From Cusco: 7 Lakes of Ausangate Full Day Tour

The best part of this day is the chance to see seven turquoise-green lakes beneath the snowy peaks of Ausangate, far from Cusco’s busy streets. You walk through the Vilcanota range among llamas and alpacas, meet people from native Andean communities, and finish near the Pacchanta hot springs.

I like the quiet mountain setting and the practical support: breakfast, lunch, transport, hiking poles, and a first aid kit are included. Guides such as Anibal and Ruben have earned praise for clear explanations, humor, patience, and good pacing. The main drawback is simple: this is a strenuous, high-altitude hike, and the extra entrance fee for the lakes is not included.

• Seven mountain lakes: See a chain of turquoise-green lakes around Ausangate on a five-hour hike.
• Andean community contact: Meet local people and see colorful textiles, ornaments, llamas, and alpacas.
• Breakfast and lunch included: Start and refuel in Pacchanta rather than carrying a full day of food.
• Pacchanta hot springs: End the mountain outing with time at a well-known local hot-spring area.
• Guides who help with altitude: Anibal, Ruben, and other guides have been praised for encouragement and well-timed breaks.
• Small-group or private choices: The tour can be arranged as a private outing or in a small group.

Why the Seven Lakes of Ausangate Are Worth the Long Day

Ausangate gives you a very different side of the Cusco region. Instead of spending the day among ruins or along busy roads, you head into open Andean country, where snowy summits, broad mountain terrain, and high lakes set the pace.

The seven lakes are the main reason to book. Their colors are described as turquoise-green, though mountain water can look different as light and weather change. You will not simply stop at one viewpoint, take a picture, and return. The day includes about five hours of walking through part of the Vilcanota mountain range.

I especially like the way this outing connects scenery with local life. Llamas and alpacas live in this part of the Andes, and you may see them as you cross their natural habitat. You also meet people from native communities and see their ornaments and colorful textiles. That makes the day feel less like a viewpoint transfer and more like time spent in a working mountain region.

The setting is quiet compared with the roads around Cusco. That quiet comes with a price, though: the route is physically demanding, and altitude can turn a beautiful walk into a difficult one if you have not adjusted to the Andes.

From Cusco to Pacchanta for Breakfast

Pickup is available in Cusco’s historic center. You are asked to wait at your hotel front desk at the arranged time, and transport takes you to Pacchanta, listed at the meeting point as 7QJ3+6V Pajchanta.

Breakfast is scheduled for one hour. This is useful more than glamorous. You get a proper chance to eat before the walk rather than trying to begin a five-hour route with only a quick snack. Lunch is also included later, so the tour covers the two main meals you need during the day.

The exact start time depends on availability, so check it before booking. A full-day trip from Cusco means the outing occupies most of your day, with transport, meals, walking, and the return journey all included in that single schedule.

Pacchanta is also important because it brings together the practical and cultural parts of the day. You start and finish the walking portion here, eat here, and visit the hot springs here. The village is not just a place where a vehicle drops you at a trailhead.

Five Hours Among Ausangate’s Seven Lakes

The central hike takes about five hours. You walk through the Vilcanota mountain range toward the seven lakes of Ausangate, with broad views of snowy peaks and high Andean terrain along the way.

This is not a casual stroll. One person described the route as quite strenuous and said it was worth being ready to pay for a horse if the altitude became too much. The tour does not include a horse, and no horse price or availability is provided, so treat that as a possible extra rather than a guaranteed part of the plan.

The supplied hiking poles are a useful inclusion. They can help on uneven ground and give you another point of support when your legs tire. A first aid kit is also carried, but it does not turn a demanding hike into an easy one. You still need to judge your own fitness honestly.

The route’s appeal is the steady change in scenery. You get snowy mountain views, lakes in several settings, and open ground where llamas and alpacas move through the area. The experience is strongest for people who enjoy walking for the sake of the surroundings, not just collecting a final viewpoint.

Bring proper hiking shoes. Rain gear is also essential because Andean weather can change suddenly. Even a clear morning can give way to wet, cold conditions, so a light city jacket is not enough preparation for this day.

Guides Who Set the Pace

The guide can speak English or Spanish, and the tour is available privately or in a small group. That matters on a route where pace and altitude affect everyone differently.

Several named guides receive especially strong praise. Anibal is described as friendly, humorous, well prepared, and good at explaining the area. Ruben is also praised as a helpful guide, and one participant specifically appreciated his willingness to give breaks when altitude became overwhelming. Another guide, Hannibal, was remembered as kind and informative.

You should see these comments as useful clues about the guiding style, not as a promise that a particular guide will lead your departure. Still, the pattern is encouraging: the best part of a high-altitude day is often having someone who watches the group, explains what you are seeing, and knows when to slow down.

If you are choosing between a private outing and a small group, a private trip offers more room for your pace and breaks. A small group may offer a lower-cost social experience, but the walking speed will be shared. The available price of $130 per person should be judged alongside the group format, since private and small-group arrangements can provide different value.

Local People, Textiles, Llamas, and Alpacas

This tour gives you contact with the Andean communities around Ausangate. You may meet local people on their own land and see ornaments and colorful textiles connected with local dress and craft traditions.

The contact is brief rather than a full cultural program, so I would not book this as a dedicated community visit. Its value is that local life appears naturally alongside the walk. You are not confined to a vehicle or a single photo stop. You move through an area where herding and mountain life remain part of the scene.

Llamas and alpacas add another memorable detail. The tour takes you through their natural habitat, so you may see them during the walk. Do not expect a formal animal-handling activity, since none is specified. The pleasure is simply seeing these animals in the high Andes rather than only in a city plaza or staged photo setting.

Lunch, Pacchanta, and the Hot Springs

After the five-hour walk, you return to Pacchanta for a one-hour lunch. Having food arranged is a real advantage after a long hike. You do not need to spend the final part of the route worrying about finding a meal or carrying enough provisions for the whole day.

The itinerary also includes a visit to the Pacchanta hot springs. This gives the day a welcome change of pace after the lakes and mountain walking. The supplied details do not state how long you spend in the water or whether any hot-spring fee is included, so check those points before you go.

The hot springs are best understood as a closing stop, not a replacement for the hike. The main activity remains the five-hour route around Ausangate’s lakes. If your priority is soaking rather than walking, this may feel too strenuous. If you like ending an active day with a warmer, slower stop, it makes good sense.

Afterward, transport returns you to Cusco. Drop-off options include Centro Histórico and Plazoleta Regocijo.

What the $130 Price Covers

At $130 per person, the tour includes round-trip transport, a professional guide, breakfast, lunch, hiking poles, and a first aid kit. That package has solid value for a full day because transport from Cusco and both meals are already handled.

The guide is particularly important here. You are not only paying to be driven to a mountain area. You are paying for route support, interpretation, pacing, and help if altitude affects you. The inclusion of poles is another small but useful saving.

The main price warning is the entrance fee to the seven lakes. It is not included, and the amount is not supplied, so budget for it separately. The cost of any horse is also not listed and should be treated as an additional expense if you need that option.

For the best value, I would choose this trip if you want a complete day in the Andes and would otherwise need to arrange transport, food, and a guide separately. It is less attractive if you want a short sightseeing outing or if you dislike paying extra fees on the day.

Who Should Book This Hike

This tour suits an active adult who has already spent time adjusting to the altitude in Peru and is comfortable walking for several hours. It also fits people who want mountain scenery, local contact, and a quieter setting rather than a short city excursion.

I would be cautious if you have heart problems, are pregnant, or are over 65, since the activity is specifically not suitable for those groups. The route is strenuous, and the supplied guidance also stresses the risk of sudden weather changes.

You do not need to be an expert mountaineer based on the information provided, but you do need to take the five-hour walking time seriously. Wear hiking shoes, bring rain gear, and be prepared for cold or wet conditions. The guide can offer breaks, but you remain responsible for knowing your limits.

Booking Details to Keep in Mind

Pickup is included, with collection from your hotel front desk at the provided time. The activity is offered in English and Spanish, and private or small-group formats are available.

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund, and the reserve-now, pay-later option lets you hold a place without paying immediately. Starting times vary, so check availability before you commit to other plans in Cusco.

The experience has a perfect rating from 14 verified bookings, with the strongest praise focused on the scenery and the guides. That matches what the tour does best: it combines spectacular mountain views with patient human guidance on a demanding route.

Should You Book the Seven Lakes Tour?

Book it if you want one full day of serious mountain scenery, enjoy walking, and are ready for high-altitude conditions. The seven lakes, snowy peaks, llamas, alpacas, Andean communities, included meals, and Pacchanta hot springs make this a well-rounded outing.

Skip it if you want an easy excursion, dislike sudden weather, or have a medical condition listed among the exclusions. Also remember that the lake entrance fee is extra, and a horse is not included if the hike becomes too difficult.

For a prepared hiker, this is a strong choice from Cusco. Bring the right shoes, pack rain gear, take the altitude seriously, and let the guide set a sensible pace.

FAQ

How long is the Seven Lakes of Ausangate tour?

It is a one-day activity. The walking portion takes about five hours, with one hour scheduled for breakfast and one hour for lunch, plus transport between Cusco and Pacchanta.

What languages are available?

The live guide service is available in English and Spanish.

Is transportation from Cusco included?

Yes. Round-trip transport is included, with pickup from Cusco’s historic center and drop-off options in Centro Histórico or at Plazoleta Regocijo.

Are breakfast and lunch included?

Yes. Breakfast and lunch are included in the tour.

Are hiking poles provided?

Yes. Hiking poles are included, along with a first aid kit.

Is the entrance fee to the seven lakes included?

No. The entrance fee to the seven lakes of Ausangate is not included.

Is the tour private or shared?

Both options are available. You can book a private outing or join a small group.

What should I bring?

Bring hiking shoes and rain gear. Weather can change suddenly in the Andes.

Who should not take this tour?

The activity is not suitable for pregnant women, people with heart problems, or people over 65. The hike is also strenuous and takes place at high altitude, so you should consider your fitness and altitude tolerance carefully.