From Cusco: 7 Lakes of Ausangate Full Day Tour

Seven lakes, one enormous Andean day. This full-day trip from Cusco takes you into the Vilcanota mountain range for turquoise-green lakes, snowy peaks, llamas, alpacas, and a soak at Pacchanta hot springs. I especially like the quiet mountain setting and the chance to meet local Andean people on their own land. The main concern is simple: the five-hour walk is strenuous at high altitude, so this is not a gentle sightseeing outing.

I also like that breakfast, lunch, transport, a guide, hiking poles, and a first aid kit are included. Guides such as Anibal, Ruben, and Hannibal have earned praise for being friendly, encouraging, and good at explaining the area. Still, you should bring rain gear, expect sudden weather changes, and budget separately for the lake entrance and possibly a horse if the hike becomes too much.

Key points to know before you book

• The hike lasts about five hours: You walk between the seven Ausangate lakes rather than simply viewing one roadside lake.
• The setting is genuinely remote: The route leaves busy roads behind and passes through natural habitat shared by llamas and alpacas.
• Altitude is the serious issue: Several participants praised their guides for allowing extra breaks, but you should prepare for thin air and hard walking.
• Meals are included: Breakfast comes at Pacchanta before the hike, with lunch there after the walk.
• The trip ends at hot springs: Pacchanta gives your tired legs a warmer, slower finish.
• The price is $130 per person: That is a fair package price if you value transport, meals, guiding, poles, and a small-group or private format, but lake entrance fees are extra.

Why the Seven Lakes of Ausangate are worth the long day

Ausangate is one of the great mountain areas near Cusco, and this trip shows you a quieter side of the region. Instead of spending the day near crowded roads and heavily visited ruins, you walk through the Vilcanota range beneath snowy peaks and across open Andean country.

The seven lakes are the main prize. Their colors can appear turquoise, green, or somewhere between the two, depending on the light and weather. The appeal is not only one famous viewpoint. You keep moving through a broad mountain setting, with one lake following another and the high peaks forming the backdrop.

I like this kind of outing because it gives you time to feel the scale of the Andes. You are not rushing from one photo stop to the next. The five-hour walk asks something of you, but that effort is part of the experience. By the end, you have seen the area at walking pace, with llamas and alpacas nearby and local communities living in the same high country.

The tradeoff is that beauty does not make altitude easier. A review of the trip praised guide Rubin for giving regular breaks when the height became overwhelming. That detail matters. A good guide can adjust the pace, but no guide can remove the physical demands of the route.

The early ride to Pacchanta

Your day begins with pickup in Cusco’s Centro Histórico. You wait at your hotel front desk at the arranged time, then travel by round-trip transport toward Pacchanta, the base for the day’s food, walking, and hot springs.

The supplied details do not give a precise departure time or driving duration, so check availability when you choose your date. What is clear is that this is a full-day outing with a substantial walk, not a short trip squeezed between other Cusco activities.

Pacchanta is more than a place to stop for food. It is the community setting for the day, and it gives you contact with Andean life before and after the walk. You may see local ornaments and colorful textiles, and you can meet people from native communities in their own surroundings rather than in a staged city display.

That is one of the tour’s strongest points. The cultural contact is brief, but it is tied to the place itself. You are seeing people, animals, clothing, and mountain life as part of the same high-country setting.

Breakfast before the five-hour walk

Breakfast is served at Pacchanta and lasts about an hour. The tour includes breakfast and lunch, which is useful because you need fuel for the walking ahead and do not have to organize two meals yourself.

Do not treat breakfast as a minor detail. A five-hour mountain walk is much easier when you start with food and water in you. The experience details do not list the exact menu, so you should not book this expecting a particular dish or special diet arrangement unless you confirm it first.

This is also your best chance to check your clothing and gear. Put on hiking shoes before leaving Cusco, not after you reach Pacchanta. Keep rain gear close, since weather can change suddenly in the Andes. A bright morning can turn into a wet, cold walk with little warning.

The tour supplies hiking poles. I consider that a real advantage rather than a decorative extra. Poles help with balance on uneven ground and take some pressure off your knees, especially late in the day when the return walk feels longer.

Five hours among Ausangate’s seven lakes

The main walk covers about five hours around the Ausangate seven-lakes area. You pass through part of the Vilcanota mountain range, with views of snowy summits, open mountain country, and the lakes themselves.

The route is the reason to book this experience, but it is also the reason to be honest about your fitness. The description calls the hike strenuous, and one participant specifically warned that it may be worth paying for a horse if the effort becomes too much. I would treat that as a practical possibility, not as a failure. The horse is not included in the price, and you should ask the guide about current arrangements before relying on one.

The walking pace can matter more than raw fitness. The strongest praise for the guides comes from their support on the trail. Anibal was described as friendly, well prepared, humorous, and encouraging. Rubin was praised for giving breaks and taking good pictures. Ruben also received direct praise, while another participant recalled a guide named Hannibal, likely the same guide written differently.

You want that kind of person on a high-altitude route. A guide who watches the group, explains what you are seeing, and slows down when needed adds real value. The tour is offered as a private or small-group experience, so ask which format applies to your booking. A smaller group usually makes it easier to manage breaks and walking speed, though the supplied details do not promise a specific group size.

The lakes themselves are best understood as a sequence of mountain views, not a single attraction with a quick visit. You have time to look across the water, photograph the peaks, and notice the changing colors. The day is about the full setting: lakes, snow, animals, people, and the long walk connecting them.

Llamas, alpacas, and Andean community life

The route passes through the natural habitat of llamas and alpacas. That makes the walk feel tied to the local economy and daily life rather than separated from it. These animals are part of the visual character of the high Andes, and seeing them in their mountain surroundings is more meaningful than spotting them only in a photo stop.

You may also meet local people and see traditional ornaments and colorful textiles. The information provided does not promise a formal weaving demonstration, market, or purchase stop, so keep expectations modest. The value is the contact itself and the chance to see how people live in this high mountain region.

I appreciate that the experience presents local culture alongside nature. You are not asked to choose between a scenic hike and a cultural visit. The two come together at Pacchanta and along the route.

Still, be respectful. You are entering someone else’s home region, not an outdoor theme park. Ask before photographing people, and remember that textiles and ornaments represent local work and identity, not just souvenirs.

Lunch and Pacchanta’s hot springs

After the walk, you return to Pacchanta for lunch. This one-hour stop gives you time to eat and recover before the hot springs portion of the day.

Lunch is included, which makes the $130 price easier to justify. You are paying not only for a vehicle and a guide, but also for meals and the structure of a long day in a remote mountain area. The exact food is not specified, so check ahead if you have dietary needs.

The Pacchanta hot springs provide the day’s most welcome change of pace. After several hours on your feet, warm water offers a chance to rest before heading back to Cusco. It also keeps the day from feeling like one long test of endurance.

The supplied information does not state how long the hot-springs visit lasts or whether its use is included in the listed price. Confirm that detail when booking. The same applies to the entrance fee for the seven lakes, which is specifically not included. You should add that cost to your trip budget rather than assume the $130 covers every admission.

Is $130 a fair price?

At $130 per person, this is not the cheapest way to see mountain lakes near Cusco. It can still be good value if you want a ready-made day with transport from the historic center, a professional English- or Spanish-speaking guide, breakfast, lunch, hiking poles, and a first aid kit.

The guide is especially important here. On a simple city tour, a weak guide is annoying. On a five-hour high-altitude hike, a guide who can explain the route, encourage you, and respond to fatigue is part of your safety and comfort.

Private and small-group options also affect the value. If you want more control over walking speed and breaks, paying for a smaller format may make sense. The exact supplement is not provided, so compare the available choices rather than assuming private travel is included.

Remember the extras. Entrance to the seven lakes is not included. Rain gear, hiking shoes, and any horse support are also your responsibility. The tour does provide poles, transport, food, and basic first aid, which are useful inclusions for a remote day.

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure and reserve-now, pay-later booking give you some flexibility. That is helpful when your Cusco plans depend on weather and altitude adjustment, but it does not change the need to check starting times and pickup details.

Who should book this Andean hike?

You should consider this tour if you want a full day outdoors and care more about mountain scenery and local life than about a quick checklist stop. It suits people who enjoy walking, can handle a strenuous route, and want to see a less crowded part of the Cusco Region.

It is also a good match if you prefer a guide and organized transport. You do not need to arrange the vehicle, meals, poles, or trail leadership yourself. English and Spanish guiding is available, and the private or small-group format may offer a more personal day.

This is not a good choice if you are looking for an easy outing. The experience is not suitable for pregnant women, people with heart problems, or people over 65. Those restrictions are stated plainly, and you should take them seriously.

You also need to think about altitude even if you are fit. The views may be breathtaking, but the air can make a hard walk feel much harder. Give yourself time to adjust in Cusco before scheduling this day, and be ready to stop for breaks rather than trying to prove anything to the mountain.

Practical packing advice for the seven lakes

Bring hiking shoes with firm support. Ordinary city sneakers are a poor match for a five-hour walk in changing mountain weather.

Rain gear is essential. The Andes can change quickly, and a waterproof outer layer is more useful than an umbrella on an open trail. Keep it easy to reach in your day bag.

You should also carry water and personal necessities, even though breakfast and lunch are included. The supplied information does not specify water service, so do not assume meals cover every need during the walk.

Wear layers rather than one heavy item. Conditions can shift between sun, wind, cold, and rain. The provided hiking poles are worth using, especially on tired legs.

Finally, leave space in your schedule after returning to Cusco. The drop-off points are in the historic center, including Centro Histórico and Plazoleta Regocijo, but a five-hour walk can leave you ready for a quiet evening rather than another major activity.

Should you book the 7 Lakes of Ausangate tour?

Book it if you want big Andean views with a real walking component, not a soft day of roadside sightseeing. The seven turquoise-green lakes, snowy peaks, llamas, alpacas, local communities, included meals, and Pacchanta hot springs make this a full and varied day.

Skip it if altitude or strenuous hiking is likely to spoil the experience. The tour’s best feature is also its biggest demand: you must work for the views. If you are prepared for that, the $130 package offers solid value, particularly with a supportive guide such as Anibal, Rubin, or Ruben and the convenience of transport from Cusco.

FAQ

How long does the 7 Lakes of Ausangate tour last?

The experience lasts one day. The walking portion takes about five hours, with breakfast and lunch each scheduled for about one hour.

What meals are included?

Breakfast at Pacchanta before the hike and lunch at Pacchanta after the walk are included.

Is transport from Cusco included?

Yes. Round-trip transport and pickup from your hotel front desk at the provided time are included. Pickup is listed from Cusco’s Centro Histórico, with drop-off options in Centro Histórico and at Plazoleta Regocijo.

Are the entrance fees to the seven lakes included?

No. Entrance to the seven lakes of Ausangate is not included in the tour price.

What languages are available for the guide?

Live guiding is available in English and Spanish.

Who should not take this tour?

The experience is not suitable for pregnant women, people with heart problems, or people over 65. It is also important to remember that weather can change suddenly and that the hike is strenuous.