From Cusco: Ausangate Route – 7 Lagoons Tour + Meals

Ausangate’s snow-covered summit is the star of this long day in the Peruvian Andes. I like that the route pairs a five-hour hike past high-altitude lagoons with a soak in Pacchanta’s natural hot springs, rather than making the trek the whole show.

I also like the practical value: at $28 per person, breakfast, lunch, transport from Cusco’s historic center, and a guide are included. The trade-off is a very early start, a demanding day at 4,200 meters, and mixed reports about transport and group management.

The essential points

• You leave Cusco between 4:00 and 5:00 a.m. Pickup is included for accommodation in the historic center.
• Pacchanta sits at 4,200 meters. The altitude makes this a serious high-mountain outing, not a casual stroll.
• The hike takes about five hours round trip. Named lagoons include Azulcocha, Pukacocha, Oq’ecocha, Alqacocha, and Q’omercocha.
• Breakfast and lunch are included. The 20-sol lagoon entrance fee and 5-sol hot springs fee are extra.
• The scenery and hike are the strongest draw. Service feedback is mixed, with an overall rating of 3.3 out of 5 from three ratings.
• Pacchanta’s hot springs give you a gentler finish. They are optional, and you pay the entrance fee separately.

A predawn start from Cusco

The day begins before sunrise. Pickup is scheduled between 4:00 and 5:00 a.m. for people staying in Cusco’s historic center. The guide is meant to contact you 15 minutes before arrival, and you should wait in the hotel lobby, allowing about 10 minutes for pickup.

That early departure is not just a tour-operator quirk. Pacchanta is a long drive from Cusco, and the schedule allows time for breakfast, the hike, lunch, and the hot springs before the return to town. You are expected back around 6:30 p.m., making this a full 14-hour outing.

The drive goes through the district of Ocongate and on to Pacchanta, a community at the foot of Nevado Ausangate. The mountain belongs to the Vilcanota range and rises above a high-Andean setting of snow, open slopes, and lagoons. The trip itself gives you a broad look at the region, but it also means you will spend several hours in a vehicle. If long drives make you queasy, take that seriously: motion sickness is listed among the reasons this tour may not suit you.

There is also a practical service caveat. The overall rating is 3.3 out of 5 from three ratings, and one detailed account described poor communication, a split group without a guide clearly leading the way, and an old, dirty minibus. That same account praised the scenery and recommended the hike. This is a small sample, not a guarantee of what your day will be like, but it is enough to make me cautious about assuming smooth logistics. Confirm pickup details, listen carefully to the briefing, and keep the guide’s contact information close.

Breakfast in Pacchanta, then a high-altitude hike

Pacchanta is about 4,200 meters above sea level. That figure matters more than it may look on a page: even a moderate walk can feel tougher when you are high up, and the tour describes the hike as medium difficulty. Breakfast is served in the community before you set off, giving you a chance to eat and hear the guide’s instructions.

The route begins at about 8:00 a.m. and takes around five hours round trip. You visit several lakes, including Azulcocha, Pukacocha, Oq’ecocha, Alqacocha, and Q’omercocha. The tour is called a Seven Lagoons trip, but the route description names five and refers to others, so expect a chain of lakes rather than assume every stop will be a long, separate visit.

The appeal is the contrast in the water and the scale of the surroundings. The lagoons are described as having different colors, with Ausangate looming nearby. You will have time to take photographs and appreciate the open high-Andean country, though the pace and stops can depend on how the group moves. Bring water, sun protection, and warm layers. Conditions and exertion can change over the course of the day, and the route is not a place to count on finding supplies along the way.

The mountain is the constant presence. You are not climbing Ausangate itself; you are walking near its base, with views of the snow-capped peak and the Vilcanota range. That distinction helps set expectations. If you want a high-altitude day among striking lakes with a close-up mountain backdrop, this route fits. If your goal is a summit climb or a quiet, independent trek, this guided group outing is a different kind of day.

I would treat the guide briefing as essential, especially given the report of a group becoming separated. Ask how the route will be marked and what to do if you fall behind. The tour includes an English- or Spanish-speaking guide, but the reported experience suggests that you should make sure you know who is leading your group before the hike starts.

Lunch and a soak at Pacchanta

After the walk, you return to Pacchanta for lunch and a chance to rest. This is a welcome change of pace: the morning is about walking and altitude, while the afternoon gives you time to recover before the drive back to Cusco.

The hot springs are an optional stop, with a separate 5-sol entrance fee. They make practical sense after several hours on foot, and the setting at the foot of Ausangate gives the soak a strong sense of place. Bring suitable clothes if you plan to use them, and keep in mind that entry is not part of the tour’s included cost.

The return journey begins in the afternoon, with arrival in Cusco expected at about 6:30 p.m. That leaves little room for a second major plan in the evening. I would keep dinner and the rest of the night flexible, particularly after a dawn pickup and a five-hour hike.

What the $28 price covers, and what it does not

At $28, the package is appealing on paper. It includes hotel pickup in the historic center, tourist transport, a guide in English or Spanish, breakfast, lunch, a first-aid kit, and an oxygen bottle. Including two meals matters on a 14-hour day: you do not have to arrange breakfast before dawn or find lunch in Pacchanta.

The two listed entrance charges add 25 soles: 20 soles for the seven lagoons and 5 soles for the hot springs. The lagoon ticket can be bought on site. Since the tour price does not cover these charges, include them when comparing costs with other outings.

Price alone does not settle the value question. The scenery and the chance to see Ausangate with several lakes in one day are substantial reasons to go. On the other hand, the tour relies on transport and group coordination over a long day, and the mixed service picture makes those details worth weighing. If the vehicle and guiding run smoothly, the included transport, meals, and guide make $28 a strong value. If logistics are disorganized, the low price may feel less like a bargain by the time you return to Cusco.

Packing for cold mornings and strong sun

You need clothing for changing conditions. The recommended list includes warm clothes, comfortable clothing, hiking shoes, sunglasses, a sun hat or hat, sunscreen, and water. At high altitude, sun exposure can be intense even when the air feels cool, so do not treat the hat and sunscreen as optional extras.

Bring your passport or ID card. Leave large bags and luggage behind; they are not allowed. Alcohol and drugs are prohibited, as are alcoholic drinks in the vehicle, littering, explosive substances, and nudity. Those rules are straightforward, but the small-bag limit is especially useful to remember when packing for a full day.

The tour provides a first-aid kit and oxygen bottle, but those are backup equipment, not a substitute for being ready for a high-altitude walk. The activity is not suitable for pregnant people or for people with heart problems, respiratory issues, vertigo, recent surgery, visual impairment, or motion sickness. If any of those apply, do not assume that the included equipment makes the hike appropriate.

Who should book this Ausangate day trip?

This trip suits you if you want a guided, one-day introduction to the high Andes and are comfortable with an early start, a five-hour moderate hike, and a long day away from Cusco. It is particularly appealing if you want both mountain scenery and a chance to visit hot springs, without arranging transport and meals yourself.

It is less suitable if you need a relaxed pace, dislike long drives, or want close control over your walking group. The tour is not a private trek, and you should be ready to follow the guide’s instructions and manage your own pace within the group. The limited but mixed service record means you should book for the route and scenery, not on the assumption of polished logistics.

You can reserve without paying immediately, and cancellation up to 24 hours in advance is eligible for a full refund. Those terms give you flexibility, but they do not change the physical demands of the day. Be honest with yourself about the altitude and the long schedule before committing.

Should you book it?

I would book this tour for the lakes, Ausangate views, and the chance to finish in Pacchanta’s hot springs, provided I was comfortable with a dawn departure and a demanding high-altitude day. The $28 price covers transport, a guide, breakfast, and lunch, while the extra entry fees remain modest.

I would hesitate if dependable transport and tightly managed group hiking are your top priorities. The natural setting is the clear strength; the service record is less reassuring. If you go, arrive prepared, clarify the group’s hiking plan before setting off, and treat the hot springs as a pleasant bonus rather than the main reason to make the trip.

FAQ

How long does the Ausangate Seven Lagoons tour take?

The tour lasts about 14 hours. Pickup is between 4:00 and 5:00 a.m., and the return to Cusco is expected around 6:30 p.m.

Where does hotel pickup operate?

Pickup is included for accommodation in Cusco’s historic center. You should wait in the hotel lobby, and the guide is expected to contact you 15 minutes before pickup.

How long is the hike?

The hike takes about five hours round trip and is described as medium difficulty.

What altitude does the tour reach?

Pacchanta, where the hike begins, is at about 4,200 meters above sea level.

Which lakes are named on the route?

The route names Azulcocha, Pukacocha, Oq’ecocha, Alqacocha, and Q’omercocha, among others.

Are meals included?

Yes. Breakfast in Pacchanta and lunch after the hike are included.

Are the lagoon and hot springs entrance fees included?

No. The seven lagoons entrance fee is 20 soles, and the Pacchanta hot springs fee is 5 soles. The lagoon ticket can be purchased on site.

What languages does the guide speak?

The tour offers a live guide in English or Spanish.