Cusco: Day Trip to the 7 Ausangate Lagoons with Lunch

The 7 Ausangate Lagoons make a strong day trip for anyone who wants high mountain scenery without committing to a multi-day trek. The colors change from blue and green to red and dark mineral shades, while the enormous Ausangate mountain forms the backdrop. You leave Cusco long before sunrise, so this is a full, demanding day rather than a lazy outing.

I like two things right away: breakfast and lunch are included, which matters on a five-hour walk, and the price of $40 includes hotel pickup, round-trip transport, a guide, trekking poles, oxygen, and a first-aid kit. I also like that the route reaches Pacchanta’s hot springs, though the springs require an extra entrance fee.

The main catch is altitude and fitness. The tour is not suitable for children under eight, pregnant women, people with back or respiratory problems, people with limited mobility, or anyone with a low fitness level. The 4 a.m. start and long ride can be as tiring as the hike.

Key points to know before booking

• The hike takes about five hours: You walk for roughly two hours to a viewpoint, then continue for about three hours around the lagoons and back to Pacchanta.
• Ausangate supplies the grand setting: The seven lagoons sit below the mountain, surrounded by high-altitude scenery, local plants, and wildlife.
• The lagoon colors are the main reward: Laguna Roja, Laguna Azul, Laguna Ccomer, Laguna Alqa, Laguna Superior, Otorongo Macho, and Otorongo Fembra each add a different tone to the route.
• Pacchanta gives the day a pleasant finish: Lunch takes place in town, and you can pay separately to enter the thermo-medicinal hot springs.
• The $40 price covers the basics well: Transport, hotel pickup, breakfast, lunch, guide, poles, oxygen, and first aid are included.
• You need to prepare for altitude: Comfortable hiking shoes, hiking pants, cash, identification, and a camera belong in your day bag.

Why the 7 Ausangate Lagoons are worth the early start

The first appeal is simple: this is a day of natural scenery rather than ruins, markets, or city streets. The lagoons sit at the foot of Ausangate, one of the most imposing mountains in the Cusco Region. You get open views, stark mountain forms, changing water colors, and the feeling of being far from town.

The route also gives you several kinds of scenery in one outing. You can look for native flora and fauna along the way, then pause at viewpoints to take in the full group of lagoons. The attraction is not one single pool. It is the changing combination of water, rock, mountain, and sky.

The colors deserve realistic expectations. The names suggest what you may see: Laguna Roja has red tones, Laguna Azul has blue water, and Laguna Ccomer is associated with a greenish color. Light, weather, and viewing distance can affect how strong those shades appear. You should come for the whole setting, not a promise that every lagoon will look like a postcard.

A single verified note praised the lagoons and hot springs as spectacular. That matches the strongest reason to choose this trip: the route combines a striking mountain walk with a warm-water stop at the end. The experience is more satisfying than a quick roadside photo stop, but it demands more from you.

The 4 a.m. departure from Cusco

Pickup begins at your hotel in Cusco at 4 a.m. You need to be ready and waiting in the lobby, and you must provide the hotel name when booking. You also need to contact the emergency number after making the reservation, and the tour must be reserved one day in advance.

That early departure serves a practical purpose. Pacchanta lies southeast of Cusco, and reaching the trailhead takes time. You will spend part of the morning riding before the walk begins, so use the trip as a chance to rest. The ride itself is listed as one of the highlights, though the information does not specify the vehicle type, group size, or exact driving time.

This is one point where your personal schedule matters. If you have just arrived in Cusco, a 4 a.m. pickup followed by a high-altitude hike may be too much. I would place this outing after you have had time to adjust to Cusco’s altitude and settle into the region.

Pickup is included, which makes the start easier than arranging separate transport to Pacchanta. Still, a hotel lobby at 4 a.m. is not the place to discover that you forgot cash, warm clothing, or your identification. Pack the night before.

Breakfast in Pacchanta before the trail

The first stop is the town of Pacchanta, where breakfast is provided. This gives you a proper starting point before the walking begins, and it lets you eat before the higher sections of the route.

Pacchanta is also important because it is the base for the hike and the place where the day ends. After the lagoon circuit, you return here for lunch. That arrangement keeps the meal and the optional hot springs together at the end instead of asking you to carry a full lunch during the walk.

The information does not list the breakfast dishes, so do not plan around a particular menu. It does confirm that breakfast is included, which is useful at this departure hour. You should still bring cash for extras and the hot-spring entrance fee.

Two hours to the Ausangate viewpoint

From Pacchanta, the walk to the viewpoint takes about two hours. This is a serious uphill outing at high altitude, even if the distance itself sounds manageable. The supplied details do not give the elevation, trail surface, or total distance, so you should judge the hike by the time and the fitness warnings rather than by kilometers.

The first major reward is the viewpoint where you can see the seven lagoons. This gives you a broad introduction to the area before you continue closer to individual pools. Take your time here. A viewpoint is not just a photo stop, especially after two hours of walking. It is where you can understand the shape of the route and see how the water colors fit into the mountain setting.

The guide speaks English or Spanish, and a professional guide is included. That is useful in a place where weather, altitude, and trail conditions can affect the pace. The operator also supplies trekking sticks, which can help with balance and reduce strain on the legs. Oxygen and a first-aid kit are carried as safety support, not as a substitute for being fit enough to join.

The seven lagoons below Ausangate

After the viewpoint, you continue for about three more hours. This section covers a large part of the seven-lagoon area and ends back at Pacchanta. The route is therefore not simply a walk to one lake and a return. You get a longer look at the group, with the mountain and surrounding high-country scenery changing as you move.

The seven names are Laguna Superior, Otorongo Macho, Otorongo Fembra, Laguna Roja, Laguna Ccomer, Laguna Azul, and Laguna Alqa. These names are useful because they give you a way to follow the route and remember the different pools. The information does not state the exact order of the lagoons, so your guide will determine how the group visits them.

I would keep your camera ready, but do not let photography turn the walk into a race. The best part is the contrast between the pools. Red, blue, green, and darker tones can appear across the route, while the surrounding mountains keep the scene from feeling like a collection of isolated ponds.

The phrase totally natural landscape is fair here. You are going for open mountain scenery, local flora and fauna, and a place shaped by nature rather than buildings or attractions. That also means you should not expect paved paths, extensive facilities, or an easy urban walk. The listing does not provide trail details, so sturdy hiking shoes are the safer choice.

Lunch, hot springs, and the return to Cusco

Once the walking is complete, you return to Pacchanta for lunch. After a five-hour route, this is more than a convenient meal. It gives you time to sit down, recover, and enjoy the town before the ride back to Cusco. Lunch is included, as is breakfast, which improves the value of the trip.

Pacchanta’s thermo-medicinal waters are optional. The entrance ticket is not included, so bring cash if you want to add the soak. This is the most appealing way to finish the day, especially after the cold and effort of the mountain route, but you should treat it as an extra rather than part of the base price.

The hot springs also offer a useful choice. If you have enough energy and the springs are a priority, pay the fee and stay for the soak. If you are tired, you can skip them and keep the day focused on the lagoons. The supplied information does not give the entrance cost or the amount of time available there, so ask the guide about timing before you decide.

After lunch, the group returns to Cusco by vehicle. No arrival time is provided, but the 4 a.m. departure, long ride, and five-hour hike make this a very full day. Keep your evening free. I would not pair this tour with an important nighttime reservation.

What the $40 price really covers

At $40 per person, the tour offers solid coverage for a remote day trip. Hotel pickup, round-trip transport, breakfast, lunch, a professional guide, trekking poles, oxygen, and a first-aid kit are included. If you had to arrange these pieces separately, the planning would be more difficult, particularly for an early start.

The meals are a real advantage. You do not need to find breakfast before a 4 a.m. pickup, and you do not need to carry a full lunch for the trail. The poles are another helpful inclusion, since they are practical equipment rather than a decorative extra.

The price does not include the hot-spring entrance. You also need cash, likely for that fee and personal purchases. Since no ticket price is supplied, ask for the current amount before booking if the springs are central to your decision.

The value depends on your priorities. If you want the cheapest possible way to see one viewpoint, this may be more than you need. If you want transport from Cusco, meals, a guide, walking equipment, and a full circuit of the lagoons, $40 is a sensible package price.

Who should take this day trip

I would recommend it to you if you enjoy long mountain walks and want a full day away from Cusco. It suits adults with a good fitness base who can handle a two-hour walk to a viewpoint followed by three more hours on foot.

It is also a good fit if you prefer natural scenery to major archaeological sites. You will see mountains, water, plants, and possibly local fauna, but the main experience is walking through an exposed high-country setting.

I would not choose it for young children, pregnant people, anyone with back trouble, limited mobility, respiratory problems, or a low level of fitness. The tour specifically excludes children under eight and people in these categories. Those limits are sensible given the early departure, altitude, and length of the route.

You should also think carefully if you dislike long rides or early mornings. The trip begins before dawn, and the ride to Pacchanta is part of the day. The attraction rewards patience, but it does not offer a quick in-and-out visit.

What to bring for a safer, easier day

Wear proper hiking shoes rather than casual sneakers. The route lasts about five hours, and the information specifically asks you to bring comfortable shoes and hiking shoes. Hiking pants are also recommended.

Carry your passport or another identification card, a camera, and cash. The identification is part of the stated packing advice, while cash is needed because the hot-spring ticket is separate and no card arrangement is promised.

A useful personal checklist is:

• Identification
• Hiking shoes
• Hiking pants
• Water and personal essentials
• Cash
• Camera

Weapons and sharp objects are not allowed. Smoking indoors, alcohol, and drugs are also prohibited. These rules are straightforward, but the early pickup makes it wise to check your bag the night before rather than rushing at 3:45 a.m.

The tour provides oxygen, trekking sticks, and a first-aid kit. That is reassuring, but you should still take the health warnings seriously. If you have respiratory or mobility concerns, this is not a suitable place to test your limits.

Booking details that matter

You can cancel up to 24 hours ahead for a full refund, and the reserve-now, pay-later option lets you keep your plans flexible. Availability determines the start time, but this specific departure is listed at 4 a.m.

The tour operates in English and Spanish. You should enter your hotel name accurately and wait in the hotel lobby for pickup. You must reserve at least one day in advance and contact the emergency number after booking.

The available score is mixed at 3.3 out of 5 from four ratings, so I would keep expectations practical. The strongest point is clear: the lagoons and hot springs can be spectacular. The weaker side is also clear: this is a demanding, early-start day with limited detail supplied about the vehicle, group size, trail conditions, and hot-spring fee. Confirm those points if they affect your decision.

Should you book the 7 Ausangate Lagoons?

Book this tour if you want colorful high-mountain scenery, can manage about five hours of walking, and value an all-in-one package from Cusco. The included transport, meals, guide, poles, oxygen, and first-aid kit make the $40 cost attractive.

Skip it if your fitness is low, you have one of the listed medical or mobility concerns, or you want a relaxed day. If Pacchanta’s hot springs are your main goal, remember that the entrance fee is extra and the lagoons still require a long walk.

For the right person, this is a memorable full-day outing: early, cold, tiring, and rewarding. Pack well, leave your evening open, and choose it for the mountain route rather than for a quick photo stop.

FAQ

How long does the 7 Ausangate Lagoons tour last?

It is a one-day tour. Pickup begins at 4 a.m. in Cusco, followed by transport to Pacchanta, about five hours of walking, lunch, and the return trip to Cusco.

What time does pickup begin?

Hotel pickup begins at 4 a.m. You should be ready and waiting in your hotel lobby.

How long is the hike?

The walk takes about five hours in total. The first two hours lead to a viewpoint with views of the seven lagoons, followed by about three hours visiting much of the lagoon area and returning to Pacchanta.

Which lagoons can I see?

The seven lagoons are Laguna Superior, Otorongo Macho, Otorongo Fembra, Laguna Roja, Laguna Ccomer, Laguna Azul, and Laguna Alqa.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Breakfast in Pacchanta and lunch after the walk are included in the tour price.

Are the Pacchanta hot springs included?

No. The hot-spring entrance ticket is not included, so bring cash if you want to visit the thermo-medicinal waters.

Who should not take this tour?

The tour is not suitable for children under eight, pregnant women, people with back problems, mobility impairments, respiratory issues, or a low level of fitness.