Cusco: Seven Lagoons of Ausangate Hiking Day Trip with Lunch

The seven lagoons of Ausangate are the star here, with blue, red, green, and dark tones set below Peru’s high mountain country. You leave Cusco before sunrise, ride three hours to Pacchanta, then walk for several hours through open scenery filled with mountain views, native plants, and high-altitude air.

I like two things right away: the route gives you both a broad viewpoint and close views of the lagoons, and the hot springs in Pacchanta offer a welcome finish after the walk. The $30 price also covers hotel pickup, breakfast, lunch, a guide, walking sticks, an oxygen balloon, and drop-off in Cusco.

The main catch is the long day and early start. You spend about six hours in the van, the walking can be demanding, and entry fees are not included. One serious complaint also reports a pickup problem and confusion over entrance money, so confirm the payment process and keep small bills with you.

Key points to know before booking

• The seven lagoons have individual names: Upper Lake, Otorongo Male, Otorongo Female, Red Lake, Ccomer Lake, Blue Lake, and Alqa Lake.
• The day begins at 4:00 AM: Expect about three hours by van before breakfast in Pacchanta.
• The walking route forms a loop: You return to the same village rather than finishing at a separate trailhead.
• Breakfast and lunch are included: The first meal comes before the hike, and lunch follows the walk.
• Pacchanta’s thermo-medicinal waters are part of the day: Swimming is scheduled after lunch, but entry fees are extra.
• The group is limited to 12 people: English and Spanish guiding is available.

Why Ausangate’s seven lagoons are worth the early start

Ausangate is one of the major mountain areas near Cusco, and this outing focuses on color and open scenery rather than ruins or city history. The seven lagoons sit at the foot of Ausangate, with each pool showing its own tone and shape. Weather, light, and viewing angle affect the colors, so the scene can change during the walk.

You first reach a viewpoint after about two hours of walking. This is the best place to understand the route as a whole. From above, you can see several lagoons together and take the wide photographs that are hard to capture from the water’s edge.

After the viewpoint, you continue around the area and see more of the pools up close. The named lagoons give the walk a clear sense of purpose. You are not simply walking through open country and hoping for a view. You are following a route tied to specific places, including Blue Lake, Red Lake, and the two Otorongo lagoons.

The scenery also includes mountains, local flora, and fauna typical of the area. The supplied details do not promise a particular animal sighting, so you should treat wildlife as a possibility rather than a feature guaranteed on every departure.

The 4:00 AM departure from Cusco

Hotel pickup in Cusco is scheduled for 4:00 AM. That is an especially early start, but the distance to Pacchanta explains it. The drive takes about three hours each way, making transport one of the biggest parts of your day.

You should prepare your clothes, water, passport or identity card, and camera the night before. A pre-dawn pickup is not the moment to search for sunscreen or discover that your shoes are still wet. The tour ends in Cusco at Plaza Regocijo rather than necessarily returning you to your hotel door.

The small-group limit of 12 people is useful during a long road trip and a mountain walk. It should make it easier to hear the guide and keep the group together, though the actual vehicle setup is not specified. English and Spanish guiding is offered, so select the language you need when booking.

One piece of feedback deserves attention. A participant reported that the original driver missed the hotel pickup and that a taxi was sent to connect the person with the bus. The same report raised a serious dispute over money collected for the Ausangate entrance fee. The guide eventually helped recover the money, but you should still confirm exactly what entrance fees cost, who collects them, and what change you should receive.

Breakfast in Pacchanta before the walk

After the three-hour drive, you stop in Pacchanta for breakfast. You have about 50 minutes for this break, which gives you time to eat, use the facilities if available, and prepare for the trail.

Breakfast matters here because the walk is not a short photo stop. You spend several hours on foot, and the first meal gives you a better base than leaving Cusco with only a quick snack. Bring extra water and personal snacks if you know you need to eat often, since the supplied details confirm water as an item to bring but do not describe additional food stops.

Pacchanta is more than a parking point. It is the populated center of the local community and the place where the route begins and ends. You get a brief look at a working mountain settlement before setting out, then return here for lunch and the hot springs.

The first two hours to the main viewpoint

The walk begins in Pacchanta and climbs or crosses open highland terrain toward the lagoon area. The exact elevation gain and trail surface are not provided, so I would not book this as a casual stroll. Comfortable shoes are required, and warm clothing is wise even if Cusco feels mild when you leave.

After roughly two hours, you reach the viewpoint. This part of the route rewards patience. The first stretch is not only a way to reach the lagoons, it builds anticipation for the broad view that follows.

At the viewpoint, your guide can identify the seven named pools and help you understand what you are seeing. You have time for photographs and a rest before continuing. The guide carries a first aid kit, and an oxygen balloon is included as a safety measure, but those items do not make the hike suitable for everyone.

High altitude can affect people differently. The tour specifically advises against participation for people with heart problems and pregnant women. If you have concerns about exertion or altitude, speak with a medical professional before booking rather than relying on the group’s oxygen supply.

Three more hours among Upper Lake, Red Lake, and Blue Lake

The route continues after the main viewpoint, bringing you closer to many of the lagoons. The total walking portion is described in slightly different segments, but you should plan for a lengthy outing on foot, with about three hours of continued walking after the viewpoint and a further on-foot segment in the schedule.

The reward is variety. From the viewpoint, the seven lagoons work as one grand scene. At closer range, each pool becomes its own stop, with differences in color and setting easier to notice. The route includes Upper Lake, Otorongo Male, Otorongo Female, Red Lake, Ccomer Lake, Blue Lake, and Alqa Lake.

Your camera will get plenty of use, but do not let the photographs become the entire point of the walk. The mountains, plants, and changing views between the lagoons are part of the experience. You may also appreciate having walking sticks, which are included and can help on uneven ground.

The trail is a loop, so you finish back at Pacchanta. That arrangement is practical because you do not need to wait for a separate vehicle at the far end. It also means you see the route from more than one direction instead of simply retracing every step.

Lunch and hot springs in Pacchanta

Once you return to the village, lunch is included. The meal comes after the main walk, which makes it especially welcome. You have about an hour and a half for lunch and swimming, so this is the day’s main chance to slow down.

The thermo-medicinal waters are a major reason to choose this trip over a lagoon walk that returns directly to Cusco. Soaking after a long hike can be a pleasant way to finish, and swimming is included in the scheduled stop. Entry fees, however, are not included in the tour price, so budget separately for the lagoon and hot spring access.

Do not assume the bathing stop makes the day easy. You still have the three-hour drive back to Cusco after lunch. Bring a towel and swimsuit only if you plan to use the water, but remember that the confirmed packing list specifically calls for warm clothing, comfortable shoes, a hat, sunscreen, water, and a camera.

Is the $30 price good value?

At $30 per person, this is an inexpensive way to reach a remote mountain area from Cusco. The price includes hotel pickup, Cusco drop-off, breakfast, lunch, a professional guide, first aid equipment, an oxygen balloon, and walking sticks. It also combines transport, a guided hike, and the Pacchanta hot springs in one long day.

The value depends on how you measure comfort. You are paying little for a full day, but you are also accepting an early departure, a long van ride, and a demanding walk. If you want a private vehicle, a slow pace, or a short transfer, this is probably not the right format.

The price does not include entrance fees. That is the main extra cost stated in the tour details, and the reported dispute over entrance money makes it worth clarifying before departure. Ask how much you need to pay, keep the amount you hand over visible, and check your change at once.

The overall rating is 3.8 from seven reviews, with several strong marks for the guide and scenery and one serious complaint about transport and payment handling. One five-star report specifically praised the scenery and described the guide as wonderful, helpful, and kind. Another five-star review in Spanish called the guide attentive and the experience excellent. That points to a tour that can be very enjoyable when the logistics run properly, while also reminding you to stay alert about pickup and fees.

Who will enjoy this day trip most?

I would choose this trip if you want a full Ausangate scenery day without arranging separate transport, meals, guiding, and hot springs. It suits people who enjoy long days outdoors and do not mind leaving Cusco before dawn.

It is also a good fit if you want more than one famous viewpoint. The route gives you a high view of the seven lagoons, then brings you closer to them before returning to Pacchanta. The combination gives the day more substance than a quick stop for one photograph.

You should think twice if you dislike long vehicle rides. Six hours in a van is a major part of the experience, and the return trip comes after the hike and lunch. Pregnant women and people with heart problems are specifically excluded, and anyone concerned about strenuous activity should seek medical advice before booking.

The tour can work for solo visitors because the group is capped at 12 and the guide handles the route. It can also suit friends who want a simple, low-cost day outside Cusco. The main requirement is realistic preparation: warm clothes, proper shoes, water, sunscreen, and enough energy for a long outing.

Practical packing and planning advice

Pack in layers. The tour information calls for warm clothing and a hat, and the early start can feel very different from the conditions later in the day. Comfortable shoes are not optional for a walk lasting several hours.

Bring your passport or identity card, camera, sunscreen, and water. Take enough water for your own needs because the tour only confirms that water should be brought, not that bottles are supplied.

Keep some money separate for entry fees. Do not hand over a large note unless you know the exact amount required and can receive clear change. The complaint about 100 soles being collected without prompt change is a specific warning, even though the issue was later resolved with help from the guide.

Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later. Those terms help if your Cusco schedule is still shifting, but they do not change the need to check the early pickup details the day before.

Should you book the Seven Lagoons of Ausangate trip?

Book it if you want colorful mountain scenery, a guided loop walk, Pacchanta hot springs, and meals for a low price. The strongest parts are the range of views, the close look at all seven named lagoons, and the chance to finish in warm water after a long hike.

Skip it if you need a relaxed schedule or dislike long road transfers. I would also confirm the pickup point, entrance fee, and payment procedure in advance because one serious complaint involved missed pickup and money handling.

For an active visitor with one spare day in Cusco, this is a strong value. Just treat it as a demanding, dawn-to-evening mountain outing, not a simple sightseeing excursion.

FAQ

What time does pickup begin?

Pickup from your hotel in Cusco begins at 4:00 AM.

How long is the tour?

The experience lasts about 10 hours, including transport, breakfast, hiking, lunch, swimming, and the return to Cusco.

How long is the drive to Pacchanta?

The van ride from Cusco to Pacchanta takes about three hours. The return ride also takes about three hours.

How much walking is involved?

You walk for about two hours to reach a viewpoint, then continue for roughly three more hours around the lagoons. The schedule also lists a further one-hour on-foot segment, so plan for a long walk.

Which lagoons can I see?

The seven lagoons are Upper Lake, Otorongo Male, Otorongo Female, Red Lake, Ccomer Lake, Blue Lake, and Alqa Lake.

Are meals included?

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

Are the hot springs included?

The visit to Pacchanta’s thermo-medicinal waters and swimming time are part of the schedule, but entry fees are not included.

What languages does the guide speak?

Live guiding is available in English and Spanish.

How large is the group?

The tour is a small-group experience limited to 12 participants.

What should I bring?

Bring your passport or identity card, comfortable shoes, warm clothing, a hat, camera, sunscreen, and water.