From Cusco: 7 lakes with hot springs in Ausangate and meals

The real prize here is the string of turquoise and green lakes beneath Ausangate, one of Peru’s great snow-covered peaks. The colors can look almost unreal, especially against the bare high-altitude slopes. You also get a genuine local touch: breakfast and lunch are served by a family in Pacchanta, rather than at a city restaurant.

I like the mix of scenery and culture, and I like that the tour ends with hot springs above 4,000 meters. Guides such as Felipe and Tony have been praised for bringing good energy to the hike and stopping for photos. The catch is the altitude, plus basic meals and a very early start. This is a demanding day, not a gentle sightseeing outing.

Key points to know before booking

• Seven lakes beneath Ausangate: See green, turquoise, and blue water near the Vilcanota mountain range.
• A 1.5-hour uphill start: The first section is the hardest part, and thin air can make an easy trail feel tough.
• Meals in a local home: Breakfast and a buffet lunch use Andean ingredients and locally grown food, though the cooking may be plain.
• Pacchanta hot springs: You get about 40 minutes to soak after lunch, with a separate PEN 5 entrance fee.
• A very long day from Cusco: Plan on roughly three hours each way in the vehicle, plus hiking and stops.
• Extra costs are modest: The main site entrance is PEN 20, and the hot springs cost PEN 5 if you go in.

Why the seven lakes are worth the long ride

I would book this tour for the lakes first, and treat everything else as part of the setting. The journey takes you far beyond Cusco’s city streets to Pacchanta, a village more than 4,000 meters above sea level. From there, the Vilcanota range opens up, with Ausangate feeding the high mountain lakes below.

The water colors are the main show. Comercocha and Alqacocha are described as green and turquoise lakes near the glacier. Patacocha, Otorongococha, and Azulcocha appear on the return route. The experience is less about one grand viewpoint and more about seeing several lakes in a single high mountain circuit, each set against broad slopes and sharp peaks.

The colors are not guaranteed to look identical every day. Light, clouds, and weather can change the view. Still, the combination of strange-colored water and snow-covered Ausangate gives this outing a strong visual payoff.

The name seven lakes is central to the trip, although only five are identified by name in the available details. Your guide should explain the full route and point out the other lakes as you go.

The three-hour journey from Cusco

Pickup begins early at your hotel or Airbnb. You should wait at the hotel reception, ready for a long day. The drive south takes about three hours before you reach Pacchanta, so this is not a quick half-day escape.

The road passes villages and open mountain scenery. Along the way, you go through Ccatcca, where women may still wear traditional clothing and narrow streets reflect the older character of the settlement. This part is seen from the vehicle, not presented as a long walking visit, but it gives the day more cultural context than a direct ride to the trailhead.

The route also follows the interoceanic highway linking Peru and Brazil. That detail sounds technical, but it helps explain why the road reaches such a remote part of the Cusco Region while still connecting to a major route.

Bring water, warm clothing, and something small to eat. One food review found breakfast and lunch too plain, with rice and pasta served without much sauce. The included meals may be enough for many people, but picky eaters should pack a snack. At $38 per person, the food is part of the value, yet you should not expect restaurant-level cooking.

Breakfast with a family in Pacchanta

Before hiking, a local family welcomes you into their home and serves breakfast made with Andean ingredients. This is one of the more appealing parts of the outing because it connects the scenery to daily life in the village.

The meal is described as nutritious, with food grown in the area. You also have time to learn about Pacchanta before heading toward the mountains. That pause matters. At this altitude, rushing straight from a van into a climb would make the day feel harsher.

Keep your expectations practical. The food is local and functional rather than fancy. Some meals have been described as basic and lacking flavor, while other visitors found them sufficient. I would see the breakfast as fuel and a chance to meet a local family, not as a culinary highlight.

Pacchanta itself is an important part of the outing. You are not simply being dropped at a famous photo stop. The village, its residents, and its food help show how people live in a high Andean environment.

The first 1.5 hours are the hard part

The first hike takes about an hour and a half to reach the first lake. This is the most strenuous section of the seven-lake route. The trail may feel manageable in ordinary conditions, but the altitude changes the equation. The tour reaches areas above 4,000 meters, where every uphill step can take more effort.

You should walk slowly and keep your pace comfortable. The guide carries first-aid equipment and an oxygen bottle for emergencies, but those are safeguards, not a substitute for preparing properly. If you have a pre-existing medical condition, this outing is not considered suitable. It is also not suitable for pregnant women or children under two.

The tour includes a trekking pole, which is useful on the long route. Comfortable walking shoes are essential, and warm clothing is not optional. Temperatures can be low even when Cusco feels mild. Sunscreen matters too, since high-altitude sunlight can be strong.

Several people have found the hike steady and manageable, with the altitude making it tougher than the trail itself. That is the right way to think about it. You do not need to treat this as a technical climb, but you do need to respect the height.

Comercocha, Alqacocha, and the mountain views

Once you reach the first lake, the walking becomes a scenic circuit through the Vilcanota range. Comercocha and Alqacocha are two of the most notable stops, with green and turquoise water beneath the glacier.

This is where a good guide makes a real difference. Tony has been praised for bringing a lively personality to the hike and stopping for photographs. Felipe has also been described as enthusiastic and fun. Guide quality can vary, and one guide was reported to have limited English, so communication may not be equally strong on every departure.

The guides speak English or Spanish, and you should confirm the language you need when booking. Even with a strong guide, the scenery does much of the work. You will have chances to take photos, but remember that the cold and altitude can make it tiring to stop often.

A trekking pole is provided, though you should still wear shoes with a secure grip. The route takes you through exposed high country, and warm layers are easier to manage than one heavy coat. You can remove layers during the walk and add them again when the wind picks up.

The return route and the remaining lakes

From the first lake, the circuit takes about two and a half hours until you return to the restaurant. On the way back to Pacchanta, you pass Patacocha, Otorongococha, and Azulcocha. The exact rhythm depends on the group, the weather, and how often you stop for pictures.

This return section is not just a walk back to the vehicle. It gives you more chances to compare the lakes, notice different water colors, and see Ausangate from changing angles. The broad, open setting also makes the route feel more remote than a short viewpoint walk.

Still, the day is long. You have already spent about three hours driving from Cusco, walked for several hours at high altitude, and still need the return drive. You should not plan a major evening activity after this tour. A quiet dinner and an early night make more sense.

Horse riding may be available along the route, according to one experience report. Since this is not listed as a standard inclusion, ask locally about availability and cost rather than assuming it is part of the tour.

Lunch, local produce, and realistic food expectations

Back at the family home, you receive a buffet lunch made with locally grown products. This is practical after the hike, and it gives you another taste of food from the area.

The meal seems to be the weakest part for some people. Reports describe rice and pasta with little sauce or seasoning. Others found the food adequate, especially given the remote setting. I would bring a small snack if you care about flavor or need extra calories after walking.

That does not cancel the value of the meal. Eating with a local family, using regional ingredients, and supporting a rural household are meaningful parts of the day. Just do not book this trip expecting a polished food tour.

If you have dietary concerns, the supplied details do not specify special menus. Ask before booking rather than relying on the buffet to meet your needs.

A 40-minute soak at Pacchanta

After lunch, you have about 40 minutes for the hot springs. The visit is optional, and you need to bring a swimsuit. Entry costs PEN 5, separate from the tour price.

The hot springs are a welcome finish after the cold hike. Soaking at this altitude can feel especially good when your legs are tired and the air is chilly. The setting adds a memorable final note to the day, but keep your towel and warm layers close. Getting out of hot water into cold mountain air can be uncomfortable.

One reported problem was not seeing the hot springs at all, so timing and organization may occasionally interfere. I would confirm with your guide when the visit will happen and allow enough time to change. Since the soak is optional, you can also use the break to rest if you are too tired for another activity.

For many people, the springs are worth the extra PEN 5. They do not replace the lakes, but they make the long return to Cusco easier to face.

Is $38 a good value?

At $38, this is an inexpensive way to reach a remote high-altitude area from Cusco. The price includes hotel pickup, round-trip transportation, breakfast, lunch, a professional English or Spanish-speaking guide, a trekking pole, and emergency equipment.

The three-hour drive each way is a major part of the value. Organizing transport to Pacchanta on your own could be less convenient, especially if you do not speak Spanish or know the route. The included meals also save you from finding food in a remote village.

You need to add PEN 20 for the main entrance and PEN 5 for the hot springs if you choose to enter. Those fees are small, but carry extra cash. The tour does not include personal snacks, drinks beyond what is provided, or any possible horse ride.

The price makes the tour attractive for budget-minded visitors who want dramatic scenery without paying for a private day trip. The tradeoff is a basic meal, a long shared day, and less control over the pace.

Who should book this day trip?

I would recommend it to you if you want striking mountain scenery, are comfortable with a long day, and can handle walking above 4,000 meters. It suits people who value a local meal and village contact as much as a famous viewpoint.

You should think twice if you dislike early starts, long vehicle rides, cold weather, or simple food. The altitude is the main concern, not the technical difficulty of the trail. People with pre-existing medical conditions and pregnant women should not choose this outing.

The tour is also a good fit if you want a guide to handle transportation and route details. Tony and Felipe have been praised for keeping the walk upbeat, but guide performance may differ. If detailed English explanations are important to you, confirm the guide language before paying.

The tour offers free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure and lets you reserve now and pay later. Those terms help if your Cusco plans are still shifting, but the early start and 15-hour duration remain fixed realities.

Should you book the seven lakes tour?

Book it if the idea of seeing turquoise lakes below Ausangate excites you more than the thought of spending six hours in a vehicle. The lakes are the clear highlight, and the family meal, village visit, and hot springs give the day more character than a simple photo stop.

Go prepared: warm layers, comfortable shoes, sunscreen, water, a swimsuit, and a snack. Expect basic food, thin air, and a long return to Cusco. For $38 plus the two modest entrance fees, this is strong value for a demanding but memorable day in the high Andes.

FAQ

How long does the seven lakes tour last?

The activity lasts about 15 hours, including pickup, the drive from Cusco, hiking, meals, the optional hot springs visit, and the return to the city.

How far is Pacchanta from Cusco?

The drive takes about three hours each way. You pass through villages including Ccatcca before reaching Pacchanta.

How difficult is the hike?

The first section takes about 1.5 hours to reach the first lake and is the most strenuous part. The full lake circuit takes about 2.5 hours from the first lagoon back to the restaurant. Altitude above 4,000 meters can make the walk feel harder.

What altitude does the tour reach?

The activity visits areas above 4,000 meters above sea level, including Pacchanta and the Vilcanota mountain range.

Are meals included?

Yes. Breakfast is served by a local family in Pacchanta, and lunch is a buffet using locally grown products.

Are the hot springs included?

The visit is optional. Hot spring entry costs PEN 5 and is not included in the tour price. You should bring a swimsuit.

What is not included in the $38 price?

The main entrance fee of PEN 20 and the PEN 5 hot springs entrance are not included. Personal snacks and other personal expenses are also separate.