Ausangate 7 Lagoons Tour 1 day + Buffet Breakfast and Lunch

The mountains make you earn every view. This long day from Cusco takes you to the seven Ausangate lagoons, where blue, turquoise, green, and mirror-like water sits below glaciers and wide Andean peaks. I like the excellent scenery and the chance to see alpacas, llamas, vizcachas, and Andean birds along the route.

I also like the simple combination of hiking, local food, and a soak at Pacchanta’s hot springs. The main concern is the high altitude and early start. You may leave your hotel around 4:30 a.m., walk between 4,200 and 4,600 meters, and return to Cusco close to 7:30 p.m. One traveler also waited about 30 minutes for pickup, so the morning schedule deserves attention.

Key points to know before booking

• Seven named lagoons: The route includes Azulcocha, Otorongo, Pucacocha, Alqacocha, Q’omercocha, Orqo Otorongo, and China Otorongo.
• Very high walking altitude: You begin near 4,200 meters and climb to about 4,600 meters, far higher than Cusco.
• 12-kilometer mountain walk: The stated walking time varies between approximately three and five hours, round trip.
• Pacchanta provides the comfort stops: Breakfast, lunch, local shopping, and hot springs all take place in or near the community.
• Good value at $40: Transport, an English or Spanish guide, breakfast, lunch, and hotel pickup are included, but entrance fees are extra.
• A demanding 14-hour day: Pickup begins around 4:30 a.m., and the return to Cusco is expected around 7:30 p.m.

Leaving Cusco before sunrise

The tour offers pickup from hotels and Airbnbs, with listed pickup points around Centro Histórico and Plazoleta de San Blas. The stated pickup window is 4:30 to 5:00 a.m., but one delayed pickup led to a departure from Cusco at about 6:00 a.m. That delay caused a missed breakfast, so I would be ready early and confirm your exact pickup point the night before.

The drive to Pacchanta takes about three hours by tourist transport. This is not a quick transfer. You will spend much of the morning on the road before reaching the starting point, which explains why the tour runs for about 14 hours.

The early departure does have a practical benefit. You reach the mountains before the day becomes too far advanced, and a prompt start gives you more breathing room for the walk, meals, and hot springs. Still, bring water and a small snack in your daypack in case the timing slips.

The transport returns you to Cusco at Plaza Regocijo, with arrival expected around 7:30 p.m. Your final dinner is not included, so plan on eating after the tour or carrying something small for the ride back.

Breakfast in Pacchanta

Pacchanta is both the meal stop and the gateway to the lagoons. The scheduled breakfast lasts about 40 minutes, giving you a chance to eat before the climb.

The meal is included in the $40 price, along with lunch later in the day. That is useful on a remote mountain outing, where arranging food independently would be awkward. However, breakfast quality and availability may depend on the group’s arrival time. A late departure once meant there was no breakfast left for one person, so I would not rely on the included meal as your only food for the morning.

Bring a few simple items such as water, fruit, bread, or another portable snack. This is especially sensible at altitude, where walking can feel harder than the distance suggests. The supplied information calls the meals a buffet breakfast and lunch, but the experience may not feel like a large hotel buffet. Keep expectations practical.

After breakfast, your guide explains the route and leads the group toward the lagoons. The guide service is offered in English and Spanish. One booking reported that the English was difficult to understand, so if you need detailed explanations, listen carefully at the start and ask questions clearly.

Walking from 4,200 to 4,600 meters

The walk begins at about 4,200 meters above sea level. That number matters more than the tour’s one-day label. You are not taking a gentle stroll at ordinary hiking altitude. The route climbs gradually to around 4,600 meters, and even fit hikers can feel short of breath at that height.

The walk is described as approximately 12 kilometers round trip. The full walking time is given as about three hours in one section and five hours in the main schedule. I would prepare for the longer figure, especially if the group moves at different speeds or stops often for photos.

The gradual ascent helps, but it does not remove the altitude challenge. Walk slowly, keep your pace steady, and do not race ahead during the first section. A comfortable rhythm is more useful than proving you can move quickly.

The trail’s reward is variety. The lagoons change in color and shape, with blue, turquoise, and green tones. Some are broad and reflective, looking like natural mirrors beneath the Ausangate mountains. The water and ice are the main event, but the open views along the route also give you a strong sense of the scale of the Andes.

The route is best for people who already know they can handle a long day outdoors. The tour is not suitable for pregnant women, people with heart problems, people recovering from recent surgery, people over 130 kilograms, or people over 95 years old. Travel insurance is listed among the recommended items.

The seven Ausangate lagoons

The attraction is not just one famous viewpoint. You visit a chain of lagoons, each with its own color and setting.

Azulcocha suggests the blue water that defines part of the route. Otorongo, Pucacocha, Alqacocha, and Q’omercocha add different tones, from blue and turquoise to green. Orqo Otorongo and China Otorongo complete the group.

The names are useful because the route becomes a sequence of stops rather than one long uphill effort. Your guide can point out each lagoon, and the pauses give you time to take photographs and recover. The itinerary includes guided sightseeing, scenic views, and photo stops during the five-hour activity period.

I would not expect each lagoon to look dramatically different in every weather condition. Sun, cloud, and the angle of the light affect the colors. On a clear day, the water may show its strongest tones. Under cloud, the scene can look more muted, but the glaciers and mountain setting still provide the reason to come.

The best photographs may come from patience rather than speed. Stop long enough to look at the reflections, the ice, and the changing colors. You are also likely to see alpacas and llamas in the area, along with Andean birds and vizcachas. These animals add life to a setting that can otherwise feel very still.

One of the strongest points is that the area is not described as heavily crowded. A booking from Mexico praised the fact that there were not many people around. That can make the wide mountain views feel more open and personal, though conditions can change by date.

Returning to Pacchanta for lunch

After the lagoon circuit, you return to Pacchanta. The scheduled walk back is listed at about 40 minutes, followed by a 40-minute break for lunch, free time, and possible shopping.

Lunch is included, which helps the price make sense. You have transport for six hours or so, a guide, two meals, and first-aid support bundled into one day. The lunch is described as a buffet meal, but one booking felt the food could be improved. I would see it as practical fuel rather than a culinary highlight.

The free time gives you a chance to buy something locally or simply sit down before the hot springs. Do not underestimate this pause. After several hours at high altitude, even a short rest can make the final part of the day more comfortable.

The community setting also gives the outing a local connection. You are not visiting the lagoons as an isolated photo stop and immediately leaving. Pacchanta handles the meals, walking access, and thermal bathing, making it the working base for the excursion.

Soaking at Pacchanta’s hot springs

The hot springs are scheduled for about 50 minutes after lunch. This is a sensible end to the physical part of the day. After a cold, high-altitude walk, warm water can be a welcome change of pace.

Bring swimwear, a towel, sandals, and a change of clothes. These are not optional packing extras if you want to use the pools comfortably. Admission is not included and costs 5 soles.

The hot springs are a relaxation stop, not a private spa visit. You will have limited time, so change efficiently and keep your belongings organized. If you do not want to swim, the break still gives you a chance to rest before the three-hour ride to Cusco.

The order of activities works well: climb and walk first, eat afterward, then soak. I would avoid treating the hot springs as the main purpose of the tour. The lagoons are the reason to make the long journey, while Pacchanta’s thermal pools provide a pleasant finish.

What the $40 price really includes

At $40 per person, this is a low-cost way to reach a remote mountain area from Cusco. The included parts are substantial:

• Hotel or Airbnb pickup in the morning
• Tourist transport
• English or Spanish guide
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• First-aid kit
• Ongoing assistance

You must add 20 soles for the Ausangate entrance ticket and 5 soles for the hot springs. Personal expenses and dinner are also separate. Carry cash, since the tour specifically recommends it.

The value is strongest if you want transport and meals arranged for you. A private trip would likely offer more control over pace and meal timing, but this shared format keeps the cost down. The tradeoff is that the group may not move at one speed. One booking specifically raised concern about what happens when some members are not in the same physical condition as the rest.

That point matters here. At 4,200 meters, a slow walker can affect the whole schedule, while a fast walker may become impatient. Ask before departure how the guide handles different walking speeds and where the group regroups.

The average score is 4.2 from four ratings, with especially strong praise for the mountain area and the guides in one booking. The lower scores point to real operational risks: a late pickup, missed breakfast, and unclear English guidance. Those issues do not erase the value, but they are useful warnings.

Packing for a 4,600-meter day

Pack for changing conditions, not just sunshine. The recommended list includes hiking shoes, comfortable clothes, gloves, a hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, rain gear, water, and breathable layers.

A useful daypack should contain:

• Passport or identification
• Water and cash
• Sunscreen and sunglasses
• Warm layers and gloves
• Rain gear
• Swimwear, towel, and sandals
• A change of clothes
• Charged phone or camera
• Basic toiletries and personal medication

Closed-toe shoes are required in the general packing guidance, and hiking shoes are the safer choice. The route reaches a serious altitude, so shorts alone are not a sensible plan even if the morning begins mild.

The list also includes insect repellent, though the main challenge described here is altitude rather than insects. Bring it if you normally use it, but give greater attention to warmth, hydration, sun protection, and rain protection.

Weapons, sharp objects, alcohol, drugs, explosive substances, strollers, scooters, and mobility scooters are not allowed. Littering is also prohibited. Keep the mountain clean and take personal waste back with you.

Who should choose this tour?

I would recommend it to an active visitor who wants a full mountain day without arranging separate transport, food, and guiding. You should be comfortable with a 12-kilometer walk, a long bus ride, and walking at 4,200 to 4,600 meters.

It is also a good choice if you want more than a single viewpoint. The seven lagoons provide a clear goal, while the wildlife, community meals, and hot springs make the day feel varied.

I would be cautious if you are short on energy, uncertain about high altitude, or hoping for a relaxed sightseeing trip. This is not a light outing from Cusco. The departure comes before dawn, the drive takes three hours each way, and delays can compress the breakfast and walking schedule.

The tour offers free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure and allows you to reserve now and pay later. Those policies are useful if your Cusco plans may change, but they do not solve the physical demands of the route.

Should you book the Ausangate 7 Lagoons day tour?

Book it if the lagoons are high on your list and you value convenience over a flexible schedule. For $40, the combination of transport, guide, breakfast, lunch, and hot springs is strong value, even after adding the 25 soles in entrance fees.

Before paying, confirm your pickup time, bring backup food, and prepare seriously for the altitude. If you can accept a long day and a shared pace, the blue, green, and turquoise lagoons beneath Ausangate offer a memorable mountain experience. If you need comfort, extra time, or careful one-to-one guidance, choose a smaller or private outing instead.

FAQ

Where does the Ausangate 7 Lagoons tour start?

Pickup is available from hotels and Airbnbs in Cusco, with listed pickup location options around Centro Histórico and Plazoleta de San Blas. Pickup begins around 4:30 a.m.

How long does the tour last?

The full experience lasts about 14 hours. Pickup begins around 4:30 to 5:00 a.m., and arrival back in Cusco is expected around 7:30 p.m.

How long is the walk?

The route is approximately 12 kilometers round trip. The information gives a walking time of about three hours in one place and about five hours in the main schedule, so you should prepare for up to five hours.

How high does the hike go?

You begin walking at about 4,200 meters above sea level and reach approximately 4,600 meters.

Which lagoons are visited?

The route includes Azulcocha, Otorongo, Pucacocha, Alqacocha, Q’omercocha, Orqo Otorongo, and China Otorongo.

Are meals included?

Yes. Breakfast and lunch are included. Dinner is not included, and you should arrange it yourself after returning to Cusco.

Are the entrance fees included?

No. The Ausangate entrance ticket costs 20 soles, and admission to the Pacchanta hot springs costs 5 soles.

Is the hot springs visit included?

The visit is part of the schedule, but the admission fee is separate. Bring swimwear, a towel, sandals, and a change of clothes if you want to swim.