.
• Meals as indicated in the itinerary. Our professional cooks prepare a combination of traditional Peruvian and Western cuisine. Talk to your Travel Consultant during the booking process if you have certain preferences! Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options available. When served, salads are washed in boiled water.
• Dining tent with camp tables and chairs, and kitchen tent for the cook to prepare meals

Transport

• Collection from your hotel on the morning of the Qoylloriti pilgrimage departure
• Private transport from Cusco to the trailhead and return at the end of the trek

Trekking Team

• English/Quechua/Spanish speaking professional guide, plus an assistant guide for groups over 8
• Horses and horsemen, who carry camping equipment, food and kitchen utensils. We provide duffel bags at your briefing for your personal items (up to 8kg/17lbs per person).
• Tents, sleeping bags and mattresses for our staff to sleep in, plus a budget for their meals

Safety

• 1 emergency horse which can be ridden if you are feeling ill or if you are a little slower
• First aid kit including emergency oxygen bottle

Additional inclusions

• Pre-trek briefing

Meals

• Breakfast on the first morning.
• Dinner on the last day.

Equipment

• Sleeping bags. Available for rent if you don’t have one with you.
• Additional horses for your personal luggage

Other

• Tips for the guide, cook and porters

We offer you the opportunity to personalize your trek and make your experience more comfortable through our Optional Extras and Upgrades. All options are available during the reservation process; please ask your sales consultant for more information.

Equipment Available for Rent

• • Extra horse to carry luggage exceeding the allowed 8kg (17lbs) per person
  • Extra horse for you to ride, and horseman to lead it
  • Sleeping Bag suitable for -5˚C
  • Deluxe sleeping bag suitable for -15˚C
  • Light-weight aluminum walking stick. Two sticks are recommended for tough hikes.
  • Thermarest inflatable mattress

Service Upgrades

• • Single-occupancy tent supplement
  • Comfort Camping Upgrade Upgrade

Optional Activities

• • Combine with a day trip to Machu Picchu, either at the beginning or end of your trek
  • Combine your Qoylloriti pilgrimage with an Ausangate trek

Important!

• • When calculating the cost of renting equipment, calculate using the length of the entire trip, not just the number of trekking days.
  • Please be careful with rented equipment! You are responsible for the cost of replacement if something is damaged or broken.
  • Any upgrades or trip extensions must be requested at time of booking.

We recommend that you bring the following items with you:

• A fleece or down jacket is an essential item at this elevation;
• Hiking trousers with zip off shorts are a good idea, as day time temperatures can be quite warm, yet temperatures plummet as soon as the sun goes down. You can supplement these with leggings or thermals to wear underneath;
• A rain poncho or waterproof jacket is also important. It can rain or even snow at certain times of the year!;
• Water-resistant trekking boots are advisable. The trail on this hike can sometimes be muddy and wet, so we also recommend to bring extra socks!;
• A warm sleeping bag, rated to -15°C (5°F). If you prefer, you can rent one from us;
• A headlamp or torch;
• A high factor (SPF) sunscreen, a sun cap and sunglasses. The sun can be really strong, especially in dry season. Sun protection is essential!;
• A small daypack to carry your necessary items for each day’s hiking.

For our full packing list for treks in the Andes, see What to Bring.

• Children 0-4 years: 75% off. A valid passport must be presented upon booking. Children under 4 will not count towards the total number of guests in a group, but will be charged 25% of the per person price based on final group size. For example, a group of 4 adults and one child under 4: adults will be charged the full price per person based on a group size of 4 and the child will be charged 25% of the per person price for a group of 4. Children under 3 will not be considered to occupy a seat on any train or bus, and instead must ride on a parent’s lap. Car seats, cribs and other baby needs may not be included and must be discussed in advance. For more information about travelling with infants and toddlers, please see this blog as well as the Age Requirements section of our Booking Conditions.

Our whole trekking team knows the Ausangate region like the back of their hand! They are some of the warmest, endearing and wonderful people you are ever likely to meet.

Our guides are all licensed and receive regular training. They share their experience, professionalism, knowledge and enthusiasm with our passengers on every trek.

Get to know our team!

Want to join a trek? Ready to confirm a departure date of your own, but interested in having others join you? Then Trekkers Wanted is for you! Our innovative Trekkers Wanted system matches people up who are interested in hiking the same trek, bringing costs down and multiplying the fun for everyone!

Read More about Trekkers Wanted, post your trek or search for confirmed departures!

• Each guide has their own preferred route and so the route you trek might not correspond exactly to the route described here.
• The times cited in this Qoylloriti pilgrimage itinerary are approximate. Walking times depend on the group, and the guide may change lunch spots and campsites depending on the progress of the group.
• The Ausangate region is at very high altitude, and you’ll be hiking close to glaciers and snow-covered mountains. Translation: it’s very cold! Temperatures can fall well below zero at night. We strongly recommend using a sleeping bag good for at least -15˚C.
• This is a totally off-the-beaten-path trek, and tourist infrastructure is very limited. Instead, we’ll be making use of local facilities where possible.
• Please note: this is a true adventure and things may not go exactly according to plan! Keep an open mind and let yourself enjoy the cultural differences you may experience. Most of all, remember you are joining a genuine Andean fiesta, an event with real meaning and importance to the local community, and at which you are a guest. You should be willing to accept their means and methods of celebration. Please be respectful. Please refer to our Responsible Tourism pages. You can also ask for our Traveler’s Code of Conduct guide. There is always an opportunity to learn something!

• Does this trek sound like just what you were looking for? If you’re ready to book or just want to find out a bit more information, fill out the Inquiry Form in the top right-hand corner of this page to get the ball rolling. You’ll be connected with one of our amazing sales people who will be able to turn your dream of hiking in the Andes into a reality. For more information on the entire booking process, please see our How To Book page.
• Travel insurance is a must! World Nomads offers travel insurance for adventure activities.

Total Walking Distance: 8km
Total Walking Time: 4.5 hours (including walks within the sanctuary)
Minimum Altitude: 4090m (13,419ft) / Maximum Altitude: 4700m (15,419ft)
Altitude of camp: 4680m (15,354ft)
Approx. night temperature: -3°C (27°F)

Our Qoyllur Rit’i pilgrimage begins early as we depart from Cusco and travel along the Transoceanic Highway. After about three hours, we arrive in Mahuayany (4,221m / 13,848 ft), passing through Tinqui, the starting point for Ausangate treks. Along the way, we take in spectacular landscapes and stop for photos at Urcos, Ccatcca, and Ocongate.

Mahuayany will be bustling with pilgrims, and we will join them for an early lunch before beginning our pilgrimage to the Sanctuary of Qoyllur Rit’i at the base of Mt. Sinakara. This breathtaking site is surrounded by towering, snow-capped peaks. The hike is a slow, four-hour ascent, passing the 14 Stations of the Cross, where small altars provide resting points for pilgrims to pray.

As we walk, we will witness a sea of pilgrims, some carrying only backpacks, while others haul supplies, blankets, and mattresses to sustain their three- or four-day stay. Many belong to one of the eight “nations” of pilgrims, representing their regions: Paucartambo, Quispicanchi, Canchis, Acomayo, Paruro, Tawantinsuyo, Anta, and Urubamba. Accompanied by dancers and ukukus (ritual guardians), some pilgrims bring small stones as offerings, leaving them at the crosses along the way to form small cairns known as apachetas.

In the evening, we can attend mass at the Sanctuary before having dinner and camping for the night.

Note: The Qoyllur Rit’i Sanctuary is located at a very high altitude. You must be well acclimatized!

Total Walking Distance: 5km
Total Walking Time: 3 hours
Minimum Altitude: 4,680m (15,354 ft)
Maximum Altitude: 4,720m (15,485 ft)
Altitude of Camp: 4,680m (15,354 ft)
Approx. Night Temperature: -3°C (26°F)

On the second day of our Qoyllur Rit’i pilgrimage, we spend the entire day at the Sanctuary, immersing ourselves in the traditions and rituals of the pilgrims. In the morning, we visit the Alacitas market, where you can buy miniature goods representing your dreams — trucks, houses, cattle, university diplomas, and more. To make everything “official,” notaries certify these purchases, ensuring they resemble real transactions as closely as possible. Some pilgrims also visit Pucllanapata, where they symbolically build their dreams, get “married,” buy land, or construct stone houses. According to legend, whatever you purchase and then sacrifice to the Lord will come true through the power of the Lord of Qoyllur Rit’i.

Next, we attend the morning mass at the Sanctuary, followed by the special “Pablitos” mass. The afternoon is filled with more religious and cultural activities, including the procession of the Lord of Tayancani and the Virgin Dolorosa, traditional dance performances, and another mass in the evening.

Pilgrims must follow the sanctuary’s rules and customs. Acts such as theft, deception, and alcohol consumption (beer, rum, etc.) are strictly prohibited. More than 100 “celadores,” or “soldiers of the Lord,” patrol the area and are permitted to discipline rule-breakers inside the church. 

After dinner, we witness a spectacular Andean fireworks display, where wooden structures are set alight in a ritual known as the “burning of the castles.” This symbolizes the pilgrims’ spiritual connection to the Lord of Qoyllur Rit’i. We also see the traditional Niño Jesús dance, which represents the pilgrims’ spiritual rebirth. Late at night, pilgrims ascend to the glacier to bring down the crosses to the Sanctuary. We then retire to our tents for the night.

Total Walking Distance – 21 km (13 mi)
Total Walking Time – 9 hours
Minimum Altitude – 3,970 m (13,025 ft) / Maximum Altitude – 4,930 m (16,175 ft)
Altitude of camp – 3,970 m (13,025 ft)
Approx. night temperature – 2°C (36°F)

After breakfast, we attend the solemn Blessing Mass at around 7:00 am. By 8:00 am, we begin our journey towards Phuyusccori camp (3,970 m / 13,025 ft), near the village of Tayancani. Our trek starts with a challenging 3.5-hour ascent to Yanapunta Pass (4,930 m / 16,175 ft), where we take a well-earned rest while admiring the pilgrims still gathered at the Qoylloriti Sanctuary.

From here, we descend for 1.5 hours to reach our lunch spot at Yanacancha (4,400 m / 14,435 ft). After lunch, we continue hiking for approximately 4.5 hours along rolling trails covered in ichu grass, passing through the four pilgrimage stations of Machacruz, Yanacancha, Quezpecruz, and Tablacruz. We arrive at our campsite in Phuyusccori at around 6:00 pm. The following morning, we will pass the fifth and final station, Intilloqsina.

At this point, we have two options: rest for 3-4 hours and then join the night pilgrimage at 10:00 pm towards Tayancani with the other pilgrims, or opt for an early morning departure (around 4:00 am) to witness the sunrise over Ausangate, arriving in Tayancani slightly later. You can decide together which option best suits your preferences.

Total Walking Distance: 7 km
Total Walking Time: 3 hours (walking alongside the procession)
Minimum Altitude: 3,700 m (12,139 ft) / Maximum Altitude: 3,970 m (13,025 ft)

If your group chooses the night pilgrimage — an unforgettable experience — we will wait for sunrise at the Intilloqsina station and witness the breathtaking Sun Greeting Ceremony at 7:00 am. Afterward, we descend to the Tayancani church (3,700 m / 12,139 ft) for the Blessing of the Sanctuary and the town at 8:00 am. We can attend mass at 10:00 am before continuing our hike — two hours up to a mountain pass and then an hour down to Ocongate, where we will have lunch.

Our vehicles will pick us up in Tayancani and drive us down to Ocongate, where we will enjoy a boxed lunch prepared in advance by our cook.

The total walking time is about three hours, but if you prefer to hike all the way down to Ocongate, it would take five hours — though most pilgrims opt for the vehicle transfer.

In the afternoon, we board our private vehicle for the three-hour drive back to Cusco, arriving in the late afternoon — exhausted, but fulfilled after completing the Qoylloriti pilgrimage.

Note: This trek is scheduled so that you return to Cusco in time for Corpus Christi on Thursday, another vibrant and fascinating cultural event.