Lakes and Glaciers
Seven Lakes of Ausangate
- Duration: Full day · about 13 hours
- Difficulty: Moderate
Places you visit
- Azulcocha Lake
- Otorongo Lake
- Pucacocha Lake
- Alqacocha Lake
- Q'omercocha Lake
- Orqo Otorongo Lake
- China Otorongo Lake
- Pacchanta Hot Springs
Trip overview
Discover one of the most impressive natural landscapes in the Cusco region. On this full-day tour you will see the spectacular Seven Lakes of Ausangate, surrounded by towering snow peaks and coloured by the meltwater of the Ausangate glacier.
As a finishing touch, and only if time allows, you can relax at the Pacchanta Hot Springs, with privileged views of Cusco's highest snow peak.
It is a full-day tour of about 13 hours, with pickup between 4:00 and 5:00 a.m. and return to Cusco between 6:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.
Itinerary overview
Full day · 13 h- Hotel pickup (4:00-5:00 a.m.)
- Scenic drive from Cusco to Pacchanta
- Andean breakfast in Pacchanta
- Hike along the Seven Lakes circuit
- Pacchanta Hot Springs (optional)
- Andean lunch
- Return to Cusco (6:30-7:00 p.m.)
The route, step by step
Hotel pickup. We collect you from hotels in the historic centre of Cusco between 4:00 and 5:00 a.m. and set off for the community of Pacchanta, in the Vilcanota mountain range.
Scenic drive to Pacchanta. The drive takes about 3 hours by tourist transport, crossing high-Andean landscapes, traditional villages and views of the Ausangate glacier.
Andean breakfast. On arrival in Pacchanta we enjoy a hearty breakfast. Before the hike, the guide explains the route, safety recommendations and difficulty level.
The Seven Lakes. We begin the hike along high-Andean trails, passing Azulcocha, Otorongo, Pucacocha, Alqacocha, Q'omercocha, Orqo Otorongo and China Otorongo lakes, each with its own colours and views of the Ausangate glacier.
Free time. We take time to rest, take photographs and take in one of the region's most impressive landscapes before heading back down.
Return to Pacchanta and hot springs. We descend along the same trail to Pacchanta. If time, weather and the day's schedule allow, passengers may optionally visit the Pacchanta Hot Springs (S/5.00 per person, paid directly and not included in the tour price).
Lunch. A traditional Andean lunch to recover energy after the hike.
Return to Cusco. We drive back by tourist transport, arriving in the city between 6:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., ending near the Plaza de Armas.
Included11
- Pickup from hotels in the historic centre of Cusco.
- Round-trip tourist transport.
- Professional driver experienced in high-Andean routes.
- Andean breakfast in the community of Pacchanta.
- Traditional lunch from the area.
- Professional bilingual guide (Spanish and English).
- Guided hike along the Seven Lakes of Ausangate circuit.
- Assistance throughout the tour.
- First aid kit.
- Oxygen tank in case of altitude sickness.
- Card and payment-link processing fees.
Not included7
- Entrance to the Seven Lakes: S/20.00 per person.
- Entrance to the Pacchanta Hot Springs: S/5.00 per person (optional, subject to season and available time).
- Horse rental (optional).
- Dinner.
- Personal expenses.
- Travel insurance.
- Anything not listed under «Included».
What to bring
- Valid ID or passport
- 2 days of prior acclimatisation in Cusco
- Warm clothing in layers
- Waterproof jacket or rain poncho
- Trekking shoes or boots
- Hat, sunglasses and sunscreen
- Water and energy snacks
- Cash for entrances, hot springs and tips
- Personal medication, if needed
- Respect for nature, no littering
Questions about this tour9
- What time does the tour start and end?
- Hotel pickup is between 4:00 and 5:00 a.m., and the return to Cusco is between 6:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.
- What is the difficulty level of the tour?
- It is a moderately difficult hike, due to the altitude and the terrain.
- What is the maximum altitude?
- About 4,700 m (15,420 ft), so it is important to be well acclimatised.
- Do I need to acclimatise before the tour?
- Yes. We recommend spending at least 2 days in Cusco before the excursion.
- Does the tour include breakfast and lunch?
- Yes, both are included: an Andean breakfast in Pacchanta and a traditional lunch after the hike.
- Is the entrance to the lakes and the hot springs included?
- No. The entrance to the Seven Lakes circuit (S/20.00) and to the Pacchanta Hot Springs (S/5.00) are paid directly on site.
- Is the visit to the hot springs guaranteed?
- No. The visit is optional and depends on available time, the season and the conditions of the tour.
- Can I rent a horse?
- Yes. It is an optional service arranged directly with residents of the Pacchanta community.
- What animals can I see during the tour?
- You may see alpacas, llamas, vicuñas, viscachas and a variety of Andean birds.
Booking, payment and cancellations
Booking confirmation
- The booking is confirmed only after payment is received.
- To book, we need full name, ID or passport, nationality, date of birth and WhatsApp number.
- Bookings are subject to availability for the requested date.
Changes and other considerations
- Date changes are subject to availability.
- The itinerary may change due to weather conditions or decisions by local authorities and communities, always prioritising passenger safety.
- Entrance fees to the lakes circuit and the hot springs are paid directly on site.
