Excursion to Ausangate & 7 lakes with Coca Ceremony |Private|

High-altitude lakes reward steady walkers. This private Ausangate excursion pairs striking mountain scenery with a coca leaf ceremony, a meaningful Andean tradition led by your guide. I like the freedom to walk at your own pace, and I like that round-trip transport, breakfast, lunch, oxygen, and a first-aid kit are included. The main caution is altitude: the route reaches 4,200 meters and involves a long hike.

The $108 price is fair for a private vehicle, private guide, and full-day service, especially if you are sharing the vehicle with family or friends. Still, this is a demanding 14-hour to 14-hour-30-minute outing, so you should choose it for the mountains and cultural experience, not for a relaxed day trip.

Key Points to Know Before You Go

• The excursion begins at 4,200 meters in Pacchanta, so fitness and comfort with high altitude matter from the start.
• A private format lets you set the walking pace, useful if your group needs extra time for photos or short rests.
• The coca ceremony takes place beside the first lagoon, giving the morning a cultural purpose beyond sightseeing.
• The hike covers about 10 kilometers and roughly five hours, after an initial 5 to 6 kilometer walk is described in the schedule.
• Pacchanta’s hot springs follow the hike, making the warm water a welcome finish before lunch.
• Guide Alex earned special praise for being calm, polite, and well-educated, a useful sign for visitors who value thoughtful guiding.

Leaving Cusco for Pacchanta at 4,200 Meters

Your pickup is arranged from accommodation, preferably inside Cusco’s historic center, with the formal meeting point listed as Plaza Regocijo. From there, a private air-conditioned vehicle takes you toward Pacchanta, a community at the foot of the Ausangate mountain range.

The private vehicle is one of the clearest advantages here. You are not joining a large group, waiting for several unrelated hotel pickups, or being pushed along by a fixed walking pace. If you are traveling with a partner, family, or friends, the $108 per-person cost becomes easier to justify because the service is built around your group alone.

The high starting point is also the chief physical warning. Pacchanta sits at about 4,200 meters above sea level, well above Cusco. The tour includes oxygen and a first-aid box, but those supplies do not remove the need to take altitude seriously. I would choose this outing only if you have a moderate level of physical fitness and feel ready for sustained walking at high elevation.

The early schedule matters. Breakfast is planned for around 7:30 a.m. in Pacchanta. That meal gives you fuel before the hike, and it also keeps the morning organized. This is not a late-start sightseeing trip. You will spend most of the day outdoors, with the return to Cusco expected around 7:00 p.m.

Breakfast Before the Seven-Lagoon Walk

The breakfast stop in Pacchanta is practical rather than decorative. You receive a nutritious meal before heading into the Andes, which is important on a day with several hours of walking.

After breakfast, the route continues into the mountain area to visit the seven Ausangate lagoons. The schedule first describes a 5 to 6 kilometer hike, then gives the full hike as 10 kilometers taking about five hours. Since the wording separates those figures, ask your guide to clarify the exact walking plan at the start of the day.

That question is worth asking, especially if your group has mixed fitness levels. A private tour gives you more control, but the route itself remains long and high. Comfortable hiking shoes are specifically recommended, and I would treat that advice as essential rather than optional.

The reward is variety. You are not stopping at one viewpoint, taking a quick photograph, and heading back. The day is designed around a series of lagoons in the heart of the Andes, with mountain scenery, wildlife, and vegetation along the way. Your camera should be charged because the route offers repeated photo opportunities rather than one single lookout.

The Coca Ceremony Beside the First Lagoon

At the first lagoon, your guide performs a coca leaf ritual. You can take part, speak during the ceremony, and connect with Mother Earth according to the Andean tradition presented during the activity.

This detail gives the excursion more character than a standard high-altitude hike. The lagoons are the visual draw, but the ceremony helps explain how the place can be approached as more than a scenic stop. It creates a quiet pause early in the walk and connects the natural setting with local cultural practice.

The ceremony is also a reason to pay attention to your guide. The quality of this moment depends on how clearly and respectfully it is explained. One guide named in the feedback, Alex, was praised as calm, polite, and extremely well-educated. That combination suits a ritual like this, where a measured explanation is more useful than a rushed performance.

You should also understand what this is not. The ceremony does not replace the hike, shorten the route, or make the day less strenuous. It is one part of a demanding outdoor excursion. If you want only quick photographs and minimal walking, this tour is not the right fit.

Seven Lagoons and Five Hours on Foot

After the coca ritual, you continue to the other lagoons. The route reaches into the Ausangate mountain range, where the scenery is the main event. The tour description points to wildlife and vegetation as part of the setting, so keep your attention beyond the water itself.

The walking time is substantial. The stated 10-kilometer route takes approximately five hours, and the initial 5 to 6 kilometer figure may refer to an early portion of the overall outing. Either way, you should plan for a full mountain walk, not a short stroll between transport stops.

A private group is especially helpful here. You can stop for photographs without worrying about losing a large party, and you can ask for a slower pace if the altitude catches up with you. The guide can also help keep the day moving so you still reach Pacchanta for the hot springs and lunch.

The scenery can be spectacular. A perfect rating of 5 from 80 published ratings, along with a 99 percent recommendation rate, suggests that the overall combination of views, guiding, and organization has worked very well for many customers. The strongest specific praise went to the scenery and to Alex’s calm manner. That is encouraging, but it does not change the basic rule: good views still require effort at 4,200 meters.

Pack with the route in mind. Wear comfortable hiking shoes, bring a charged camera, and expect changing energy levels during a long day. The tour provides breakfast and lunch, but the supplied details do not list other personal items, so you should plan your own basic hiking needs without assuming extras are included.

Pacchanta Hot Springs After the Hike

Returning to Pacchanta for the hot springs is smart timing. After hours on foot, the warm water gives you a chance to rest before lunch and the drive back to Cusco.

The hot springs also make the day feel more balanced. Without them, the excursion would be almost entirely a high-altitude hike. Here, the schedule gives you scenery, a cultural ceremony, physical activity, hot water, and food in a single long outing.

You should keep expectations practical. The information confirms access to the hot springs as part of the return to Pacchanta, but it does not provide details about changing rooms, towel rental, or other facilities. Bring only what you are prepared to manage during a day outdoors, and confirm any personal needs with the provider before departure.

Lunch follows the hot springs. Since breakfast and lunch are included, the $108 rate covers two important meals during a remote, full-day excursion. That is a real value advantage, particularly because you are not left to arrange food independently while away from Cusco.

A Private Tour Worth the $108 Cost?

At $108 per person, this is not the cheapest way to see mountain scenery near Cusco. It is also not a bare-bones outing. The price includes private air-conditioned transport, a professional private guide, hotel pickup, breakfast, lunch, oxygen, and a first-aid box.

The private format is what gives the price its strongest value. If you are traveling alone, the cost may feel high compared with a shared excursion. If you have a small group, the ability to share a private vehicle and control the pace makes the rate more reasonable.

The entrance fee is not included, so you need to budget for that extra cost. No amount is provided, and the details do not specify exactly where or how it is paid. Ask for the current entrance charge when booking or before departure.

The tour also has strong advance demand, averaging 56 days between booking and the activity date. That does not mean you must book that far ahead, but it is a useful planning signal. If your Cusco schedule is fixed, reserving early is sensible, especially because this is a private activity with a limited group format.

Who Will Enjoy This Ausangate Excursion?

I would recommend this tour to you if you want a serious mountain day with a cultural element and prefer not to share transport with strangers. It suits people who enjoy long walks, dramatic scenery, photography, and a flexible pace.

It is also a good match for groups with different walking speeds. A private guide can adjust the rhythm better than a large scheduled party, though the route still requires moderate fitness. You should be comfortable with the idea of walking for about five hours at high altitude.

I would hesitate to recommend it if you dislike early starts, long drives, or strenuous hiking. The 14-hour-30-minute approximate duration leaves little room for a casual afternoon in Cusco. It is a full commitment from morning until evening.

The excursion may also be a poor choice if your main goal is a quick visit to one famous viewpoint. The attraction here is the full combination of seven lagoons, the coca ceremony, hot springs, meals, and private service. Skip it if you want a short, low-effort outing.

Practical Details That Matter on the Day

The meeting point is Plaza Regocijo, identified as F2M9+5X2, Cusco 08002, Peru. Pickup from accommodation is available, preferably within the historic center, so confirm your exact pickup arrangement rather than assuming every address receives door-to-door service.

The activity ends back at the meeting point. The expected return to Cusco is around 7:00 p.m., but the overall duration is approximate. Mountain roads, walking pace, and group needs can affect the schedule, so avoid booking a tight evening connection.

Confirmation is received at the time of booking. The activity is near public transportation, though the private pickup remains the more convenient choice for this early and lengthy day.

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience begins. Cancellations made less than 24 hours before the start time are not refunded, and changes inside that period are not accepted. Cutoff times follow local time in Peru.

Should You Book the Ausangate 7 Lakes Tour?

Book it if you want a private, high-altitude day built around scenery, Andean tradition, and a long walk. The coca ceremony, Pacchanta hot springs, included meals, private transport, and the chance to set your own pace give this outing more substance than a simple photo stop.

The best reason to choose it is the balance of nature and culture, supported by a guide such as Alex, who was praised for a calm and courteous style. The main reason to think twice is the physical demand. At 4,200 meters and up to 10 kilometers of hiking, this is beautiful but not easy.

If your fitness is moderate, your schedule allows a full day, and the extra entrance fee fits your budget, I think the tour offers solid value at $108 per person. If altitude or long walks worry you, choose a shorter Cusco outing instead.

FAQ

How long does the Ausangate and seven lagoons tour last?

The approximate duration is 14 hours and 30 minutes. The schedule describes about 14 hours, with a return to Cusco around 7:00 p.m.

Where does the tour begin?

The listed meeting point is Plaza Regocijo, F2M9+5X2, Cusco 08002, Peru. Pickup from accommodation is also available, preferably within Cusco’s historic center.

Where does the excursion take place?

The tour travels to Pacchanta, a community at the foot of the Ausangate mountain range. The area is located at about 4,200 meters above sea level.

How much does the tour cost?

The listed price is $108 per person. The entrance fee is not included.

What meals are included?

Breakfast in Pacchanta, planned for around 7:30 a.m., and lunch are included.

Is the tour private?

Yes. This is a private activity, and only your group participates.

What level of fitness is required?

A moderate level of physical fitness is recommended. The walk is described as about 10 kilometers and approximately five hours, with an initial 5 to 6 kilometer section also noted.

Can I cancel for a refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start are not accepted for a refund.