From Cusco: Ausangate 7 Lakes Tour with Meals

Ausangate’s seven high mountain lakes are the main event here, and their colors change with the light. You hike beneath Mount Ausangate, pass wide-open scenery, and reach viewpoints where several lakes appear together. It is a long day, but the payoff is a striking natural setting far from Cusco’s streets.

I like the simple value: breakfast and lunch are included, along with round-trip transport, a guide, walking sticks, oxygen, and a first aid kit. I also like the small-group limit of 15 people. The catch is the effort. The walk runs about 13 kilometers, with roughly five hours on foot, and some people may find the pace sporty.

Key points to know before booking

• Seven named lakes: Visit Lake Superior, Lake Otorongo Hombre, Lake Otorongo, Lake Rojo, Lake Ccomer, Laguna Azul, and Lake Alqa.
• A long hiking day: Expect about 13 kilometers on foot, including two hours to the main viewpoint and another three hours around the lakes.
• Early start from Cusco: Pickup begins at 4:00 AM, with arrival back near Cusco’s main square at about 6:00 PM.
• Meals and useful gear included: Breakfast, lunch, walking sticks, oxygen, and a first aid kit are provided.
• Pacchanta hot springs: You can visit the town and use its thermal baths, but the entry fee is extra.
• Small group with English or Spanish guiding: The group is limited to 15 people, and guide Jonatan has led the route.

The 4:00 AM departure from Cusco

This is not a lazy morning outing. Pickup starts at 4:00 AM from hotels in selected areas of Cusco, specifically those within the historic center. You then ride southeast toward Pacchanta, the community that serves as the starting point for the walk.

The early departure makes practical sense. The drive is long enough that a late start would leave less time for the lakes. Still, you should be honest with yourself about the schedule. After waking before dawn, you have a full walking day ahead, followed by a return to Cusco around 6:00 PM.

Pickup is not listed for every part of the city. If you are staying outside the historic center, confirm the meeting arrangement before booking. The final return is near the main square rather than necessarily at your hotel.

Breakfast in Pacchanta before the trail

The first proper stop is Pacchanta, where breakfast is served before the hike begins. This is a useful pause, not just a meal included to make the package sound generous. You need food before several hours on foot, and eating in the community gives the morning a more local feel than grabbing something from a Cusco hotel.

Pacchanta is also connected with the nearby thermal baths. You do not need to use them to take the tour, but the town provides a chance to add hot springs to the day if time and energy allow. Entry is not included, so carry cash for that and for other small purchases.

The exact breakfast menu is not specified, so do not book this expecting a particular dish. Think of it as a practical morning meal before the route rather than a separate culinary attraction.

Two hours to the Ausangate viewpoint

From Pacchanta, you begin walking toward the viewpoint over the seven lakes. The first section takes about two hours. That timing matters because the route is not a short roadside stop. You must earn the first broad view with a sustained uphill walk.

The reward is the sight of several lakes gathered below the massive Mount Ausangate. The scenery includes mountains, open ground, native plant life, and the chance to see local fauna. Snow-covered peaks appear in the background in the right conditions, adding a sharp contrast to the colored water.

Do not judge the hike only by distance. The setting is totally natural, and there are few built attractions to distract you. That means the route feels open and exposed, but it also means you should arrive prepared for sun, cold, wind, and changing conditions. The supplied equipment helps, but it does not replace proper clothing and water.

Seven lakes, seven names, changing colors

At the viewpoint and along the route, you will see the seven lakes associated with Ausangate:

• Lake Superior
• Lake Otorongo Hombre
• Lake Otorongo
• Lake Rojo
• Lake Ccomer
• Laguna Azul
• Lake Alqa

The appeal is not that every lake looks exactly the same. The color range is part of the attraction. Depending on the light and the angle, the water can appear blue, green, red, or more muted. Lake Rojo gives the list a particularly distinctive name, while Laguna Azul is the clearest reminder that color is central to the visit.

The view is strongest when several lakes sit in the same frame with Mount Ausangate behind them. Bring a camera, but do not spend the whole stop staring at a screen. The scenery is broad, and the best impression comes from taking in the relationship between the water, peaks, and open mountain country.

A useful point about this tour is that it is not built around one single photo stop. After reaching the main viewpoint, you continue for another three hours, visiting most of the lakes before returning toward Pacchanta. You get a fuller sense of the area, but you also spend less time standing beside each individual lake.

One practical review of the route describes about 13 kilometers of hiking and notes that the actual time beside the lakes can feel limited. That is the trade-off: you see a lot, but the day is designed as a moving circuit rather than a long picnic beside one favorite pool.

A sporty walk, not a casual sightseeing trip

The tour information describes the walk in time rather than difficulty, with two hours to the viewpoint and three hours visiting the lakes. A recent account also puts the total at about 13 kilometers. Together, those details point to a proper day hike.

You do not need to be an elite mountaineer, but a normal level of fitness will help. The route is described as pleasant but sporty, and your experience will depend on how well you handle a long walk after a very early start. Walking sticks are included, which is useful on uneven ground and for taking pressure off your legs.

The tour is not suitable for wheelchair users, people with respiratory issues, or people with pre-existing medical conditions. That warning should be taken seriously. Oxygen is carried as a safety measure, but it does not make a demanding route suitable for everyone.

If you are unsure, focus less on the word tour and more on the physical facts: early pickup, five hours of walking, about 13 kilometers, and a full-day return. Wear sturdy walking shoes, pack water and snacks, and use sunscreen even if the morning begins cold.

What the guide and group size add

The tour is offered in English and Spanish, with a maximum of 15 participants. That is small enough to make questions and group checks easier than on a large coach excursion, while still keeping the price low.

Guide Jonatan has been praised for maintaining a pleasant pace and offering close support along the route. That matters here because a good guide can help keep the group together, point out the lakes, and make a demanding walk feel orderly instead of rushed.

Do not expect a private hiking guide for every person. A group of up to 15 still means you will be walking as a group, and the schedule needs to serve people with different speeds. The most positive reports describe a comfortable rhythm, but the route remains active even when the pace is sensible.

English and Spanish availability is useful for international visitors. If you need detailed help in another language, this is not the right assumption to make.

Lunch and the return to Pacchanta

After visiting most of the lakes, you walk back to Pacchanta, where lunch is served. The included lunch adds real value because buying food separately during a remote mountain outing would be inconvenient, and you will likely be ready for a substantial meal by then.

The food has received particularly strong praise for using fresh ingredients and tasting good after the hike. That is exactly when a simple, well-prepared meal matters most. Still, the menu and dietary arrangements are not specified, so tell the operator about important food needs before departure rather than relying on a last-minute solution.

The return to Pacchanta also completes the shape of the day. You start in the community, walk out toward the lakes, then come back for food and the optional thermal bath visit. The hot springs can be a welcome extra for tired legs, but entry is not included and the schedule may not leave unlimited time.

After Pacchanta, the vehicle returns to Cusco. Arrival is expected around 6:00 PM near the main square. That makes the tour manageable as a one-day outing, but you should avoid booking an evening activity that cannot tolerate a delayed return.

Is $37 good value for a full day?

At $37 per person, the price is low for a day that includes transport from Cusco, breakfast, lunch, a professional guide, walking sticks, a first aid kit, and oxygen. You are paying for access and logistics as much as for the walk itself. Reaching Pacchanta independently would still require arranging transportation and food.

The value is strongest if you want a guided day hike and do not want to organize the remote transport yourself. A small group and two included meals make the cost easier to justify. The price also leaves room in the budget for the optional thermal bath entry.

There are extra costs to remember. Horse rides are not included, thermal bath admission is extra, and personal purchases are your responsibility. A horse may be useful if the walk becomes too tiring, but no price is provided, so ask before setting out if you think you may need one.

The low fare should not make you expect a luxury outing. The point is the scenery, the simple meals, and the convenience of having the route organized. If that matches your priorities, the price is strong.

What to pack for Ausangate

The supplied packing list is sensible for a long outdoor day:

• Passport
• Water and snacks
• Sunscreen
• Sunglasses and a sun hat
• A warm hat
• Camera
• Cash
• Small daypack

The repeated hat advice is worth following. You need sun protection, but mountain mornings can also feel cold, so bring both a sun hat and a warm hat. Water and snacks matter because the route lasts several hours and the included meals do not cover every moment on the trail.

Cash is useful for thermal bath entry, horse rides, and extra expenses. Keep your daypack light, but leave room for a layer, water, and sun protection.

Smoking, alcohol, and drugs are not allowed. That is sensible on a long mountain walk and helps keep the group safe.

Who should book this day trip?

I would choose this tour if you want striking mountain scenery, a full day outside Cusco, and a guided route with food and transport already arranged. It suits hikers with reasonable fitness who are happy to start early and keep moving.

You should think twice if you want a slow visit with lots of time beside each lake. The route covers a large area, and one useful caution is that the walking time can outweigh the time spent at the water. It is also not appropriate for wheelchair users, people with respiratory issues, or those with pre-existing medical conditions.

The tour works well for visitors who have only one free day and want something very different from Cusco’s historic center. It is less suitable for anyone who dislikes long vehicle rides, dawn departures, or active itineraries.

Should you book the Ausangate Seven Lakes Tour?

Book it if your priority is big mountain scenery at a low price, with meals, transport, and basic hiking support included. The colorful lakes, views of Mount Ausangate, Pacchanta community, and optional hot springs give the day plenty of variety.

Skip it if you need an easy walk, more time at each lake, or a flexible start. For the right person, this is an efficient and memorable day in the Cusco Region. Just treat it as a real hike, not a quick photo excursion.

FAQ

How long is the Ausangate Seven Lakes Tour?

It is a one-day tour. Pickup begins at about 4:00 AM, and arrival back near Cusco’s main square is expected around 6:00 PM.

How much walking is involved?

The itinerary includes about two hours of walking to the main viewpoint and another three hours visiting most of the lakes. One detailed account puts the full route at about 13 kilometers.

Which lakes will I see?

The seven named lakes are Lake Superior, Lake Otorongo Hombre, Lake Otorongo, Lake Rojo, Lake Ccomer, Laguna Azul, and Lake Alqa.

Is breakfast included?

Yes. Breakfast is served in Pacchanta before the hike begins.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch is served after the walk, when you return to Pacchanta.

Are the hot springs included?

No. The thermal bath entry fee is extra.

Is a horse ride included?

No. Horse rides are not included and count as an additional expense.

What languages are available for the guide?

The tour is offered with a live guide in English or Spanish.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.