Cusco: Excursion to Ausangate 7 Lagunas + lunch

The Ausangate 7 Lagoons tour is a full day in Peru’s high Andes, where glacial meltwater feeds a chain of striking lagoons beneath snowy Ausangate. You hike for about 10 kilometers, reaching more than 4,200 meters, then reward yourself with a soak in Pacchanta’s hot springs.

I like the clear contrast between the day’s two main activities: a demanding high-altitude walk followed by a warm bath. I also like that breakfast and lunch are included, since the 4:00 to 5:00 a.m. pickup makes this an early start.

The main drawback is the altitude and length of the hike. This is not a gentle sightseeing outing, and weather can affect the experience. You also pay separate entrance fees for the lagoons and hot springs.

Key points to know before booking

• Seven named lagoons: The route includes Pucacocha, Patacocha, Alqacocha, Qomercocha, Orco Otorongo, China Otorongo, and Azulcocha.
• High-altitude walking: The circuit reaches more than 4,200 meters and covers about 10 kilometers.
• Pacchanta provides the best recovery: You finish the hike with hot springs and lunch in the same community.
• A very early departure: Pickup from hotels near or inside Cusco’s Historic Center takes place between 4:00 and 5:00 a.m.
• Budget-friendly pricing: The tour costs $43 per person, but the $5 lagoon fee and $2 hot-spring fee are extra.
• Simple transport plan: Pickup is included in the morning, and the return drop-off is near Cusco’s Plaza de Armas at about 6:30 p.m.

Why the Ausangate lagoons make a strong day trip from Cusco

Cusco offers plenty of historic sights, but this outing takes you into a very different Peru. The seven lagoons sit south of the Cusco Region, at the foothills of the Andes and below snowy Ausangate. Their water comes from melting snow, which gives the route a clear connection to the surrounding mountain range.

The appeal is not one single viewpoint. It is the changing sequence of lagoons along the circuit. You visit Pucacocha, Patacocha, Alqacocha, Qomercocha, Orco Otorongo, China Otorongo, and Azulcocha as part of one guided walk.

I like this format because you are not simply driven to one lookout, given a few minutes, and sent back. The walking is a central part of the day. You see the lagoons one after another, with the high altitude shaping the pace and the feel of the outing.

Still, the altitude deserves respect. The route sits above 4,200 meters, which can make a 10-kilometer walk feel much harder than the same distance at low elevation. If you are not used to strenuous activity at high altitude, this may be the wrong day trip for you.

The 4:00 to 5:00 a.m. pickup from Cusco

The day begins before sunrise. Pickup is offered from hotels near or inside Cusco’s Historic Center, generally between 4:00 and 5:00 a.m. The guide contacts you shortly before arrival to let you know the vehicle is on its way.

This arrangement is useful if you are staying in the central part of Cusco, but you need to be ready early. Have your daypack packed the night before, keep your shoes and layers close at hand, and carry cash for the two entrance fees.

Tourist transportation to and from the hotel is included. The return is scheduled for around 6:30 p.m., with drop-off near the Plaza de Armas. That makes this a long day, but it also keeps the plan simple. You do not need to arrange separate transport to a remote trailhead.

The exact journey time between Cusco and Pacchanta is not specified, so I would not book another activity for the evening. Treat the return time as approximate, since the tour depends on road conditions, weather, and the walking pace of the group.

Breakfast in Pacchanta before the hike

The first main stop is the community of Pacchanta, where breakfast is provided. This is more than a quick box to carry in your bag. It gives you a chance to eat before the main walk and prepare for a day at high altitude.

Breakfast matters here because of the early pickup. You may not want a large meal before leaving Cusco, and there is little sense in starting a demanding hike without food. Bring snacks as well, since snacks are not listed among the included items.

Pacchanta also becomes the base for the final part of the day. You return here after the lagoon circuit for the hot springs and lunch. That makes the itinerary easy to follow: breakfast, hike, soak, lunch, and return to Cusco.

The seven-lagoon circuit above 4,200 meters

After breakfast, you head toward the Andean mountain range and begin walking to the first lagoon. The complete route covers approximately 10 kilometers and takes more than two hours of hiking, according to the supplied schedule.

The seven lagoons are:

• Pucacocha
• Patacocha
• Alqacocha
• Qomercocha
• Orco Otorongo
• China Otorongo
• Azulcocha

A guide accompanies the circuit and provides service in English or Spanish. The experience is best understood as a guided mountain walk rather than a drive-by photo stop. You follow the route from the first lagoon through the remaining six until the guided portion ends.

The names help you keep track of the route, but the real attraction is the collection of water-filled basins below Ausangate. Since the lagoons are fed by melting snow, the setting feels closely tied to the mountain above them. Bring a camera, but keep it protected in your daypack and do not let photography distract you from footing or the pace of the walk.

The tour description does not give a precise elevation profile, trail surface, group size, or amount of uphill walking. I would therefore prepare for uneven mountain conditions rather than expect a flat paved path. Comfortable shoes are specifically recommended, and they are essential for a route of this length.

The weather is another variable. The outing operates in sunny weather or as conditions permit. High-mountain weather can change the feel of the day, so a practical approach is to dress in layers and carry what you need in a small daypack. The supplied information does not list a detailed clothing kit, so you should plan for changing conditions without assuming that every item will be provided.

Pacchanta hot springs after the walk

After the lagoon route, you return to Pacchanta for the hot springs. This is the part of the itinerary I find especially smart. A long walk at high altitude is physically demanding, and the hot springs give you a chance to rest before lunch and the return journey.

The hot-spring entrance is not included. The listed cost is $2, or 5 soles, paid separately. You should carry cash because both the lagoon entrance and hot-spring entry are additional charges.

The bath is not a substitute for being fit enough for the walk. It comes at the end, not halfway through the circuit, so you still need to manage your energy during the hike. Think of it as a pleasant finish and a practical rest stop, not as a way to avoid the physical demands of the day.

You may want to bring a small change of clothes, although this is not specifically listed in the official packing information. At minimum, keep your camera and other belongings secure and dry while you use the springs.

Lunch, then the long return to Cusco

Lunch follows the hot springs and is included in the tour price. The itinerary does not specify the menu, so you should not book this expecting to select a particular dish or accommodate an unconfirmed dietary request.

Including lunch is useful for two reasons. First, you do not need to search for food in a remote community after the hike. Second, it keeps the schedule moving, which matters on a day that began before dawn and ends near 6:30 p.m.

After lunch, tourist transportation takes you back toward Cusco. Drop-off is near the Plaza de Armas rather than necessarily at your hotel door. If you are carrying wet clothing, tired from the walk, or planning to catch another connection, allow yourself time and flexibility after arrival.

What the $43 price really covers

At $43 per person, this is a reasonably priced full-day excursion. The fee includes hotel pickup near the Historic Center, transportation in both directions, breakfast, lunch, and a professional guide.

The advertised price is not the full cash cost of the day. Add $5, or 15 soles, for access to the seven lagoons and $2, or 5 soles, for the Pacchanta hot springs. That brings the listed total to about $50 per person, assuming the dollar prices are used.

For that amount, you receive meals, transport, guiding, and three major parts of the experience: the high-altitude walk, the lagoon circuit, and the hot springs. I consider that good value if you want an organized day and do not want to arrange transport to Pacchanta yourself.

The value is less clear if you are mainly interested in a short scenic stop. The tour uses most of the day, begins very early, and requires about 10 kilometers of walking. You are paying for a full mountain outing, not just access to a viewpoint.

Food not specifically mentioned is excluded, so budget for snacks and drinks if needed. The packing guidance specifically recommends snacks, cash, comfortable shoes, a camera, and a daypack.

Who should book this Ausangate day trip?

I would choose this tour if you want a physically active day away from Cusco and are interested in seeing several lagoons in one outing. It suits people who like a set schedule, included meals, guided walking, and the comfort of organized transportation.

It may also work well for you if the Pacchanta hot springs are an important part of the appeal. The combination is unusual: you spend the main part of the day walking in the high Andes, then finish with a soak and lunch.

I would think twice if you dislike early mornings, long vehicle transfers, or high-altitude exercise. Pregnant women, wheelchair users, visually impaired people, people over 80, and babies under 1 year are specifically listed as unsuitable for this activity.

The information does not provide a shorter walking option or an alternate route. Do not assume you can skip the hike and still receive the same lagoon experience. If you need a low-effort excursion, choose another activity.

Useful booking and packing advice

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund, and the reserve-now, pay-later option lets you keep your plans flexible. Availability and starting times should still be checked when booking, since the stated pickup window is early morning.

The guide service is available in English and Spanish. Pickup is included for hotels near or inside the Historic Center, but the information does not promise pickup from every address in Cusco. If your hotel is outside that area, confirm the meeting point before paying.

Pack light. A daypack should hold snacks, cash, a camera, and any personal items you need during the hike. Wear comfortable shoes, and expect the walk to be the main physical test of the day.

Since the tour runs only in sunny weather or as conditions permit, keep your schedule flexible. The operator is Amaru Explorer SAC, and the guide will contact you shortly before pickup.

Should you book the Ausangate 7 Lagoons tour?

Book it if you want a demanding but well-organized day in the high Andes, and if seven lagoons plus Pacchanta’s hot springs sound worth an early alarm. The included breakfast, lunch, transportation, and guide make the $43 base price attractive, even after the separate $7 in listed entrance fees.

Skip it if you are not prepared for more than two hours of walking and roughly 10 kilometers at above 4,200 meters. This is a strong choice for active visitors who want scenery, mountain air, and a hot-spring finish, but it is not a casual Cusco add-on.

FAQ

How much does the Ausangate 7 Lagoons tour cost?

The tour costs $43 per person. The entrance fee for the seven lagoons is an additional $5, or 15 soles, and Pacchanta hot springs cost another $2, or 5 soles.

How long does the excursion last?

It is a full-day excursion. Pickup begins between 4:00 and 5:00 a.m., and arrival back in Cusco is expected at about 6:30 p.m.

Where does hotel pickup take place?

Pickup is included from hotels near or inside Cusco’s Historic Center. The guide contacts you shortly before arriving to let you know the vehicle is on its way.

Where are the seven lagoons located?

The lagoons are south of the Cusco Region, beneath snowy Ausangate and at an altitude of more than 4,200 meters.

How far do you walk?

The circuit covers approximately 10 kilometers. Reaching the lagoons requires more than two hours of hiking.

Which lagoons are included?

The route includes Pucacocha, Patacocha, Alqacocha, Qomercocha, Orco Otorongo, China Otorongo, and Azulcocha.

Are meals included?

Breakfast in Pacchanta and lunch after the walk are included. Other food, including snacks, is not included.

Is the tour available in English?

Yes. The live guide service is offered in English and Spanish.