22 Nov 2022
I had no business booking this tour because of the difficulty level - but I'm glad I did it with Flashpacker Connect!
It was a very hard trek because of high altitude and I quickly discovered that I'm not fit enough to hike for hours at 4000+ feet!
That being said, our guide Ricardo, driver Julio, cook Cristobal, and "horseman" Marcelina were amazing and they're the reason I made it to the Ausangate Glacier, the overnight campsite, and up to Rainbow Mountain.
Together, they made sure our party of 2 were okay during the long hike, that we were nourished, and that we were comfortable.
We were given alternatives to change our hike itinerary which I appreciated given our reaction to the high altitude.
Despite our personal physical challenges, we had a lot of fun with our group! If I were to do another trek, I'd ask for the exact same team. It's not every day you're asked to dance in front of a glacier with whipping winds (we happy obliged!).
The Rainbow Mountain route on this tour is off the beaten track that most 1-day tourists take - so you get a pretty awesome (and private) hike until you reach the crowded area right near the top.
I highly recommend Flashpacker if you want to book a small/private trek. Their attention to detail and the care that the staff take is worth it!
I cannot credit or thank this team enough!
Guide - Ricardo
Chef - Cristobal
Driver - Julio
Horseperson - Marcelina