Turquoise lagoons at 4,000 meters change you. This day outing pairs otherworldly blue-green lakes with a hot springs stop high in the Andes. I love the way the route mixes mountain beauty with a real local home breakfast, but the day does run at altitude and the meals can be pretty basic.

You’ll start with a southbound drive from Cusco past village life and traditional dress, then land with a family in Pacchanta (over 4,000 meters) for breakfast made from Andean ingredients. I also like that the guide support is practical, with bilingual help and trekking support like trekking poles plus a first-aid kit and oxygen bottle for emergencies.

One thing to plan around: you hike at elevation and temperatures can drop, so if you’re sensitive to altitude or cold, you’ll feel it. The good news is this trip gives you tools to manage it, but you should still go in prepared with warm layers.

Key highlights to know before you go

• Pacchanta home breakfast with Andean ingredients at over 4,000 meters
• Ausangate-view trekking with a first, tougher 1.5-hour hike to the initial lagoon
• Seven lagoons with different colors, including Comercocha and Alqacocha, plus Patacocha, Otorongococha, and Azulcocha
• Lunch buffet focused on locally grown natural products
• Optional hot springs for 40 minutes, great reward but you’ll need a swimsuit and warm clothes
• Safety and support gear, including trekking poles, a first-aid kit, and an oxygen bottle

Leaving Cusco: the ride, villages, and what the day is really about

This is a long, scenic day that starts early and ends in central Cusco near Plaza del Regocijo. You’ll get roundtrip transport, so you’re not wrestling with vehicles or timing, just preparing yourself for a full slate of driving, hiking, and stops.

The drive is part of the experience. You head south for about three hours, passing through villages and colorful houses, and you’ll get a feel for daily life in the Cusco region before you even start walking. If you like travel that mixes people and places, this setup works because it doesn’t feel like you’re just transporting yourself to a viewpoint.

A key detail: the day is paced for altitude. You’ll go high early, and it’s not a tour built around slow sightseeing every step of the way. You’ll hike, then you’ll move between lagoons, then you’ll return for lunch and (optionally) hot springs.

Ccatcca and traditional dress: a culture stop you actually see

One of the memorable early moments comes as you pass through Ccatcca. You get to see women still wearing traditional dress of the area, and you can spot the narrow streets that echo older ways of building and moving through the community.

This isn’t staged cultural performance. It’s more like you’re driving through, noticing, and learning how daily life looks in the Andes. For me, that makes the day feel more grounded than a pure nature-only excursion.

If photography matters to you, this is where you’ll likely want to slow down with your camera. You’ll have plenty of lagoon photos later, but costume and village detail are easy to miss if your attention is only on the next stop.

Pacchanta home breakfast: Andean ingredients and high-altitude reality

Your arrival in Pacchanta is where the altitude becomes real. The village sits above 4,000 meters, and you’ll spend time with a local family who welcomes you into their home and serves breakfast with Andean ingredients.

This stop does two useful things for you. First, it gives you energy before the more strenuous part of the hike. Second, it helps you shift from the Cusco city rhythm into the rhythms of the mountains, where you’ll soon be breathing thinner air.

You’ll also get time to learn about the place, which adds meaning to the views you’ll chase later. Even if you only catch parts of the explanation, the setting is what makes it land: you’re not just watching the Andes, you’re meeting people who live there.

The first hike: 1.5 hours, the most strenuous part, and how to pace it

After breakfast, the day turns toward the Vilcanota mountain range. You’ll be able to see the snow-capped Ausangate, one of the spectacular glacier-fed peaks that helps feed the boiling lagoons you’ll visit.

Then comes the first hike. It takes about 1.5 hours to reach the first lagoon, and it’s described as the most strenuous part of the 7 Lakes adventure. That means you should plan your effort, not just your shoes.

Practical pacing tips:

• Go slow at the start, even if you feel fine. Altitude often catches up later.
• Use the trekking pole you’re provided, especially on uneven ground.
• If you’re out of breath, shorten your steps and keep breathing steady.

This is not the kind of hike where speed wins. You’ll get more from it if you treat it like a controlled climb. And if you’re the type who gets stressed when hiking gets hard, remind yourself that this part is temporary, and the lagoon payoff is real.

Comercocha and Alqacocha: turquoise color at the glacier’s base

Once you reach the first water, you’ll be rewarded quickly. Two of the highlighted lagoons you’ll visit include Comercocha and Alqacocha, described as green and turquoise lakes at the foot of the mystical glacier.

This is the heart of why people want this trip. The colors are dramatic, and they’re the kind of shade you only fully understand when you’re staring at it from a few meters away. Photos help, but your eyes will still do a double take.

What I like about this portion of the day is variety in the experience. You’re not only walking to a single lake and calling it done. You’re moving between lakes, and that keeps the energy high while also giving your body time to warm up and settle after the initial climb.

One caution: don’t let color hunting distract you from footing. You’ll likely be taking pictures, but the ground can still be rough. Pause for photos in safe spots, then keep going.

Patacocha, Otorongococha, and Azulcocha: the return route with more water and more power

On the way back toward Pacchanta, you’ll pass by more lagoons: Patacocha, Otorongococha, and Azulcocha. This is where the trip earns its name, because you’re stacking multiple lake views into one circuit.

There’s also a built-in photo time. From the moment you arrive at the first lagoon until you return to the restaurant, plan on about 2.5 hours. That’s enough time to step off the trail a bit, take photos, and enjoy the stillness without feeling like you’re on a strict conveyor belt.

I like the way this part works if you’re not the strongest hiker. You’re already doing the tougher hike early, then your return includes more viewing time. You’re still walking, but you’re spending more time with the lagoons as the main event.

Tip if you’re sensitive to cold: after stops, move a bit before you sit still. Waiting in a windy high-altitude spot can chill you fast.

Lunch buffet with locally grown products: good fuel, with one possible caveat

Back at the host family’s home, you’ll have a delicious buffet lunch with locally grown natural products. This is a big part of the trip’s value because it’s not just a snack break between sights. You’ll be fed after the hike, and it helps you recover for the last activity.

That said, the meals are not described as fine dining. Several comments in the provided information point to food being simple. If you’re picky or you prefer more flavor, it’s smart to consider bringing a small backup snack for your taste, just in case.

My practical advice: eat what’s available, but don’t assume every item will hit your preferences. Try a bit of everything, fill up so you have energy for the hot springs portion, and then adjust what you carry next time.

Optional hot springs: 40 minutes, bring your swimsuit, and plan for cold air after

After lunch, you’ll have about 40 minutes to visit the hot springs. The hot spring visit is optional, and you should bring a swimsuit if you want to soak.

This is a classic Andes contrast moment: warm water at altitude, then immediate exposure when you step outside again. It can feel rough if you’re chilled, so bring warm clothing you can put on quickly.

If you choose to skip the hot springs, you’ll still finish the tour with the hike and lagoons, plus lunch and the return to Cusco. But if you do go, treat it like a timed reset. Forty minutes disappears faster than you think once you’re changing and drying off.

Price and value: what $38 gets you, plus the entrance fees

At $38 per person, the value comes from what’s bundled. You’re paying for roundtrip transportation from Cusco, breakfast and lunch, a professional guide in English and Spanish, trekking poles, and safety gear like first-aid equipment and an oxygen bottle.

Those additions matter at altitude. A guided day with support gear and organized timing reduces the stress of figuring things out on your own. You also avoid the hassle of arranging transport and figuring out where to eat before hiking.

Two entrance fees are not included:

• Entrance fee: PEN 20.00
• Hot springs entrance fee: PEN 5.00

So in total, your cost will be a bit more once you get there, especially if you soak. Still, when you compare it to paying for transport and a guided circuit separately, the pricing feels reasonable for a 15-hour full day.

What to pack for Ausangate altitude day trips

You’ll want to keep your packing simple and functional, because you’ll be moving a lot.

Bring:

• Comfortable shoes
• Warm clothing (it gets cold at elevation)
• Camera
• Sunscreen
• Water

And if you plan to use the hot springs:

• A swimsuit

Altitude reality check: the tour visits areas over 4,000 masl, so temperatures and breathing both need respect. Warm layers are not optional. Even if it looks sunny, wind and thin air can make it feel colder than you expect.

Safety and who should skip this day

This trip includes first-aid equipment and oxygen bottle for emergencies. That’s a reassurance you appreciate once you’re at altitude and doing a hike.

Still, it isn’t for everyone. It’s not suitable for:

• Children under 2 years
• Pregnant women
• People with pre-existing medical conditions

If you have a medical condition that could be affected by altitude, you should think twice before booking. The day starts early and the altitude is a major factor, even with support from the guide.

Who should book the 7 Lakes plus hot springs day from Cusco

This is a great match if you:

• Want a dramatic high-altitude nature day with seven lagoon stops
• Like the idea of starting with a local home breakfast and ending with hot springs
• Can handle a steady hike, including a tougher 1.5-hour uphill section

It’s not ideal if you:

• Need a very easy walking pace
• Are worried about altitude effects
• Hate simple food options and don’t want to adapt

Should you book this tour?

I think you should book it if you’re chasing the real Andes combo: mountain color, glacier-fed water, and a warm-water reward at the end. The packed-in value is strong for a day that includes transport, meals, bilingual guidance, trekking poles, and safety supplies.

If you’re on the fence because of food or cold, you can fix a lot of that with preparation. Dress warm. Bring your water and sunscreen. Consider a small snack you like. And pace the first hike, because that’s when altitude will test you the most.

If that sounds like your kind of day trip, the odds are good you’ll walk away thinking about the lagoons long after the drive back to Cusco.

FAQ

How long is the 7 Lakes with hot springs tour from Cusco?

The tour lasts about 15 hours.

What is included in the price?

Pickup from your hotel, roundtrip transportation, breakfast, a lunch buffet, an English and Spanish speaking professional guide, first-aid equipment and an oxygen bottle for emergencies, and trekking poles are included.

Are the hot springs included?

The hot springs visit is optional. You have about 40 minutes, and the hot springs entrance fee (PEN 5.00) is not included. Bring your swimsuit if you want to go in.

How high will you travel during the day?

You visit areas over 4,000 meters above sea level, including Pacchanta (more than 4,000 meters).

What should I bring?

Bring comfortable shoes, warm clothing, a camera, sunscreen, and water. If you plan to use the hot springs, also bring a swimsuit.

Who is this tour not suitable for?

It is not suitable for children under 2 years, pregnant women, or people with pre-existing medical conditions.