Cusco: Day Trip to the 7 Ausangate Lagoons with Lunch

The draw here is the seven colored lagoons beneath Ausangate, reached on foot from Pacchanta after an early drive out of Cusco. You get a mountain day that combines a guided hike, a high viewpoint, and a village stop, rather than a quick roadside photo.

I like two things in particular: the route gives you a broad view of all seven lakes from a viewpoint, and the day ends back in Pacchanta, where you can add a soak in its thermal waters. The ride to the trailhead is part of the appeal, too, as the scenery shifts from city to open mountain country.

The trade-off is the schedule and effort: pickup is at 4 a.m., followed by about five hours of walking, and this outing is not recommended for people with low fitness, respiratory issues, mobility limitations, back problems, or pregnancy. The hot springs cost extra, so the advertised $40 does not cover every possible part of the day.

• Seven named lagoons: See Laguna Superior, Otorongo Macho, Otorongo Fembra, Laguna Roja, Laguna Ccomer, Laguna Azul, and Laguna Alqa.
• A viewpoint after two hours on foot: The first hiking stretch leads to a lookout where you can see the seven lagoons.
• A longer return route: The next three hours cover a large part of the lagoon area before you finish in Pacchanta.
• Breakfast and lunch included: You eat breakfast in Pacchanta before walking and have lunch there after the hike.
• Thermal baths are optional: Pacchanta’s hot springs are an extra-cost stop, with entrance tickets not included.
• Useful trail support: The tour includes trekking poles, oxygen, and a first-aid kit, as well as round-trip transport and a guide.

The 4 a.m. start sets the tone

Hotel pickup is scheduled for 4 a.m., so this is a long day from the start. Be ready and waiting in your hotel lobby, and enter your hotel name when booking. The early departure is what makes a full-day trip to Pacchanta possible, but it also means you should plan for a short night and avoid scheduling a demanding activity the evening before.

The drive takes you southeast from Cusco toward Pacchanta, a community at the foot of Ausangate. The tour describes the ride as part of the experience, and that makes sense: it is not simply a transfer to the trail. You travel from the city toward a more open mountain setting, with the journey forming a substantial part of the day.

The exact drive time and vehicle details are not specified, so do not build a tight schedule around a predicted return hour. You are booking a full-day outing, not a short morning excursion. If you have other plans in Cusco that evening, leave room for the return to take longer than you hope.

Breakfast in Pacchanta before the walk

Once you reach Pacchanta, breakfast is included before the hike begins. That is a practical advantage on a day that starts before dawn, especially since you will be walking for several hours. The tour does not specify the menu, so bring any particular snacks or dietary items you know you will need.

Pacchanta is also the place where the day’s optional thermal-bath stop is based. The hot springs are a separate expense, not part of the $40 tour price, and the entrance ticket is not included. Bring cash if you want the option to pay for them; the tour information specifically advises carrying cash.

The first two hours lead to the big view

From Pacchanta, you start walking uphill toward a viewpoint. The stated first stretch takes about two hours. That is not a casual stroll between photo stops: the tour is identified as unsuitable for people with low fitness, and it recommends comfortable hiking shoes and hiking pants.

At the viewpoint, you can see all seven Ausangate lagoons. Their names are Laguna Superior, Otorongo Macho, Otorongo Fembra, Laguna Roja, Laguna Ccomer, Laguna Azul, and Laguna Alqa. The changing colors are one of the main reasons to make this trip, and the viewpoint gives you a chance to take in the full group rather than focusing on just one lake.

The tour does not provide the elevation, trail surface, or detailed ascent profile. That makes it hard to judge the physical demands by numbers alone. Treat the two-hour climb as a meaningful hike, go at a pace that lets you keep breathing comfortably, and tell your guide if you feel unwell. Oxygen and a first-aid kit are carried, but they are support measures, not a substitute for being fit enough for the route.

Three more hours among the lagoons

After the lookout, you continue for about three hours, covering a large part of the lagoon area before returning to Pacchanta. That wording matters: the viewpoint offers a view of all seven, while the walking section is described as covering a large part of them. Do not assume the route takes you to the shore of every lagoon or gives you equal time at each one.

The names are worth keeping in mind as you walk. Laguna Roja and Laguna Azul are especially easy to remember, while the two Otorongo lakes are distinguished as Macho and Fembra. The tour emphasizes the colors, mountain scenery, local flora, and fauna, but it does not promise particular wildlife sightings or explain why each lake has its color. Go ready to notice what is in front of you, rather than expecting a scripted sequence of stops.

Your guide speaks English or Spanish, depending on the tour language you select. A guide can help you follow the route and make sense of the day, but no individual guide names or group-size details are provided. If you have questions about pace, the route, or the return, ask before setting off rather than waiting until you are already tired.

Lunch and the optional Pacchanta hot springs

The hike ends back in Pacchanta, where lunch is included. It is a useful finish to a demanding outing: you return to the community where the walk began, eat before the drive back, and can consider whether you have the energy and time for the thermal baths.

The hot springs are a separate choice, not a guaranteed part of the included package. The extra entrance cost is not stated, so ask about the current fee and payment method before you go. The most favorable specific feedback available about the experience singled out both the lagoons and thermal baths, which points to a good way to think about the day: the hike is the main event, while a soak can be a satisfying extra if you want one.

Do not count on the baths being included just because they appear in the trip description. If you would rather head straight back to Cusco after lunch, the tour’s core outing is still the lagoon hike. If you want the baths, bring cash and check the arrangements with the operator.

What $40 covers, and what it does not

At $40 per person, the tour bundles round-trip transport from Cusco, hotel pickup, breakfast, lunch, a professional guide, trekking poles, oxygen, and a first-aid kit. That is a useful package for a remote day trip: arranging transport, meals, and a guide separately would take planning, and the poles and emergency supplies are practical additions for a long walk.

The price does not include the thermal-bath entrance ticket. It also does not specify whether there are any other personal expenses, so bring cash for the baths and any small purchases you may want to make. The tour includes the core transport, meals, and hiking support, but not every optional extra.

There is not enough information to compare the tour’s vehicle comfort, group size, or exact return time. Those details can matter on a day that starts so early, so contact the operator with questions before booking. The tour is offered in English and Spanish, and you need to reserve at least one day ahead.

What to bring and who should consider it

Wear comfortable shoes, ideally hiking shoes, and hiking pants. Pack your passport or ID card, a camera, and cash. The early start and several hours of walking make sensible clothing and footwear more important than bringing extra gear you will not use.

The outing is not suitable for children under eight, pregnant women, or people with back problems, mobility impairments, respiratory issues, or a low level of fitness. These are clear cautions, not minor fine print. If you have a health concern that affects exercise or breathing, get medical advice before booking and be candid with the operator.

This trip suits you best if you want a full day outdoors, are comfortable with a sustained hike, and care more about mountain scenery than a relaxed pace. It is less suitable if you want a late start, short walks, or a guaranteed close-up visit to every lagoon. No exact elevation or route difficulty rating is supplied, so do not use the time estimate alone to decide that the hike will be easy.

Booking details worth sorting out

The tour includes pickup from your hotel, and you are asked to enter the hotel name when you book. Be in the lobby at the scheduled pickup time, and contact the emergency number after booking, as instructed. You must reserve the tour at least one day in advance.

You can reserve now and pay later, and cancellation is available up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. Check availability for the departure time and confirm the language you want for the live guide. Those steps are especially useful when you are coordinating an early pickup and an optional hot-springs visit.

Should you book the Ausangate lagoons day trip?

Book it if the thought of walking for about five hours to see seven mountain lagoons appeals more than a slow morning in Cusco. The strongest reasons to go are the viewpoint over all seven lakes, the longer route through much of the area, and the chance to finish in Pacchanta with lunch and an optional soak.

Skip it if an early departure or a sustained hike sounds like a poor fit, or if any of the listed health restrictions apply to you. At $40, the included transport, guide, breakfast, lunch, and trail support make the price reasonable for a full-day trip, but remember that the thermal baths cost extra. Pack for the walk, carry cash, and treat the day as a proper mountain outing rather than an easy sightseeing stop.

FAQ

How long is the Ausangate lagoons tour?

It is a full-day tour. The walking portion is described as about two hours to the viewpoint, followed by another three hours covering a large part of the lagoons.

What time does hotel pickup begin?

Pickup is scheduled for 4 a.m. You should be ready and waiting in your hotel lobby.

Which meals are included?

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

Are the Pacchanta hot springs included in the $40 price?

No. Entrance tickets to the hot springs are not included, so bring cash if you plan to visit.

What languages does the guide speak?

The live guide is available in English or Spanish.

What should I bring?

Bring your passport or ID card, comfortable shoes or hiking shoes, hiking pants, a camera, and cash.