Laguna Jatun and Alpacas

The frist two days of the trek take you frpm Tinqui, via the hot springs of Upis to Lake Jatun Puqa Q'ocha.

The hot springs may not be much, but the heat will ease first day muscles and give you a great view of Ausangate at the end of the valley. You night see Andean birds and llamas and alpacas being tended by Quechua herdsmen wearing traditional clothing. The first night camp is here.

On the second day, you will cross Arapa (4850m), in the morning, stopping for a lunch break along the way. Stop for photos at the pass, where the view of Ausangate is spectacular. In the afternoon, continue down the valley. The descent is a rough, gravel trail. You will pass the green lake of Puqa Q'ocha to the second night camp at the turquoise Lake Jatun Puqa Q'ocha.

From here, you can climb up a small ridge to look down at the red-tinged Lake Vino Q'ocha,. All the lakes are colored by sediment from the mountains nearby. You might hear ice breaking from a nearby glacier and falling into the water.