Activity from Cusco to 7 Lagoons of Ausangate

High-altitude color comes at a cost. This Cusco day trip takes you to seven striking lagoons beneath Nevado Ausangate, with mountain views, a local meal, and hot springs waiting at the end. I like the clear structure: transport, breakfast, guided hike, lunch, then a soak before returning to Cusco.

I also like the value. For $49, you get a vehicle, trekking poles, guide, breakfast, buffet lunch, first-aid kit, and oxygen. The main drawback is the schedule: pickup begins around 3:30 to 4:10 am, followed by about five hours of walking over 13 kilometers at high altitude.

Key Points to Know Before You Go

• The hike covers about 13 kilometers: Expect roughly five hours of walking, including an uphill section, flatter plains, and highland terrain.
• You see seven named lagoons: Azulcocha, Huchuypukacocha, Hatunpukacocha, Tecyacocha, Otorongo Varon, Otorongo Mujer, and Qeyllacocha each offer a different color and setting.
• Nevado Ausangate provides the mountain backdrop: The lagoons sit beneath one of the region’s major snow-covered peaks.
• Breakfast and lunch are included: You eat breakfast in Pacchanta before the hike and return there for a buffet lunch.
• Hot springs finish the day: Thermal bath entry costs an extra $2, while access to the lagoons costs $7.
• This is a small-group-style outing: The maximum group size is 20 people, and the tour is offered in English.

Why Ausangate Makes a Tough Day Trip Worth Considering

The Ausangate area gives you a very different side of the Cusco region. This is not a city tour with short walks between monuments. It is a high-country outing built around open views, snow-covered peaks, and several remote-looking lagoons reached on foot.

The seven lagoons are the main reason to go. Their colors and contrasts change as you move through the route, and the setting beneath Nevado Ausangate gives the walk a strong sense of scale. The first lagoon, Azulcocha, sits at the foot of Humashraju. From there, the route continues toward the other named pools.

I like that the tour does not rush straight to a photo stop and turn around. You have time to walk through uphill sections, plains, and highlands before reaching the full collection of lagoons. That said, the route is physically demanding, and the early departure means you need to treat this as a serious day outdoors rather than a relaxed sightseeing trip.

The tour description asks for a moderate level of physical fitness. That wording matters. You do not need a technical climbing background based on the information provided, but you do need to be ready for five hours on foot, 13 kilometers of total walking, and cold conditions at the start.

The 3:30 to 4:10 am Pickup From Cusco

Your day begins very early. Pickup runs between about 3:30 and 4:10 am, depending on where you stay in Cusco. You should wait at your hotel reception rather than assume the driver will come to your room.

The stated meeting point is Plaza de Armas in central Cusco, and the return is near the same area. If you are staying at a hotel, the transfer is offered from the lobby. The guide or representative is identified by a black jacket and cap with the company logo, and you should receive contact before pickup.

The first part of the ride is cold, with temperatures listed at about 5 to 9 degrees Celsius. Keep a warm layer within easy reach instead of burying it in your luggage. The vehicle is air-conditioned, and transport is included, which makes a real difference on a day with several hours of driving.

The early start has one clear benefit: it gives you enough daylight and time to complete the walk, eat, use the hot springs, and get back to Cusco around 7 pm. The cost is sleep. I would not book this outing the night before an important early flight or a demanding second excursion.

Pacchanta Breakfast After About Three Hours

After roughly three hours on the road, you reach Pacchanta. This is your first major pause and the place where breakfast is served.

Breakfast is described as an American breakfast. It is a practical stop before the walk, but do not treat it as a long rest. The hike to the lagoons begins after breakfast, so use this time to organize your layers, water, and personal items.

Pacchanta also matters later in the day. You return here after the hike for a buffet lunch, then have the option to enter the local thermal baths. That arrangement is sensible because it places food and a warm soak after the hardest physical part of the day.

The thermal baths are not included in the listed price. Entry costs $2 per person. That is a small additional charge, but you should carry enough cash for both the baths and the lagoon entry.

The Uphill Start and First Lagoon, Azulcocha

The walking route begins with an uphill section. This is where the high altitude and cold air may feel most noticeable, especially if your body is still adjusting to the pace and elevation.

The route then moves through plains and highland terrain before reaching the lagoons. Trekking poles are included, which I consider a useful touch. They can help with balance and rhythm on uneven ground, particularly when your legs grow tired later in the route.

Azulcocha is the first lagoon named in the itinerary. It lies at the foot of Humashraju, giving the opening section a strong mountain setting. The sequence is well planned from a sightseeing point of view: you begin with a clear destination, then continue through a series of changing water colors and highland views.

Access to the seven lagoons costs an additional $7 per person. Add that fee to your budget before booking. With the $49 tour price, lagoon access and thermal baths bring the basic total to $58 per person, assuming you choose both extras.

Six More Lagoons Beneath Ausangate

After Azulcocha, you continue to Huchuypukacocha, Hatunpukacocha, Tecyacocha, Otorongo Varon, Otorongo Mujer, and Qeyllacocha.

The attraction is not simply checking seven names off a list. The route gives you several different views of the same high mountain region. The water colors and surrounding terrain create contrasts from one lagoon to the next, which is why this outing works well for photography.

I would keep your camera or phone accessible, but do not let photos control the entire walk. The route takes about five hours round trip, and stopping constantly can make a long day feel even longer. The most useful approach is to enjoy the first views, then take photos at the lagoons that appeal to you most.

The snow-covered bulk of Ausangate is the visual anchor. You are not visiting one isolated pool. You are moving through a high-altitude area where the lagoons, mountain slopes, and open plains work together. The setting is the reward for the uphill effort.

The guide is important here. A bilingual professional guide is included, along with first-aid equipment and oxygen. Those supplies do not remove the need to pace yourself, but they provide a sensible safety layer for a remote, high-altitude outing. The guide also helps keep a group moving over a long route.

The maximum group size is 20 people. That is not a private hike, and the pace may not suit everyone equally. Still, it is limited enough to be more manageable than a very large coach group, especially when the route stretches over several hours.

The Return to Pacchanta and Buffet Lunch

Once you have seen the seven lagoons, you walk back to Pacchanta. The return is part of the same roughly 13-kilometer total, so do not assume the hard work ends at the final viewpoint.

This is when trekking poles and sensible pacing matter most. An enthusiastic start can leave you tired before the return. I would keep a steady pace, follow the guide’s direction, and save some energy for the final stretch.

Lunch is a local buffet in Pacchanta. It is included in the $49 price and gives you a proper meal before the drive back to Cusco. The timing is another practical strength of the tour. You do not need to search for food after finishing the hike, and you can sit down before the final transport leg.

The buffet format may suit a mixed group because you can choose what you want and control the size of your meal. It also keeps the schedule moving better than a long restaurant order.

Hot Springs for $2 After the Hike

After lunch, you can use the thermal baths for an extra $2. I consider this one of the better optional add-ons because it comes at exactly the right point in the day.

A hot soak after five hours of walking can make the return to Cusco more comfortable. It is not included, so decide ahead of time and carry the small entrance fee. If you prefer to stay dry or want a little more time to rest, you can skip it.

The thermal baths also make the day feel less like a hike followed by a long bus ride. You get a distinct final activity in Pacchanta before returning to the vehicle.

Transport Back to Cusco Around 7 pm

After the baths, you board the vehicle for the return to Cusco. The group generally arrives around 7 pm and is dropped near Plaza de Armas.

That makes this a full 15-hour outing from early pickup to evening return. The drive time is part of the price, but it is also the main limitation. You spend many hours in transport for about five hours of walking.

The included vehicle and driver add value, especially because the route begins before dawn and ends after dark. One particularly useful detail from the service is the emphasis on safe driving. The transport is not just a way to reach the trailhead. It is a major part of making this long day workable.

What the Price Includes and What It Does Not

At $49 per person, the base price is competitive for a full-day outing with several inclusions:

• Air-conditioned vehicle
• Bilingual professional guide
• Trekking poles
• American breakfast
• Buffet lunch
• First-aid kit
• Oxygen

The two extra charges are easy to understand:

• Seven Lagoons access: $7 per person
• Thermal baths: $2 per person

If you choose both, plan on about $58 per person before any other personal spending. That is a strong value if you want transport, meals, equipment, and guiding handled in one booking.

The price is less attractive if you are mainly seeking a short viewpoint visit. You are paying for a long transfer, a demanding walk, food, and support services. The value improves for anyone who wants the full Ausangate outing and would rather not arrange separate transport, meals, and trail logistics.

Cold Weather, Fitness, and What to Prepare

The cold is not a minor footnote. The first hours of the outing can sit around 5 to 9 degrees Celsius, and the hike takes place in highland terrain. Wear warm clothing that you can adjust as the day changes.

You also need to take the walking distance seriously. Five hours and 13 kilometers can feel very different depending on your pace and how your body handles altitude. The tour is intended for people with moderate physical fitness, not for anyone looking for a gentle sightseeing day.

The supplied trekking poles are useful, and oxygen is available as part of the safety equipment. Even so, those inclusions should be viewed as support, not a substitute for preparation. Keep your pace controlled and listen to the guide.

The tour is offered in English, and the bilingual guide can help explain the route and manage the group. Several service names connected with the experience include Celinda, Lisbeth, and Royier. Celinda is associated with careful pickup coordination, Lisbeth with helpful recommendations, and Royier with guide-related praise. If you speak with the company before departure, asking who will lead your group is sensible.

Who Should Book This Ausangate Day Trip?

I would choose this tour if you want dramatic mountain scenery, several lagoons in one outing, and a package that includes most of the day’s practical needs.

It suits you best if you:

• Can handle about five hours of walking
• Accept a 3:30 to 4:10 am pickup
• Want a guided group experience
• Like photography and changing mountain views
• Appreciate included breakfast, lunch, transport, and trekking poles
• Want the option of thermal baths afterward

I would think twice if you dislike early starts, struggle with long walks, or want a relaxed day with little time in a vehicle. The route is rewarding, but it is not effortless.

The tour requires suitable weather. If poor weather cancels the trip, you are offered another date or a full refund. It also requires a minimum number of bookings, so a cancellation for that reason brings the same choice of a different date, another experience, or a full refund. For your own cancellation, you can receive a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted for a refund.

Should You Book the Seven Lagoons of Ausangate Tour?

Book it if the seven lagoons are high on your Cusco wish list and you want a straightforward, budget-friendly way to reach them. The combination of Ausangate views, seven named lagoons, included meals, trekking poles, a guide, and a hot-spring option gives the day real value.

Skip it if five hours of walking and a 15-hour schedule sound exhausting rather than exciting. The best reason to book is not the low price alone. It is the chance to spend a full day in a spectacular highland setting with the main logistics already arranged.

FAQ

How long is the Seven Lagoons of Ausangate tour?

The experience lasts approximately 15 hours, with pickup in the early morning and return to Cusco around 7 pm.

What time does pickup begin?

Pickup takes place between about 3:30 and 4:10 am, depending on the location of your accommodation. The stated start time is 4:00 am.

Where does the tour start and end?

The meeting point is Plaza de Armas in Cusco. The activity ends back near the meeting point.

Is hotel pickup available?

Yes. Pickup is offered from the hotel lobby. You should wait at reception, and the representative will wear a black jacket and cap with the company logo.

How far do you walk?

The route covers about 13 kilometers round trip and takes approximately five hours of walking.

What level of fitness is required?

A moderate level of physical fitness is required. The route includes an uphill section, plains, and highland terrain.

How many lagoons do you visit?

You visit seven lagoons: Azulcocha, Huchuypukacocha, Hatunpukacocha, Tecyacocha, Otorongo Varon, Otorongo Mujer, and Qeyllacocha.

Are breakfast and lunch included?

Yes. An American breakfast is served in Pacchanta, and a buffet lunch is provided after the walk.

Are the lagoon and thermal bath fees included?

No. Access to the seven lagoons costs $7 per person, and access to the thermal baths costs $2 per person.

Is the tour available in English?

Yes. A bilingual professional guide is included, and the tour is offered in English.