From Cusco: Ausangate 7 Lakes Tour with Meals

The real draw here is the seven lakes beneath Mount Ausangate, where water changes from blue and green to red-toned shades against snow-covered peaks. I like the quiet mountain setting and the fact that breakfast, lunch, transport, a guide, walking sticks, and basic emergency support are included for $37.

I also like the small group size, capped at 15 people, and the chance to finish near Pacchanta’s hot springs. The catch is simple: this is a long, early, high-country hike, not a gentle sightseeing ride. One recent account puts the route at about 13 kilometers, with limited time spent beside each lake.

Key points to know before booking

• A 4:00 AM Cusco pickup gets you to Pacchanta for breakfast before the walk begins.
• The hike takes about five hours, including the climb to the viewpoint and the circuit past most of the seven lakes.
• Mount Ausangate provides the backdrop, with snow-covered peaks, open mountain scenery, flora, and fauna.
• Meals are included, which makes the $37 price especially useful for a full-day outing.
• Pacchanta’s hot springs cost extra, but they offer a good way to finish the strenuous walk.
• The tour suits fit hikers, but it is not suitable for wheelchair users, people with respiratory issues, or those with pre-existing medical conditions.

Why the Ausangate lakes are worth the long day

The Ausangate 7 Lakes route takes you southeast of Cusco into a very different setting from the city’s stone streets and busy plazas. You travel toward the community of Pacchanta, a settlement at the foot of Mount Ausangate, and then continue on foot into broad mountain scenery.

The appeal is not one famous viewpoint. It is the changing series of lakes, each with its own color and setting. The route includes Lake Superior, Lake Otorongo Hombre, Lake Otorongo, Lake Rojo, Lake Ccomer, Laguna Azul, and Lake Alqa.

The colors are the reason people book this trip, but conditions can affect how strongly they appear. Sunlight, clouds, and the angle from the trail all change the look of the water. You may see rich blue or green tones, while Lake Rojo is known for its reddish appearance. The lakes sit beneath the massive presence of Ausangate, with snow on the mountain adding a sharp contrast.

I like this trip because it gives you a full day in a natural setting without asking you to camp or carry several days of equipment. You get there by road, walk the route, eat at Pacchanta, and return to Cusco the same day.

The 4:00 AM start from Cusco

Pickup is scheduled for 4:00 AM from hotels in selected areas of Cusco, particularly those within the historic center. That means you need to prepare your daypack and clothes the night before. This is not the kind of tour where you can linger over a late breakfast.

The early departure has a clear purpose. Pacchanta is far enough from Cusco that the day needs to begin before sunrise if you are going to complete the walking route and return by about 6:00 PM. The schedule also leaves room for breakfast before you set out.

Round-trip transportation is included, so you do not need to arrange a separate ride to the trailhead. The final return is near Cusco’s main square rather than necessarily at your hotel. If your hotel sits outside the pickup area, check the meeting details before booking.

The early hour may be the hardest part for some people. You are not only waking before dawn, but also preparing for a demanding walk after a road journey. Still, an early start is part of what makes this a workable one-day trip from Cusco.

Breakfast in Pacchanta before the trail

After reaching Pacchanta, you have breakfast before starting the hike. This is a useful inclusion, not just a small perk. A long mountain walk is much easier when you do not have to rely only on snacks packed from Cusco.

Pacchanta also gives you your first close look at the community connected to this part of the Ausangate route. The tour includes time in the settlement, and the town is also where you return for lunch after the walk.

Do not expect Pacchanta to be the main sightseeing stop. Its value is practical and cultural: it is the starting point, the meal stop, and the place where you can use the hot springs if you pay the separate entry fee.

The first two hours to the seven-lake viewpoint

From Pacchanta, the hike takes about two hours to reach a viewpoint overlooking the seven lakes. This first section is where the tour changes from a road trip into a proper mountain outing.

The viewpoint gives you the broad picture before you move closer to individual lakes. From there, you can see the color range of the water and the scale of the surrounding mountains. It is the place to understand why the route is called the Seven Lakes tour rather than simply a visit to one lake.

This climb is also where you should judge your pace. The walk is described as pleasant but sporty, and a recent participant recorded the total route at 13 kilometers. The guide sets the rhythm, but you still need a reasonable level of fitness for several hours on foot.

Walking sticks are included, which should help on uneven or tiring sections. The guide also carries a first aid kit and oxygen. Those items are sensible support in a mountain environment, but they do not turn a difficult hike into an easy one. If you have respiratory problems or a pre-existing medical condition, this tour is specifically not recommended.

Visiting the lakes after the main viewpoint

After the viewpoint, the route continues for about three more hours, visiting most of the seven lakes before returning to Pacchanta. This is the part where the scenery keeps changing, but the schedule matters.

You are not likely to spend a long, unhurried stretch at every lake. The walking time takes up much of the day, and one account specifically notes that there was little time actually spent beside the lakes. If you want extended photography sessions at each body of water, you may find the pace restrictive.

For most people, the tradeoff is fair. You see a broad range of scenery in one day rather than stopping at a single viewpoint. The route lets you compare the lakes, watch the colors shift, and take in Ausangate from several angles.

The named lakes include several details to look for:

• Lake Superior provides part of the upper mountain lake group.
• Lake Otorongo Hombre and Lake Otorongo are two separate stops with similar names.
• Lake Rojo adds a warmer red tone to the route.
• Lake Ccomer and Laguna Azul bring more green and blue shades into the mix.
• Lake Alqa completes the named group of seven.

The tour also allows you to see mountain plants and animals along the route. No specific species are promised, so I would treat flora and fauna as part of the setting rather than the main reason to book.

A long walk with a manageable group

A group limit of 15 people is a helpful middle ground. It is small enough for the guide to keep the group together more easily than on a large coach excursion, but it is not a private hike.

Guides operate in English and Spanish. The guide’s role matters most on the trail, where pacing, route direction, and basic support are more useful than a constant stream of commentary. Jonatan is one guide associated with the experience, and he has been praised for keeping a friendly pace and accompanying the group throughout the walk.

You should still expect a group outing rather than a custom private trek. The guide needs to balance different walking speeds, meal times, and the return schedule. If you stop often for photos, you may need to keep moving later so the whole group can finish on time.

The included walking sticks are a nice practical touch. Bring your own if you prefer a particular style, but the supplied equipment means you do not need to arrange trekking poles separately.

Lunch and the Pacchanta hot springs

Once you return to Pacchanta, lunch is included. This is another reason the price works well. You receive two meals during a long day, rather than paying for food along the route or carrying everything from Cusco.

The lunch has earned specific praise for fresh ingredients and good quality. It is best viewed as a proper recovery meal after the hike, not a minor snack before the drive home.

The hot springs are nearby, but entry is not included. You will need cash for that extra cost. After several hours of walking, a thermal bath can be an appealing finish, though it adds another expense and may affect the timing of your return.

Because the tour returns to Cusco near the main square at about 6:00 PM, confirm how much time is available for the baths on your chosen departure. The supplied information confirms the hot springs visit as an option, but does not state the entry price or exact bathing time.

Is $37 good value for a full day?

At $37 per person, this is an inexpensive way to reach a remote natural attraction from Cusco. The price includes pickup in selected areas, round-trip transport, a professional guide, breakfast, lunch, a first aid kit, oxygen, and walking sticks.

If you arranged each part separately, transport alone could make the day harder to organize. The meals also matter because this is a long outing with an early departure and a late return. You are paying mainly for access and convenience, not luxury.

The value is strongest if you want a structured day and do not need a private vehicle or a flexible pace. It is weaker if you dislike early starts, group schedules, or long walks. You should also budget for the thermal baths, any extra expenses, and possibly a horse ride if you decide that you do not want to walk the entire route.

Horse rides are not included. The available information does not state the price, duration, or exact arrangements, so treat one as an optional extra rather than part of the planned package.

What to pack for the Ausangate route

The required packing list tells you a lot about the day. Bring your passport, sunglasses, sun protection, a hat, water, snacks, cash, a camera, and a daypack.

You should take the sun protection seriously. Open mountain routes can feel exposed, and the tour specifically asks you to bring sunscreen, sunglasses, and a sun hat. The extra hat listed in the preparation advice may simply mean a warm or practical head covering, so packing one that suits both sun and cool conditions is sensible.

Water and snacks are also important even though breakfast and lunch are included. Meals happen at set points, while the hike lasts several hours. A small daypack lets you carry your water, camera, sunscreen, and an extra layer without slowing you down.

Cash is needed for the thermal baths and any extra costs. Smoking, alcohol, and drugs are not allowed on the activity.

Who should book this day trip?

I would choose this tour if you want the Ausangate scenery but do not have time for a multi-day trek. It gives you the main visual reward, the seven lakes, in a single day, with food and transport handled for you.

It is a good match for people who enjoy active sightseeing and can walk for roughly five hours. A normal level of fitness may be enough for the route, but normal does not mean effortless. The 13-kilometer estimate and the mountain setting make sturdy shoes, steady pacing, and realistic expectations important.

I would not recommend it for wheelchair users, people with respiratory issues, or anyone with a pre-existing medical condition. The supplied activity guidance specifically excludes those groups, and the long walk is not easily adapted.

It is also less suitable if your main goal is slow photography. You will see many beautiful scenes, but the route must keep moving so the group can reach Pacchanta for lunch and return to Cusco on time.

Booking flexibility and practical planning

The tour offers free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later, which helps if your Cusco schedule is still shifting.

The activity lasts one day, with availability and start times checked during booking. The standard schedule begins with a 4:00 AM pickup and ends near the main square around 6:00 PM.

The overall rating is 4.5 from 47 reviews, with especially strong praise for the views, the guide support, the friendly pace, and the lunch. The useful caution is the limited time at the lakes, so do not book this expecting a relaxed picnic beside each one.

Should you book the Ausangate 7 Lakes Tour?

Book it if you want big mountain scenery, colorful lakes, and a full active day for $37. The included meals, transport, guide, walking sticks, and small group make the cost practical, and the scenery beneath Mount Ausangate is the kind of reason people make the long trip southeast of Cusco.

Skip it if you need an easy outing, have a medical condition that makes mountain walking risky, or want lots of time at each lake. For everyone else, the best approach is to accept the early start and steady pace as the price of seeing seven lakes in one day. Add the hot springs if the schedule allows, and pack light, warm, and ready to walk.

FAQ

What time does the tour leave Cusco?

Pickup is scheduled for 4:00 AM from hotels in selected areas of Cusco, especially hotels within the historic center.

How long does the Ausangate 7 Lakes tour last?

The activity lasts one day. The stated schedule runs from the early morning pickup until about 6:00 PM, when you return near Cusco’s main square.

How long is the hike?

The walking schedule includes about two hours to reach the viewpoint and another three hours visiting most of the lakes and returning to Pacchanta. One account records the total route at about 13 kilometers.

Are breakfast and lunch included?

Yes. Breakfast is served in Pacchanta before the hike, and lunch is provided after you return to town.

Are the Pacchanta hot springs included?

No. Entry to the thermal baths is not included, so you need to pay the fee separately.

Is the tour available in English?

Yes. The tour is offered with a live guide in English or Spanish, and groups are limited to 15 participants.