The region is inhabited by llama and alpaca herding communities, and constitutes one of the few remaining pastoralist societies in the world.

High mountain trails are used by these herders to trade with agricultural communities at lower elevations.

The area has four major geological features, the Andean uplift formed by Granits, the hanging glaciers and glacial erosional valleys, the Permian formation with its singular colors: red, ochre, and turquoise and the Cretaceous, limestone forests.

The north face of Ausangate was first climbed in 2023 by Japanese climbers Yudai Suzuki and Kei Narita.

Protagonist of legends told through generations since the Inca Empire, the nevado is still venerated as a divinity (called Apu (god)) by the inhabitants of its surroundings.