From Cusco: Tour Ausangate & 7 Lakes Full Day

The real draw here is the seven-lagoon circuit beneath Ausangate, where each pool brings a different shade of blue, green, or red against Peru’s high Andean peaks. I like the strong value: for $28, you get hotel pickup, transport, breakfast, lunch, a bilingual guide, and the hike. I also like the finish in Pacchanta’s medicinal hot springs, a welcome reward after a long day on foot.

The catch is the schedule. You leave Cusco around 5:00 am, spend roughly six hours on the road during the day, and may walk as much as 16 kilometers in total. One especially poor experience involved a cramped bus, no working air conditioning, and a guide who did not speak English, so transport and guide quality can make or break the day.

Key points before you book

• Seven named lagoons: See Azulqocha, Orco Otorongo, China Otorongo, Puqacocha, Alqacocha, Qomercocha, and Patacocha.
• A long highland day: The stated route is about 7.5 kilometers and five hours, but one account put the full walk at 16 kilometers.
• Ausangate views: The circuit brings you near Ausangate, Mariposa, Jampa, Pucapunta, Caracol, and Tinke peaks.
• Pacchanta hot springs: Entry costs S/ 5 and is separate from the tour price.
• Good package value: Breakfast, lunch, transport, and a guide are included for $28, while the lagoon entry fee is S/ 20.
• Guide note: English and Spanish service is advertised, and guide Wilfredo received warm praise for managing the group well.

Why the seven Ausangate lakes are worth the long ride

This is not a quick outing from Cusco. It is a full day in the high Andes, with an early departure, a long drive to Pacchanta, a substantial walk, and an evening return. You should book it for the scenery, not for a relaxed pace or a short transfer.

Ausangate is one of the great mountain areas near Cusco. The attraction is not one single viewpoint. It is the changing sequence of lakes and peaks along the route. The seven lagoons are Azulqocha, Orco Otorongo, China Otorongo, Puqacocha, Alqacocha, Qomercocha, and Patacocha.

I like this format because the hike gives you several visual goals. You are not walking for hours toward one distant lookout, then turning around. The route keeps offering another pool, another mountain angle, or another stretch of open highland scenery.

The descriptions of the lakes use color names and animal references, but do not expect every pool to look the same in every kind of light. Weather, clouds, and sun can change the water’s appearance. The appeal is the group of lagoons taken together, framed by broad mountain slopes and sharp peaks.

You may also see alpacas, llamas, vizcachas, and native birds along the way. A condor is possible, but not guaranteed. That matters because this is a quiet nature outing, not a wildlife-focused excursion with set sightings.

A 5:00 am start from Cusco

Pickup begins at about 5:00 am from hotels in the city of Cusco. One recorded experience had a pickup confusion, with the departure time changing from 5:00 am to 4:00 am and the group waiting outside in the cold. I would confirm the exact pickup time and meeting point the day before, then be ready early.

The morning start is necessary if the tour is to fit in the drive, hike, lunch, hot springs, and return to Cusco by about 7:00 pm. It is also the part of the day where comfort matters most. Bring a warm layer for the first hours, along with water and snacks if you prefer more control over what you eat.

The included tourist transport is a major part of the value, since Pacchanta is far from Cusco. But you should keep expectations practical. Transport quality has not been consistent. One poor account described broken seats, no seat belts, little legroom, cold conditions on the way out, and poor ventilation on the return.

That is not a small complaint on a day involving around twelve hours away from Cusco. When you book at this price, you are paying for basic shared transport, not a private van or luxury coach. Still, a functioning vehicle with safe seating should be the minimum. Ask the operator to confirm the vehicle and pickup arrangements if comfort is important to you.

Breakfast in Pacchanta and the start of the hike

After the drive, you reach Pacchanta and eat a regional breakfast. The meal is included, and it gives you a useful chance to sit down before walking. A short briefing follows, with the guide explaining the route and what to expect.

The food should be viewed as simple fuel rather than a culinary feature. One account found the breakfast disappointing, so you may want to carry a small backup snack. That is sensible on any long mountain day, especially when lunch timing depends on the group.

The guide’s briefing matters. You need clear information about the route, regrouping points, walking time, and the plan for the hot springs. The advertised service includes English and Spanish. Guide Wilfredo received especially good praise for explaining the sights and keeping the group together.

At the same time, another account reported that the assigned guide did not speak English and failed to accompany the group properly during the hike. Since guide performance may vary, confirm the language you need before departure. If the guide gives instructions quickly, ask for them again rather than setting off uncertainly.

Walking the 7.5 kilometer lagoon route

The published hiking route covers about 7.5 kilometers and takes around five hours. A separate account described the full walk as 16 kilometers, which may include additional walking, the return route, or a longer version of the circuit. I would prepare for the longer figure.

The route is described as manageable in terms of steep climbs by someone comparing it with other excursions from Cusco, but the distance still makes it a serious outing. Five hours on foot at high elevation can feel very different from five hours at sea level. The tour details do not give an exact altitude, so you should not assume the walk will be easy simply because it is not packed with steep steps.

The group pace is another point to watch. One very poor experience described the guide constantly hurrying people without a clear reason. That can rob the walk of its best quality: time to look around, take photographs, and enjoy the open country.

At the other end, a strong account praised Wilfredo for handling the group well. That contrast tells you what to value in a guide. You want someone who keeps the day moving but also explains the stops and makes sure nobody is left behind.

Wear shoes suitable for uneven outdoor paths. The provided details do not state the exact trail surface, so I would not assume a smooth walking path. Bring water, sun protection, warm clothing, and rain protection if needed for the day’s forecast. Water is not included, and alcoholic drinks are also excluded.

The mountains around Ausangate

The lagoons are only half the show. The circuit gives you views of Ausangate, Mariposa, Jampa, Pucapunta, Caracol, and Tinke. These names help you understand the scale of the area: you are walking through a broad mountain setting, not simply visiting a row of roadside pools.

Ausangate is the visual anchor. Its presence gives the route a sense of place, while the other peaks help fill out the views as you move from one lagoon to the next. I like that the tour combines named water features with named mountains. It gives you more to notice than a single photo stop.

The wildlife adds another layer. Alpacas and llamas are part of the highland setting, while vizcachas may appear among rocky areas. Native birds are possible, and the Andean condor is the most exciting possibility. Bring binoculars if you already have them, but do not book this as a guaranteed animal-watching trip.

The phrase a thousand miracles fits the small details better than the big promise. Light on a lake, an alpaca herd, a bird crossing the sky, or a sudden clear view of a peak can make the walking feel worthwhile. You need patience, though. The weather may not reveal every mountain at once.

Lunch back in Pacchanta

After the lagoon circuit, you return to Pacchanta for a local lunch. This is welcome timing because the route is long and the early breakfast may feel far behind you. Lunch is included, which keeps the $28 price attractive.

Food service has not been perfectly reliable. One account described a cold lunch with too little fish for the group, leaving mostly side dishes. I would treat the meal as part of the package, but not as a reason to choose this outing over another one.

If you have dietary needs, the supplied information does not explain how special meals are handled. Ask before booking rather than expecting the restaurant or guide to adjust the meal on the spot. Carrying a snack is wise regardless.

The Pacchanta hot springs finish

The hot springs are meant to be the day’s easy ending. Pacchanta’s medicinal pools offer a chance to sit, warm up, and rest your legs before the drive back to Cusco. Admission costs S/ 5 and is not included in the $28 tour price.

I would plan to use them, but I would not assume access is guaranteed. One poor experience said the group was not allowed to visit the springs despite the guide discussing them during the day. That is a serious mismatch between the expected program and the actual finish.

Ask at the start of the day if the hot springs are definitely included in the timing. Also carry a swimsuit and a change of dry clothes if you intend to enter the pools. These items are not listed as provided, so you need to bring your own.

When the springs are available, they make practical sense rather than serving as a grand attraction. After several hours of walking, a warm soak can make the return ride more tolerable. If the schedule is rushed, however, the springs may be the first part of the plan to disappear.

Is $28 good value?

At $28 per person, this is one of those tours where the price looks hard to beat. Hotel pickup, tourist transport, an English or Spanish guide, breakfast, lunch, and the main excursion are included. You pay extra for the lagoon entrance, S/ 20, and the hot springs, S/ 5.

You also need to pay for any horse you choose to use. Horses are not included, and the supplied information does not state the price or how much of the route they cover. Water, alcoholic drinks, accommodation, and travel insurance are also excluded.

The value is strongest if you want a simple, organized way to reach Pacchanta without arranging transport yourself. The drive alone would make independent planning more complicated. The package also removes the need to find breakfast and lunch during a very long day.

The price comes with tradeoffs. Shared transport can be basic, the food may be plain, and the schedule may feel hurried. If you want a polished vehicle, a guaranteed hot-spring visit, or a slow walking pace, a more expensive operator may be worth considering.

Who should book this day trip?

I would recommend it to you if you have one free day in Cusco and want to see dramatic highland scenery beyond the city. It suits people who enjoy long outdoor days, can handle several hours on foot, and are willing to accept basic shared transport in return for a low price.

It is also a good fit if you value variety. You get mountain views, lagoons, wildlife possibilities, local food, and hot springs in one outing. The experience is not built around ruins or museums, so it offers a different side of the Cusco region.

I would be cautious if you need a relaxed schedule, dependable vehicle comfort, or precise accessibility information. The tour data does not provide accessibility details, and the accounts of rushed pacing and poor transport suggest that you should ask direct questions before paying.

The day is also a poor match if you dislike early starts. Pickup around 5:00 am, a roughly six-hour journey to the area, about five hours on the trail, and arrival back in Cusco around 7:00 pm add up to a tiring schedule.

Chullos Travel Peru offers free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later. Those terms give you some flexibility, but they do not remove the need to check the exact pickup time, guide language, transport plan, and hot-spring arrangements.

My booking verdict

I would book this tour for the scenery and price, not for comfort. The seven lagoons and Ausangate views give you a memorable day in the high Andes, and the included meals and transport make $28 a strong deal.

Before booking, I would send four questions: Is pickup at 5:00 am or 4:00 am? Will the guide speak English? Is the hot-spring stop guaranteed? How long will the actual walk be, closer to 7.5 or 16 kilometers?

If the answers are clear and you are ready for a long day, this is a sensible budget choice. If the operator cannot give clear answers, spend more with a company that offers firmer planning and better transport standards.

FAQ

How long does the Ausangate 7 Lakes tour last?

The activity lasts one day. Pickup begins around 5:00 am, and the group is expected to return to Cusco at about 7:00 pm.

How long is the walk?

The stated route is approximately 7.5 kilometers and takes around five hours. One account described the total walking distance as 16 kilometers, so prepare for a potentially longer route.

Which lagoons does the tour visit?

The route includes Azulqocha, Orco Otorongo, China Otorongo, Puqacocha, Alqacocha, Qomercocha, and Patacocha.

What mountains can I see?

The route offers views of Ausangate, Mariposa, Jampa, Pucapunta, Caracol, and Tinke.

Are breakfast and lunch included?

Yes. One breakfast and one lunch are included in the tour price.

Is the hot-spring entrance included?

No. Entry to the Pacchanta hot springs costs S/ 5 and must be paid separately.

How much is the entrance to the seven lagoons?

The entrance fee is S/ 20 and is not included in the tour price.

Is an English-speaking guide available?

English and Spanish guides are advertised. Guide assignments can vary, so confirm the language before departure if English guidance is important to you.