Cusco: Day Trip to the 7 Ausangate Lagoons with Lunch

The seven Ausangate Lagoons sit below the snowy Ausangate mountain, far from Cusco’s busy streets. Their colors, mountain setting, and high Andean scenery make this a full day for people who want nature rather than museums or city views.

I like the clear route from Pacchanta, and I like that the price includes breakfast, lunch, round-trip transport, trekking poles, oxygen, and a first aid kit. The hot springs are another strong touch, especially after the hike. The catch is the early 4 a.m. pickup and roughly five hours of walking, so this is not a gentle sightseeing trip.

Key points to know

• Seven named lagoons: See Superior, Otorongo Macho, Otorongo Fembra, Roja, Ccomer, Azul, and Alqa.
• A long Andean day: The route includes about two hours uphill to a viewpoint, followed by about three more hours among the lagoons.
• Pacchanta hot springs: You can visit the thermo-medicinal baths after the walk, but the entrance fee is not included.
• Meals are covered: Breakfast comes in Pacchanta before the hike, and lunch follows the circuit.
• Helpful mountain equipment: Trekking sticks, oxygen, professional guiding, and a first aid kit are included.
• Strong value at $40: The cost covers hotel pickup, transport, two meals, and the guided hike, though hot springs require extra cash.

Why the Ausangate Lagoons Feel Different

Cusco has no shortage of famous day trips. The 7 Ausangate Lagoons offer a different kind of outing. You leave the city before dawn and spend the day in a natural setting at the foot of Ausangate, one of the region’s great mountains.

The attraction is not one single viewpoint. It is the changing collection of water colors and mountain scenery along the route. The seven lagoons are called Laguna Superior, Otorongo Macho, Otorongo Fembra, Laguna Roja, Laguna Ccomer, Laguna Azul, and Laguna Alqa.

The colors are the main reason to come. The supplied description does not promise a single shade at every lagoon, and nature does not work on a fixed schedule, but you can expect the appeal to come from seeing several bodies of water with different tones across one route.

You also get flora and fauna typical of the area. No detailed wildlife list is provided, so I would treat animals as a possible bonus rather than the purpose of the excursion. The dependable attraction is the open mountain setting and the lagoons themselves.

A 4 a.m. Start From Cusco

Pickup begins at your hotel in Cusco at about 4 a.m. You need to provide the hotel name when booking and wait in the lobby. You must also reserve at least one day ahead and contact the emergency number after booking.

That early start matters. It allows the group to reach Pacchanta in the morning and complete the walking route during the day. It also means you should plan for a very short night before the tour. If you have only just arrived in Cusco, think carefully about your energy level before committing.

Round-trip transport is included, which is a major part of the $40 value. You do not need to arrange separate transport to Pacchanta or find your way back to Cusco after the hike. The exact vehicle type and group size are not specified, so do not assume a private car or a small group.

The drive itself is part of the experience. The tour description specifically highlights the ride to the lagoons, and the route takes you out of the city toward Pacchanta and the Ausangate area. Bring a camera if you want to record the changing scenery, but keep your attention on the trip rather than treating the vehicle as only a transfer.

Breakfast in Pacchanta Before the Hike

The first planned stop is Pacchanta, where breakfast is included. This is useful, not decorative. You are beginning a multi-hour walk, and eating before setting off is much better than relying on snacks alone.

Pacchanta also matters because it is the starting and finishing point for the walking circuit. The route begins here, reaches a viewpoint after about two hours, continues through a large part of the lagoon area for roughly three more hours, and finishes back in the town.

The name Pacchanta is also tied to the hot springs offered as an optional visit. The baths are not part of the entrance package, so carry cash if you want to use them. One recorded comment praised the hot springs and lagoons as spectacular, which fits the basic appeal: the warm water can provide a welcome end to a long, cold-weather hike.

Still, do not treat the hot springs as guaranteed included time. The entrance ticket is separate, and the provided schedule does not say how long the group stays there. Ask the guide on the day if the visit is part of your timing.

The Two-Hour Walk to the Viewpoint

From Pacchanta, you walk for about two hours to reach a viewpoint where the seven lagoons can be seen. This is the first major payoff of the route.

A viewpoint gives you a useful sense of the area before you begin the longer section. You can understand how the lagoons sit below Ausangate and take in the scale of the mountain setting. This is also where the color theme becomes easiest to grasp, since the route is presented as a group of seven lagoons rather than one isolated pool.

The description does not give an exact elevation, trail surface, incline, or distance in kilometers. I would not assume a smooth path. Comfortable shoes and proper hiking shoes are specifically recommended, along with hiking pants. Trekking sticks are supplied, which may help on uneven or tiring sections.

The walk is the part that requires the most honest self-assessment. The tour is not suitable for children under eight, pregnant women, people with back problems, people with mobility impairments, people with respiratory issues, or people with a low fitness level. Those restrictions are especially relevant because the outing combines an early start, a long drive, and several hours on foot.

Oxygen is included, but that should not be read as a substitute for being fit for the route. It is better understood as a support item carried by the tour. The first aid kit and professional guide add a sensible safety layer, but they do not remove the physical demands.

Seeing All Seven Lagoons on Foot

After the viewpoint, the hike continues for about three more hours and covers a large part of the seven-lagoon area. The route then ends back in Pacchanta.

This longer section gives you more than a quick photo stop. You have time to see the lagoons in sequence and compare their shapes and colors. The names add character to the route. Otorongo Macho and Otorongo Fembra are especially distinctive names, while Laguna Roja, Laguna Azul, and Laguna Ccomer suggest the visual variety that draws people here.

The precise order of the lagoons is not provided, so the guide will be the person to explain which one you are seeing at each point. An English or Spanish guide is available. That language choice is useful if you want more than a silent walk, since the guide can identify the sites and help keep the group moving along the route.

Do not expect a relaxed stroll with long breaks at every lagoon. The stated walking time is about five hours in total, and the itinerary says the group visits a large part of the area before returning to Pacchanta. Your best approach is to pace yourself from the start, drink water, and use the poles when the trail feels tiring.

The scenery is the reward. You will see Ausangate, open mountain views, natural water, and local plants and animals associated with the area. The information does not specify particular viewpoints, animal species, or seasonal conditions, so I would keep expectations focused on broad scenery rather than a checklist of wildlife.

Lunch Back in Pacchanta

Lunch is served in Pacchanta after the walking circuit. This arrangement makes practical sense. You finish near the same place where you started, eat before the return drive, and avoid carrying a full meal for the entire hike.

Breakfast and lunch are included in the $40 price. That improves the value considerably, since the cost also covers pickup, round-trip transport, a guide, trekking poles, oxygen, and first aid. You should still bring cash for the hot springs and any personal needs.

The meal is not described in detail, so do not book this tour based on a particular menu. Its main value is convenience and recovery after the hike. If you have dietary restrictions, the supplied information does not state how they are handled, so you should ask the provider before booking.

The Optional Hot Springs at Pacchanta

Pacchanta’s thermo-medicinal waters are the easiest way to add a comfort break to this demanding day. After several hours of walking, warm water can change the feel of the outing from a hard hike into a more rounded day trip.

The hot springs entrance ticket is not included. Bring cash if you plan to go, and confirm the timing with the guide because the schedule does not state how long the stop lasts.

This option is particularly useful for people who want some downtime after the lagoons. If your main goal is simply to see the seven water bodies and return to Cusco, you may prefer to skip the extra cost. The tour can be judged on its hiking route alone.

One available comment specifically praised both the hot springs and lagoons. That gives the baths proper emphasis, but it does not change the basic rule: treat them as an optional add-on, not part of the $40 package.

Is $40 Good Value?

For a full day outside Cusco, $40 is a fair price based on what is included. Hotel pickup, transport, breakfast, lunch, guiding, trekking sticks, oxygen, and first aid would be costly and awkward to arrange separately.

The value is strongest if you want a guided outing and do not want to organize transport to Pacchanta yourself. It is also useful if you appreciate having meals arranged on a long walking day.

The price is less complete than it first appears if you plan to use the hot springs, since that entrance fee is extra. You should also budget for cash even if you do not know the exact amount needed, because the tour specifically tells you to bring it.

The rating supplied for the experience is 3.3 from four reviews, so I would keep expectations measured. There is clear praise for the lagoons and hot springs, but the available feedback is too small to offer a broad picture of guide quality, transport comfort, or group organization.

What to Bring for This Specific Route

Pack for a long day, not a casual city excursion. The required list includes a passport or identity card, comfortable shoes, hiking shoes, a camera, cash, and hiking pants.

I would keep your daypack simple:

• Passport or ID card
• Hiking shoes and comfortable clothing
• Hiking pants
• Water and personal essentials
• Camera
• Cash for hot springs and other personal expenses

The tour supplies trekking sticks, oxygen, and a first aid kit. You do not need to arrange those items separately, though you should still bring anything personal that you normally need during a long walk.

Weapons or sharp objects, indoor smoking, alcohol, and drugs are not allowed. The rules are straightforward and fit a long outdoor excursion with shared transport.

Who Should Book the Ausangate Day Trip?

This tour suits you if you want a full day in the mountains, enjoy walking, and like the idea of seeing several lagoons rather than one famous photo stop. It also works well if you want transport, meals, and a guide bundled into one booking.

It is a poor fit if you have a low fitness level, respiratory problems, mobility limits, back problems, or are pregnant. Children under eight are not accepted. The early start alone may be enough to rule it out for anyone who needs a slow morning.

You should also think about your wider Cusco schedule. The tour leaves at 4 a.m. and includes around five hours of walking. It may not be sensible immediately before another demanding excursion.

The English and Spanish guide options make the outing accessible to more people, but guide names are not provided. The provider is Journey MachuPicchu. If specific guide experience matters to you, contact the provider after booking through the emergency number and confirm the arrangements.

Should You Book This Ausangate Excursion?

Book it if the seven colorful lagoons, Ausangate views, and Pacchanta hot springs sound more appealing than a short, easy day out. At $40, the combination of transport, meals, guiding, equipment, and first aid offers solid value.

Skip it if you want a gentle schedule, dislike pre-dawn pickups, or are not comfortable with about five hours of walking. The hot springs are a pleasant extra, but they do not make the hike easy.

My practical call is simple: fit hikers who want a nature-heavy day should consider booking, especially if they value an organized route from Cusco. Reserve at least one day ahead, enter your hotel name carefully, contact the emergency number after booking, and carry cash for the optional baths.

FAQ

What time does pickup begin in Cusco?

Hotel pickup begins at 4 a.m. You should wait in your hotel lobby and provide the hotel name when booking.

How long is the tour?

It lasts one day. The walking portion takes about five hours, with around two hours to the viewpoint and another three hours through the lagoon area and back to Pacchanta.

What are the seven Ausangate Lagoons called?

They are Laguna Superior, Otorongo Macho, Otorongo Fembra, Laguna Roja, Laguna Ccomer, Laguna Azul, and Laguna Alqa.

Is breakfast included?

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

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch is served in Pacchanta after the walking circuit.

Are the Pacchanta hot springs included?

No. The entrance ticket to the hot springs is not included, so bring cash if you want to visit them.

What languages are available for the guide?

The live guide is available in English or Spanish.

Can I cancel the booking?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. The tour also offers a reserve-now-and-pay-later option.