Cusco: Day Trip to the 7 Ausangate Lagoons with Lunch

The seven Ausangate Lagoons sit beneath the massive Ausangate mountain, and their changing colors are the main reason to make this long day from Cusco. You get sweeping mountain views, high-country flora and fauna, and a route that feels far removed from city life.

I like two things right away: the price includes round-trip transport, breakfast, lunch, a guide, trekking poles, oxygen, and a first-aid kit; and the walk ends back in Pacchanta, where you can add the community’s thermo-medicinal hot springs. The main drawback is the early start and demanding five-hour walk, especially at high altitude.

• Seven named lagoons: See Laguna Superior, Otorongo Macho, Otorongo Fembra, Laguna Roja, Laguna Ccomer, Laguna Azul, and Laguna Alqa.
• A 4 a.m. departure: The early pickup leaves plenty of time for the long return to Cusco.
• About five hours on foot: Walk two hours to the viewpoint, then continue for roughly three more hours around the lagoons.
• Pacchanta hot springs: Add entrance to the thermo-medicinal pools after the hike for an extra fee.
• Meals included: Breakfast comes in Pacchanta, followed by lunch there after the walk.
• Best for fit hikers: The tour is not suitable for children under eight, pregnant women, people with mobility or respiratory problems, or anyone with a low level of fitness.

Seven Colored Lagoons Beneath Ausangate

The 7 Ausangate Lagoons trip takes you southeast of Cusco to the foot of Ausangate, one of the region’s most striking mountains. The attraction is entirely natural. You come for the contrast between cold mountain air, broad open views, rocky slopes, and pools that appear blue, red, green, or darker depending on their mineral content and the light.

The seven lagoons have individual names, which helps you keep track of the route:

• Laguna Superior
• Otorongo Macho
• Otorongo Fembra
• Laguna Roja
• Laguna Ccomer
• Laguna Azul
• Laguna Alqa

The names are useful, but the bigger pleasure is seeing how different each pool looks from the next. You should not expect seven giant lakes. Some may feel more like mountain ponds, and the appeal comes from their colors, setting, and connection to Ausangate.

This is a good choice if you want a full day outdoors rather than another short viewpoint stop. It is not a relaxed sightseeing ride with a few minutes of walking. The five-hour hike is the heart of the experience.

Leaving Cusco at 4 a.m.

Pickup from your hotel is scheduled for 4 a.m. You need to be ready in the lobby, and the hotel name must be provided when you book. This is an unusually early departure, but it makes sense for a destination that requires a long drive from the city and a full walking circuit before returning.

The early hour affects the whole day. You will likely begin in darkness, so keep your passport or identity card, phone, camera, and other essentials packed the night before. Comfortable shoes alone are not enough for this outing. Bring proper hiking shoes and hiking pants, since the route is described as a substantial mountain walk.

Round-trip transport is included, which is important here. Arranging separate transport to a remote starting point would add both cost and hassle. The ride is also part of the appeal. You pass from the city toward a much more open, natural setting, and the changing scenery gives the outing a sense of distance from Cusco.

The tour provider is journey MachuPicchu, with live guiding in English or Spanish. Since guide names and group size are not provided, you should confirm those details after booking. You are also asked to contact the emergency number once your reservation is complete, so do not leave that step until the morning of departure.

Breakfast in Pacchanta Before the Hike

The first important stop is Pacchanta, a populated community near the lagoons. Breakfast is served here before you begin walking. That meal matters because the route is long, and starting with food is much better than trying to manage the first uphill stretch on snacks alone.

Pacchanta also serves as the practical base for the day. You start the walk here, return here after completing the lagoon route, eat lunch here, and can visit the hot springs here if you choose to pay the entrance fee.

I like this arrangement because it connects the natural attraction with an actual community rather than treating the lagoons as an isolated photo stop. The tradeoff is that the morning meal comes after the very early departure, not in Cusco before pickup. Keep a small snack with you in case you need something before breakfast, although the supplied information does not specify what the meal includes.

The Two-Hour Walk to the Viewpoint

From Pacchanta, the first section takes about two hours on foot. The reward is a viewpoint where you can see all seven Ausangate Lagoons. This is the first major payoff of the day, and it gives you a useful sense of how the pools sit around the base of the mountain.

A viewpoint is also the best place to understand the scale of the setting. From above, the lagoons read as a group rather than as separate stops. Ausangate provides the backdrop, while the water adds the strongest color to an otherwise spare high-mountain scene.

Do not underestimate the walk to this point. The tour specifically excludes people with a low level of fitness and those with respiratory problems, and that warning should guide your decision. The altitude makes a five-hour hike more serious than the same distance at sea level.

Oxygen and a first-aid kit are included, along with trekking poles. These are sensible safety provisions, but they do not turn the hike into an easy one. Poles can help with balance and rhythm, while oxygen is available as part of the support equipment. You should still be honest about your fitness and health before booking.

Three More Hours Around Laguna Roja and Laguna Azul

After the viewpoint, you continue for roughly three hours, covering a large part of the seven-lagoon route before finishing back in Pacchanta. This section gives you more than a single panoramic look. You can see individual lagoons at closer range and appreciate the changes in color between them.

Laguna Roja and Laguna Azul are especially memorable names because they suggest the visual variety that defines the outing. Otorongo Macho and Otorongo Fembra add another pair of distinct stops, while Laguna Superior, Laguna Ccomer, and Laguna Alqa complete the circuit.

The exact order of the lagoons is not provided, so you should follow your guide’s route rather than expect a fixed sequence. Weather and trail conditions may also affect how long each section takes, although no specific seasonal details are supplied.

This is where the tour feels most rewarding and most tiring. The color of the water gives you a reason to pause, take photographs, and look carefully. At the same time, you still have several hours of walking after reaching the first viewpoint. Pace yourself early. A slow, steady walk will serve you better than rushing to the first set of pools.

Bring a camera, but do not let it replace the view. The colors are the headline, yet the mountain setting is what gives them meaning. Take wide photographs that include Ausangate, then closer images of the water where the color is easiest to see.

Lunch and the Pacchanta Hot Springs Option

Once the walking circuit ends, you return to Pacchanta for lunch. Having a full meal at the starting point keeps the day organized and means you do not have to carry a large packed lunch on the trail.

The hot springs are optional and cost extra. Entrance is not included in the $40 price, so bring cash if you plan to use them. The pools are described as thermo-medicinal waters, and they offer a chance to rest after the hike before the return to Cusco.

The hot springs are one of the strongest reasons to consider this particular version of the outing. A demanding mountain walk followed by warm water is a sensible combination, and the experience can make the long day feel more complete. Still, you should check how much time the schedule allows, since the supplied details do not state the length of the stop.

The clearest praise connected with the experience is directed at the lagoons and the hot springs, both described as spectacular. That matches the structure of the day: the lagoons provide the visual reward, while Pacchanta’s pools provide the physical comfort at the end.

What the $40 Price Really Covers

At $40 per person, the tour offers good value if you need a guided day with transport from Cusco. The package includes:

• Hotel pickup
• Round-trip transportation
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• A professional guide
• Oxygen
• Trekking sticks
• A first-aid kit

Those inclusions reduce the number of extra arrangements you need to make. Meals are especially useful because the schedule starts before dawn and keeps you away from Cusco all day. Trekking poles are another practical inclusion for a route that lasts about five hours.

You still need to budget for the hot springs entrance and carry cash for that expense. The price also does not tell you the group size, vehicle type, or exact time of return, so ask the provider for those details if they matter to you.

Compared with arranging transport and meals independently, $40 is a modest price for a remote full-day outing. The value depends mainly on your tolerance for the early pickup and the hike. If you want an easy scenic drive, this is not the right bargain. If you want a supported mountain walk with food and transport included, it is more appealing.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later. You must reserve at least one day in advance, provide your hotel name, and contact the emergency number after booking.

Who Should Book This Ausangate Day Trip?

I would recommend this outing to you if you enjoy long days outside, want to see a less city-focused side of the Cusco Region, and are comfortable walking for about five hours in mountain terrain. The seven pools offer a clear goal, and the hot springs give the day a pleasant finish.

It also suits people who prefer a guided package. Pickup, transport, breakfast, lunch, guide service, poles, oxygen, and first aid are already arranged. That leaves you to focus on clothing, water, pacing, and the scenery.

I would not choose it for a young family with small children. Children under eight are excluded, and the fitness demands make the trip a poor match for anyone who dislikes long walks.

You should also skip it if you are pregnant, have back problems, mobility impairments, respiratory issues, or a low level of fitness. These are stated restrictions, not minor cautions. The altitude and duration can turn a beautiful day into an uncomfortable one if your body is not ready.

The experience is also a weak fit if you want a leisurely schedule. A 4 a.m. pickup, a two-hour walk to the viewpoint, three more hours around the lagoons, lunch, and a return drive make this a packed day.

What to Bring for the High-Mountain Route

Pack for walking and changing conditions, using the supplied essentials as your baseline:

• Passport or identity card
• Hiking shoes and comfortable shoes
• Hiking pants
• Camera
• Cash
• Any personal items you need for a full day away from your hotel

The tour supplies trekking sticks, but you should still wear shoes suited to a real hike. Keep your cash separate from your passport and camera, particularly if you plan to pay for the hot springs.

You are not allowed to bring weapons or sharp objects, and smoking indoors, alcohol, and drugs are prohibited. Since the pickup is early, set out your gear before bed and wait in the hotel lobby at the agreed time.

Should You Book the 7 Ausangate Lagoons Tour?

Book this tour if the idea of seeing seven colorful mountain lagoons beneath Ausangate excites you more than the thought of waking at 4 a.m. The combination of natural scenery, a long route, included meals, and optional hot springs makes the $40 cost reasonable for a fit hiker.

Skip it if you need a gentle day, have any of the listed health or mobility concerns, or want a short excursion with little walking. For the right person, the lagoons and Pacchanta hot springs are the day’s major rewards. Just treat the hike seriously, confirm the pickup details, and arrive prepared for a long day at altitude.

FAQ

What time does hotel pickup begin?

Pickup from your hotel in Cusco begins at 4 a.m. You should wait in the hotel lobby and provide the hotel name when making your reservation.

How long is the walking portion?

The walk takes about five hours in total. The first two hours lead from Pacchanta to a viewpoint over the seven lagoons, followed by about three more hours around much of the lagoon route.

Which lagoons are included?

The route includes Laguna Superior, Otorongo Macho, Otorongo Fembra, Laguna Roja, Laguna Ccomer, Laguna Azul, and Laguna Alqa.

Are the hot springs included in the price?

No. Entrance to Pacchanta’s thermo-medicinal hot springs is not included and must be paid separately.

What languages does the guide speak?

Live guiding is available in English and Spanish.

Is the tour suitable for children?

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