Cusco: Day Trip to the 7 Ausangate Lagoons with Lunch

A mountain, seven colored lagoons, and one very early start. This day trip takes you southeast from Cusco to the foot of Ausangate, where you can see Laguna Superior, Otorongo Macho, Otorongo Fembra, Laguna Roja, Laguna Ccomer, Laguna Azul, and Laguna Alqa. I like the striking lagoon colors and the chance to visit Pacchanta’s thermo-medicinal waters. I also like that breakfast, lunch, transport, a guide, oxygen, trekking poles, and first aid are included.

The main drawback is the schedule. Pickup is at 4:00 a.m., followed by a roughly five-hour walking route, with two hours to the viewpoint and another three hours around the lagoons. This is not a gentle sightseeing outing, so the fitness and health restrictions deserve serious attention.

Key points at a glance

• Seven named lagoons: The route includes Laguna Roja, Laguna Azul, Laguna Ccomer, Laguna Superior, Otorongo Macho, Otorongo Fembra, and Laguna Alqa.
• A 4:00 a.m. Cusco pickup: You need to be ready in your hotel lobby before dawn.
• Five hours on foot: The walk takes about two hours to reach the viewpoint, then three more hours through much of the lagoon area.
• Pacchanta hot springs option: You can add a visit to the community’s thermo-medicinal waters, with entrance paid separately.
• Meals included: Breakfast comes in Pacchanta before the hike, and lunch follows the walking circuit there.
• Useful mountain support: Trekking poles, oxygen, and a first aid kit are provided, along with an English or Spanish-speaking guide.

Why the 7 Ausangate Lagoons make a strong day trip

The appeal here is simple: you leave Cusco’s urban setting behind and spend the day among mountains, open scenery, native plants, and local wildlife. The lagoons sit at the foot of Ausangate, one of the area’s defining peaks, giving the route a clear sense of place rather than a string of unrelated stops.

I especially like the variety built into the name itself. You are not walking to one viewpoint, taking a quick photograph, and turning around. The outing is designed around seven separate bodies of water, each identified by name. The colors are the main attraction, and the changing appearance of the lagoons gives the walk a reason to keep going.

The experience also offers a more natural setting than a standard city excursion. There are no listed museums, shops, or staged performances here. Your day centers on walking, mountain views, water, flora, and fauna. That makes it a good choice if you want a full day outdoors and are willing to trade comfort for scenery.

The rating attached to this experience is 3.3 from four ratings, so I would approach it with realistic expectations. One verified booking from Spain gave particular praise to the lagoons and the hot springs. That matches the two strongest parts of the day: the colorful water and the chance to relax in Pacchanta afterward.

Leaving Cusco at 4:00 a.m.

The day begins before sunrise with hotel pickup in Cusco. You are asked to wait in the lobby, and the hotel name must be supplied when you reserve. The early departure matters because Pacchanta is southeast of the city and the route includes both transport and a long walk.

You should treat 4:00 a.m. as a firm preparation time, not as a vague suggestion. Have your shoes, hiking clothes, passport or identity card, camera, and cash ready before going to sleep. The booking instructions also say you must reserve at least one day in advance and contact the emergency number after booking.

The ride itself is part of the experience. The trip description specifically highlights the journey to the lagoons, with views of mountains and rural scenery along the way. Since the tour provides round-trip transport, you do not need to arrange a separate vehicle or work out the route on your own.

The tradeoff is obvious: an early pickup gives you a full day at the destination, but it can make the outing tiring from the start. If you have only just arrived in Cusco, I would think carefully about booking this for the morning after your arrival. The tour is better suited to someone who can handle a pre-dawn start and a long day outside.

Breakfast in Pacchanta before the trail

The first major stop is Pacchanta, a populated center connected with the local community. Here, breakfast is included before you begin walking. This is a useful part of the plan because you have time to eat before the demanding section of the day instead of relying only on snacks.

The meal also gives the outing a practical rhythm. You travel from Cusco, stop in Pacchanta, eat, and then start the route from the same town. Later, after the circuit, you return to Pacchanta for lunch. That means the village serves as both your trailhead and your base for the meals.

Details about the exact breakfast menu are not provided, so I would not book this expecting a particular dish. The sensible approach is to bring cash and a few personal snacks in case you want something extra during the walk. The tour includes meals, but the route lasts about five hours on foot.

Pacchanta is also important because it provides access to thermo-medicinal waters. Entrance to the hot springs is not included, so you should carry cash if you want to use them. The hot springs are an optional addition, but they may be especially welcome after the walking portion.

The two-hour climb to the Ausangate viewpoint

From Pacchanta, the first walking section takes about two hours. The stated goal is a viewpoint where you can see all seven Ausangate Lagoons. This is the moment when the scale of the setting comes together: Ausangate above, the water below, and the surrounding mountains spread out around you.

The route is not described as a short stroll. You should expect a sustained hike and come prepared with proper footwear. Comfortable shoes are listed among the essentials, but hiking shoes are also recommended. I would choose the sturdier option, especially since the day continues for several more hours after the viewpoint.

This first section is valuable because it gives you a broad view before you move closer to the lagoons. Rather than meeting each one without context, you first see the group as a whole. The viewpoint also creates a natural pause in the schedule, giving you a chance to take photographs and appreciate the colors from above.

Still, the two-hour estimate should not be treated as a guarantee for every person. The tour is specifically not suitable for people with a low level of fitness, respiratory issues, mobility impairments, back problems, or for pregnant women. Children under eight are also excluded. Those restrictions tell you more than a generic comfort warning would: the walk requires real physical effort.

Three more hours among seven lagoons

After the viewpoint, you walk for another three hours, covering a large part of the seven-lagoon area and finishing back in Pacchanta. This is the heart of the trip. The route gives you more time beside the water rather than limiting the visit to one photo stop.

The seven names are useful because they help you follow the day’s progress:

• Laguna Superior
• Otorongo Macho
• Otorongo Fembra
• Laguna Roja
• Laguna Ccomer
• Laguna Azul
• Laguna Alqa

The description does not provide a precise order for these lagoons, nor does it state how long you stop at each one. Your guide will lead the route in English or Spanish and explain the setting as you go. I would expect the pace to be shaped by the group, the walking conditions, and the time needed to return for lunch.

The color contrast is the chief visual pleasure. Laguna Roja and Laguna Azul have especially memorable names, while Otorongo Macho and Otorongo Fembra give the circuit a local identity that is easy to remember. You can also look for the natural details listed for the area, including mountain scenery, native flora, and fauna.

Do not expect a flat path simply because the main attraction is water. The five-hour total and the health restrictions make this a serious walking day. Bring hiking pants, sturdy shoes, and a camera, but also leave enough attention for your footing. Trekking poles are included, which is a useful touch on a route of this length.

Lunch and the Pacchanta hot springs option

Once the walking circuit ends, you return to Pacchanta for lunch. Including lunch is a real value point here. You do not need to find a restaurant after a long hike, and the meal comes at the logical end of the route.

The hot springs are the most tempting optional extra. The community’s thermo-medicinal waters offer a chance to rest before the return drive to Cusco. Since admission is separate, remember that the advertised price does not cover this part. The verified four-star praise focused on both the lagoons and the thermal baths, so the hot springs appear to be an important part of the experience for some people.

The timing of the hot springs is not specified, so you should confirm with the guide how the stop fits into the day. It is best to view the baths as an option rather than a guaranteed included activity. Bring cash if you want to enter, and do not assume your tour price covers the ticket.

What the $40 price really includes

At $40 per person, this is a low-cost way to reach a remote natural attraction from Cusco. The value comes from the number of practical services bundled into the day: hotel pickup, round-trip transport, breakfast, lunch, a professional guide, oxygen, trekking poles, and a first aid kit.

Transport is especially important. The lagoons are outside Cusco, and arranging your own vehicle would add effort and cost. The guide also helps with the route and communication, with English and Spanish available.

The price does not include entrance to the hot springs. That is the main extra cost clearly identified in the details. Since no other entrance fees are listed, you should still carry cash for personal needs and the thermal bath ticket.

The low price may come with a basic format rather than a highly customized one. The group size, vehicle type, exact meal menus, and precise walking order are not provided. If you want a private pace or detailed information about every lagoon, ask those questions before booking. If you mainly want transport, meals, guiding, and a chance to see the lagoons, the package offers solid practical value.

What to pack for a five-hour hike

The required packing list is short, but each item has a purpose. Bring your passport or identity card, comfortable shoes, hiking shoes, a camera, cash, and hiking pants.

I would give the shoes the most thought. The walk takes about five hours, so ordinary city footwear is a poor choice. Hiking pants are also more suitable than casual clothing for a route that occupies most of the day.

The provider supplies trekking sticks, oxygen, and a first aid kit. Those inclusions are reassuring, but they do not replace personal preparation. You still need to judge your own fitness honestly and tell the guide about any relevant health concern.

Weapons or sharp objects, indoor smoking, alcohol, and drugs are not allowed. The rules are straightforward and should not affect a normal hiking day.

Who should book this Ausangate excursion

I would recommend this tour to you if you want a full day in open mountain scenery and enjoy walking as much as sightseeing. It suits people who like named natural features, colorful water, photography, and a route that visits several points rather than one isolated viewpoint.

It is also a good fit if you want a simple package. Hotel pickup, transport, meals, a guide, poles, oxygen, and first aid are all arranged for you. The English and Spanish guide options make the tour more accessible to many international visitors.

I would not choose it for a relaxed day, a family outing with young children, or a trip built around easy access. The operator excludes children under eight, pregnant women, people with mobility or back problems, people with respiratory issues, and people with low fitness. Those limits should be taken seriously.

You should also think about the early start. A 4:00 a.m. pickup followed by a long hike and a return ride can make this one of the more tiring days of a Cusco visit. The scenery may be worth it, but only if you have enough energy to enjoy it.

Booking, language, and cancellation details

The tour runs for one day, with starting times shown during availability checks. Hotel pickup is included, but you must enter your hotel name and wait in the lobby. Reserve at least one day before departure, then contact the emergency number after booking.

The guide can operate in English or Spanish. The activity allows free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund, and the reserve now, pay later option can help if your Cusco plans are still changing.

Those flexible terms are useful because weather, health, and altitude-related concerns can affect your willingness to take on a long mountain walk. I would still avoid leaving the booking until the last minute, since advance reservation is required.

Should you book the 7 Ausangate Lagoons?

Book this trip if you want colorful lagoons beneath Ausangate, do not mind leaving Cusco at 4:00 a.m., and can manage about five hours of walking. The included transport, breakfast, lunch, guide, trekking poles, oxygen, and first aid make $40 a fair price for a full day outside the city.

Skip it if you need a gentle outing, have one of the listed health or mobility concerns, or want a short trip with plenty of free time. If you do book, carry cash for the hot springs, wear proper hiking shoes, confirm your hotel details, and contact the emergency number after reserving. The lagoons are the main reward, while the Pacchanta baths offer a welcome optional finish.

FAQ

How long does the 7 Ausangate Lagoons tour last?

The experience lasts one day. The walking portion takes about five hours, with two hours to reach a viewpoint and another three hours covering much of the lagoon area.

What time is hotel pickup in Cusco?

Pickup begins at 4:00 a.m. You should be ready and waiting in your hotel lobby.

Which lagoons are included?

The route includes Laguna Superior, Otorongo Macho, Otorongo Fembra, Laguna Roja, Laguna Ccomer, Laguna Azul, and Laguna Alqa.

Are breakfast and lunch included?

Yes. Breakfast is provided in Pacchanta before the hike, and lunch is served after the walking circuit in Pacchanta.

Are the Pacchanta hot springs included in the price?

No. Entrance tickets to the hot springs are not included, so you need to pay separately if you choose to visit them.

What languages are available for the guide?

The tour offers a live guide in English or Spanish.

Who should not take this tour?

The tour is not suitable for children under eight, pregnant women, people with back problems, mobility impairments, respiratory issues, or a low level of fitness.