Cusco: Ausangate Tour 7 Lagoons full day

Ausangate’s seven high-altitude lagoons give you one of the most striking day trips from Cusco. Blue, turquoise, green, and mirror-like water sits below the snow-covered Apu Ausangate, while alpacas, llamas, vizcachas, and Andean birds add life to the route. I like the mix of scenery and local routine: a simple breakfast in Pacchanta, a long mountain walk, lunch, then a soak in hot springs.

I also like that the day includes both English and Spanish guiding, plus transport and meals for $36. The tradeoff is the schedule. Pickup begins around 4:30 a.m., the drive takes about three hours each way, and the five-hour walk reaches high ground. You need time to acclimatize in Cusco and enough strength for a serious day outdoors.

Key points about the Ausangate 7 Lagoons day trip

• Seven named lagoons: Azulcocha, Otorongo, Pucacocha, Alqacocha, Q’omercocha, Orqo Otorongo, and China Otorongo.
• A five-hour round-trip hike: You climb gradually from Pacchanta, visiting the lagoons one after another.
• Snow-capped Ausangate views: The mountain provides the dramatic backdrop for photographs throughout the walk.
• Breakfast, lunch, and hot springs: The price covers local meals, while the thermal pools cost an extra 10 soles.
• Early start and late return: Pickup runs from 4:30 to 5:00 a.m., with arrival back in Cusco expected around 7:30 p.m.
• A high-altitude outing: Acclimatization and good physical condition matter more here than the modest price suggests.

Why Ausangate’s seven lagoons are worth the long day

The appeal is simple: you get a full day in a remote-feeling mountain setting without committing to a multi-day trek. Ausangate is one of the major peaks of the Cusco region, known locally as an Apu, a mountain with spiritual importance. You do not need to be a serious mountaineer to appreciate it. You only need to get out of the vehicle and walk.

The lagoons change in color and shape as the route progresses. Some are described as blue or turquoise, others as green, and a few spread wide enough to reflect the surrounding peaks like natural mirrors. Water color can shift with light, weather, and viewing angle, so the experience is less about finding one perfect postcard pool and more about seeing several different mountain waters in one morning.

I especially like the variety of the route. The walk is not only a series of photo stops. You pass open highland scenery and may spot alpacas, llamas, vizcachas, and Andean birds. Those details help make the outing feel connected to the area rather than like a quick drive to a single viewpoint.

The strongest praise for this experience centers on the views, the food, and the guide’s manner. One particularly useful detail is the flexible walking rhythm: you may have some freedom to go at your own pace at first, then regroup with the guide to visit the lagoons together. That can work well for a mixed group, although you still need to remain attentive to meeting points and instructions.

The 4:30 a.m. pickup from Cusco

The day starts before sunrise. Pickup is scheduled between 4:30 and 5:00 a.m. from hotels, Airbnbs, houses, and other accommodation in central Cusco and the southern part of the city.

Several pickup points are listed, including the Main Square, Avenida El Sol, Calle Saphy, Avenida Arcopata, Oval Pachacutec, and various hotels and inns. If you are staying outside the city center or southern area, confirm the pickup arrangement before booking. Hotel pickup is included, but hotel drop-off is not.

This early departure is necessary because Pacchanta is about three hours from Cusco by tourist transport. The ride takes a large part of the day, but it also gives you time to rest before the walk. Bring a jacket or small layer that you can keep handy, since temperatures can change sharply between the city, the road, and the high mountain area.

The transport is described as a tourist bus or coach. No group size is provided, so do not assume a small private vehicle. At $36 per person, the price suggests a shared excursion, and the included transport is a major part of the value.

Breakfast in Pacchanta before the climb

After the drive, you stop in Pacchanta for a local breakfast lasting about 30 minutes. This is a useful pause before walking, especially after leaving Cusco so early.

The meal is included, along with lunch later in the day. Exact dishes are not specified, so bring snacks if you know you need food between meals. Snacks are also listed among the recommended items, which is sensible for a five-hour mountain walk.

Pacchanta is more than a breakfast stop. It is the base for the route and the place where you return for lunch and thermal waters. That gives the day a clear rhythm: travel to the community, walk into the mountains, then come back for food and rest.

Do not expect breakfast to replace your own preparation. You may be tired from the early wake-up and the long drive, so pack a small snack you already know you can eat comfortably. Cash is also important, since several costs are paid separately during the day.

Walking the five-hour lagoon route

The walk begins after breakfast and climbs gradually toward the first lagoon. The stated duration is about five hours round trip, including the visit to the seven lagoons and time along the route.

The phrase ascend little by little matters. This is not presented as a flat stroll. Even a gradual climb can feel demanding at high altitude, particularly if you have only recently arrived in Cusco. The tour specifically advises acclimatization and good physical condition, and it is not suitable for people with altitude sickness or high blood pressure.

Your guide leads in English or Spanish and provides direction along the route. The guide may allow you to walk at your own pace for part of the outing before bringing the group together to see the lagoons. That gives you a little breathing room, but do not treat it as a fully independent hike. Stay aware of where the group is and where the guide wants you to regroup.

The route includes photo stops, scenic views, and time to walk among the lagoons. Shopping is also listed as part of the stop, though no specific market or products are described. Do not count on a major shopping experience. The main attraction is the mountain setting.

For the best experience, use the walking time to look beyond your camera. The colors are an obvious draw, but the scale of Ausangate and the open highland setting are just as important. A photo may capture a bright pool, yet it cannot fully show the thin air, broad views, and snow peak behind it.

The seven lagoons and their changing colors

The route visits Azulcocha, Otorongo, Pucacocha, Alqacocha, Q’omercocha, Orqo Otorongo, and China Otorongo. The names are useful to know because they give structure to the walk, even if you do not remember every one afterward.

The lagoons are described as blue, turquoise, and green. Some are large and reflective, giving you the mirror-like views that make this area popular with photographers. Weather can affect the mood of the scene. The tour operates rain or shine, so cloudy skies, changing light, or rain are all possible.

That is one of the tour’s strengths and one of its risks. On a clear day, the snow-capped Apu Ausangate and colored water should provide the dramatic views promised by the experience. In poor weather, visibility may be reduced, and the walk can feel much harder. Pack rain gear rather than hoping for perfect conditions.

You should also bring sunglasses and a sun hat. High-altitude sunlight can feel strong even when the air is cold. Comfortable shoes and hiking shoes are both listed, but for a five-hour route, proper hiking shoes are the safer choice.

Lunch and Pacchanta’s thermal waters

After the walk, you return to Pacchanta for a break of about 45 minutes, followed by lunch lasting roughly 45 minutes. The meal is included, and the food receives strong approval in the available feedback. That matters after a long morning outside, especially when the day began before dawn.

Then comes the most relaxing part of the schedule: Pacchanta’s thermo-medicinal waters. The thermal water entry costs 10 soles and is not included in the tour price. You should keep local currency ready rather than assuming the admission is covered.

The pools offer a chance to warm up and rest your legs after the hike. They are not a substitute for medical treatment, despite the description of the waters as thermo-medicinal. Think of them as a pleasant hot-spring stop at the end of a demanding outing.

The order is well chosen. If the hot springs came before the walk, you might be tempted to stop moving. After five hours on the route, the soak gives the day a gentle finish before the return drive. Bring any personal items you want for changing or drying, though no specific towel service is stated.

Is $36 a good value?

At $36 per person, this is an inexpensive way to reach Ausangate’s lagoons from Cusco. The cost includes hotel pickup, tourist transport, an English or Spanish-speaking guide, breakfast, lunch, and a first aid kit.

The main extras are modest but should be included in your budget:

• Ausangate entrance: 20 soles
• Thermal waters: 10 soles
• Horses, if you choose to use one
• Dinner
• Hotel drop-off

The horse option is not included, and no price is given. If you are concerned about the five-hour walk, ask about availability and cost before departure. Do not assume a horse will automatically be ready or included.

The value depends on how you view the long transport time. You spend about six hours riding to and from Pacchanta, but arranging that journey independently would require your own transport and planning. For many people, the combination of access, guide, meals, and hot springs makes the price attractive.

The rating is 4.6 from 17 reviews, with especially positive comments about the scenery, food, organization, and guide. That is a solid signal, but it does not remove the physical demands. A low price should not persuade you to ignore altitude concerns.

What to pack for the Ausangate weather

The tour runs in rain or shine, so your packing list should prepare for both cold sun and wet weather.

Bring:

• Hiking shoes with good support
• Warm clothing and an extra layer
• Rain gear
• Sunglasses
• A sun hat
• Snacks
• Cash
• A small bag for personal items

Layering is more useful than carrying one very heavy coat. You may feel cold during the early start, warmer while walking, and chilled again during rest stops. Rain gear is worth carrying even if the forecast looks clear.

Cash covers the Ausangate entrance and thermal-water fee. It may also help with horses or shopping, though exact prices for those extras are not given.

Most important, allow yourself time to acclimatize in Cusco before this trip. The tour is not suitable for anyone with altitude sickness or high blood pressure, and it calls for good physical condition. If you feel unwell at altitude, a colorful lagoon is not worth pushing through serious symptoms.

Who should book this full-day outing?

I would recommend this tour to you if you want dramatic mountain scenery, do not mind a pre-dawn start, and can handle a five-hour high-altitude walk. It suits people who want to see more of the Cusco region than the city and nearby ruins provide.

It also works well if you value convenience. Transport, guiding, breakfast, lunch, and hotel pickup are arranged, so you do not have to solve the long journey to Pacchanta yourself. The hot springs add a comfortable finish.

I would be more cautious if you have limited hiking experience, have not acclimatized, or dislike long bus rides. The day lasts 870 minutes, or about 14 hours and 30 minutes. That is a lot of time for one excursion, and the return to Cusco is expected around 7:30 p.m.

The guide’s flexible walking approach may help groups with different speeds, but you still need to keep up with the schedule. This is not a relaxed sightseeing loop where you can wander off for hours. It is a structured mountain day with several fixed stops.

Should you book the Ausangate 7 Lagoons tour?

Book it if your priority is big mountain scenery on a manageable budget. The seven lagoons, snow-capped Ausangate, local meals, and hot springs create a varied day rather than a single viewpoint visit.

Skip it if altitude affects you, if you have high blood pressure, or if a five-hour walk and six hours of driving sound exhausting. Also remember to add 30 soles for the entrance and thermal waters, plus any horse costs.

For a properly acclimatized visitor who wants strong views and does not mind an early alarm, this is a good-value day trip. Pack for changing weather, carry cash, and treat the physical warning seriously. The scenery may reward the effort, but the mountain sets the terms.

FAQ

How long does the Ausangate 7 Lagoons tour last?

The activity lasts 870 minutes, or about 14 hours and 30 minutes. Pickup begins between 4:30 and 5:00 a.m., and arrival back in Cusco is expected around 7:30 p.m.

How long is the hike?

The walk takes about five hours round trip. The route climbs gradually from Pacchanta and visits seven lagoons.

Which lagoons are included?

The route visits Azulcocha, Otorongo, Pucacocha, Alqacocha, Q’omercocha, Orqo Otorongo, and China Otorongo.

Are breakfast and lunch included?

Yes. A local breakfast in Pacchanta and lunch after the walk are included in the tour price.

Are the entrance fees included?

No. The Ausangate entrance costs 20 soles, and entry to the thermal waters costs 10 soles. Horses are also excluded.

What languages does the guide speak?

Guiding is available in English and Spanish.