Seven lakes, one long morning. This Cusco day trip sends you southeast to the slopes of Mount Ausangate, where water shifts colors under a big sky. I love the natural, off-the-beaten-path feel and how the seven lakes look different as you approach them. The tradeoff is real: this is a serious hike, and you do not linger forever at every stop.

You start in the dark, drive to Pacchanta for breakfast, and then spend hours walking toward viewpoints and along the lakes. It is a small group (up to 15), with a professional guide in English or Spanish, plus practical extras like walking sticks, oxygen, and a first aid kit.

Key Things I’d Plan for on the Ausangate Seven Lakes Hike

• A 4:00 AM pickup means you will feel altitude faster, so pace matters.
• Seven lakes, seven colors: Lake Superior, Lake Otorongo Hombre, Lake Otorongo, Lake Rojo, Lake Ccomer, Laguna Azul, and Lake Alqa.
• 5 hours of walking in total (2 hours to the viewpoint, then about 3 more while visiting most lakes).
• Small-group hiking (15 max) helps keep the route organized on narrow paths.
• Practical safety gear included: walking sticks, oxygen, and a first aid kit.
• Hot springs chance in Pakanta, but you should expect any entry costs to be extra.

Why the Ausangate Seven Lakes Route Feels Special

This is not a bus tour with quick photo stops. You are hiking into a high Andean zone where the views are the main event, and the lakes come into view one angle at a time. When you are moving, the colors and reflections change in a way you just do not get from a single viewpoint.

What I like most is the contrast. You leave busy Cusco, drive to Pacchanta, and then transition to a really natural setting at the foot of Mount Ausangate. The day feels grounded in place, with mountains, flora, and fauna along the way, even when you are focused on putting one foot in front of the other.

The 4:00 AM Start, Pacchanta Breakfast, and Why Early Matters

Pickup is at 4:00 AM from hotels in Cusco’s historic center. That sounds brutal, but for this kind of altitude and remote walking, early is when the day is calmer. You want daylight, good light for the lakes, and enough time for the full walking route and lunch.

After the drive, you reach Pacchanta and have breakfast. This meal matters more than it sounds. You’re about to do a long, steady effort, and a real breakfast helps you avoid that shaky, low-energy feeling that can hit on steep stretches at altitude.

The other practical point: you are starting early, which means you should plan to be ready the night before. Have your daypack set, water handy, and layers accessible. If you wait until pickup time to rummage for sunscreen, you will lose precious minutes before the climb rhythm begins.

From Pacchanta to the Viewpoint: The First Big Reveal

The hike begins in Pacchanta. After about 2 hours, you reach a viewpoint where you can see the seven lagoons of Ausangate. This is the moment the day starts to click.

From a viewpoint, the lakes feel like a system rather than separate photo spots. You can start matching the names to shapes and color tones: some lakes look darker or more intense, others lighter, and the sky reflections can change quickly.

Also, the viewpoint is not just a photo break. It is your chance to get your bearings, check your pace, and adjust your effort. If you start the next part too fast, you will feel it later during the long stretch.

The Main Walking Section: Visiting Most of the Seven Lakes

After the viewpoint, you continue walking for about 3 more hours, visiting most of the lakes. This is where the day earns its reputation, because you are seeing the lakes from different angles while snow-dusted mountains sit in the background.

Here’s what to pay attention to as you move:

• Lake Superior and the bigger basins tend to look dramatic when the wind shifts and the surface changes.
• Lake Rojo often looks especially striking because the color stands out against pale rock and distant snow lines.
• Laguna Azul and Lake Ccomer can look lighter or deeper depending on the cloud cover and the angle you crest.
• Lake Alqa rounds out the set, and by the time you reach it you’ll likely notice the whole area feels like one connected valley system under Ausangate.

One thing to know upfront: the route is efficient. A review note that stuck with me is how little time some people spend at each lake. You should expect to stop, look, take photos, and move on. It is still beautiful, but if you love slow sightseeing and long sittings, this day might feel fast.

Pakanta and the Hot Springs Chance

On the way, you have an opportunity to visit the community settlement of Pakanta and its hot springs. This is a nice human and cultural add-on to a physically demanding trek. After hours of cold air and wind exposure, the idea of warm water helps the day feel more balanced.

However, the tour notes that extra costs may apply, so do not assume hot springs entry is included. If you want that soak, bring extra cash and be ready for a ticket fee.

Even if you only spend a short moment there, it helps break up the hike emotionally. The trek becomes more than a sequence of lakes, it becomes a full day in a living place.

Lunch Back in Pacchanta: Recovery With a Real Meal

Once you finish the main lakes section, you return to the starting point of Pacchanta for lunch. This timing is smart. After a long walk, you want a proper meal rather than snacks only.

The lunch is included, and you should treat it like your recovery milestone. Eat calmly. Refill water. Then keep your daypack organized for the ride back to Cusco.

You return to Cusco around 6:00 PM near the main square. That arrival timing matters if you have dinner plans, since you will likely want something warm and easy after a cold, high-wind hike.

How Tough Is the Walk, Really, and How to Handle Altitude

This is a 1-day hike in high elevation terrain. One review called it about a 13 km hike, and even if your exact pace changes, you should plan for a full-body effort.

You also need to take altitude seriously. The tour provides oxygen and a first aid kit, and that’s reassuring, especially because not everyone experiences elevation the same way. The walking sticks included are another smart touch. They help on uneven ground and reduce the load on your knees during descents.

Still, there are clear limits. This tour is not suitable for wheelchair users, and it is also not recommended if you have respiratory issues or pre-existing medical conditions. If you fall into that group, do not try to tough it out.

For the rest of us, the best strategy is simple:

• Start slower than you think you need.
• Take short breathing breaks.
• Keep moving even when you want to stop every few minutes.
• Save big energy for the viewpoint and lake moments.

What Meals Are Included, and What You Should Bring

Breakfast and lunch are included. That helps a lot because you do not need to plan a snack-and-panic strategy before your morning drive.

But you should still bring your own essentials. The tour lists:

• Water
• Snacks
• Sunscreen
• Sunglasses
• Sun hat
• Camera
• Daypack
• Passport
• Cash

I’m especially glad they mention sunscreen and sunglasses. At higher elevation, the light can be intense even when the air feels chilly. A hat is not optional either. Wind and sun both show up fast in these areas.

Also, keep in mind that extra cash can help if you decide on the optional hot springs stop.

Small Group Size and the Kind of Guiding You Want

This is a small group, limited to 15 participants. That matters because you want a guide who can manage pace, timing, and safety without herding people like luggage.

The tour also offers a professional guide in English and Spanish. And in feedback from the field, guides are noted for keeping the hike friendly and paced for real conditions, including supporting people through a tough start.

I’d still recommend you communicate your limits early. If you need more frequent breaks, speak up. In a small group, that request can actually change how the whole day feels.

Price and Value: Is $37 Worth It?

At $37 per person for a full day, this is a strong value if you want hiking and you are okay with a sporty pace. You get roundtrip transportation from Cusco, a professional guide, breakfast and lunch, walking sticks, oxygen, and a first aid kit. That combination is not just a deal on paper, it’s practical.

Where the value lands is in the fact that you are paying for access to a remote, high Andean setting with safety and logistics handled. For many people, that is the difference between a day you enjoy and a day you scramble through.

The main reason the price would not feel like a win is if you expected a very slow, long-linger lakes experience. With the efficient walking schedule, you trade time at each lake for the chance to see several in one day.

Who This Tour Suits Best, and Who Should Skip It

This is a great fit if:

• You enjoy walking and want an active day over passive sightseeing.
• You want to see multiple Ausangate lakes in one go.
• You value a small group and a guide who keeps things organized.
• You’re comfortable with early starts and cold mornings.

It is not a fit if:

• You need wheelchair accessibility.
• You have respiratory issues.
• You have pre-existing medical conditions that could be risky at altitude.
• You want lots of resting time at each lake.

And if you are on the fence, look at the hiking requirement honestly. You can always choose your pace, but you cannot avoid the fact that this is a long walk day.

Should You Book the Ausangate Seven Lakes Tour?

I’d book it if you want a real hike with big payoff views, plus included breakfast, lunch, and the comfort of oxygen and first aid support. The small group size and the route to the Ausangate area are the core reasons this works as a day trip.

I would skip it if you want leisurely strolling, long lake hangouts, or if your health situation makes altitude and sustained walking a problem. For the rest of you, go in prepared, pace yourself, and treat the lakes like a moving gallery you earn one step at a time.

FAQ

What time is pickup in Cusco?

Pickup is at 4:00 AM from selected areas in Cusco, specifically hotels located within the historic center.

Where do we start walking?

After driving to the town of Pacchanta and having breakfast, you begin walking from Pacchanta.

How much walking is included?

The walk includes about 2 hours to a viewpoint where you can see the seven lagoons, then about 3 more hours walking while visiting most of the lakes.

What meals are included?

Breakfast and lunch are included.

Which seven lakes does the tour include?

The lakes listed are Lake Superior, Lake Otorongo Hombre, Lake Otorongo, Lake Rojo, Lake Ccomer, Laguna Azul, and Lake Alqa.

Is a horse ride included?

No, horse ride is not included.

Are oxygen and a first aid kit provided?

Yes. The tour includes an oxygen supply and a first aid kit.