From Cusco: Ausangate 7 Lakes Tour with Meals

Ausangate’s seven vividly colored lakes make this one of the most striking day trips from Cusco. You leave before sunrise, ride to Pacchanta, then walk through open mountain country below Mount Ausangate. The reward is a long string of blue, green, red, and silver water set among broad slopes and snow-covered peaks.

I like the way breakfast and lunch are built into the $37 price, and I like the small group limit of 15 people. You also get walking sticks, oxygen, a first aid kit, and a professional guide. The catch is the schedule: this is a demanding day with about five hours of walking, and the 4:00 AM pickup makes for an early start.

Key points to know before you book

• Seven named lakes: The route includes Lake Superior, Otorongo Hombre, Otorongo, Rojo, Ccomer, Azul, and Alqa.
• About 13 kilometers on foot: Expect roughly two hours to reach the main viewpoint, followed by about three hours visiting the lakes.
• Pacchanta adds a local stop: Breakfast and lunch are served in the community, with hot springs available for an extra fee.
• Strong value at $37: Transport, a guide, breakfast, lunch, walking sticks, oxygen, and first aid equipment are included.
• Small group format: Departures are limited to 15 people, with English and Spanish guiding.
• Not a casual sightseeing ride: The walk is sporty, and the tour is not suitable for wheelchair users, people with respiratory issues, or people with pre-existing medical conditions.

Why the Ausangate lakes are worth the long day

The appeal here is simple: you get a full day in a raw mountain setting rather than a string of urban stops. The lakes sit at the foot of Mount Ausangate, one of the major peaks in the Cusco Region, and the scenery includes broad mountain slopes, snow-covered summits, native plants, and local animal life.

The colors are the main event. Some water can look deep blue, some green, and Lake Rojo is known for its reddish tone. Light, weather, and viewing angle affect what you see, so do not expect seven identical postcard pools. The variety is part of the fun.

I also like that this is not just a drive to a lookout followed by a quick photo stop. You walk from Pacchanta, reach a viewpoint after about two hours, and then continue past most of the lakes. That gives you time to see how the scenery changes as you move through the area.

The tradeoff is time. The total day runs from about 4:00 AM until 6:00 PM, and one description of the route puts the walk at roughly 13 kilometers. The lakes are beautiful, but you earn them with a sustained walk.

The 4:00 AM departure from Cusco

Pickup is offered from selected areas, with hotel pickup listed for properties inside Cusco’s historic center. At 4:00 AM, you will not be thinking about fine points of transport. You will want warm layers, water, and a seat where you can rest during the drive.

The early departure serves a practical purpose. Pacchanta is far enough from Cusco that a later start would make the walking schedule even tighter. By leaving before dawn, the tour can fit breakfast, the full route, lunch, and the return journey into one day.

Still, this start is not for everyone. If you have just arrived in Cusco, give yourself time to adjust before signing up for a long mountain walk. The supplied health guidance rules out people with respiratory issues and pre-existing medical conditions, and that warning deserves attention.

The return is scheduled for around 6:00 PM, near Cusco’s main square. That is useful if you want to eat or stroll through the center afterward, but you will probably be ready for a quiet evening.

Breakfast and the first look at Pacchanta

The drive ends in Pacchanta, the community used as the starting and finishing point for the walk. Breakfast is served here before you set off. That meal matters because the walking section is long, and there are no promises of food stops along the route.

Pacchanta also gives the day a human setting. Instead of beginning at an isolated parking area, you start from a local settlement connected with the Ausangate route. The trip includes a visit to the community and its hot springs, although the thermal bath entrance is not included in the tour price.

You should treat the hot springs as an optional extra rather than a guaranteed part of the timed route. The tour description places the thermal baths at Pacchanta, but the walking plan already fills much of the day. Ask the guide about timing if soaking is important to you, and bring cash for the separate entry fee.

The two-hour walk to the seven-lake viewpoint

From Pacchanta, the group begins walking toward the lakes. The first section takes about two hours to reach a viewpoint with a broad look at all seven bodies of water.

That first viewpoint is likely to be one of the best photo stops of the day because it lets you understand the whole setting at once. Instead of seeing one lake at a time, you can take in the colored water, open mountain slopes, and Ausangate rising behind them.

The route is described as beautiful but sporty. A normal level of fitness may be enough, but that does not mean the walk is easy. The long day, early start, mountain setting, and total distance all add up. Go at a steady pace and use the walking sticks provided rather than treating the route like a race.

Your guide matters here. The group is capped at 15 people, which should make it easier to keep a manageable pace than on a large coach outing. English and Spanish guiding is available. Jonatan is one guide associated with departures, and the guiding style described for him includes a comfortable rhythm and steady support along the route.

Visiting Superior, Otorongo, Rojo, and the other lakes

After the main viewpoint, the tour continues for about three hours, visiting most of the seven lakes before returning to Pacchanta. The named lakes are Lake Superior, Lake Otorongo Hombre, Lake Otorongo, Lake Rojo, Lake Ccomer, Laguna Azul, and Lake Alqa.

The names help you follow the route, but the real pleasure is comparing the colors and shapes from one stop to the next. Lake Rojo offers the most obvious change from the blues and greens. Otorongo Hombre and Otorongo provide another chance to see how nearby water can look different under changing light.

Do not expect long, leisurely time at every lake. A 13-kilometer route, a fixed lunch schedule, and a return drive mean the group must keep moving. The strongest criticism attached to this type of outing is that the walking can take up more time than the actual pauses beside the water.

That is an important booking point. If you want to sit quietly beside one lake for an hour, this is probably too active. If you want to see a broad sweep of the area in one day, the route makes sense.

The scenery between the lakes is part of the attraction. You will see mountain views, open terrain, flora, and fauna rather than a manicured park. Bring a camera, but do not let it slow you down. The best view may come while you are walking between named stops.

Lunch back in Pacchanta

The route returns to Pacchanta for lunch. This is a welcome finish to the walking section, and meals are a real part of the tour’s value rather than a minor add-on.

The food is described as fresh and excellent, but you should still carry snacks. Breakfast is early, and the walk is long. A small supply of food can help if you need something between the morning meal and lunch.

Lunch also gives you a chance to settle before the ride back to Cusco. The schedule is full, so do not count on a long break. The attraction is the complete outing: transport, mountain walk, food, and return in one day.

If you choose to use Pacchanta’s hot springs, the entrance fee is extra. Horse rides are also not included. These are useful choices if you need help with part of the route or want a soak, but budget for them separately and confirm availability with the guide.

What the $37 price really covers

At $37 per person, this is a strong value for a full-day excursion. The price includes round-trip transport, pickup in selected Cusco areas, a professional guide, breakfast, lunch, walking sticks, a first aid kit, and oxygen.

Transport is the biggest practical benefit. Arranging a private ride to Pacchanta would remove much of the planning, but it would also change the cost quickly. Here, you share the vehicle and follow a prepared route.

The meals are another reason the price works. You do not have to find breakfast before a 4:00 AM departure or arrange lunch after several hours on foot. The walking sticks are useful equipment, especially on a route where balance and steady pacing matter.

The price does not include thermal bath admission, a horse ride, or personal expenses. You should bring cash for these extras, along with water, snacks, and anything you may need during the day.

Fitness, clothing, and what to carry

Treat this as a full mountain walk, not a gentle sightseeing excursion. The route takes about five hours of walking in total, and the complete distance is described as roughly 13 kilometers.

Wear comfortable walking clothes and use layers. The departure from Cusco is before sunrise, while sun exposure can become a concern later. Pack sunglasses, a sun hat, sunscreen, water, and a daypack.

The listed essentials include:

• Passport
• Sunglasses and sun hat
• A hat for warmth or sun protection
• Camera
• Snacks and water
• Sunscreen
• Cash
• Daypack

Walking sticks are supplied, but you should still wear sturdy footwear suitable for a long walk. That recommendation follows from the distance and the active nature of the route, not from a promise about exact trail surfaces.

Oxygen and a first aid kit are carried as safety equipment. They do not turn the outing into a medical service. If you have respiratory issues or another pre-existing medical condition, this tour is not considered suitable.

Smoking, alcohol, and drugs are not allowed. Wheelchair users should also choose a different activity because the walking route is not accessible for wheelchairs.

Small groups, guides, and the pace of the day

A limit of 15 people is a useful middle ground. You still get the efficiency of shared transport, but the group is small enough for a guide to keep an eye on the walking pace and answer questions.

The best fit for this tour is someone who likes active sightseeing and does not mind starting early. You should be comfortable walking for several hours and spending most of the day away from Cusco.

The guide’s role is especially important during the five-hour walking section. A good rhythm matters more than speed. Jonatan has guided some departures, and the experience connected with him includes a friendly pace and support throughout the route. Guide assignments can vary, so check the language and guide details when booking.

Because the tour is offered in English and Spanish, make sure you select the language that suits you. Clear instructions matter when the group is spread along a long route.

How this compares with a simpler Cusco day trip

Many Cusco day trips rely mainly on transport and short stops. This one asks more from you but gives you more time in the natural setting. The seven lakes are not the kind of attraction you fully understand from a roadside viewpoint alone.

The main advantage is variety: seven named lakes, Ausangate views, local community access, meals, and optional hot springs. The main drawback is the effort required to fit all of that into one day.

I would not book this as a relaxed day after a late night or a packed Cusco sightseeing schedule. I would choose it when the mountain scenery is a priority and I am willing to trade comfort for a fuller day outside the city.

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure and the option to reserve now and pay later make planning less rigid. Those terms are helpful if your Cusco schedule is still changing, but they do not change the physical demands of the route.

Should you book the Ausangate seven lakes tour?

Book it if you want dramatic mountain scenery, a long active walk, and a low-cost way to reach all seven lakes from Cusco. The included transport, two meals, guide, walking sticks, first aid kit, and oxygen make $37 a sensible price for a full day.

Skip it if you need an easy outing, accessible paths, long rest stops, or lots of time at each lake. The early pickup and roughly 13-kilometer route are the real conditions of the deal.

For the best chance of enjoying it, arrive rested, carry water and snacks, use the walking sticks, and keep your expectations realistic. You will see remarkable colors and snow-covered mountain views, but you will also spend much of the day walking to earn them.

FAQ

What time does the Ausangate seven lakes tour leave Cusco?

Pickup is scheduled for 4:00 AM from hotels in selected areas, including hotels located within Cusco’s historic center.

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts one day. The planned return to Cusco is around 6:00 PM near the main square.

How much walking is involved?

The itinerary includes about two hours of walking to a viewpoint, followed by about three more hours visiting most of the seven lakes. The full route is described as approximately 13 kilometers.

Are breakfast and lunch included?

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

Is the hot springs entrance included?

No. Entry to the thermal baths in Pacchanta costs extra. Horse rides and other personal expenses are also not included.

Is the tour suitable for people with limited mobility or health conditions?

The tour is not suitable for wheelchair users, people with respiratory issues, or people with pre-existing medical conditions. It is a long, active walking day.