Cusco: Seven Lagoons of Ausangate Hiking Day Trip with Lunch

The Seven Lagoons of Ausangate offer one of the Cusco region’s most striking day trips: high mountain water in shades of blue, green, red, and gray, set below the Ausangate range. You reach the best viewpoint after about two hours on foot, then continue around the lagoons before returning to Pacchanta.

I like the small group of no more than 12 people, plus the practical extras: breakfast before the hike, lunch afterward, walking sticks, and an oxygen balloon. I also like the finish at Pacchanta’s thermo-medicinal waters, a welcome place to rest after several hours on the trail.

The main drawback is the demanding schedule. You leave Cusco at 4:00 AM, spend about three hours each way in a van, and walk for roughly three hours in the high mountains. The entry fee is also separate, so confirm the cost and count your change carefully when paying.

Key points to know before booking

• Seven named lagoons: The loop includes Upper Lake, Otorongo Male, Otorongo Female, Red Lake, Ccomer Lake, Blue Lake, and Alqa Lake.
• A long but rewarding day: Expect around 10 hours from Cusco, with six hours of total road travel and several hours on foot.
• Pacchanta adds a second experience: After hiking, you can use the town’s thermo-medicinal waters before lunch and the return drive.
• Breakfast and lunch are included: You do not need to begin the hike on an empty stomach, though you should still bring water.
• Small-group format: The maximum group size is 12 people, with an English- or Spanish-speaking guide.
• Plan for an early start and high-country weather: Warm clothing, a hat, sunscreen, comfortable shoes, and a camera are specifically recommended.

Why Ausangate’s seven lagoons are worth the early alarm

This outing is built around color. The lakes are not one uniform stretch of water. Each has its own name and appearance, and the changing shades are part of what makes the walk so memorable. From the viewpoint, you can see the seven lagoons arranged across the mountain setting, then get closer to many of them during the loop.

The named stops are Upper Lake, Otorongo Male, Otorongo Female, Red Lake, Ccomer Lake, Blue Lake, and Alqa Lake. The names give the route a sense of order, but the scenery is the real attraction. You are walking through a natural setting with mountain views, local plant life, and the chance to see high-altitude fauna.

I would not choose this trip simply because you want a quick photo stop. The outing asks for a full day and a good deal of patience. The long drive is part of the bargain, but the payoff is a quieter mountain experience than the most crowded sights close to Cusco.

The 4:00 AM pickup and three-hour road journey

The day begins with pickup at your Cusco hotel at 4:00 AM. That time matters. You will need to be ready early, and the first part of the day is spent traveling rather than sightseeing.

The van ride to Pacchanta takes about three hours. This is a useful point to consider before booking: the trip is not a short excursion from the city. You spend roughly six hours in transport over the entire day, with the return ending in Cusco at Plaza Regocijo.

Hotel pickup is included at the start, and drop-off in Cusco is provided at the end. The exact return timing can depend on the day’s pace, but the listed duration is about 10 hours. If you have evening plans in Cusco, leave room in your schedule rather than booking something tightly afterward.

The small-group limit of 12 people helps make the transport and walking portions more manageable. It also gives you a better chance to hear the guide and ask questions than you would in a large coach group. English and Spanish guiding are available.

Breakfast in Pacchanta before the trail

After reaching Pacchanta, you have about 50 minutes for breakfast and free time. This meal is included, and it serves a practical purpose. You are about to walk for several hours, so having food before the trail is much better than trying to push through the morning with only a snack.

Pacchanta is more than the starting point. It is the community associated with the lagoon route and the location of the thermo-medicinal waters visited later. Beginning and ending the walk here gives the day a clear shape: eat, walk, rest, eat again, then return to Cusco.

Use this stop to organize your layers, fill your water supply, and make sure you have your camera and sunscreen ready. The tour information specifically calls for comfortable shoes, warm clothing, a hat, sunscreen, and water. Those items are not decorative extras. A mountain morning can feel very different from the milder conditions in Cusco.

The two-hour climb to the Ausangate viewpoint

The walk begins from Pacchanta. You first spend about two hours reaching a viewpoint from which you can admire the seven lagoons. This section is the main physical test at the start of the outing, so set a steady pace rather than trying to rush.

The viewpoint is valuable because it lets you understand the whole route at once. Instead of seeing one lake and then another without context, you can pause and take in the spread of the seven lagoons below the Ausangate mountains. It is also the best place to take broad photographs of the area.

The guide is there to lead the group and manage the route, and the tour includes walking sticks. Those sticks can be useful on uneven ground and during the longer downhill or looping sections. A first aid kit and an oxygen balloon are also carried as safety equipment.

The supplied information does not give an exact elevation or trail difficulty rating, so I would not treat this as a casual stroll. The duration alone tells you what to expect: this is a proper mountain hike. People with heart problems and pregnant women are advised not to take part.

The three-hour loop past the seven lagoons

After time at the viewpoint, you continue for another three hours, including about one hour listed as walking on foot in the itinerary. The route forms a large loop and finishes back in Pacchanta rather than returning by the same path.

This loop is the heart of the experience. From above, the lagoons look like a colorful arrangement. Along the trail, you get a closer look at the water and the surrounding scenery. The route also gives you time to notice the mountain plants and animals typical of the area, rather than treating the lakes as a single quick stop.

The seven lagoon names are:

• Upper Lake
• Otorongo Male
• Otorongo Female
• Red Lake
• Ccomer Lake
• Blue Lake
• Alqa Lake

You should expect time for photographs and pauses, but remember that this is a group walk. The guide needs to keep the party together and complete the loop before lunch and the return to Cusco. If you want a private pace with long periods of silence at each lake, a small-group day trip may still feel structured.

The scenery is the strongest reason to choose this outing. The different water colors, Ausangate views, and open mountain setting give you something more substantial than a single viewpoint. The cost is modest for a full-day trip with meals and transport, but the physical effort is part of the price.

Pacchanta’s thermo-medicinal waters after the hike

The return to Pacchanta brings the day’s most welcome change of pace. You can use the town’s thermo-medicinal waters during the break listed at about 1.5 hours, alongside lunch.

This stop is especially useful because it follows several hours of walking. You can rest your legs, enjoy the water, and take a slower look at the community before getting back into the van. The visit adds a local element to the day instead of making the tour only about scenery.

Entry fees are not included in the tour price. Since the hot springs and the lagoon area may involve separate charges, ask clearly what you owe and keep small bills if possible. One booking produced a serious complaint about money collected for the Ausangate entrance fee and change not being returned promptly. The guide eventually helped resolve that problem, but you should still protect yourself by confirming the official amount, handing over only what is requested, and checking your change immediately.

That advice is not meant to overshadow the experience, but it is too practical to skip. A low-cost tour is only good value when the extra charges are handled clearly.

Lunch, transport, and the real value of the $30 price

At $30 per person, this is an inexpensive way to reach a remote mountain area from Cusco. The price includes hotel pickup, Cusco drop-off, van transport, a professional guide, breakfast, lunch, walking sticks, a first aid kit, and an oxygen balloon.

The included meals make a real difference. You are not paying only for transport and a trail escort, then buying food separately in a remote place. Breakfast supports the early start, and lunch arrives after the long walk when you are likely to appreciate it most.

The value is strongest if you want an organized full-day outing without arranging transport to Pacchanta yourself. It is also useful if you prefer having a guide, meals, and basic trail equipment bundled together. The value is weaker if you dislike early departures, long road transfers, or group pacing.

The tour has a 3.8 rating from seven published ratings, so I would book with sensible expectations rather than assuming every part will be flawless. The praise focuses on the spectacular scenery and kind, helpful guiding. One serious service complaint involved an uncompleted initial pickup and a payment dispute. That issue was addressed during the day, but it reinforces the need to confirm pickup details and entrance charges before setting out.

What to pack for a high mountain day

Pack light, but do not pack carelessly. The required list is short, and each item has a reason.

• Passport or ID card
• Comfortable walking shoes
• Warm clothing
• Hat
• Camera
• Sunscreen
• Water

Warm layers are particularly important because the trip starts before sunrise and takes place in a mountain environment. You may want to adjust clothing as the day changes, so layers are more useful than one heavy item.

Comfortable shoes matter more than fashionable footwear. The route includes a two-hour walk to the viewpoint and additional walking around the lagoon loop. Walking sticks are included, but they do not replace shoes with a secure fit.

Bring your camera if you care about color and wide mountain views. Also keep your water accessible rather than buried in your bag. The tour includes breakfast and lunch, but water is not listed as included.

Who will enjoy this Ausangate day trip most

I would recommend this tour to you if you want dramatic mountain scenery, do not mind starting before dawn, and can handle several hours of walking. It suits people who want to combine a natural attraction with a soak in Pacchanta’s thermo-medicinal waters.

The small group is a good fit if you want more personal guidance without paying for a private trip. The English and Spanish options also make it practical for international visitors and Spanish-speaking visitors alike.

I would hesitate if you have a heart condition, are pregnant, or know that a long day at altitude and several hours on foot would be uncomfortable. The tour itself identifies those medical restrictions, and you should take them seriously.

I would also think twice if your main goal is a slow spa visit. The hot springs are one part of a packed 10-hour day, not the central activity. The main event is the hike and the seven lagoons.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want maximum scenery for a low price and are prepared for the early pickup, long van rides, and demanding walking schedule. The combination of Ausangate’s colorful lagoons, breakfast, lunch, a small group, and Pacchanta’s thermo-medicinal waters gives you a lot in one day.

Before paying, confirm the pickup point, the English or Spanish guide option you need, and the separate entrance fee. Keep your ID, water, warm layers, and cash organized. If you handle those practical details and arrive ready for a long mountain day, this is a strong value outing from Cusco.

FAQ

Where does the tour begin?

Pickup is provided from your hotel in Cusco at 4:00 AM.

Where does the tour finish?

The return drop-off is in Cusco, at Plaza Regocijo.

How long is the full experience?

The tour lasts about 10 hours, including transport, hiking, meals, and the Pacchanta stop.

How long is the drive to Pacchanta?

The van ride from Cusco to Pacchanta takes about three hours, followed by about three hours for the return trip.

How many lagoons will I see?

The route visits seven lagoons: Upper Lake, Otorongo Male, Otorongo Female, Red Lake, Ccomer Lake, Blue Lake, and Alqa Lake.

Is breakfast included?

Yes. Breakfast is provided in Pacchanta before the hike begins.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch is included after the walking portion of the day.

Are entrance fees included?

No. Entry fees are separate from the tour price.

Can I use the thermo-medicinal waters?

Yes. The itinerary includes a stop in Pacchanta for its thermo-medicinal waters, with about 1.5 hours set aside for the break, lunch, and swimming.

What languages are available?

The live guide is available in English and Spanish.