From Cusco: 7 Lakes of Ausangate Full Day Tour

Mountain color comes in seven shades here. This full-day trip from Cusco takes you into the Vilcanota range for turquoise-green lakes, snowy peaks, llamas, alpacas, and wide Andean views far from busy roads. I like the chance to meet local people on their own land, and I like that breakfast, lunch, transport, a guide, poles, and a first aid kit are included. The main caution is altitude: this is a strenuous five-hour walk, not a gentle sightseeing outing.

I also like the balance of scenery and local contact. You can see colorful textiles and ornaments, walk through the natural home of llamas and alpacas, then finish at Pacchanta hot springs. Guides such as Anibal, Rubin, and Ruben have been praised for being friendly, informative, encouraging, and willing to give extra breaks when the altitude gets rough. Come prepared for sudden weather, thin air, and a long day on foot.

Key points at a glance

• Seven turquoise-green lakes: The main walk links a striking series of lakes beneath the Ausangate mountain area.
• Five hours on foot: This is a serious high-altitude hike, with breaks needed for many people.
• Pacchanta hot springs: A warm finish gives the day a welcome change of pace after the mountain walk.
• Breakfast and lunch in the Andes: Meals are included, so you do not need to plan the entire day around finding food.
• Andean community contact: You may see local ornaments, colorful textiles, llamas, and alpacas in their natural setting.
• Small-group or private choices: A smaller format can make a demanding hike easier to manage with your guide.

Why Ausangate makes a powerful day trip

Ausangate is one of the big mountain names in the Cusco Region, and the seven lakes offer a very different outing from the city’s famous ruins. Here, the draw is open country, snowy summits, high mountain air, and water that shifts through turquoise and green tones.

You spend part of the day in the Vilcanota mountain range, surrounded by broad Andean views rather than buildings or crowded roads. That sense of space is a major reason to choose this trip. It feels more remote and more connected to the highlands than a standard city excursion.

The day also gives you a look at Andean life rather than treating the mountains as scenery alone. You may meet people from native communities and see their textiles and ornaments. Llamas and alpacas are part of the setting, not simply a photo prop placed beside a landmark.

I would choose this tour if you want a demanding mountain day with several kinds of reward: lakes, peaks, wildlife, local culture, meals, and hot springs. I would not choose it if you want a short walk or a relaxed ride with only a little time outside the vehicle.

The early ride from Cusco to Pajchanta

Pickup is available in Cusco’s Centro Histórico, with the return listed for the historic center or Plazoleta Regocijo. You are asked to wait at your hotel front desk at the provided time, which keeps the start simple if you are staying in central Cusco.

The transport matters because this is not a walk from town. The vehicle takes you out toward Pajchanta, where the mountain portion begins. You get a full day in the Andes without having to arrange separate transport, meals, and a local guide.

The tradeoff is the length of the day. A one-day mountain trip from Cusco means an early start and a long return. The exact pickup time depends on availability, so check the starting time before booking and protect your energy for the five-hour walk.

Breakfast in Pajchanta before the hike

The first scheduled stop is Pajchanta, where breakfast lasts about an hour. This is more than a quick snack. A proper meal gives you a better base for a high-altitude walk, especially when the main activity lasts much of the day.

Breakfast is included, along with lunch later in the day. That helps with value because you are not paying separately for two meals during a remote excursion. It also means you can focus on the hike instead of worrying about where to buy food along the route.

Still, bring water and small personal snacks if you use them. The supplied information confirms meals, but it does not give a detailed menu or promise additional food during the walk. At altitude, a little extra fuel can make the difference between enjoying the views and counting every uphill step.

Five hours among Ausangate’s seven lakes

The central activity is a five-hour walk through the Ausangate 7 Lakes area. You visit seven turquoise-green lakes and pass through striking natural surroundings beneath snowy peaks. The color of the water is the visual prize, but the broad views are just as important.

The route gives you time to see the mountains from changing angles. You are not stopping at one overlook, taking a quick picture, and leaving. You are walking across part of the range, with the lakes appearing as a series of mountain scenes.

That length also tells you what kind of day this is. Five hours can feel demanding even at a lower elevation. In the high Andes, the thin air may make a normal walking pace feel slow. One guest described the hike as strenuous and said the guide gave breaks when the altitude became too much. That is useful advice: go steadily, drink water, and do not treat the group pace as a personal challenge.

Hiking poles are included. They can help with balance and reduce strain on a long route, particularly if the ground is uneven or the weather changes. You should still bring proper hiking shoes rather than casual sneakers.

A horse may be an option to pay for during the route, but it is not included in the tour price. One guest specifically advised being ready to pay for a horse if the hike becomes too difficult. Ask about availability and cost before setting out if that backup matters to you.

Meeting Andean communities and seeing working animals

The human side of this trip is quiet and direct. You meet local people from native communities and see ornaments and colorful textiles connected with Andean life. The value is not in a staged city performance. You are visiting a mountain area where these communities live and work.

You also move through the natural habitat of llamas and alpacas. Their presence helps you understand the highland setting in a practical way. These animals belong to the daily life and economy of the Andes, and seeing them among the mountain scenery adds more meaning than a quick souvenir stop.

Keep your approach respectful. The experience promises contact with local people, but it does not promise a formal cultural demonstration or a shopping program. You should be ready for a simple encounter rather than a scripted show.

The guide can help explain what you are seeing. Guides named Anibal, Rubin, and Ruben have received especially warm praise for being friendly, informative, humorous, well prepared, and encouraging. Since the guide is central to both pacing and interpretation, a good one can make a tough day feel far more manageable.

Lunch and hot springs at Pacchanta

After the walk, you return to Pajchanta for lunch. This is a welcome pause after five hours of mountain walking, and the included meal adds practical value to a remote day trip.

The final highlight is the Pacchanta hot springs. Warm water after a strenuous hike is a smart ending, giving your legs a chance to relax before the ride back to Cusco. It also breaks up the day nicely: cold mountain air and long walking first, then a calmer finish.

The supplied details do not state whether entrance to the hot springs is included. They clearly say the entrance to the seven lakes is not included, so check what separate entrance fees apply before you go. Do not assume every stop is covered by the $130 price.

What the $130 price really buys

At $130 per person, this is not the cheapest way to see mountain scenery near Cusco. The price makes more sense when you count the full package: round-trip transport, a professional guide, breakfast, lunch, hiking poles, and a first aid kit.

You are also paying for access to a remote full-day outing without having to organize the route yourself. Transport alone can be a major concern when the destination is outside Cusco, and a guide is valuable when altitude, weather, and pacing enter the picture.

The package has clear limits. Entrance to the seven lakes is not included, and any horse you use is an extra cost. You should also budget for personal water, snacks, rain gear, and possible entry fees.

Private and small-group formats are available. If the price difference is reasonable for your party, a smaller group may offer better pacing and more direct help from the guide. That could matter more here than it would on a short city walk, since altitude affects people differently.

Weather, altitude, and physical demands

The biggest issue is altitude. The trip description warns that weather can change suddenly in the Andes, and the excursion is not suitable for pregnant women, people with heart problems, or people over 65.

Those restrictions should be taken seriously. They do not mean every younger, healthy person will find the hike easy. The five-hour walk remains strenuous, and one guest called the high altitude overwhelming at times even with breaks from the guide.

Bring hiking shoes and rain gear. The weather may shift quickly, so a sunny start does not guarantee a dry afternoon. Dress for changing conditions and keep your essentials easy to reach during the walk.

I would also give yourself time to adjust to Cusco’s altitude before scheduling this outing if your wider Peru plans allow it. The supplied information does not state a required acclimatization period, so I cannot promise that preparation will remove the problem. It is simply sensible to avoid making your first mountain activity the hardest one.

The included first aid kit is reassuring, but it is not a substitute for knowing your own limits. Tell the guide if you feel unwell, and take the offered breaks. The strongest positive detail from the available feedback is how well certain guides handled tired hikers, especially Rubin, who was praised for stopping when the altitude became too much.

How the guide shapes the day

A guide is not just useful for pointing out the lakes. On this route, the guide helps manage pace, explain local life, and keep the group together in changeable conditions.

Anibal is described as friendly, humorous, well prepared, encouraging, and informative. Rubin and Ruben are also praised for their warmth and support. The spelling varies in the feedback, so it may refer to the same guide or different guides, but the consistent point is clear: the guiding has been a major strength.

The tour is offered in English and Spanish. That makes it easier to ask about the route, local communities, weather, and how you are feeling during the hike. If you need a slower pace or regular breaks, say so early rather than waiting until you are exhausted.

A private or small-group departure may improve the experience, particularly if people in your party have different fitness levels. A large, fixed pace can be frustrating on a high-altitude route. The available details do not give a maximum group size, so confirm that point if group size is important to you.

Who should book this Ausangate tour?

I would recommend it to you if you:

• Want dramatic Andean scenery beyond the usual Cusco attractions
• Enjoy long walks and are prepared for high altitude
• Like seeing local textiles, ornaments, llamas, and alpacas in their home setting
• Value a guide who can explain the region and adjust the pace
• Want meals and transport included in one day trip
• Like ending an active day at hot springs

I would be cautious if you dislike early starts, long drives, sudden weather, or strenuous walking. This is not a soft introduction to Peru’s outdoors. It is a full mountain day with a warm soak at the end.

The trip is not suitable for pregnant women, people with heart problems, or people over 65, according to the stated restrictions. If you have any health concern not covered there, seek medical advice before booking.

Final verdict: beautiful, demanding, and worth planning carefully

I think the 7 Lakes of Ausangate Full Day Tour offers strong value for the right person. The seven lakes, snowy peaks, native communities, llamas, alpacas, meals, poles, transport, and Pacchanta hot springs create a full day rather than a single scenic stop.

The best parts are the scenery and the human scale of the experience. You get away from crowded roads and see a highland region where people and animals remain part of the setting. The guides receive unusually consistent praise, with Anibal, Rubin, and Ruben singled out for kindness, humor, clear information, and patience.

Book it if you are fit, ready for altitude, and happy to work for the views. Skip it if you want an easy excursion or cannot handle a five-hour walk. Bring serious shoes, rain gear, water, and a flexible attitude. The mountains set the schedule here, and they do not take requests.

FAQ

How long does the 7 Lakes of Ausangate tour last?

The experience lasts one full day, including transport from Cusco, breakfast, the hike, lunch, and the return journey.

Where does pickup take place?

Pickup is available in Cusco’s Centro Histórico. You should wait at your hotel front desk at the provided pickup time.

Where does the tour return?

The listed drop-off options are Centro Histórico and Plazoleta Regocijo.

How long is the walk?

The walk through the Ausangate 7 Lakes area lasts about five hours.

Are breakfast and lunch included?

Yes. Breakfast in Pajchanta and lunch after the walk are included.

Is transport included?

Yes. Round-trip transport is included in the tour price.

Are hiking poles provided?

Yes. Hiking poles and a first aid kit are included.

Are entrance fees to the seven lakes included?

No. Entrance to the seven lakes of Ausangate is not included.

What languages does the guide speak?

Live guiding is available in English and Spanish.

Is the tour suitable for everyone?

No. It is not suitable for pregnant women, people with heart problems, or people over 65. The walk is strenuous, and the weather can change suddenly in the Andes.