From Cusco: Ausangate 7 Lakes Tour with Meals

Seven lakes, one long day. This $37 Ausangate trip takes you from Cusco to the foot of Mount Ausangate for high mountain scenery, colorful water, and a demanding hike. I like the small group of up to 15 people and the fact that breakfast, lunch, transport, a guide, walking sticks, oxygen, and a first aid kit are included. I also like the chance to visit Pacchanta and use its hot springs, though you must pay the thermal bath entry fee separately.

The main tradeoff is the effort. The walk lasts about five hours and covers roughly 13 kilometers, with a climb to a viewpoint before you reach most of the lakes. One important practical point: the day gives you impressive views, but not endless time beside each lake. If you want a relaxed outing, this is not it.

Key points at a glance

• A 4:00 AM start from Cusco: Early pickup makes a full-day visit possible, but you will need to be ready before sunrise.
• About 13 kilometers on foot: Expect around two hours to the main viewpoint, followed by about three hours visiting the lakes and returning to Pacchanta.
• Seven named lakes below Ausangate: The route includes Lake Superior, Otorongo Hombre, Otorongo, Rojo, Ccomer, Azul, and Alqa.
• Breakfast and lunch included: You eat breakfast in Pacchanta before walking, then return there for lunch.
• Pacchanta hot springs: A useful way to loosen tired legs, although the entry fee is extra.
• Good value at $37: Transport, meals, guiding, equipment, and basic emergency support are included.

Why the Ausangate lakes make a strong day trip

Cusco has no shortage of famous sights, but the Ausangate 7 Lakes route gives you something different. This is a day in a broad, natural mountain setting, far from city streets and stone walls. The lakes sit beneath Mount Ausangate, one of the region’s great snow-covered peaks, with open views of mountains, plants, and wildlife.

The appeal is visual. The lakes are known for their changing colors, and the route brings you to several bodies of water rather than a single viewpoint. That variety gives the day a sense of progress. You keep walking toward the next lake, the next ridge, or another angle on the mountain.

I especially like that the outing includes more than a photo stop. You visit Pacchanta, eat there twice, and have the option of soaking in its hot springs. That makes the trip feel connected to a local community rather than being only a drive to a viewpoint and back.

Still, this is a high-effort sightseeing day. The scenery is the reward for the walk, not a backdrop you see from the comfort of a vehicle. If your main goal is to take a few quick photographs, the schedule may feel too strenuous.

The 4:00 AM departure from Cusco

Pickup begins at 4:00 AM for hotels in the historic center. That early start is not a minor detail. It allows the tour to travel southeast from Cusco, reach Pacchanta, eat breakfast, complete the hike, and return to the city around 6:00 PM near the main square.

You should have your daypack ready the night before. Bring water, snacks, sunscreen, sunglasses, a sun hat, another hat if you use one for warmth, and cash. A passport is also listed among the items to bring. The early departure and late arrival make this a full day from beginning to end.

Round-trip transportation is included, which is a major part of the value at this price. You do not need to arrange a separate ride to Pacchanta or work out your return to Cusco. Pickup is limited to selected areas, so check that your hotel qualifies before booking.

The journey itself is part of the day’s scale. You leave the urban center behind and reach a much more open setting. Exact drive times are not provided, so you should think of the 4:00 AM start and 6:00 PM return as the firm shape of the day, not a schedule with much spare time.

Breakfast in Pacchanta before the climb

The first planned stop is Pacchanta, where breakfast is served before the walk. This is a smart arrangement. You get food before the physical part of the tour, rather than trying to begin a long hike on nothing more than an early coffee.

Pacchanta also matters because it is the community settlement connected with the lakes and hot springs. The village gives the day a local point of reference. After spending hours among mountains and water, you return to the same place for lunch.

Lunch is included after the hike, and the food received particular praise for fresh ingredients and good quality. That matters here. A hot meal at the end of a 13 kilometer walk is not a small luxury. It is part of what makes the $37 price look sensible.

You should still carry snacks. They are specifically recommended, and the itinerary does not promise food during the hike. Small, easy-to-carry items can help during the long stretch between breakfast and lunch.

Two hours to the seven-lake viewpoint

From Pacchanta, the walking route climbs for about two hours to a viewpoint where you can see the seven lakes of Ausangate. This is the first major payoff of the day.

The viewpoint lets you understand the setting before you walk through it. Instead of seeing one lake in isolation, you can take in the relationship between the water, the surrounding peaks, and Mount Ausangate. The high mountain position also explains why the scenery feels so open and exposed.

The walk is described as pleasant but sporty. That is a fair way to think about it. You do not need to be an elite hiker, but normal fitness will help. The climb can feel difficult, especially after the early start and during the higher sections of the route.

The tour provides walking sticks, which should be useful on uneven or tiring ground. The guide also carries oxygen and a first aid kit. These supplies do not turn the route into an easy walk, but they show that the operator recognizes the demands of a high mountain excursion.

The outing is not suitable for wheelchair users, people with respiratory issues, or people with pre-existing medical conditions. Take that guidance seriously. If you have doubts about your health or ability to handle a long mountain walk, ask a medical professional before booking.

Meeting Lake Superior, Otorongo, and Rojo

After reaching the viewpoint, the route continues for about three more hours. During this section, you visit most of the seven lakes before returning to Pacchanta.

The named lakes are Lake Superior, Lake Otorongo Hombre, Lake Otorongo, Lake Rojo, Lake Ccomer, Laguna Azul, and Lake Alqa. The names help you follow the route and give the scenery a sense of place, but the real attraction is the shifting color and setting of the water.

Lake Rojo suggests one of the more unusual color changes in the group, while Laguna Azul offers the simple appeal of blue water against the mountains. Otorongo Hombre and Otorongo add variety to the sequence. You should not expect every lake to look identical. That is the point of visiting seven.

The walk between the lakes is part of the experience, but it also creates the day’s biggest limitation. A 13 kilometer route requires steady progress. You may stop for photographs and views, but you will not have unlimited time at each body of water.

One useful expectation is to think of this as a hiking circuit with lake stops, not seven separate leisurely visits. If you want to sit quietly beside each lake, the pace may feel brisk. If you want to see a wide range of scenery in one day, the schedule works better.

Mount Ausangate, snow, and the best photographs

Mount Ausangate gives the route its dramatic anchor. The high peak and, at times, snow-covered mountain views provide the strongest visual contrast with the colored lakes below.

The most rewarding photographs will likely combine water, ridges, and snow rather than focus on a lake alone. Bring a camera, but also keep your gear easy to reach. The day involves continuous walking, and stopping to unpack equipment each time can slow you down.

Sun protection is important. Sunglasses, sunscreen, and a sun hat are all listed as essentials. Water and a daypack matter just as much. The mountain setting may feel cool at some points, but that does not remove the need for protection from strong sun.

The area is described as fully natural, with mountain scenery, flora, and fauna. The tour information does not promise specific animal sightings, so I would treat wildlife as a possible bonus rather than a planned feature. The dependable attraction is the scenery itself.

Returning to Pacchanta and choosing the hot springs

After the lake circuit, you walk back to Pacchanta for lunch. This is where the rhythm of the day changes. The demanding part is over, and you can eat before the return drive to Cusco.

Pacchanta’s hot springs are an optional extra and one of the tour’s nicest features. Soaking after a five-hour walk makes practical sense, especially if your legs are tired. The fee is not included, so bring cash and budget for the entry separately.

The available information does not give the thermal bath price or the amount of time allocated there. That means you should not assume a long spa session. Ask the guide about timing on the day, particularly if you are eager to bathe and still want to return to Cusco on schedule.

The hot springs also provide a choice. You can use them to relax, or you can skip them if you prefer more time to eat, change, or rest before the drive. They are a useful addition, but they are not the reason to book the tour. The seven lakes and Mount Ausangate are the main event.

What $37 includes, and what it does not

At $37 per person, this is a low-cost full-day excursion. The price includes pickup in selected Cusco areas, round-trip transportation, an English or Spanish-speaking guide, breakfast, lunch, walking sticks, a first aid kit, and oxygen.

That bundle gives the tour real value. Transport alone would add cost and planning work, while the two meals remove the need to arrange food during a long day. The small-group limit of 15 people is another plus. It is not a private tour, but it should be more manageable than a large coach group.

You will pay extra for a horse ride, the thermal baths, and personal expenses. Horse hire may appeal if the walk becomes too demanding, but do not treat it as a guaranteed included backup. It is specifically outside the price, and availability or cost is not stated.

The tour also offers free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure and a reserve-now, pay-later option. Those terms make it easier to keep plans flexible, though you should still confirm the exact start time and pickup point when you book.

How demanding is the five-hour walk?

The route takes about two hours to the viewpoint and another three hours around the lakes and back to Pacchanta. A verified booking described it as a 13 kilometer hike, which gives you a clearer idea of the commitment than the phrase full-day tour alone.

You do not need to be a serious mountaineer based on the available feedback, but you should have normal fitness and be comfortable walking for several hours. The experience was praised as sporty yet manageable at a steady pace. That is the right expectation.

The guide’s role matters here. Jonatan received special praise for kindness, maintaining a comfortable pace, and accompanying the group throughout the route. Guide quality can make a hard day feel organized rather than rushed.

At the same time, do not book this solely because the price is attractive. If you have breathing problems, a pre-existing medical condition, or difficulty with long walks, choose a gentler Cusco outing. Wheelchair users will not be able to take this route.

Is the small group a real advantage?

A maximum of 15 people is a useful middle ground. You get the efficiency of shared transportation without the scale of a very large group. A guide can give basic direction, monitor the pace, and help keep the group together.

A small group can also make stops more practical. At a viewpoint or beside a lake, fewer people generally means less waiting for everyone to move on. The experience is still shared, so you should not expect the freedom of a private hike.

The live guiding is available in English and Spanish. When booking, select the language you need and confirm it if necessary. Clear instructions matter on a long route, especially when the group is tired or the weather changes.

Who should book this Ausangate day trip?

I would recommend it to you if you want dramatic mountain scenery, colorful lakes, and a physically active day outside Cusco. It suits people who enjoy walking and prefer a natural setting over a short sightseeing stop.

It is also a good match if you value an all-in price. Breakfast, lunch, transportation, guiding, walking sticks, and basic safety equipment are all covered for $37. The hot springs add a welcome recovery option.

I would be cautious if you want a slow photographic outing. The route covers a lot of ground, and the time at the lakes can feel limited. It is also a poor fit for anyone with the listed medical or mobility concerns.

Pack lightly but sensibly. Water, snacks, sun protection, a camera, cash, and a daypack are the essentials. Smoking, alcohol, and drugs are not allowed, so this is a straightforward outdoor excursion rather than a casual party day.

Should you book the Ausangate 7 Lakes Tour?

Book it if you want to earn your views. The strongest parts are the colorful seven-lake route, the snowy Mount Ausangate scenery, the well-priced meal and transport package, and the chance to finish near Pacchanta’s hot springs.

Skip it if five hours of mountain walking sounds like an obligation rather than a pleasure. The tour is praised for beautiful scenery, a comfortable pace, and excellent food, but it still asks you to walk about 13 kilometers and accept limited time at individual lakes.

For an active day outside Cusco, this is a strong value. Bring the right gear, start with realistic fitness expectations, and keep some cash for the hot springs. Then the early alarm feels like a fair trade for the mountain views.

FAQ

Where does the Ausangate 7 Lakes Tour take place?

The tour takes place in the Cusco Region, southeast of Cusco, around Pacchanta and the lakes at the foot of Mount Ausangate.

How long does the tour last?

It is a one-day tour. Pickup begins at about 4:00 AM from eligible hotels in Cusco’s historic center, with arrival back near the main square around 6:00 PM.

How much walking is involved?

The route takes about five hours, with approximately two hours to the viewpoint and three more hours visiting the lakes and returning to Pacchanta. A booking description gives the total distance as about 13 kilometers.

Which lakes will I see?

The seven lakes are Lake Superior, Lake Otorongo Hombre, Lake Otorongo, Lake Rojo, Lake Ccomer, Laguna Azul, and Lake Alqa.

Are breakfast and lunch included?

Yes. Breakfast is served in Pacchanta before the walk, and lunch is provided after you return from the lake route.

Are the hot springs included?

No. The thermal bath entry fee is not included in the tour price.

Is transportation included?

Yes. Pickup in selected areas of Cusco and round-trip transportation are included.

Is a horse ride included?

No. A horse ride is an extra expense and is not included in the listed price.

What languages are available for the guide?

The live guide service is available in English and Spanish.

Is the tour suitable for everyone?

No. It is not suitable for wheelchair users, people with respiratory issues, or people with pre-existing medical conditions. The route also requires a long mountain walk.