Excursion to Ausangate 7 lakes from Cusco.

Seven lakes, one very long day. This excursion takes you from Cusco to the high Andes for a hike among the colorful Ausangate lagoons, with breakfast, lunch, and a hot-spring stop included. I like the chance to see blue, turquoise, and green mountain lakes in one outing, and I also like that the small group is limited to 15 people. The main drawback is the high altitude and difficult group logistics, especially when one guide must manage walkers moving at very different speeds.

I also like the price, about $28.50 per person, because it covers transport, two meals, a guide, oxygen, and a first-aid kit. You should still expect a rough start if pickup details are not clearly confirmed, and the five-hour hike can feel much harder than the same distance would at low elevation.

Key points to know before booking

• The day begins before sunrise: Pickup is scheduled between 4:30 and 5:00 a.m., with arrival back in Cusco around 7:30 p.m.
• The hike reaches roughly 15,000 feet: A moderate trail at sea level can feel very hard here, so altitude matters more than mileage.
• Seven named lagoons are visited: Azulcocha, Otorongo, Pucacocha, Alqacocha, Q’omercocha, Orqo Otorongo, and China Otorongo.
• Pacchanta provides the meals and hot springs: Breakfast comes before the hike, lunch follows it, and you get about 45 minutes in the thermal pools.
• Horse support is available at extra cost: One person paid 100 soles for a horse uphill, but the horse did not remove the need to walk back down.
• Communication needs attention: Confirm your exact meeting place, pickup time, vehicle details, and emergency contact before the early departure.

Why Ausangate’s seven lakes are worth the effort

The Ausangate area gives you a very different day from the classic sights around Cusco. Instead of ruins and stonework, you spend the day among broad Andean valleys, high ridges, grazing alpacas and llamas, and small wild animals such as vizcachas.

The lakes are the main event. Their colors can shift between blue, turquoise, and green, and some are large enough to reflect the surrounding mountains like natural mirrors. The seven stops are not identical, which keeps the walk interesting. Some may feel more striking for color, while others are memorable for their size or reflections.

You also have a good chance to see Andean birds along the route. The animal sightings are not guaranteed, but the setting gives you a real taste of life above the towns and farmland of the Cusco region.

I like that the tour does not rush straight from a bus to a viewpoint and back. You walk between the lagoons, which gives the day a stronger sense of place. The cost is low, but the experience still includes a substantial outdoor outing rather than only a photo stop.

The 4:30 a.m. start and the road to Pacchanta

The day starts early enough to test your holiday discipline. Pickup from hotels in Cusco’s historic center is scheduled between 4:30 and 5:00 a.m., followed by about three hours in an air-conditioned tourist vehicle to Pacchanta.

That timing matters. You will spend about six hours on the road in total, including the return to Cusco, and the complete outing lasts roughly 15 hours. This is not a relaxed half-day activity. It is a full mountain day with an early wake-up, a long ride, a high-altitude hike, and a late return.

The pickup arrangements deserve special care. One couple received no clear pickup message and later learned they had to walk to a café about 13 minutes from their hotel. They then waited in cold conditions while the transfer was sorted out. The problem was not simply the change of meeting point. It was the lack of advance notice and the absence of clear vehicle information.

Before bed, confirm the following directly with Chullos Travel Peru:

• Your exact meeting point
• The required arrival time
• The phone or WhatsApp contact for the morning
• The vehicle description or license plate
• Whether hotel pickup really applies to your accommodation

The tour is advertised with pickup in the historic center, but the actual meeting arrangement may vary. A five-minute confirmation can save you a chilly and stressful start.

Breakfast in Pacchanta before the climb

After the drive, you reach Pacchanta and stop for breakfast. The meal is included, which is useful because you need food before beginning a demanding walk.

Breakfast also gives you a chance to use the facilities, organize your layers, and make a final decision about the pace you can manage. Do not treat this as a minor stop. At high altitude, a proper meal and steady hydration can make the morning feel more manageable.

The route climbs gradually from Pacchanta toward the lagoons. Gradual does not mean easy. The elevation makes each uphill section more taxing, especially if you have only recently arrived in Cusco or have not adjusted to the altitude.

The tour includes oxygen and a first-aid kit. Those are sensible safety provisions, but they do not replace acclimatization or good judgment. If you feel seriously unwell, tell the guide early rather than trying to prove something to the group.

The five-hour walk through seven lagoons

The hike lasts about five hours round trip. You visit Azulcocha, Otorongo, Pucacocha, Alqacocha, Q’omercocha, Orqo Otorongo, and China Otorongo, with the guide leading the group through the high Andean terrain.

The route is described as moderate in general terms, but one person who walked it found it very hard at roughly 15,000 feet. That is the key point for planning. At ordinary elevation, a moderate hike may sound comfortable. Near the high lagoons, the thin air can turn a steady incline into serious work.

Your group may include people on foot and people using horses. Some may move quickly, while others need a slower rhythm. One guide did his best to help with photos and keep people informed, but the mixed pace created a problem. At one point, slower walkers were told to meet the guide back at the restaurant by 1:00 p.m. A second guide would have made the day easier for everyone.

If you are a slow hiker, tell the guide at the start. Ask how the group will stay together and what happens if you cannot maintain the pace. This is especially important if you are planning to walk the full route rather than use a horse for part of it.

A horse may help on the uphill section. One person paid 100 soles for the ride, but the horse only handled the ascent. You still had to walk the final 5 to 7 kilometers back down. That makes the horse a useful aid, not a complete replacement for hiking.

Bring realistic expectations. You may stop often for photographs, but you should not assume the group can wait indefinitely at every point. The strongest part of the outing is the scenery, yet your enjoyment will depend on managing your own energy.

What makes each lagoon different

The names can blur together during a long day, so it helps to think of the seven lagoons as a sequence of changing colors and shapes.

Azulcocha is associated with blue water, while Otorongo and China Otorongo are part of the group of lagoons named for the Andean cat pattern. Pucacocha, Alqacocha, and Q’omercocha add different tones, including turquoise and green. Orqo Otorongo completes the group.

The exact appearance will depend on light, weather, and your viewing angle. Some pools may look compact and intensely colored. Others are larger and calmer, with reflective surfaces that pick up the surrounding peaks.

The attraction is not a single famous viewpoint. It is the repeated change in color as you continue walking. You will have several chances to take photographs, but the high-altitude setting is more impressive in person than on a small phone screen.

Keep your camera accessible, but do not let photography set the pace. The combination of thin air, cold conditions, and uneven ground means you need to watch where you step.

Lunch, hot springs, and the return to Cusco

After the hike, you return to Pacchanta for lunch. The food received strong praise, and the meal is included in the tour price. This is a welcome feature after a five-hour walk, particularly because you do not need to find a restaurant or carry a full day of food.

The final stop is the Pacchanta hot springs, where you have about 45 minutes to relax. The water was described as around 90 degrees Fahrenheit, which is warm rather than intensely hot. Some people will enjoy the chance to sit in the pools after the hike. Others may find the temperature and short visit less impressive than expected.

I would treat the hot springs as a pleasant extra, not the main reason to book. The lagoons and high Andean scenery justify the outing. The thermal pools are a chance to loosen tired legs and break up the return journey.

After the springs, you board the vehicle for Cusco. The planned arrival is about 7:30 p.m., though a 15-hour mountain day can run late if road or group conditions change. Avoid booking an important evening activity immediately afterward.

Is $28.50 a good price?

At about $28.50 per person, this is an inexpensive way to reach an area that would be difficult to visit independently in one day. The price includes an air-conditioned vehicle, pickup in the historic center, a professional guide, breakfast, lunch, oxygen, and a first-aid kit.

Admission is not included, and the entrance fee is listed as an additional expense. The price of that fee is not provided, so budget for it separately rather than assuming the advertised amount covers every cost.

The value is strongest if you want transport and meals handled for you. A private arrangement would likely offer more control over pace and stops, but this group tour keeps the cost low and includes practical support.

The low price also reflects some compromises. You may share the vehicle with up to 15 people, and the group can contain different fitness levels. Communication before departure is another area where you should be proactive.

The tour is booked an average of 32 days ahead, so it is sensible to reserve early if your Cusco dates are fixed. The cancellation policy allows a full refund when you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted for a refund.

Who should choose this hike?

This outing suits you if you want a full day outdoors and care more about dramatic mountain scenery than comfort or a slow schedule. It is a good match for people who can handle long transport times and a five-hour hike at high elevation.

You should have a moderate level of physical fitness. More important, you should be comfortable with the possibility that the altitude will make the route feel harder than expected.

The tour may not suit you if you need a very controlled pace, dislike early departures, or have limited tolerance for uncertain pickup arrangements. If you want to take your time at each lagoon, a private guide or a tour with two guides may be a better choice.

The guide’s attitude can make a real difference. The guide described in the feedback was friendly, informative, and willing to help with photographs. The concern was not his effort. It was having one guide manage a group with fast walkers, slow walkers, and people on horses.

What to pack and how to prepare

Pack light, but prepare for a long day in changing mountain conditions. Useful items include warm layers, sturdy walking shoes, water, sun protection, and a small bag for personal supplies.

You should also bring money for the entrance fee and any horse ride. A horse cost 100 soles in one case, but prices can change, so confirm before relying on that option.

Eat breakfast, pace yourself, and do not wait until you feel exhausted to speak with the guide. If you plan to use a horse, ask how far the ride goes and remember that the return walk remains part of your day.

The most practical preparation is simple: arrive in Cusco with enough time to adjust to the altitude, then confirm the pickup details before sleeping. You cannot control every part of a group tour, but you can avoid the most preventable problems.

Should you book the Ausangate 7 Lakes tour?

I would book this tour for the scenery and price, but only after confirming the morning meeting details and accepting the physical demands. The seven colorful lagoons, Andean animals, included meals, and Pacchanta hot springs make this a strong value at $28.50.

I would choose another option if you need a slow, carefully managed hike. In that case, look for a service with two guides or a private departure. For everyone else, this is a memorable high-altitude day, provided you treat the early start, thin air, and long return ride as central parts of the experience rather than minor details.

FAQ

How long does the Ausangate 7 Lakes tour last?

The full experience lasts approximately 15 hours. Pickup begins between 4:30 and 5:00 a.m., and the planned return to Cusco is around 7:30 p.m.

Where does the tour depart from?

Hotel pickup is provided in Cusco’s historic center. The meeting arrangement may vary, so confirm your exact pickup point before departure.

How long is the drive to Pacchanta?

The drive from Cusco to Pacchanta takes approximately three hours in tourist transport.

How long is the hike?

The hike lasts about five hours round trip.

Which lagoons are included?

The route includes Azulcocha, Otorongo, Pucacocha, Alqacocha, Q’omercocha, Orqo Otorongo, and China Otorongo.

How difficult is the hike?

You should have a moderate level of physical fitness. The route reaches roughly 15,000 feet, where the altitude can make a moderate hike feel very difficult.

Are horses available?

Horse support may be available for part of the route at an additional cost. One person paid 100 soles for the uphill section, but the horse did not cover the walk back down.

Are meals included?

Yes. Breakfast and lunch are included in the tour price.

Is the entrance fee included?

No. The entrance fee is an additional expense, and its price is not specified in the provided tour details.

How long do you spend at the hot springs?

You have approximately 45 minutes at the Pacchanta hot springs after lunch.

How many people can join the group?

The group has a maximum of 15 people.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel for a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations and changes made less than 24 hours before departure are not accepted for a refund.