Cusco: Ausangate Tour 7 Lagoons full day

The big draw here is the seven-lagoon walk beneath snow-capped Apu Ausangate. The water shifts between blue, turquoise, and green, with some pools broad enough to reflect the surrounding mountains. It is a full Andean day, not a quick roadside photo stop.

I like the way the tour combines a proper mountain walk with Pacchanta’s thermal waters at the end. Breakfast and lunch are included, too, which keeps the $36 price useful rather than bare-bones. The main catch is the altitude and the five-hour walk. If you are still feeling Cusco’s thin air, this is not the day to prove a point.

Key points at a glance

• Seven named lagoons: See Azulcocha, Otorongo, Pucacocha, Alqacocha, Q’omercocha, Orqo Otorongo, and China Otorongo.
• Apu Ausangate views: Snow-covered peaks provide the setting for the walk and photo stops.
• Long but structured day: Hotel pickup runs around 4:30 to 5:00 a.m., with a return to Cusco around 7:30 p.m.
• Meals included: You receive a local breakfast in Pacchanta and lunch after the walk.
• Hot springs finish: Pay 10 soles for entry and soak in Pacchanta’s thermo-medicinal waters.
• Good value with extra costs: The tour costs $36, but Ausangate entry, hot springs, horses, dinner, and hotel drop-off are separate.

Why the Seven Lagoons Are Worth the Early Start

Ausangate is one of the great high mountain areas near Cusco. The mountain, known as Apu Ausangate, is treated as a sacred peak in Andean culture, and it gives the day a strong sense of place. You are not simply checking off seven ponds. You are walking through high country shaped by ice, rock, grass, and water.

The colors are a major reason to come. Azulcocha, Otorongo, Pucacocha, Alqacocha, Q’omercocha, Orqo Otorongo, and China Otorongo each have their own look. Some are described by blue, turquoise, or green tones, while others are large and mirror-like. Color changes with cloud, sunlight, and your viewing angle, so the same lagoon can look different a few minutes later.

The scenery also has movement. You might spot Andean birds, alpacas, llamas, and vizcachas along the route. Those sightings are not guaranteed, but they add life to a walk that could otherwise feel focused only on viewpoints. Keep your eyes open near the open slopes and rocky areas.

I would bring a phone or camera, but do not let photography turn the walk into a race. The tour allows scenic views, photo stops, and time to look around. The best pictures will likely come from taking a moment to frame the water, the peak, and the wide open surroundings together.

Leaving Cusco Before Sunrise

Pickup is scheduled between 4:30 and 5:00 a.m. from hotels, Airbnbs, houses, and other accommodation in central Cusco and the southern part of the city. There are many listed pickup points, including the Main Square, Avenida El Sol, Calle Saphy, Ovalo Pachacutec, and several named hotels.

This early start is practical. The drive to Pacchanta takes about three hours, and the walk itself takes about five hours round trip. Add breakfast, lunch, hot springs, and the return drive, and you have an 870-minute day, or roughly 14 hours and 30 minutes.

That schedule is the tradeoff for reaching the Ausangate area in one day. I like that transport is arranged from your accommodation area, but you should expect a very long day with little spare time. Pack what you need the night before. A late breakfast or a forgotten rain jacket becomes more annoying when you are leaving before dawn.

The vehicle is tourist transport, and the drive is listed at about three hours each way. This is not a short excursion from Cusco. You will spend a large part of the day on the road, but that travel time is what makes the high mountain setting possible without staying overnight.

Breakfast in Pacchanta Before the Walk

Pacchanta is the first proper stop. You receive a local breakfast and have about 30 minutes before starting the route. That meal matters because the walk comes at high altitude and lasts for hours. Eat enough to feel steady, but do not treat breakfast as a reason to skip your own snacks.

The stop also gives you a chance to organize your layers and water. Put your rain gear where you can reach it, rather than burying it at the bottom of your bag. Warm clothing, hiking shoes, sunglasses, a sun hat, snacks, and cash all belong in your day pack.

The tour information does not give an exact starting elevation or the total gain, so I would not assume this is an easy stroll. The route ascends gradually to the first lagoon, then continues to the others. Gradual does not mean effortless at altitude. Move slowly, keep a comfortable pace, and tell the guide if you feel unwell.

Five Hours Among the Ausangate Lagoons

The walk starts with a gradual ascent from Pacchanta. That steady climb is kinder than a sudden steep push, but the combination of height and duration still demands good physical condition. The route includes guided walking, scenic stops, and time to see the lagoons.

You may have some freedom to walk at your own pace. One booking comment described the guide allowing people to go at their own speed at first, then bringing the group together to view the lagoons. That can work well for a mixed group, provided you stay within sight and follow the guide’s instructions.

The first lagoon is only the beginning. The route continues through the named chain of Azulcocha, Otorongo, Pucacocha, Alqacocha, Q’omercocha, Orqo Otorongo, and China Otorongo. The exact order and time spent at each spot can depend on the group and conditions, but you should expect the walk to occupy about five hours round trip.

I like the variety built into the route. A single colorful pool can be beautiful, but seven lagoons give the day rhythm. You keep moving toward the next view instead of standing at one overlook for a few minutes and returning to the bus.

There is also a practical drawback. The route is long enough that weather can change during the walk. The tour operates rain or shine, so rain gear is not an optional extra. Sun at high altitude can be intense even when the air feels cold, which makes sunglasses and a hat just as useful as a fleece.

Animals, Photos, and Time to Look Around

The walk offers more than mountain scenery. Alpacas and llamas are part of the local highland setting, and you might also see vizcachas and Andean birds. These encounters are a bonus rather than the central promise, so I would not book this tour mainly for wildlife.

The photo opportunities are plentiful, but the open setting can make the light harsh. Sunglasses will help your eyes, while a hat can cut glare. If your phone battery is weak, bring a portable charger. The tour does not list one as included, and there may be no convenient place to recharge during the walking portion.

Some people will love the scale of this outing. Others may find the repeated uphill and downhill walking tiring. Horses are available as an extra, but the cost is not included and no further details are given. If you think you may need one, ask the operator about availability and price before departure.

Lunch and Pacchanta’s Hot Springs

After the walk, you return to Pacchanta for a 45-minute lunch stop. Lunch is included, along with breakfast, which improves the overall value of the day. A meal after five hours on the trail is not a small detail. It lets you refuel before the final activity and the long drive home.

Then comes the best bit of recovery: Pacchanta’s hot springs. Entry costs 10 soles and is not included in the tour price. The water is described as thermo-medicinal, and the soak offers a chance to rest your legs before sitting in the vehicle again.

Bring cash for the springs and the Ausangate entry fee, listed as S/ 20.00. You will also want a towel and swimwear, though the supplied information does not confirm whether towels are provided. Pack them rather than relying on a last-minute purchase.

The 45-minute break is useful, but it is not an unlimited spa visit. You have lunch and hot springs within the schedule, so keep an eye on the meeting time. The bath is a pleasant finish to a strenuous walk, not a separate full-day wellness outing.

What the $36 Price Really Covers

At $36 per person, the tour offers strong basic value. You receive pickup, tourist transport, an English- or Spanish-speaking guide, breakfast, lunch, and a first aid kit. For a remote mountain day requiring a three-hour drive each way, that is a fair package.

Still, the advertised price is not the complete spending figure. Add S/ 20 for the Ausangate entry and 10 soles for the thermal waters. Horses, dinner, and hotel drop-off are also excluded. You should carry cash because the tour specifically advises it.

The missing hotel drop-off is worth noting. The finish point is in Cusco at San Bernardo, Cusco 08002, rather than a guaranteed return to your accommodation. After a 14-hour day, you may prefer to arrange your own short ride back, especially if your lodging is not near the final point.

The food and guide service receive the strongest praise in the available booking comments. One five-star comment highlighted the tasty food, while another gave special credit to the guide’s friendly, professional approach and the good organization. A separate four-star comment liked the guide’s handling of walking pace. That is encouraging, though the operator does not provide guide names, so you cannot request a particular person from the information supplied.

Altitude, Health, and Packing

Acclimatization in Cusco is necessary. The tour is specifically not suitable for people with altitude sickness or high blood pressure, and it calls for good physical condition. Take those warnings seriously. Ausangate is not the place to discover that you have packed too lightly or underestimated the height.

I would give myself time in Cusco before booking this outing, especially if arriving from near sea level. The information does not state a required number of acclimatization days, so the sensible choice is to judge your own response to Cusco and ask a medical professional if you have health concerns.

Pack:

• Comfortable hiking shoes with good support
• Warm layers
• Waterproof rain gear
• Sunglasses and a sun hat
• Snacks and water
• Cash for the two entry fees and personal purchases

The tour runs in rain or shine. That means your clothing needs to handle both cold sun and wet weather. A good layering system is more useful than one very heavy coat. You can remove a layer while walking and put it back on during stops.

Who Will Enjoy This Day Most

This trip suits you if you want a big mountain setting, colorful water, and an active day without arranging separate transport, meals, and a guide. It is especially good for people who enjoy walking with a clear goal and do not mind a very early start.

It is less suitable if you want a relaxed sightseeing day, dislike long road journeys, or are not acclimatized. The five-hour walk, altitude, early pickup, and late return create a demanding schedule. The hot springs soften the finish, but they do not make the walking portion easy.

The tour works best when you treat it as a full expedition from Cusco rather than a casual half-day outing. Keep your expectations practical, move at a steady pace, and leave room for weather changes.

Should You Book the Ausangate Seven Lagoons Tour?

I would book this tour if your priorities are dramatic high-country views, several lagoons in one outing, included meals, and a low headline price. The combination of Ausangate scenery and Pacchanta hot springs gives the day more variety than a simple viewpoint trip.

I would skip it if you have altitude symptoms, high blood pressure, weak walking fitness, or only a short time in Cusco. You also need to budget for S/ 30 in listed entry fees and plan your own ride from the San Bernardo finish point.

For prepared hikers who have acclimatized, this is a strong-value day. Just remember that the real cost is measured not only in dollars, but also in an early alarm, six hours of road time, and five hours on foot.

FAQ

How long does the Ausangate Seven Lagoons tour last?

The activity lasts 870 minutes, or about 14 hours and 30 minutes. Pickup is around 4:30 to 5:00 a.m., and arrival back in Cusco is expected around 7:30 p.m.

Where does pickup take place?

Pickup is available from hotels, Airbnbs, houses, and other accommodation in central Cusco and the southern part of the city. Listed points include the Main Square, Avenida El Sol, Calle Saphy, Ovalo Pachacutec, and several named hotels.

Is breakfast included?

Yes. Breakfast is provided in Pacchanta and lasts about 30 minutes before the walk begins.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch is provided after the walking portion, with about 45 minutes scheduled for the meal.

Which lagoons will I visit?

The named lagoons are Azulcocha, Otorongo, Pucacocha, Alqacocha, Q’omercocha, Orqo Otorongo, and China Otorongo.

How long is the walk?

The walk takes about five hours round trip. You gradually ascend from Pacchanta and visit the lagoons along the route.

Are the hot springs included in the price?

No. Entry to the thermal waters costs 10 soles and is paid separately.

What is not included besides the hot springs?

The Ausangate entry fee of S/ 20.00, horses, dinner, and hotel drop-off are not included. The tour finishes at San Bernardo in Cusco.