Seven Lakes of the Ausangate Full Day

Trip Details

Duration: 1 day
Activities: Trekking
Average Group Size: 12 to 16 people
Difficulty: moderate
Tour service: group tour (ask for our private confort options)
Departures: every day
Meals: 1 breakfast and 1 lunch buffet (Vegetarian and vegan options available)
Tour Language: English, Spanish
Hiking Distance: 12 km / 7.4 miles (round trip)
Walking time: 5.5 hours (round trip)
Starts/Ends: Cusco/Cusco (Hotel to Main Square)
Entrance permits: Seven lakes ticket included
Starting Elevation: 4,200m /13,780 ft
High elevatiom: 4,500m / 14,764 ft

OVERVIEW

The Seven Lakes and Ausangate 1-Day Tour is an unforgettable experience for lovers of nature, adventure, and Andean culture. This tour will take you to discover the most breathtaking landscapes of the Vilcanota mountain range, where the majestic Ausangate, the fifth highest mountain in Peru, dominates the horizon.

During the excursion, you will admire seven beautiful lakes in turquoise, green, and blue hues, formed by glacial meltwater.

In addition, you’ll have the opportunity to relax in natural hot springs, observe Andean wildlife such as llamas and alpacas, and visit local communities that keep their ancestral traditions alive.

The Seven Lakes and Ausangate 1-Day Tour is ideal for those seeking an authentic connection with the Peruvian Andes, far from conventional tourism. Enjoy a day filled with unique landscapes, vibrant culture, and a special energy that only Ausangate can offer.

TRIP ITINERARY

The Seven Lakes and Ausangate 1-Day Tour begins very early, around 4:00 a.m., with pickup from your hotel in Cusco. We will travel for approximately 3.5 hours to Pacchanta, a small and welcoming Andean village located at the foot of the majestic Ausangate. Upon arrival, we’ll enjoy a delicious traditional breakfast before starting our adventure.

After breakfast, we’ll meet our muleteer and the horses that will accompany us throughout the day. After getting ready with appropriate clothing and sunscreen, we’ll begin the 2-hour hike to the Seven Lakes of Ausangate, a route surrounded by breathtaking landscapes, glaciers, and sacred mountains.

During the trek, we’ll be able to appreciate lakes of amazing colors—green, turquoise, wine, and black—as well as the natural beauty of the Vilcanota Mountain Range. After enjoying this natural spectacle, we will return to Pacchanta, where a hot lunch awaits us.

To end the day, you can relax in the Pacchanta hot springs, enjoying the view of the snow-capped mountains before returning to Cusco, where we will arrive at approximately 7:00 p.m.

Seven Lakes and Ausangate 1-Day Tour, an authentic experience in the Peruvian Andes.

INCLUSIONS

What is included?

Permits & Entrance Tickets:
Entrance ticket to the Seven Lakes of the Ausangate
Experienced Tour Guide:
The official tour guide speaks both English and Spanish. All of our guides have finished a professional tourism program. We chose them for their knowledge, experience, responsibility, seriousness, boundless excitement for inquiry, and real desire to proudly share our culture and history. He or she will keep you safe, sound, and comfortable throughout your travel, allowing you to enjoy yourself without worry!
Hiking sticks
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch Buffet (Vegetarian and vegan options available)
Transportation:
Transportation is included in this tour. We’ll pick you up from your hotel and normally finishes close to the Cusco main square
Medical Kit or First AID Kit:
Our guides have all had specialised first-aid training. We have mandatory training sessions with our guides every February. In the event of a minor emergency, your guide will always have a
first aid kit and oxygen on hand. If necessary, we will immediately evacuate you from the path and bring you to a clinic for treatment.
24/7 customer service.

What is not included?

Entrance fee to pacchanta hot springs, optional USD 3.00
Travel insurance
Ride horse:
If you don’t want to hike, you can rent a horse from the locals; this is an optional/extra service that you can choose at the trailhead; the round trip cost is approximately US$ 35.00, which you can pay
directly to the community members.
Tips for our staﬀ:
Tipping is customary on any trip. Although we pay our entire crew well, anything extra is always appreciated, especially given how hard they work.
Additional costs or delays beyond our control:
Landslides, bad weather conditions, itinerary modifications due to a safety concern, illness, pandemia, government policy changes, political instability, strikes, act of God,
etc.

What to Pack?

If you plan to tackle the Seven Lakes of the Ausangate, you will need to pack appropriately. Here are some important items to consider bringing.

CLOTHING:

Comfortable hiking shoes/boots
Moisture-wicking hiking socks
Quick-drying pants
Long-sleeved shirt
Fleece jacket or sweater
Rain jacket and pants
Hat or cap
Gloves
Swimming clothe if you want to enter to the hot springs
Small towel

TREKKING GEAR:

Backpack day
Hiking poles
Sunscreen or sunblock (factor 50 or more)
Water
Snacks (energy bars, trail mix, etc.)
Personal toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, wet wipes, etc.)

MISCELLANEOUS:

Passport and necessary documents
Camera or phone with a good camera for capturing memories
Portable charger for electronic devices

Small Groups