Excursion: Explore in one day the 7 lakes of Ausangate from Cusco

High lakes, long roads, big rewards. This $35 day trip from Cusco takes you to the seven lagoons below Ausangate, with snow-capped peaks, alpacas, a local breakfast, and Pacchanta hot springs. I like the striking Andean scenery and the chance to combine a serious mountain walk with a relaxing soak. I also like that breakfast, lunch, transport, a guide, and basic emergency equipment are included.

The main catch is the altitude. The lakes sit above 4,600 meters, and the day begins around 4:00 a.m. You need decent fitness, proper clothing, and two or three days in Cusco first. The road is long, too, and one recent booking had a late pickup and confusing guide information, so keep your phone handy the day before.

Quick points about the Ausangate day trip

• Seven lagoons in one high-altitude circuit: You visit Comercocha, Patacocha, Alqacocha, Otorongococha, Azulcocha, Pucacocha, and Q’omercocha.
• Pacchanta makes the day feel local: Breakfast and lunch come through the Andean community, giving the outing more substance than a simple photo stop.
• The hike is moderate to challenging: Plan on about four to five hours of walking, with altitude making the effort harder than the distance suggests.
• Hot springs follow the walk: Pacchanta’s thermal baths are a welcome 30-minute rest, with views toward Ausangate.
• The $35 price covers the costly basics: Round-trip transport, guide, breakfast, lunch, first aid, and oxygen are included, but the 30-sol entrance fee is extra.
• Timing is the real price: Expect roughly 12 hours, with pickup around 4:00 a.m. and return to Cusco around 5:00 to 6:00 p.m.

Why these seven lakes are worth the early start

The appeal here is simple: you get a concentrated look at one of the high Andes in a single day. The Ausangate area is known for stark mountain scenery, snowy summits, open grassland, and bright glacial lagoons. You are not visiting one viewpoint and returning to Cusco. You are walking between several bodies of water, each with its own color and setting.

The lagoons may appear turquoise, green, blue, or pale depending on the light and conditions. Their names are worth keeping in your notes because the sequence can blur after several hours at altitude: Comercocha, Patacocha, Alqacocha, Otorongococha, Azulcocha, Pucacocha, and Q’omercocha.

I especially like the combination of scenery and ordinary highland life. Along the route, you might see alpacas and llamas grazing near the path. That gives the outing a stronger sense of place than a bare list of viewpoints. The mountains are the headline, but the animals, community meals, and Pacchanta stop make the day feel connected to the region.

The 4:00 a.m. departure from Cusco

The tour generally starts around 4:00 a.m., with pickup at your accommodation. The exact pickup window can vary, and you should expect a long morning in a van. The drive to Pacchanta takes about three to three and a half hours.

That early departure is not a minor detail. It allows you to complete the walk, visit the lakes, use the thermal baths, eat lunch, and return to Cusco before evening. Still, the day is tiring. If you are hoping for a relaxed morning or a gentle introduction to Peru’s mountains, this is not the right outing.

The agency is expected to contact you one day before departure. Pay attention to that message, confirm the pickup time, and keep your phone available. One booking involved a pickup expected between 4:20 and 4:40 a.m. but the van arrived at 5:00 a.m. The guide was also changed from Antoni to John without clear communication. John was described as pleasant and professional, but the mix-up caused needless stress at an hour when nobody wants a puzzle.

That appears to be a coordination problem rather than a problem with the actual mountain portion. Still, it is useful advice: confirm the meeting point, pickup window, and guide name before going to bed.

Breakfast in Pacchanta before the climb

After the long drive, you reach Pacchanta for a traditional Andean breakfast. The meal lasts about 30 minutes and is meant to give you fuel before the walk.

Do not treat breakfast as a fancy food stop. It is included as a practical community meal, and the food has been described as basic, plentiful, and tasty. That is exactly what you want before several hours of uphill and high-altitude walking.

This stop also helps break up the van journey. You can eat, check your clothing, refill water, and make sure your sunscreen and rain gear are easy to reach. I would use this moment to ask the guide about the walking order and how much time you will have at the lagoons.

Hiking the seven-lagoon trail

From Pacchanta, the walking section takes around four to five hours in total. The detailed schedule divides it into about 3 hours and 5 minutes on the first section, a 30-minute photo and free-time stop, and another two hours on the return section.

The distance is only part of the challenge. At more than 4,600 meters, your breathing and energy can change quickly. A walk that sounds moderate at lower elevation can feel demanding here. The supplied guidance calls the difficulty moderate to challenging, so you should arrive with a reasonable level of fitness and some recent walking practice.

Move slowly. This is not a place to race the guide or try to stay beside the fastest person in the group. Take small steps, drink water often, and use the pauses to look around rather than treating them as wasted time. If you feel unwell, tell the guide promptly. The tour carries a first aid kit and an oxygen bottle, but those are safety measures, not substitutes for acclimatization.

The route passes through high mountain scenery with local flora and grazing alpacas and llamas. You should bring shoes with a firm sole and good grip. Comfortable clothing matters, but ordinary city sneakers are not the best choice for a long mountain path.

The lagoons: Comercocha to Q’omercocha

The seven lagoons are the heart of the outing. You have time for photographs and free exploration, but this is still a group day trip with a fixed return schedule. Expect a short pause of about 30 minutes at the main lagoon area rather than an all-day picnic beside the water.

The names and colors provide a useful way to remember the route:

• Comercocha and Q’omercocha: Their similar names can be confusing, so note them carefully when the guide introduces each one.
• Patacocha: One of the named lagoons on the route and part of the high-mountain sequence.
• Alqacocha: Another stop where you can compare the shape and color of the water with the nearby lagoons.
• Otorongococha: Part of the same chain of glacial waters beneath the Ausangate range.
• Azulcocha: Its name means blue lagoon, fitting the color theme of this area.
• Pucacocha: The final named lagoon in the supplied sequence.

The exact appearance of the water depends on sunlight and weather. Do not arrive expecting every lagoon to look like a polished travel photograph. Clouds, wind, and the angle of the sun can change the colors. That is part of the high Andes, not a disappointment.

Bring a phone or camera with spare battery power if you have it. You will want wide views of the snowy peaks and close shots of the lagoons, but do not spend the whole 30-minute stop staring at a screen. The scale of the place is the real attraction.

Pacchanta’s thermal baths after the hike

After the lagoon walk, you return to Pacchanta for lunch and then spend about 30 minutes at the local thermal baths. The schedule places lunch before the hot springs, which makes sense after a long walk.

The baths are valuable because they change the rhythm of the day. Until this point, you have been walking, taking photographs, and managing the altitude. The warm water gives your legs a chance to rest while you look toward the snowy Ausangate range.

Bring a change of clothes or a small towel only if your operator confirms what is supplied, since those details are not specified. The important point is that the thermal-bath entrance is not included in the $35 price. The combined entrance fee for the lagoons and hot springs is 30 soles.

Thirty minutes is enough for a useful soak, but not enough for an extended spa visit. Keep an eye on the guide’s instructions and the return time. Warm water can feel especially relaxing after the hike, but you still have a three-hour van ride back to Cusco.

A simple Andean lunch and the ride home

Lunch is served in Pacchanta and is prepared through the local community. Like breakfast, it is described as simple, filling, and tasty rather than elaborate. I see that as a strength for this kind of day. You need a reliable meal, not a long restaurant experience that delays the return.

The van then heads back toward Cusco, with arrival generally between 5:00 and 6:00 p.m. The detailed schedule lists about three hours for this final drive. You will probably be ready for a shower and an early night.

Transport is a large part of the value. Paying $35 for a long round trip, two meals, a guide, and the day’s main stops is inexpensive. The tradeoff is time. You spend many hours in the vehicle for several hours in the mountains, so the tour suits someone who wants to see Ausangate without arranging several days of trekking.

A recent booking described the driver as professional and the food as plentiful. The actual guide, John, was also described as nice and professional despite the earlier communication problem. That gives the trip a mixed but useful picture: the core service can work well, but pickup coordination deserves your attention.

Altitude, fitness, and what to pack

Altitude is the main factor in deciding if this tour suits you. Cusco itself is already high, and Ausangate is much higher. Spend two or three days in Cusco before the excursion to give yourself time to adjust.

You should not book this as your first few hours in Peru. People with heart, respiratory, or blood pressure problems should consult a doctor before considering the trip. The activity is not suitable for pregnant women, wheelchair users, people with respiratory issues, or people over 65 according to the supplied restrictions.

Pack light, but pack intelligently:

• Hiking shoes with solid support
• Water and energy snacks
• Sunglasses and a sun hat
• Sunscreen
• Warm, comfortable clothing
• Hiking pants
• Rain gear
• Trekking equipment suitable for changing conditions

The weather can shift quickly at high elevation, so rain protection is not just a luxury. Your clothing should work for sun, wind, cold, and wet conditions. A small backpack is enough for the essentials.

The tour includes a first aid kit and an oxygen bottle. Some operators may also provide trekking poles, but you should confirm that before relying on them. Do not bring alcohol or drugs.

Is $35 good value?

Yes, provided you understand what the price does and does not cover. The fee includes hotel pickup, a professional guide, breakfast, lunch, first aid equipment, oxygen, and drop-off near Cusco’s historic center. Transport alone takes roughly six to seven hours round trip, so the package offers a lot for the money.

You still pay 30 soles for entrance to the lagoons and thermal baths. That extra charge is modest, but include it in your budget. You may also want money for personal drinks or snacks, although breakfast and lunch are included.

The low price usually means a functional group excursion rather than a private, flexible outing. You should expect set departure times, a fixed route, and limited free time. If you want to stop for long photo sessions or change the order of the day, a private tour would give you more control, but this option is aimed at keeping the cost down.

The experience has a rating of 4.7 from 10 reviews, which points to strong overall satisfaction but not perfection. The most praised elements are the views, the manageable trek for people prepared for the altitude, the tasty and plentiful food, and the professional driver and guide service during the actual outing.

Who should book this Ausangate excursion?

I would recommend it to you if you have limited time in Cusco, want dramatic mountain scenery, and are willing to accept a very early start and a long ride. It is also a good fit if you like the idea of combining hiking, local meals, wildlife, and hot springs in one packed day.

I would not choose it for a first-day activity after arriving in Peru. I would also hesitate if you dislike long van rides, have not adjusted to altitude, or want a slow and quiet mountain experience.

Before booking, ask yourself three questions:

• Have I spent two or three days acclimatizing in Cusco?
• Can I handle four to five hours of walking at more than 4,600 meters?
• Am I comfortable with a 12-hour day that begins before sunrise?

If the answer to all three is yes, this is a strong budget route to Ausangate. Confirm the pickup details the day before, bring real hiking gear, budget 30 soles for entry, and pace yourself. The reward is a memorable look at Peru’s high country without committing to a multi-day trek.

FAQ

How long does the Ausangate Seven Lakes tour last?

The excursion lasts about 12 hours. Pickup generally begins around 4:00 a.m., and return to Cusco is expected between 5:00 and 6:00 p.m.

How much does the tour cost?

The listed price is $35 per person.

Is the entrance fee included?

No. Entrance to the lagoons and thermal baths costs 30 soles and is paid separately.

What meals are included?

Breakfast in Pacchanta and a typical Andean lunch are included.

How difficult is the hike?

The hike is considered moderate to challenging and lasts approximately four to five hours in total.

How high are the seven lakes?

The lakes are located more than 4,600 meters above sea level.

Should I acclimatize before taking the tour?

Yes. The supplied guidance recommends spending two or three days in Cusco before the excursion.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. Pickup from accommodations in Cusco is included, with drop-off near the historic center.

What languages does the guide speak?

Live guiding is available in Spanish and English.

Can I cancel the tour?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. The tour also offers a reserve-now-and-pay-later option.