Excursion: Rainbow Mountain and Ausangate 7 Lagoons 2 days

The high Andes reward determined walkers. This two-day trip links Vinicunca Rainbow Mountain with the remote-feeling Ausangate 7 Lagoons, giving you two striking high-altitude sights in one journey. I especially like the chance to see the red valleys around Rainbow Mountain and spend a night in Pacchanta, far from the usual Cusco day-trip routine.

I also like that the tour includes transport, a guide, meals, trekking poles, lodging, and a visit to the local hot springs. The main concern is uneven organization. Communication before departure and handoffs between vehicles and guides have caused serious confusion, so you need patience and a flexible attitude.

Key points to know before booking

• Two famous Andean sights in two days: You visit Vinicunca on the first day, then the Ausangate lakes on the second.
• Very high hiking: The route reaches roughly 16,500 feet, or about 5,000 meters, and requires good physical condition.
• Pacchanta adds local character: Your overnight stop includes a lodge stay, community time, and access to hot springs for an extra fee.
• Meals are included: The package provides two breakfasts, two lunches, and one dinner, reducing the need to arrange food in remote areas.
• The scenery earns the effort: The colored slopes, red valleys, glacial mountain views, and seven lakes are the strongest part of the experience.
• Expect logistical roughness: The group is limited to 18, but separate vehicles, transfers, and guide changes may make the trip feel improvised.

What this two-day route is really about

This is not a gentle sightseeing outing. It is a demanding high-Andes trip built around walking, cold weather, long road transfers, and altitude. You leave Cusco behind and head southeast into open mountain country, where the rewards come from the scale and color of the scenery.

Vinicunca, usually called Rainbow Mountain, is the famous first stop. Its striped mineral colors have made it one of the best-known sights near Cusco. Ausangate offers a different mood. The seven lakes sit below the Ausangate mountain range, and the setting feels broader, quieter, and less crowded than the main viewpoint at Vinicunca.

I see the two attractions as a good pair. Rainbow Mountain gives you the iconic photograph. Ausangate gives you more time on foot and a stronger sense of the surrounding high mountain country.

The advertised cost is $357 for a group of up to two people. If two people share the booking, that works out to $178.50 each before local entrance fees. You still pay S/25 for Rainbow Mountain, S/20 for the seven lagoons, and S/8 for the Pacchanta hot springs, for a total of S/53 per person in stated extra fees.

For that price, the package includes a lot: hotel pickup in Cusco, two days of tourist transport, a professional guide, two breakfasts, two lunches, one dinner, trekking poles, a first aid kit, and one night in Pacchanta. The value is strongest if you want someone else to arrange the long transfers and basic meals. It is weaker if you expect polished coordination from start to finish.

Day one: Cusco to the colored slopes of Vinicunca

The first morning begins with pickup at your Cusco hotel. Collection is scheduled about 30 minutes before departure, but the exact start time needs confirmation. One serious problem reported on this route involved a traveler waiting outside for an hour at 4:30 a.m. without a response, only to learn later that the start had shifted to 6:30 a.m.

That is not a small inconvenience at this altitude. You should confirm the pickup location and time by message before the day of departure, and keep the operator’s contact information handy. The tour is sold with pickup included, but the practical details deserve your attention.

The bus heads south from Cusco to the Kusipata district, where breakfast is served. The information provided does not describe the meal, so I would expect a simple group breakfast rather than a leisurely café stop. Eat well, refill your water, and use this pause to adjust your clothing before the walking begins.

From Kusipata, the bus continues for about one hour and 20 minutes to the community of Kayrawiri. This is where the main walk to Rainbow Mountain starts. The stated uphill hike takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes, though your own pace will depend heavily on altitude, weather, and fitness.

Reaching Rainbow Mountain at 16,500 feet

The walk to Vinicunca is short by distance but demanding because of the height. One person described reaching roughly 16,500 feet and finding the climb exhausting but well worth it. That is a useful warning: do not judge this outing by the number of hiking hours alone.

At the top, your guide explains the mountain and gives you free time for photos and exploration. The colored ridges and nearby red valleys create the main visual payoff. The colors can look strongest in clear light, but mountain weather changes quickly, so a cloudy or wet visit may look different from the familiar bright photographs.

You will probably want more than a few minutes at the viewpoint. Still, the scheduled visit is about one hour before you return to the bus. Use that time carefully. Take photographs, look beyond the main viewing area if permitted, and keep an eye on the group meeting point.

The return walk leads back to the transport, followed by the trip to Kusipata for a buffet lunch. Lunch is included, which matters after a high-altitude hike. The tour then continues toward Urcos, where the transport arrangement changes for the journey to Pacchanta.

This is the first point where the route can feel less like one continuous tour and more like a chain of local arrangements. One couple was transferred from the main shuttle to a private car after lunch and reached Pacchanta around sunset. They then waited about 30 minutes for someone to lead them to the hostel.

If you are the only people booked for the overnight option, this kind of handoff may be more likely. It eventually worked for that couple, and the beds were comfortable, but they arrived in the dark and had a worrying wait. Keep your phone charged, carry a flashlight, and do not assume every person at a transfer point will already know your name.

Pacchanta overnight and the hot springs

Pacchanta is the overnight base and the setting for a more local part of the trip. You have the afternoon free to see some of the community, though the exact activities are not specified. This free time is useful because the first day is tiring and the second day starts later than the first.

The lodging is described as a house or lodge in Pacchanta. One account found the beds comfortable but reported no hot shower. That is worth taking seriously. Pack a change of clothes, a towel, warm layers, and modest expectations about facilities.

The Pacchanta hot springs cost S/8 and are not included. After a cold, demanding day, the pools can be a welcome way to rest your legs. Bring swimwear and a towel, and remember that the hot springs are an optional extra rather than part of the package price.

Dinner is included, though no menu is provided. You should carry small amounts of cash for entrance fees and any personal purchases. Pacchanta is not the place to rely on a card for every need.

Day two: the Ausangate seven-lagoon walk

The second day starts at 8 a.m. after breakfast. That later departure is a relief compared with the pre-dawn start often used for Rainbow Mountain, but you still need to be ready for a long walk at high altitude.

From Pacchanta, the route climbs for about two hours to a viewpoint where you can see the seven Ausangate lagoons. The lakes vary in color, and the setting includes Ausangate itself, other high peaks, native plants, and local wildlife. The appeal here is not one striped mountain but a larger view that unfolds across the range.

After reaching the viewpoint, you walk for another three hours, visiting much of the lagoon area before completing the loop back at Pacchanta. That makes the second day the longer walking day, even though it begins at a more forgiving hour.

I would not treat the seven lagoons as an easy add-on after Rainbow Mountain. The route is physically serious, and the supplied information specifically says participants should be in good condition. People with a low level of fitness, heart problems, or an age over 80 are advised not to join. Pregnant women are also listed as unsuitable for the activity.

The high point of this day is the sense of open space. One person found the Ausangate route less busy and especially liked the mountain views. That quieter setting may be the best reason to choose the two-day version instead of stopping after Rainbow Mountain.

Lunch is served back in Pacchanta after the loop. From there, the group returns to Cusco. The exact arrival time is not given, so do not schedule an important evening commitment that depends on arriving at a precise hour.

The biggest weakness: communication and guide changes

The scenery is the clear success of this experience. The administration is the part that needs improvement.

Several problems can affect the feeling of security: a pickup that does not arrive on time, messages left unanswered, names and phone numbers mixed up, and guides who do not immediately know which group you belong to. One person found that everyone on the bus had booked a one-day Rainbow Mountain tour, while the two-day passengers had to be moved by taxi to Pacchanta.

Another account involved a confusing meeting with the next day’s group. The people in charge eventually confirmed the correct arrangement, but nobody initially seemed to know who was expected. This does not mean the route cannot be completed. It does mean you should not expect a tightly managed operation at every stage.

The group size is limited to 18 people, and the guide service is offered in English and Spanish. A small group can make the walk more pleasant, but the actual feel may vary because the overnight passengers can be combined with another group for the second day.

My practical advice is simple:

• Confirm the pickup time and exact hotel meeting point the day before.
• Ask for the name and phone number of the first guide.
• Confirm how you will reach Pacchanta after the first day.
• Keep screenshots of your booking and the tour description.
• Carry a charged phone, portable battery, and cash.
• If a handoff seems unclear, ask directly which vehicle and guide are yours before leaving.

That extra preparation should not be necessary, but it is wise for this particular trip.

What to pack for the altitude and weather

The packing list is long because conditions can shift quickly. You need comfortable hiking or trekking shoes, warm clothing, gloves, socks, a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, rain gear, and breathable layers.

Bring a daypack with water, a change of clothes, snacks if you prefer them, and a towel for the hot springs. A flashlight is especially useful if your transfer to Pacchanta runs late or you arrive after sunset.

The operator provides trekking poles and a first aid kit, but you should still carry personal medication and travel insurance. Biodegradable sunscreen and insect repellent are requested. Cash is important for the three entrance fees, especially because the total package price does not cover them.

Altitude deserves the most attention. The hike reaches close to 5,000 meters, and the route can feel exhausting even if you are normally active. The description does not promise an acclimatization program, so you need to consider your own recent time at altitude before booking. This is not the right choice for someone looking for a relaxed introduction to the Cusco region.

Who will get the most from this trip

I would choose this tour if you want two major mountain sights and prefer a prepared package with transport, food, a guide, and lodging included. It suits fit walkers who are comfortable with basic accommodation and can stay calm when plans change.

It is also a strong option if you value scenery over polish. The Rainbow Mountain view is famous, but the Ausangate section may be the more rewarding half because it gives you a longer route and a quieter mountain setting.

I would hesitate if you need precise timing, reliable communication, private transport, or hotel-quality lodging. A better-organized private trip may cost more, but it could be worth the difference if uncertainty would spoil the experience for you.

The free cancellation policy allows cancellation up to 24 hours before the activity for a full refund, and the reserve-now-pay-later option keeps your money flexible. Those terms are useful, but they do not replace confirming the operational details before you leave Cusco.

Should you book Rainbow Mountain and Ausangate 7 Lagoons?

Book it if your priority is exceptional mountain scenery at a moderate package price, and you are fit enough for hikes reaching about 5,000 meters. The included meals, transport, poles, guide, and Pacchanta lodging give the $357 group price reasonable value, especially for two people sharing the booking.

Think twice if poor communication makes you anxious. The route itself can be wonderful, but the transfers and guide assignments have been chaotic. If you book, prepare for that weakness, confirm every detail yourself, and treat the trip as an adventurous high-altitude outing rather than a polished resort-style excursion.

FAQ

How long is the Rainbow Mountain and Ausangate tour?

The experience lasts two days and includes one night in Pacchanta.

What languages are available for the guide?

Guiding is available in English and Spanish.

How difficult is the hiking?

The tour requires good physical condition. The Rainbow Mountain walk takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes, while the Ausangate route includes about two hours to the viewpoint and another three hours around the lagoons.

How high does the tour go?

The route reaches approximately 16,500 feet, or about 5,000 meters, according to the supplied tour information and experience details.

Are the entrance fees included?

No. The stated fees are S/25 for Rainbow Mountain, S/20 for Ausangate 7 Lagoons, and S/8 for the Pacchanta hot springs.

Is the Pacchanta hot spring visit included?

No. Entry to the hot springs costs S/8. The tour does include lodging in Pacchanta, but hot spring access is separate.

What meals are included?

The package includes two breakfasts, two lunches, and one dinner.