From Cusco: Tour Ausangate & 7 Lakes Full Day

High mountains reward early risers. This Ausangate 7 Lakes day trip gives you a memorable look at Peru’s high Andes, with seven colorful lagoons, alpacas, mountain views, meals, and hot springs for just $28 per person. I especially like the chance to see Ausangate, one of the region’s great snow-covered peaks, and the simple local finish in Pacchanta, where a soak can take the edge off the hike.

I also like that the tour includes breakfast, lunch, transport, a bilingual guide, and an oxygen balloon. That is a lot for the price. The main caution is the schedule. You leave Cusco around 5:00 a.m. and return near 7:00 p.m., so this is a long, tiring day with several hours on the road. Recent booking feedback also points to possible problems with pickup times, bus comfort, guide language, and access to the hot springs.

Key Points at a Glance

• Seven named lagoons: The route visits Azulqocha, Orco Otorongo, China Otorongo, Puqacocha, Alqacocha, Qomercocha, and Patacocha.
• A full high-altitude day: Plan on roughly 5:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., including transport, meals, hiking, and the hot springs stop.
• About 7.5 kilometers on the published route: One booking account describes roughly 16 kilometers overall, so confirm the exact walking distance before you go.
• Pacchanta adds more than a trailhead: You get a regional breakfast, a local lunch, and the option to use medicinal hot springs for S/ 5.
• Wildlife is part of the appeal: You might see native birds, alpacas, llamas, vizcachas, and, with luck, an Andean condor.
• Low price, uneven execution: The cost is excellent, but transport and organization have not been equally reliable for everyone.

Why the Ausangate 7 Lakes Tour Is Worth Considering

The appeal is easy to understand. The route takes you away from Cusco’s stone streets and into a much wider world of open highland scenery, snow-covered peaks, grazing animals, and glacial-looking lagoons. You are not visiting just one viewpoint and taking a few photos. You are spending several hours walking between a series of mountain lakes, each with its own name and color.

I like the way the tour combines the famous with the local. Ausangate is the headline mountain, but the day also includes Pacchanta, a community connected to the trail and hot springs. Breakfast and lunch are described as regional meals, which gives the outing a more grounded feel than a simple sightseeing bus ride.

The price is unusually low. At $28, you are paying mainly for shared transportation, guiding, and the two meals. You still need to budget S/ 20 for entry to the seven lagoons and S/ 5 for the hot springs, plus drinks and any horse rental. Even after those fees, the total remains modest for a full-day excursion from Cusco.

The trade-off is that low-cost day tours can be tightly run. You should not expect a private vehicle, a small personal group, or a relaxed timetable. The day works best if you value access and scenery more than comfort and flexibility.

The 5:00 a.m. Start From Cusco

Pickup is scheduled from your Cusco hotel beginning at 5:00 a.m. That early start is not a minor detail. You need it because Pacchanta is far from the city, and the full day is expected to end around 7:00 p.m.

The first part of the day is transport toward the community of Pacchanta. The journey is described as taking approximately six hours in the tour details, though the exact division between the outward and return legs is not clear. Either way, you should prepare for a long ride. Bring water, warm layers, snacks, and something to occupy you during the drive.

Pickup timing deserves special attention. One recent booking account described being asked to wait outside from 4:00 to 5:00 a.m. after a pickup time changed, with the vehicle arriving late. That does not prove every departure will run this way, but it is a good reason to confirm the exact pickup hour and meeting point the evening before.

Transport quality has also been uneven. One account described broken seats, no seat belts, poor heating on the way out, and no air conditioning on the return. Other feedback praised the organization, so conditions may depend on the vehicle assigned that day. I would treat the bus as basic rather than comfortable and avoid bringing luggage you need to keep close beside your feet.

Breakfast in Pacchanta Before the Hike

Once you reach Pacchanta, the group has a typical regional breakfast. This is followed by a short break and an explanation of the walking route from the guide.

That pause matters. You are about to spend around five hours on the trail, so breakfast is not just a pleasant extra. It is your main chance to eat before the walking begins. Since the tour does not include water, you should carry enough for the day or plan to buy it separately.

Pacchanta is also useful as a place to make final preparations. Adjust your layers, apply sun protection, check your shoes, and decide if you want to pay for a horse. A saddle horse is not included in the tour price. The information provided does not specify the rental price or how much of the route a horse can cover, so ask locally before setting out if you think you may need one.

Seven Lagoons and the Ausangate Mountain Views

The published walking route covers approximately 7.5 kilometers and takes about five hours. One Spanish-language booking account described the total walking distance as 16 kilometers, so you should confirm whether the operator is counting the full out-and-back route or using a different circuit. That distinction matters, especially at high altitude.

The seven named lagoons are:

• Azulqocha
• Orco Otorongo
• China Otorongo
• Puqacocha
• Alqacocha
• Qomercocha
• Patacocha

The names are useful because they give the day a clear sequence. You are not simply stopping at an unnamed collection of ponds. You can keep track of where you are in the circuit and understand that the route is moving through a connected group of Andean water basins.

The main visual reward is the contrast between the water and the surrounding mountains. Ausangate is the great centerpiece, joined by Mariposa, Jampa, Pucapunta, Caracol, and Tinke. The experience is less about one perfect postcard view and more about seeing the mountains change as you walk.

The tour description presents the hike as manageable, but five hours is still five hours. A recent account praised the route for having relatively few steep climbs and said the altitude felt moderate compared with other excursions from Cusco. Another account said the group was rushed by the guide. I would prepare for a steady pace and avoid assuming you will have unlimited time at every lagoon.

This is not the right outing if you want a slow photographic walk. It is better for you if you can keep moving, follow a group schedule, and accept that the guide may set the pace.

Wildlife Along the High Andean Route

The open surroundings give you a chance to see animals that are difficult to encounter on a standard Cusco city tour. Alpacas and llamas are specifically expected, while vizcachas may appear among rocky areas. Native birds are also part of the possible sightings.

The Andean condor is the most exciting possibility, but it is not guaranteed. The tour describes seeing one as a matter of luck, so you should not book this solely for condor watching. Bring binoculars if you have them, though the information does not promise dedicated wildlife stops.

The animals add character to the day. A herd of alpacas beside a bright mountain lagoon gives you a stronger sense of place than another viewpoint near town. Still, remember that this is a nature outing, not a wildlife safari. Keep your expectations sensible and enjoy what appears along the trail.

Lunch and the Pacchanta Hot Springs

After the lagoon circuit, you return to Pacchanta for a local lunch. The meal is included, but its quality and quantity have not been consistent. One recent account described a cold lunch with too little fish, leaving mostly side dishes. Another person praised the overall experience, so the meal may vary by day and provider.

I would think of lunch as practical fuel rather than a culinary highlight. If you have dietary restrictions, confirm what can be provided before booking. The available information does not list vegetarian, vegan, or allergy options.

The hot springs are one of the smartest features of the day. After several hours of walking, warm medicinal water in Pacchanta offers a chance to rest before the long ride back to Cusco. Admission costs S/ 5 and is not included.

There is an important catch: access has not always been delivered as expected. One recent account said the group was not allowed to visit the hot springs, despite the stop being repeatedly discussed during the day. I would ask the operator directly whether the S/ 5 entrance is available on your departure date and whether the schedule allows enough time for a soak.

If the springs are open, bring a swimsuit, towel, and dry clothes. These are not listed among the inclusions. If you do not want to bathe, Pacchanta still provides the lunch stop and a chance to recover before returning.

Guide Quality and Group Pace

The tour includes a professional guide in English and Spanish. That is valuable because the route is remote, and a guide can explain the mountain names, local setting, wildlife, and order of the lagoons.

Guide performance appears to vary. Wilfredo was specifically praised for managing the group well and explaining the route. Another account said the guide did not speak English and failed to accompany the group closely enough, creating confusion at a trail junction. One person also felt constantly hurried.

For you, this means the guide is a major part of the value. A good guide can turn a long walk into a meaningful day. A weak language match or poor trail supervision can make the same route stressful. At the start, confirm that the guide knows you need English and ask where the group will stop at each lagoon.

Stay with the group, especially if the trail branches. Do not assume that a clearly visible path is the correct one. The information describes a five-hour route, but it does not provide a detailed trail map or a fixed distance between lagoons.

What the $28 Price Really Covers

The base cost includes:

• Hotel pickup in Cusco
• Tourist transportation between Cusco and Pacchanta
• A professional English and Spanish guide
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• An oxygen balloon

The oxygen balloon is a useful safety measure at altitude, but it is not a substitute for acclimatization or medical care. The tour details do not state the operating altitude, so you should not treat the balloon as proof that the hike is easy.

The required extras are modest:

• Seven Lagoons entrance: S/ 20
• Pacchanta hot springs: S/ 5
• Water and other drinks
• Horse rental, if needed
• Travel insurance

Accommodation in Cusco is not included. Travel insurance is recommended and must be arranged separately.

At this price, the tour offers strong value if the transportation runs properly, the guide communicates well, and the hot springs are available. You are getting a full-day outing, two meals, and access to a famous mountain region for less than many half-day activities cost. The price becomes less attractive if you need a comfortable bus, a guaranteed hot-springs visit, or a slow walking pace.

Who Should Book This Day Trip

I would recommend it to you if you want to see Ausangate without committing to a multiday trek. It suits fit visitors who can handle a long day, early pickup, several hours of transport, and a sustained walk at high altitude.

It is also a good choice if you want a low-cost package with meals included. The combination of lagoons, wildlife, mountain views, Pacchanta food, and hot springs gives you several different experiences in one day.

I would be cautious if you are sensitive to cold, uncomfortable on basic buses, or need a precisely managed schedule. It may also be a poor match if you expect extensive English commentary or a private pace. The available feedback includes both excellent organization and serious complaints, so I would confirm the pickup time, vehicle arrangements, guide language, walking distance, lunch plan, and hot-springs access before paying.

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure and the option to reserve now and pay later make the booking less rigid. Those policies are helpful when your Cusco plans are still changing, but they do not solve the practical questions above.

Should You Book the Ausangate 7 Lakes Tour?

Book it if your priority is big scenery at a very low cost and you can accept a basic, long, group day. The lagoons and Ausangate mountain views are the reason to go, while the included meals and Pacchanta stop make the price hard to ignore.

Skip it, or choose a more expensive small-group option, if comfort and dependable organization matter more than saving money. Before departure, confirm that pickup is really at 5:00 a.m., ask for the exact walking distance, make sure an English-speaking guide is assigned, and verify that the hot springs are open. With those points settled, this can be one of the better-value ways to experience the high Andes from Cusco.

FAQ

Where does the Ausangate 7 Lakes tour begin?

Pickup begins at your hotel in the city of Cusco.

What time does the tour start?

The scheduled pickup begins at approximately 5:00 a.m.

What time does the tour return to Cusco?

The tour is expected to arrive back in Cusco at approximately 7:00 p.m.

How long does the tour last?

It is a one-day experience.

How far is the hike?

The published route covers approximately 7.5 kilometers and takes around five hours. A booking account described approximately 16 kilometers in total, so confirm the exact distance with the operator.

Which lagoons are included?

The route visits Azulqocha, Orco Otorongo, China Otorongo, Puqacocha, Alqacocha, Qomercocha, and Patacocha.

Is food included?

Yes. The tour includes one breakfast in Pacchanta and one lunch after the lagoon circuit.

Are the entrance fees included?

No. The entrance to the seven lagoons costs S/ 20, and admission to the Pacchanta hot springs costs S/ 5.

Is the hot springs visit included?

The hot springs admission is not included. The tour information says you will have time to relax there, but access has not always been available, so confirm this before departure.

Is a guide included?

Yes. The tour includes a live professional guide in English and Spanish.