Horseback Riding at 7 lakes Ausangate Private |Optional Hike

High-altitude beauty comes with a wake-up call. This private Ausangate trip takes you from Cusco to Pacchanta, where you can ride a horse or hike past seven striking lakes beneath Ausangate Mountain. I like the small private-group format, and I like that breakfast and lunch connect the outing with local Andean life rather than making it only a sightseeing run.

The lakes shift from turquoise to emerald green, and alpacas, traditional clothing, and wide mountain views add plenty of character. The main caution is the altitude: Pacchanta sits at about 4,100 meters, and the day lasts 12 to 15 hours, so this is not a gentle outing for anyone struggling with altitude or long days.

Key points to know before booking

• The day begins before sunrise: Hotel pickup in Cusco is scheduled between 4:00 and 6:00 a.m., followed by about three hours in a private van.
• Pacchanta is the cultural starting point: Local residents welcome you for a breakfast made with Andean ingredients before the hike or horseback ride.
• Seven lakes bring changing colors: The water ranges from turquoise to emerald green, with Ausangate Mountain providing the grand backdrop.
• The route is physically demanding: The walking portion is about 10 kilometers and roughly five hours, at high altitude.
• The hot springs are a smart finish: After the outdoor exertion, you can soak in Pacchanta for an additional 10 soles.
• Private guiding adds value: English and Spanish guiding, private transport, entrance fees, and a horse option are included in the $139 price.

Leaving Cusco before dawn

Your guide picks you up at your Cusco hotel between 4:00 and 6:00 a.m. The exact time depends on availability, so you should be ready early and keep the previous evening calm. A 12 to 15-hour day leaves little room for a late night before departure.

The drive to Pacchanta takes about three hours in private transportation. That is a useful advantage for a high-altitude outing. You avoid a large shared group, and your own vehicle gives the guide more room to manage the day around your pace and condition.

Still, the ride is long. You should expect a sleepy start, and the van time is part of the price and the experience. The payoff is reaching a remote Andean setting without arranging transport yourself.

Pacchanta sits at roughly 4,100 meters near Ausangate Mountain. That altitude matters more than the distance alone. Even a fit person can feel short of breath, tired, or light-headed here, so take the first part of the morning slowly and tell your guide if you feel unwell.

Breakfast with a Pacchanta family

Around 7:30 a.m., local people invite you into their homes for breakfast. The meal uses Andean ingredients and gives the day a more personal beginning than a quick snack from a roadside shop.

I especially like this part because it places the scenery in a living community. You are not simply passing through a mountain viewpoint. You have a chance to meet local residents, notice traditional clothing, and learn about the area through your bilingual guide.

Breakfast and lunch receive strong praise from Jack, who singled out the food and guide Alexander. Julio also guided Raphael on the Ausangate route, while Michaela appreciated the explanation of local flora, fauna, and the importance of the Ausangate glacier. Guide quality can shape a high-altitude day, so these details are worth noting.

The information provided does not specify the exact breakfast menu, and you should not expect a restaurant-style spread. Think of it as a nourishing Andean meal that helps fuel the long morning.

Choosing between the horse and the hike

The experience offers a horseback riding option, with a horse included if you select it. The information does not spell out which sections are ridden or how much walking remains, so ask for the precise riding plan before booking if that choice is central to your decision.

The horse option makes sense if you want help with the physical demands of the route. At 4,100 meters, even a moderate trail can feel tough. A horse may make the day more manageable, but it does not remove the effects of altitude, and you should still bring sturdy footwear and warm layers.

If you choose to hike, prepare for about 10 kilometers and five hours of walking. The first lake is described as roughly 5 to 6 kilometers away and about 1.5 hours from the starting point. Those figures do not line up perfectly with the overall walking estimate, so treat them as approximate rather than a strict timetable.

The route includes a series of lakes surrounded by mountain vegetation. The terrain, altitude, and weather can make the walking feel harder than the distance suggests. This is a better choice for someone who regularly handles long hikes than for a casual walker expecting a short photo stop.

Seven lakes beneath Ausangate Mountain

The main attraction is the chain of seven Ausangate lagoons. Their colors can range from turquoise to emerald green, creating a striking contrast with the rocky Andes and the snow-capped presence of Ausangate Mountain in the distance.

The appeal is the variety. You are not looking at one lake from one platform, then returning immediately to the van. The day takes you farther into the mountain range, with each lagoon offering another view and another reason to pause.

The colors may change with light and weather, so you should arrive with realistic expectations. Nature does not operate on a postcard schedule. The tour takes place rain or shine, and clouds or rain can alter the appearance of the lakes and the distant mountain.

That weather policy is practical, but it also means you need to pack properly. Bring a camera, gloves, sunscreen, water, warm clothing, and a daypack. Comfortable shoes are essential if you plan to walk between the lagoons.

The scenery also includes alpacas and local people in traditional clothing. Ildiko described the combination of mountain views, lakes, alpacas, and traditional dress as a highlight of the day. These details give the route a stronger sense of place than a bare list of viewpoints.

What the five-hour mountain walk feels like

The hike leads through open Andean terrain toward the lagoons. The route is designed around visiting the seven lakes, with photo stops and guiding along the way. You should expect a steady outdoor day rather than a technical climbing trip.

Your guide can help explain the flora and fauna, as well as the role of the Ausangate glacier. That interpretive element gives the scenery some context. Without it, the lakes might blur into a sequence of colorful views. With it, you can better understand why the mountain and ice matter to the surrounding area.

The private format helps here. A guide can spend more time answering your questions and can monitor how you are handling the altitude. It also avoids the stop-and-go rhythm of a large group, where one person’s pace controls everyone else.

The drawback is that private does not mean easy. The route remains long, high, and exposed to changing weather. The tour is not suitable for children under 12, pregnant women, wheelchair users, people with respiratory issues, people experiencing altitude sickness, or people over 75.

Those restrictions are sensible. If you already know that high elevations affect you badly, do not choose this as your first test. Cusco itself is high, but Pacchanta is higher, and the exertion continues for hours.

Lunch, hot springs, and the ride back

After the lakes, you return toward Pacchanta for lunch. Jack praised both meals, and lunch is an important part of the day because you will have spent several hours walking or riding at altitude.

The final reward is Pacchanta’s thermal water. The hot springs are not included in the listed price, and entry costs 10 soles. Bring cash, since cash is specifically recommended for the outing. After cold air and physical effort, the soak can be the most relaxing part of the schedule.

Michaela described the thermal waters as a memorable end to the hike. I can see why this stop matters: it changes the rhythm from exertion to recovery before the long drive back.

After lunch and the hot springs, you return to Cusco by van, with about three hours of driving. Depending on the pickup time, weather, and pace of the group, you arrive back in the evening.

Dinner is not included, so plan on eating after you return. You may also want a quiet night, since this is a very full day from start to finish.

Is $139 a fair price?

At $139 per person, the tour is not the cheapest way to see the Ausangate lakes. But the value improves if you want privacy and a simple, organized day.

The price includes hotel pickup in Cusco, private transportation, a bilingual English or Spanish guide, the attraction entrance ticket, a first aid kit, and a horse if you select the horseback option. You are paying for the long private transfer as well as the guiding and mountain access.

The private group format is the biggest value point. If you dislike large groups, want direct help at altitude, or are traveling with friends, the price can make sense. Raphael specifically praised the private approach and guide Julio for the Ausangate trek.

You should budget extra for the thermal springs, which cost 10 soles, and for dinner after the tour. Water, sunscreen, warm clothing, gloves, comfortable shoes, a daypack, and a camera are also your responsibility.

The tour offers free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure and allows you to reserve now and pay later. Those terms give you some flexibility, especially when weather and high-altitude conditions are part of the decision.

The guides and the personal touch

The available feedback gives specific credit to Alexander and Julio. Alexander was praised for making the day work well, especially the meals and views. Julio earned similar approval for guiding the Ausangate route in a private setting.

Michaela valued the explanations about plants, animals, and the glacier. That is exactly the kind of guiding I want on a place like this. The mountains are impressive on their own, but a good guide helps you notice what you would otherwise miss.

The tour is offered in English and Spanish. Since it is private, you should have a better chance to ask questions, request clarification, or discuss how you are feeling than you would in a large group.

Still, guide performance can vary from day to day. The named guides received strong praise, but you may be assigned someone else. Confirm your preferred language and ask who will guide your departure if that matters to you.

Practical packing for a rain-or-shine day

Pack for cold, sun, wind, and possible rain. The tour operates in all weather, so a light outfit is not enough for a mountain day at 4,100 meters.

Bring:

• Warm clothing and gloves
• Comfortable shoes
• Water and sunscreen
• A daypack
• Your passport
• Cash for the 10-sol hot spring fee and personal expenses
• A camera

The passport is listed as an item to bring, so keep it accessible and protected from weather. Sunscreen is important even when the air feels cold. Water is equally important during a long day of walking or horseback riding.

You should also think carefully about breakfast before pickup. The tour provides breakfast in Pacchanta, but the early start means you may want a small snack for the first part of the drive. The supplied details do not list snacks, so do not count on them.

Who should book this Ausangate day?

I would recommend this experience to an active adult who wants a full-day mountain outing without organizing separate transport, entrance tickets, meals, and guiding. It suits you especially well if you prefer a private group and want a choice between hiking and horseback riding.

It is also a good fit if local contact matters to you. The breakfast with residents, traditional clothing, alpacas, and guide commentary add human detail to the scenery.

I would hesitate if you have respiratory problems, current altitude sickness, limited mobility, are pregnant, or are traveling with a child under 12. The tour also excludes people over 75, and the restriction reflects the demanding setting.

You should also skip it if you want a relaxed half-day near Cusco. The early pickup, three-hour drive each way, five-hour outdoor portion, lunch, and hot springs make this a major day out.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want the Ausangate lakes with private transport, personal guiding, and the flexibility of horseback riding. The strongest reasons are the seven colorful lagoons, the views of Ausangate Mountain, the local breakfast, and the thermal springs at the end.

Think twice if altitude or long journeys wear you down. The scenery is the reward, but you must earn it with an early start, a high mountain route, and a long return drive.

For the right person, $139 is a fair price for a private, well-organized day that combines nature, food, local contact, and recovery time in Pacchanta’s hot springs.

FAQ

How long does the Ausangate lakes tour last?

The full experience lasts about 12 to 15 hours. This includes transportation from Cusco, breakfast, the mountain visit, lunch, and the return drive.

What time is hotel pickup in Cusco?

Pickup is scheduled between 4:00 and 6:00 a.m. The tour includes hotel pickup in Cusco.

How high is Pacchanta?

Pacchanta is located at approximately 4,100 meters near Ausangate Mountain.

Is horseback riding included?

A horse is included if you choose the horseback riding option. The exact division between riding and walking is not specified, so ask the provider for details before booking.

Are the hot springs included in the price?

No. Entry to the hot springs costs 10 soles and is paid separately.

Who should not join this tour?

The experience is not suitable for children under 12, pregnant women, wheelchair users, people with respiratory issues, people with altitude sickness, or people over 75 years old.