From Cusco: Ausangate 7 Lakes Tour with Meals

Mountain color comes with a serious walk. This day trip takes you from Cusco to Pacchanta and the foot of Mount Ausangate, where seven striking lakes sit among high mountain scenery. I like the low $37 price, which covers transport, breakfast, lunch, a guide, walking sticks, oxygen, and a first aid kit. I also like the small-group limit of 15 people. The main drawback is clear: this is a long, demanding day, with roughly 13 kilometers of walking and limited time at the lakes.

You leave Cusco at about 4:00 AM and return near the main square around 6:00 PM. I like that the route includes both a viewpoint and a closer walk past the lakes, plus time in Pacchanta for food and optional hot springs. You should not book this as a gentle sightseeing trip, though. It is better suited to you if you can handle five hours of mountain walking and have no respiratory or other pre-existing medical conditions.

Key points to know before booking

• The seven lakes sit below Mount Ausangate: You visit Lake Superior, Lake Otorongo Hombre, Lake Otorongo, Lake Rojo, Lake Ccomer, Laguna Azul, and Lake Alqa.
• The walking section takes about five hours: Expect around two hours to reach the viewpoint, followed by about three hours visiting the lakes and returning to Pacchanta.
• Breakfast and lunch are included: You eat breakfast in Pacchanta before walking, then return there for lunch.
• The $37 cost covers useful basics: Transport, a professional guide, meals, walking sticks, oxygen, and first aid support are included.
• Pacchanta hot springs cost extra: You can visit the thermal baths after the walk, but admission is not part of the tour price.
• The scenery earns the effort: The strongest praise focuses on the colored lakes, snow-covered mountain views, pleasant guiding, and a fresh lunch.

Why the Ausangate lakes feel different from a quick Cusco outing

Cusco offers plenty of famous day trips, but the Ausangate route has a more open, remote feel. The setting is almost entirely natural, with mountain slopes, high lakes, plants, animals, and broad views around the base of Mount Ausangate. You are not moving between a string of built attractions. The point is the mountain itself.

The lakes are the star, and their colors give the walk its name and character. You visit seven separate bodies of water, each known by its own name. Lake Rojo, Laguna Azul, Lake Ccomer, and the two Otorongo lakes suggest changing mineral colors and light, though the exact appearance can vary with weather and viewing conditions.

I especially like the viewpoint reached after about two hours. It gives you a chance to see the seven lakes together before you continue closer to them. That wider view helps you understand the scale of the area, rather than experiencing each lake as an isolated stop.

The route also gives you a look at the community settlement of Pakanta, usually written as Pacchanta in the tour details. This is more than a transport stop. It is the place where you eat, begin the walk, and later have the option of visiting the hot springs. The connection to the community makes the day feel more grounded than a simple drive to a photo stop.

The 4:00 AM departure from Cusco

The pickup begins at about 4:00 AM for hotels in Cusco’s historic center. That early start is necessary because the drive to Pacchanta, the walk, meal stops, and return to Cusco fill the entire day. Your expected arrival back in the city is around 6:00 PM, near the main square.

I would treat the morning pickup as a serious part of the experience. You need to be ready before dawn, with your daypack packed and your clothes set out the night before. The tour provides breakfast, but you should still carry snacks and water because the walking section lasts several hours.

The transport is round trip, and pickup is available in selected areas of Cusco. If your hotel is outside the historic center, confirm the meeting arrangement before booking. The supplied information only promises pickup in selected areas, not every hotel in the city.

A small group of up to 15 people is a useful compromise. You get the lower cost of a shared tour without being placed in a huge crowd. It also gives the guide a better chance to keep the group together during the walk. The exact vehicle size and road conditions are not specified, so I would focus on the destination and walking rather than expecting a luxury transfer.

Breakfast in Pacchanta before the five-hour walk

After reaching Pacchanta, you have breakfast before setting out. This meal matters because the walking section is not a short stroll. You first climb or walk for roughly two hours to the viewpoint, then continue for another three hours around the lakes and back to the town.

The experience is best approached at a steady pace. One strong piece of feedback described the walk as sporty but manageable with normal physical fitness, while another recorded a total distance of 13 kilometers. Those details give you a useful picture: you do not need to be an elite hiker, but you do need reasonable stamina and comfort with a sustained mountain walk.

The guide speaks English or Spanish. A guide is particularly helpful here because the day involves timing, group pace, viewpoints, and several named lakes. Walking sticks are included, which is a practical touch on uneven ground. You also have access to oxygen and a first aid kit, but those items should not be mistaken for a substitute for preparation.

The tour specifically says it is not suitable for people with respiratory issues or pre-existing medical conditions. Take that warning seriously. If you have concerns about your ability to handle the route, ask a medical professional before booking rather than relying on the oxygen carried by the group.

The first viewpoint and the seven named lakes

The viewpoint is reached after about two hours of walking. From there, you can see the seven Ausangate lakes in one broad scene, with Mount Ausangate and other mountain forms around them. This is likely the moment when the long pre-dawn start begins to make sense.

The mountain views are a major reason to choose this tour. One highly praised part of the experience was the sight of lakes and snow-covered peaks from above. That pairing is especially powerful because the lakes provide color while the mountain gives the scene its scale.

From the viewpoint, the group continues for about three more hours. You visit most of the seven lakes and eventually return to Pacchanta. The wording matters: you should expect to see most of them, but do not assume you will spend equal time beside every lake or have a long private pause at each one.

A useful practical warning comes from the reported 13-kilometer walk and the comment that little time was spent directly at the lakes. The tour is designed to cover a large route in one day. If you want to sit quietly at each lake, photograph every angle, or set your own pace, the schedule may feel rushed.

For most people, the trade-off is fair. You see a great deal of scenery in one day, but the tour keeps moving. I would bring a camera, yet avoid packing a large bag that slows you down. Sunglasses, a sun hat, sunscreen, water, and snacks are all specifically recommended. Bring cash as well, especially because the thermal bath entry fee and other extras are not included.

What each lake adds to the route

The seven lake names are useful because they turn a long walk into a sequence of goals. You are not simply walking toward a vague mountain viewpoint. You are moving through a named set of places:

• Lake Superior
• Lake Otorongo Hombre
• Lake Otorongo
• Lake Rojo
• Lake Ccomer
• Laguna Azul
• Lake Alqa

The provided details do not assign a separate story or exact color to each lake, so I would avoid expecting a guaranteed shade at every stop. Weather, sunlight, cloud cover, and the viewing angle can affect what you see. The wider appeal is the change from lake to lake, with mountain scenery, flora, and fauna providing the setting.

The lake colors are the most photographed feature, but the surrounding terrain deserves attention too. Look beyond the water toward the mountain slopes and snow-covered peaks. The best photographs may not be close-ups of one lake. They may be the wider views that show water, rock, grass, and Ausangate together.

Plan your expectations around a moving scenic walk, not a picnic beside the water. One person specifically praised the views but felt the time at the lakes was short. That is the most important balance point in the whole tour.

Lunch, hot springs, and the return to Cusco

Once the walking loop finishes, you return to Pacchanta for lunch. Fresh food was singled out as a highlight, and the lunch is included in the $37 price. After a five-hour walk, a proper meal is not a minor perk. It gives you a chance to recover before the return drive.

Pacchanta is also known for its hot springs. Admission to the thermal baths is not included, so you need extra cash if you want to use them. The information provided does not state how long you have there or confirm that every departure includes enough time for a soak, so treat the baths as an optional addition rather than the main promise of the tour.

If you particularly want the hot springs, confirm the timing with the guide on the day. The walk, lunch, and return schedule already make this a full program. You may find the thermal baths appealing after the hike, but you should not book the tour solely for a long spa visit.

The group then returns to Cusco, with arrival around 6:00 PM near the main square. That timing makes it possible to have dinner in the historic center, but you should keep the evening flexible. Mountain transport can be tiring, and the tour has no reason to rush the walking section simply to protect a precise evening plan.

Is $37 a fair price?

At $37 per person, this is a strong-value day trip if you want transport and meals handled for you. The price includes round-trip transportation, a professional guide, breakfast, lunch, walking sticks, oxygen, and a first aid kit. You would pay much more if you arranged separate transport, food, and guiding yourself, though this tour naturally gives you less control over timing.

The small-group limit improves the value. A maximum of 15 participants is not private, but it is small enough to keep the group more manageable. The quality of the day will still depend on the guide’s pace and organization.

The main costs left outside the price are a horse ride, thermal bath admission, and extra personal expenses. A horse could be useful if you need assistance on the route, but it is not included, and the supplied information does not guarantee availability. Bring cash for these choices.

The price is less attractive if you dislike early starts, shared transport, or fixed schedules. You are paying for access and convenience, not a slow, custom-designed mountain day. For a budget-conscious visitor who wants the seven lakes in one day, the numbers work well.

Who should choose this tour?

I would recommend this tour to you if you want dramatic mountain scenery, can walk for several hours, and prefer a full day with meals included. It suits people who want a natural setting rather than a museum or city excursion. The strongest praise centers on the beauty of the lakes, the snow-covered mountain views, a comfortable pace, and kind guiding.

The experience also suits you if you value a guide who stays with the group. Jonatan was praised by name for gentle support throughout the route, and the guiding was described as friendly and well paced. That kind of personal attention matters on a long shared walk.

I would hesitate if you have respiratory problems, another pre-existing medical condition, or limited walking ability. The tour is not wheelchair suitable. I would also choose another option if your priority is spending a long time beside each lake, since the full route covers a lot of ground and some time at the lakes may be brief.

Wear practical walking clothes, protect yourself from the sun, and pack lightly. Take your passport, camera, sunglasses, sun hat, sunscreen, water, snacks, and cash. Smoking, alcohol, and drugs are not allowed.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund, and you can reserve now and pay later. Those flexible terms help if your Cusco plans are still changing, but they do not change the physical demands of the day.

Should you book the Ausangate 7 Lakes tour?

Book it if you want a budget-friendly, full-day mountain outing with meals, a guide, and seven named lakes below Ausangate. The scenery appears to be the clear reward, and the $37 price includes more practical support than many basic day trips.

Skip it if you want an easy excursion, have health concerns related to walking or breathing, or need lots of free time at every stop. My best advice is to judge the tour by the hike first and the hot springs second. If five hours on foot sounds worthwhile, the colors, snow-covered peaks, Pacchanta setting, and excellent lunch make this a very appealing Cusco day trip.

FAQ

What time does the tour leave Cusco?

Pickup begins at about 4:00 AM from hotels in selected areas of Cusco, including hotels in the historic center.

What time does the tour return to Cusco?

Arrival is expected around 6:00 PM near Cusco’s main square.

How long is the walking portion?

The walk takes about five hours. You walk for around two hours to reach the viewpoint, then continue for about three hours while visiting most of the lakes and returning to Pacchanta. One description gives the total walking distance as 13 kilometers.

Are breakfast and lunch included?

Yes. Breakfast is served in Pacchanta before the walk, and lunch is provided after you return to the town.

Are the hot springs included in the price?

No. Entry to the Pacchanta thermal baths costs extra. A horse ride and other personal expenses are also excluded.

Is the tour available in English?

Yes. The live guide service is available in English and Spanish. The group is limited to 15 participants.