From Cusco: Ausangate 7 Lakes Tour with Meals

At the foot of Mount Ausangate, seven lakes bring striking color to a high mountain setting of peaks, open terrain, and native plants and animals. This day trip pairs a long hike with time in Pacchanta, a community settlement where you can also visit hot springs for an extra fee.

I like two things in particular: the chance to see several lakes on one route, and the practical inclusions, especially transport, meals, walking sticks, and a guide. The main consideration is the effort: the walk takes about five hours, starts at high altitude, and leaves Cusco at 4:00 AM.

Key points to know before you go

• Seven lakes, one long walk: The route reaches a viewpoint after about two hours, then continues past several lakes before returning to Pacchanta.
• A very early start: Pickup is at 4:00 AM for hotels in Cusco’s historic center, with a return near the main square around 6:00 PM.
• Meals are included: Breakfast is served in Pacchanta before the hike, and lunch follows the walk.
• A small group: The tour is limited to 15 people, with an English- or Spanish-speaking guide.
• Bring cash for extras: Horse rides, hot spring entry, and personal expenses are not included.
• Expect a real hike: A recent outing covered about 13 kilometers, and the walk is not suited to wheelchair users or people with respiratory or other pre-existing medical conditions.

The seven lakes beneath Ausangate

The draw here is not just a single viewpoint. The route takes you toward seven lakes at the base of Mount Ausangate, with changing colors set against the mountain scenery. The lakes are named Superior, Otorongo Hombre, Otorongo, Rojo, Ccomer, Azul, and Alqa.

The colors are a major part of the appeal. They can make each stop feel distinct, even as you follow the same high-country route. I would go for the combination: lakes, mountain views, and an extended walk through a natural area southeast of Cusco.

There is a practical caveat. Although the outing is called a seven-lake tour, the planned walk reaches a viewpoint over the lakes and then visits most of them. You should not count on a long stop at each one. One recent outing covered about 13 kilometers and found that time at the lakes was limited. If photographing every shoreline at leisure is your priority, that may feel rushed.

Still, the view from above is a valuable part of the route. It gives you a sense of how the lakes sit in relation to the surrounding peaks, rather than presenting them as isolated photo stops. The scenery is the main reward, but you earn it on foot.

Leaving Cusco before dawn

Pickup is scheduled for 4:00 AM at hotels within Cusco’s historic center. That early departure is not a small detail: the tour is a full day, and the drive to Pacchanta comes before the hike and meals. Set out with what you need for the day already packed, and be ready for an early morning.

The pickup area is limited to selected parts of Cusco, so check whether your hotel qualifies. If it does not, the provided information does not specify an alternative meeting point. Confirm the pickup arrangement before you set your alarm.

The return is planned for around 6:00 PM near the main square. That gives you a long day away from the city, but it also makes the tour easier to fit into a short Cusco stay than an overnight excursion. I would avoid planning a tight evening commitment after the hike. The return time is an estimate, and a strenuous day is a poor lead-in to a dinner reservation you cannot change.

Round-trip transportation is included, which matters on a trip that begins so early and ends after hours on the trail. You do not have to arrange separate transport between Cusco and Pacchanta, or work out how to get back to the city after the walk.

Breakfast in Pacchanta, then uphill

The drive brings you to Pacchanta, where breakfast is served before the walk. That meal gives you a chance to eat before starting a route that lasts several hours. Breakfast and lunch are included, so you can leave some food planning to the tour, while still carrying snacks and water for the trail.

The walk begins in town. After about two hours, you reach a viewpoint where you can see the seven lakes. That first stretch is a substantial part of the day, and it helps to think of the viewpoint as a milestone rather than the finish line. There are more lakes to visit and a return walk ahead.

The trail is described as scenic and sporty, with a manageable pace for someone in normal physical condition, according to an account from a recent outing. That is useful context, but it is not a guarantee of an easy day for everyone. Five hours of walking at altitude can feel demanding, and people’s fitness and responses to altitude vary. If you have a respiratory issue or another pre-existing medical condition, this outing is specifically listed as unsuitable.

Walking sticks are included, a sensible aid on a long route. A first-aid kit and oxygen are also carried by the tour. Those provisions are reassuring, but they do not replace careful preparation or make the route appropriate for someone who is unwell.

From the viewpoint to the lakes

After the viewpoint, the group continues for about three more hours, visiting most of the lakes before returning to Pacchanta. The route offers repeated chances to see the water and surrounding mountains from different angles. That variety is part of the appeal, though the time at each lake may be brief.

The group limit of 15 helps keep the outing smaller than a large coach tour. You will still be walking with other people, and the guide has to keep the group moving through a long day. A recent outing was described as having a pleasant pace, with a guide named Jonatan accompanying the group kindly. Jonatan is not guaranteed to lead your departure, but the account gives a useful sense of the personal support the format can offer.

The tour is available with a live guide in English or Spanish. Choose the language that lets you follow trail instructions and ask questions comfortably. The guide is more than a voice beside the route: on a long walk, clear communication helps the group understand the schedule and stay together.

The outing can feel relatively quiet compared with Cusco’s best-known attractions, though visitor numbers can vary. That relative calm is a welcome contrast if you have spent several days among the city’s busier sights. It also means the experience depends more on the mountain setting and the walk than on facilities or a polished visitor center.

Lunch, Pacchanta, and the optional hot springs

Once the group returns to Pacchanta, lunch is included. A recent outing praised the meal for its fresh ingredients, a welcome end to several hours on foot. The tour description does not specify the menu, so bring snacks in case you need something between breakfast and lunch or have particular dietary needs.

Pacchanta is also the place to visit the community’s hot springs. Entry is not included, so bring cash if you want to bathe. The tour information does not state the fee or how much time is set aside for the baths, so ask the operator before departure if this is a key part of your plan. Do not assume there will be time for a long soak after the walk.

Horse rides are also an extra expense. They may be an option to consider if you want assistance on part of the route, but the provided details do not specify where they can be used, how much they cost, or whether they can be arranged in advance. Check those points directly rather than relying on an assumption.

After lunch and any optional stop, the group returns to Cusco, arriving near the main square around 6:00 PM. You get a full day of mountain scenery without needing to arrange a separate overnight stay in Pacchanta.

What the $37 price covers

At $37 per person, the price includes round-trip transport, a professional guide, breakfast, lunch, walking sticks, a first-aid kit, and oxygen. That is a useful bundle for a day trip with a very early pickup and a long hike. The meals and transport in particular mean you do not have to organize several pieces of the day separately.

The price does not cover hot spring entry, a horse ride, or extra personal expenses. Those add-ons could change the total cost, so bring cash and decide in advance how much you want to spend beyond the tour fee. The amount charged for the baths and horses is not specified.

There is also a practical value in the small-group limit. With no more than 15 participants, you are not signing up for a large busload moving together along the route. The experience remains a group hike, though, and you should be comfortable following a shared schedule.

The tour has a 4.5 rating from 47 ratings. Recent accounts point most strongly to the views, the rewarding physical effort, and a fresh lunch. One outing also praised its guide’s kindness and steady pace. Those are encouraging signs, but the limited time at the lakes is worth weighing if you want a slow, photo-heavy visit.

Packing for a high-country day

Bring your passport, water, snacks, sunscreen, sunglasses, a sun hat or other hat, a camera, cash, and a daypack. The list is practical for a full day outside: you will need to carry personal essentials between breakfast and lunch, and cash is useful for the optional hot springs or horse ride.

Walking sticks are supplied, so you do not need to bring your own unless you prefer to use familiar equipment. The operator also provides a first-aid kit and oxygen. The tour information does not give specific clothing advice, so check current conditions and pack layers suitable for a long walk in the mountains.

Smoking, alcohol, and drugs are not allowed. The hike is not suitable for wheelchair users, people with respiratory issues, or people with pre-existing medical conditions. If any health concern could affect your ability to walk for several hours, take that restriction seriously and seek medical advice before booking.

Who should book the Ausangate lakes tour?

I would choose this outing if you want a full-day mountain walk, are comfortable with an early start, and value having transport, meals, and a guide arranged together. It suits people who want to see several lakes and are willing to put in the walking to reach them. The scenery is the payoff, while the hike is a central part of the experience, not a minor transfer between viewpoints.

It is less suitable if you want a gentle sightseeing day, need accessible transport and trails, or prefer to spend a long time at each lake. The roughly five-hour walk and the early start ask a lot of you. If you are unsure about the physical demands, do not let the included oxygen or walking sticks make the decision for you; the tour is expressly not recommended for people with respiratory issues or pre-existing medical conditions.

For a traveler with the right level of fitness and a taste for mountain scenery, the price is reasonable for a guided day with transport and two meals included. I would book it for the broad view of the seven lakes, the time in the high country, and the chance to end the walk with lunch in Pacchanta. I would go in expecting a brisk route, not a leisurely lakeside picnic.

FAQ

How long does the tour last?

It is a one-day tour. Pickup is scheduled for 4:00 AM, with arrival back near Cusco’s main square around 6:00 PM.

Where does pickup take place?

Pickup is available in selected areas of Cusco. The stated 4:00 AM pickup applies to hotels within the historic center.

How long is the walk?

The planned walk takes about five hours: around two hours to reach the viewpoint, followed by about three hours visiting most of the lakes and returning to Pacchanta. One recent outing covered about 13 kilometers.

Which lakes are visited?

The seven lakes are named Superior, Otorongo Hombre, Otorongo, Rojo, Ccomer, Azul, and Alqa. The route is described as visiting most of the seven.

Are meals included?

Yes. Breakfast is served in Pacchanta before the hike, and lunch is served after the walk.

What languages does the guide speak?

The tour offers a live guide in English or Spanish.

Are the hot springs included in the price?

No. Entry to the thermal baths is an extra expense. Horse rides and other personal expenses are also not included.

What should I bring?

Bring your passport, sunglasses, a hat, camera, snacks, sunscreen, water, cash, and a daypack. Walking sticks are provided.