From Cusco: 7 lakes with hot springs in Ausangate and meals

The turquoise lakes beneath Ausangate are the reason to make this long day trip. At more than 4,000 meters above sea level, the water shifts through green, blue, and turquoise tones while the snow-capped mountain feeds the high-altitude lagoons. The setting feels stark, remote, and wonderfully different from Cusco.

I like two things here: you eat breakfast and lunch with a local family in Pacchanta, and the trip includes hot springs after the hike. The local food may be plain, but the chance to eat Andean-grown products in a family home gives the day more character than a simple photo stop.

The drawback is the altitude and long transport time. You spend about six hours on the road and several hours walking above 4,000 meters. Food is basic, English service can vary by guide, and the hot-spring stop is optional, so this is best for people who prepare carefully and accept a simple rural setup.

Key points to know before booking

• Ausangate scenery: See seven striking lakes, including Comercocha, Alqacocha, Patacocha, Otorongococha, and Azulcocha.
• High-altitude hike: The first climb takes about 1.5 hours, followed by a roughly 2.5-hour circuit back to Pacchanta.
• Local meals: Breakfast and a buffet lunch use Andean ingredients and products grown in the area.
• Pacchanta hot springs: You get about 40 minutes to soak, but the visit is optional and costs extra.
• Strong guide personalities: Guides such as Felipe and Tony have made the walk more enjoyable with humor, energy, and photo stops.
• Low price, extra fees: The $38 cost includes transport, meals, guide, trekking pole, and safety equipment, but entrance fees total PEN 25.

Why the seven lakes are worth the long day

The seven-lake circuit is one of those Cusco excursions where the main reward comes from the setting, not from a long list of monuments. You are heading into the Vilcanota mountain range, toward Ausangate, one of Peru’s great glaciers.

The colors of the water are the surprise. Some lakes appear green, others blue or turquoise, and the tones look especially vivid against the dry high mountain slopes. You might find that the view changes with clouds and light, so bring your camera, but do not expect every lake to look identical to a postcard.

The trip also gives you a view of rural Peru beyond the usual Cusco and Machu Picchu route. You pass villages, traditional clothing, small houses, and the wide-open highlands. It is not a polished sightseeing route. That is part of its appeal, but it also means comfort is limited.

The early ride south from Cusco

Pickup begins early at your hotel or Airbnb. Wait at the hotel reception, since the day starts before most visitors are fully awake. The full outing lasts about 15 hours, so plan on returning late.

The drive toward Pacchanta takes about three hours each way. That is a serious amount of road time, but the route gives you changing views of villages and mountain country. You pass through Ccatcca, where traditional dress and older narrow streets add a cultural layer to the journey.

You also travel along the interoceanic highway linking Peru with Brazil. That detail helps explain why the road is more than a local mountain track. Still, this is not a sightseeing bus with many formal stops. Much of the first part is viewed through the vehicle windows.

I would not book this trip as a relaxed day in the countryside. I would book it because the lakes matter enough to justify the early start and long return ride. If you prefer a shorter outing with more time at each stop, this may feel tiring.

Breakfast with a family in Pacchanta

Pacchanta sits above 4,000 meters and serves as the base for the hike. A local family welcomes you into their home and prepares breakfast with Andean ingredients.

This is a useful stop for two reasons. First, you get food before walking at altitude. Second, you have a chance to see how a family in this mountain community receives visitors and uses local products. The experience is simple rather than staged as a formal cultural show.

Do not expect a restaurant-style breakfast. The meals are designed to be filling and practical. Some people will appreciate the local touch, while picky eaters may want to bring an extra snack.

You should also drink water before setting out. The tour includes water as a suggested item to bring, but it does not list bottled water as an included feature. Pack what you need for a long day.

The first 1.5 hours are the hard part

The first hike to the initial lake takes about 1.5 hours and is described as the most strenuous section. At this altitude, even a steady path can feel demanding. You do not need to be a serious mountaineer, but you should be comfortable walking for several hours and handling cold, thin air.

A trekking pole is included, which is useful on uneven ground and during the descent. Wear comfortable shoes with a firm sole. Warm clothing matters even when the Cusco morning begins pleasantly, since temperatures can drop sharply in the high country.

Altitude is the main physical issue, not technical climbing. The tour visits areas above 4,000 meters, so you should take any signs of altitude trouble seriously and tell the guide if you feel unwell. The tour carries first-aid equipment and an oxygen bottle for emergencies, but those items are a safety backup, not a substitute for preparation.

The activity is not suitable for children under two, pregnant women, or people with pre-existing medical conditions. If you have a health concern, get medical advice before booking.

Comercocha, Alqacocha, and the high mountain views

Once you reach the first lake, the pace becomes more about looking and less about climbing. Comercocha and Alqacocha sit near the glacier, with green and turquoise water below the high peaks.

This is where a good guide earns the day’s tip. Guides Felipe and Tony have been praised for bringing humor and energy to the walk, and for stopping to help with photos. That matters because the scenery is the main event, and you want enough time to look without feeling rushed.

Guide quality can vary. English and Spanish guiding are offered, but one English-language experience had trouble with communication. If clear English explanations are important to you, confirm the guide language before departure. Even with limited commentary, the views remain the central reason to come.

Bring sunscreen and a camera. The high-altitude sun can be intense, and the open setting gives you little shelter. Warm layers are just as important as sun protection, since you may move between bright sun and cold wind.

The return circuit through five named lakes

After the first section, the route continues past more lagoons and returns to Pacchanta. The portion from reaching the first lake until getting back to the restaurant takes about 2.5 hours.

The route includes Patacocha, Otorongococha, and Azulcocha, along with Comercocha and Alqacocha. The tour is called a seven-lake outing, though only these five names are specified in the experience details. You should think of the day as a circuit of connected high lakes rather than seven equally long visits.

That distinction matters. You are not getting seven separate, leisurely stops with long breaks at each one. The value comes from the changing colors, the mountain setting, and the sense of moving through a broad highland area.

A horse option may be available, which could help if the altitude makes the walking difficult. Do not assume it is included or guaranteed. Ask before you rely on it as your main plan.

The route is described as long but generally easy, with altitude making it harder than the path itself. If you are in decent shape but unused to high elevations, keep a slow pace and let the guide know how you are doing.

A simple lunch with local products

Back in Pacchanta, you return to the host family’s home for a buffet lunch. The meal uses natural products grown in the area, which fits the setting and keeps the food connected to the community.

The food is best approached as basic mountain fuel, not a culinary highlight. Rice and pasta may be served without much sauce or seasoning, and some meals have been found disappointing. If you are selective about food, carry snacks, nuts, fruit, or another dependable option.

That criticism does not make the lunch worthless. After a high-altitude hike, a filling meal in a local home has practical value. You are eating where the excursion is based, rather than being taken to a large tourist restaurant on the highway.

Breakfast and lunch are included in the $38 price, so you are not paying restaurant prices on top of the tour. Just keep your expectations modest. The scenery and local setting are stronger selling points than the cooking.

Pacchanta’s hot springs after the hike

After lunch, you have about 40 minutes for the hot springs. Bring a swimsuit if you want to use them. Entry costs PEN 5, separate from the PEN 20 entrance fee for the lake area.

The timing is well chosen. A soak can feel wonderful after hours of walking in cold mountain air. The springs are optional, though, and the hot-spring portion may not always happen as planned. One experience did not include the springs, so ask the guide early in the day how the schedule is working.

There is also a practical catch: getting out of warm water into cold air at 4,000 meters can be unpleasant. Have dry, warm clothing ready and do not linger outside in a wet swimsuit.

If you do not want to soak, you can treat the 40-minute period as a rest break. Since the visit is short, do not book this tour mainly for a long spa session. The lakes are the primary attraction.

What the $38 price really covers

At $38 per person, this is an inexpensive full-day trip from Cusco. You receive hotel pickup, round-trip transport, a professional English or Spanish-speaking guide, breakfast, buffet lunch, a trekking pole, and emergency equipment.

The included transport and meals make the price particularly useful for anyone who wants an organized route into the Ausangate area. Arranging a private vehicle, food, and a guide separately would likely require more planning and cost more, though the supplied details do not provide private-tour prices for comparison.

You should budget at least PEN 25 beyond the booking price for the lake entrance and hot springs. The hot springs are optional, so your extra cost can be PEN 20 if you skip the soak.

The low price also explains some of the tradeoffs. You get a long shared excursion, simple meals, and a basic rural setup. You are paying for access, transport, and a guide, not luxury.

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start and the option to reserve now and pay later make the booking less rigid. Those terms are helpful when Cusco weather, altitude, or your health may affect your plans.

Who will enjoy this day most

I would recommend this outing to you if you want dramatic high-mountain scenery and do not mind a very early start. It suits people who enjoy long road trips, simple local meals, and walking at a steady pace.

It is also a good choice if you want more than a quick viewpoint. The family meal, villages along the route, and time in Pacchanta give the day a connection to daily life in the area.

I would be cautious if you are new to high altitude, have a medical condition, or dislike long drives. The 15-hour schedule leaves little room for a slow recovery once you return to Cusco.

Pack warm layers, comfortable walking shoes, sunscreen, water, a camera, and a swimsuit. Add snacks if food quality matters to you. Most important, do not treat the altitude as a minor detail because the lakes sit far higher than Cusco.

Should you book the Ausangate seven-lake trip?

Book it if your priority is seeing unusual turquoise and green lakes below Ausangate at a low price. The views are the strongest part of the day, and the local family stop plus hot springs give the trip more substance than a simple out-and-back hike.

Skip it if you want polished service, gourmet meals, guaranteed hot-spring time, or a short excursion. The ride is long, the food is plain, and guide communication may vary.

For prepared walkers who value scenery over comfort, this is a strong Cusco day trip. Go for the lakes and mountain setting. Treat the meals and hot springs as useful extras, not the main reason to book.

FAQ

How long does the Ausangate seven-lake tour take?

The full activity lasts about 15 hours, including pickup in Cusco, the drive to Pacchanta, the hike, meals, hot springs, and the return trip.

Where does pickup take place?

Pickup is included from your hotel or Airbnb in Cusco. You should wait at the hotel reception.

How long is the drive from Cusco to Pacchanta?

The drive takes about three hours each way.

How high is Pacchanta?

Pacchanta is located more than 4,000 meters above sea level. Other parts of the excursion also reach areas above 4,000 meters.

How difficult is the hike?

The first hike to the initial lake takes about 1.5 hours and is the most strenuous part. The circuit from the first lake back to the restaurant takes about 2.5 hours. Altitude can make the walk feel harder.

Which lakes are included?

The route includes seven lakes. The named lakes provided for this experience are Comercocha, Alqacocha, Patacocha, Otorongococha, and Azulcocha.

Are meals included?

Yes. Breakfast with a local family and a buffet lunch are included.

Are the hot springs included?

The hot-spring visit is optional and takes about 40 minutes. Entry costs PEN 5 and is not included in the tour price.

What languages are available for the guide?

The tour offers live guiding in English and Spanish. Guide communication can vary, so confirm your preferred language before departure.