A hard copy map is essential for Ausangate. A guidebook map is not enough, we feel.
If you can, confirm the best route with locals & with guides from other groups. Conversational Spanish is a big advantage though many Ausangate herders speak only Quechua.
The best map is IGN 1:100,000 Ocongate (sheet 28-t) but it does not have the trail marked on it. You need the Lonely Planet Trekking in the Central Andes guidebook as well.
Buy the Ocongate map (when you get to Cuzco) from the South American Explorers Club. Occasionally they run out. You can also find it in some of the shops in the town centre.
We actually bought instead the South American Explorers Cordillera Vilcanota Tinqui - Auzangate (1985) 1:50,000. Simple, out-of-date, but more readable than a full topo. It shows one possible trail though we often made up our own route. US$5 for SAE members, $7 non-members.
Good news. Rumour is that a new hikers map was being researched in 2005. We will list it here as soon as published.
You may want to consult online maps (they open in another window) while planning your hike:
