REVIEW · PERU
Cusco: Ausangate Tour Seven Lagoons + meals
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Snowy Ausangate is the main event. This Seven Lagoons day tour from Cusco pairs a long uphill walk with unbelievable alpine water colors and a final soak in Thermo-Medicinal hot springs. Two things I like right away: the way the route is paced for steady climbing, and the photo-friendly payoff at each lagoon. One thing to weigh up: it’s a full-day commitment with a real 5-hour round-trip hike, so you’ll want solid fitness and good altitude acclimatization.
You’ll start extremely early, getting picked up from your Cusco hotel around 4:30–5:00 a.m., then ride out about 3 hours toward Pacchanta for breakfast. The day stays outdoors the whole time and runs rain or shine, so good layers matter. If you want an easy stroll, this isn’t it. If you want classic Ausangate scenery and calm soaking time at the end, it fits nicely.
The route also hits wildlife territory. I like that you’re not just chasing water views—you may spot Andean birds, alpacas, llamas, and vizcachas along the way. Just be aware that some parts of the experience can vary day to day, especially around comfort on the transport and how detailed explanations feel in practice, even when the guide is meant to cover English and Spanish.
In This Review
- Key Things You’ll Remember From This Ausangate Seven Lagoons Tour
- Why Ausangate’s Seven Lagoons Feel Like a Real Day in the Andes
- The Full Schedule From 4:30 a.m. Pickup to 7:30 p.m. Cusco Return
- The Seven Lagoons Route: What You’ll See and How the Walk Works
- Pacchanta Hot Springs: Your Medicinal Reset After the Trek
- Food, Water, and What You’ll Need in Your Daypack
- Price and Value: What $34 Really Covers (and What It Doesn’t)
- Comfort, Delays, and Group Size: What to Expect on Transport Days
- Who This Tour Suits Best (and Who Should Skip It)
- Should You Book This Ausangate Seven Lagoons + Hot Springs Day?
- FAQ
- What time is hotel pickup in Cusco?
- How long is the trekking portion?
- Which lagoons are included on the route?
- What meals are included?
- Are the hot springs included?
- Do I need tickets for Ausangate?
- What should I bring?
- Will the tour run in bad weather?
- Who is this tour not suitable for?
Key Things You’ll Remember From This Ausangate Seven Lagoons Tour
- Seven lagoons, one dramatic region: Azulcocha, Otorongo, Pucacocha, Alqacocha, Q’omercocha, Orqo Otorongo, and China Otorongo.
- A steady climb with a real payoff: you’ll ascend gradually and walk about 5 hours round trip.
- Hot springs time in Pacchanta: budget for thermal entry, but plan on a relaxing soak after the hike.
- Wildlife spotting is part of the walk: Andean birds, alpacas, llamas, and vizcachas can show up along the route.
- Breakfast and lunch included: you get two solid meals, while dinner is on your own.
Why Ausangate’s Seven Lagoons Feel Like a Real Day in the Andes
This tour lives in one of Peru’s most iconic high-altitude zones: the Cusco region’s Ausangate area. The big draw is the chance to see the majesty of the snow-capped Apu Ausangate while you walk among multiple lagoons. You’re not looking at one lake and calling it done. You’ll visit several, with water tones that can shift between blue, turquoise, and green as the route unfolds.
Another reason it works: you’ll spend time outside on a hiking loop, not just driving for photos. Some lagoons are described as large and looking like natural mirrors. That detail matters. Mirror-like water tends to make the reflections sharper, which is exactly what you want for skyline-style shots.
And then there’s the pacing. The hike is uphill, but it’s described as ascending little by little, with enough structure that the day feels manageable if you’re prepared. If you’ve ever tried to do an altitude-heavy hike too aggressively, you’ll appreciate that kind of gradual approach.
You can also read our reviews of more tours and experiences in Peru.
The Full Schedule From 4:30 a.m. Pickup to 7:30 p.m. Cusco Return
This is an early start tour. Plan for a pickup window from your Cusco hotel of roughly 4:30–5:00 a.m. The guide calls about 10 minutes before pickup, so you can’t just roll over and hope.
After pickup, you travel by tourist transport for about 3 hours to Pacchanta. Once you arrive, breakfast is served, and that’s your launch point for the trek. From there, the walking portion totals about 5 hours round trip.
When the hiking loop ends, you return to Pacchanta for lunch. After lunch, you get time to relax in the hot springs before heading back to Cusco. The tour description places your arrival back in Cusco around 7:30 p.m.—a long day, but it’s clear where the time goes: early drive, steady walk, then a warm-down soak.
Practical tip: because the day is scheduled tightly around a long hike and soaking window, I strongly recommend you don’t treat this as a late-morning plan. Your energy for the trek will matter more than anything you might want to squeeze in before pickup.
The Seven Lagoons Route: What You’ll See and How the Walk Works
You’ll start from Pacchanta and begin with gradual ascent until you reach the first lagoon, then continue on to the later ones. The route is designed as a sequence, so you aren’t guessing where to go between stops. You’re also not just hopping between viewpoints with short stops. The walking ties the lagoons together as a single journey.
The listed lagoons are:
- Azulcocha
- Otorongo
- Pucacocha
- Alqacocha
- Q’omercocha
- Orqo Otorongo
- China Otorongo
What you should expect visually is broad, but helpful: lagoons characterized by blue, turquoise, and green colors. Some feel larger and reflective, which can turn the water into a mirror and make the scenery look even more intense through photography.
Wildlife and small moments are also part of the day. The route is described as a place where you may spot Andean birds, alpacas, llamas, and vizcachas. Even if wildlife sightings aren’t constant, the chance adds texture to the trek. You’re not locked into scanning only for water color.
One more thing: this is not a beginner-friendly hike. The combination of early altitude, cold air, and uphill walking is what makes it demanding. If you’re used to steady walking at elevation, you’ll likely feel more comfortable. If you’re trying this as your first serious hike, you might find the pace harder than you expect.
Pacchanta Hot Springs: Your Medicinal Reset After the Trek
The hot springs are positioned as the reward at the end of the day. You return to Pacchanta after lunch, then you’ll relax in the Thermo-Medicinal waters.
Budget detail matters here. The tour includes time to enjoy the hot springs, but the thermal-water entry fee is listed as not included: 10 soles. That means you should plan to bring cash just for this part, even if you’re already paying for the tour itself.
What to bring isn’t vague. You’ll want swimwear and a towel, plus outdoor clothing for the walk back to a comfortable temperature after soaking. Warm water can trick you into thinking you’re done, but the air and altitude can still make you feel chilled after you get out.
Food, Water, and What You’ll Need in Your Daypack
This tour includes two meals: breakfast and lunch. Dinner is not included. On a day that starts before normal breakfast hours, that’s a big deal. It means you’re not trying to find food after a long bus ride and before a strenuous hike.
What I like about the way the meals are built into the flow: breakfast happens in Pacchanta right before the walk, and lunch happens right after the hike while you’re back down. That setup helps you fuel for the uphill effort and recover before the hot springs.
Still, you should be practical with snacks. The tour lists snacks as something you should bring, and at altitude, it’s smart to have a backup fuel plan. Also bring cash—at minimum, you’ll likely need it for the Ausangate entry ticket and thermal waters.
Also remember: you need to acclimatize in Cusco. The tour explicitly notes that acclimatization is necessary, and it expects a good physical condition. In other words, this isn’t the day to test how your body handles altitude.
Price and Value: What $34 Really Covers (and What It Doesn’t)
The advertised price is $34 per person, but the best way to judge value is by checking what’s included and what’s not.
Included:
- Hotel pickup in Cusco
- Professional tour guide (English and Spanish)
- Tourist transport
- First aid kit
- Breakfast
- Lunch
Not included:
- Ausangate entry ticket (listed as S/ 20.00)
- Thermal waters entry (listed as 10 soles)
- Horses
- Dinner
- Drop-off at the hotel
So, you’re paying for the big pieces: the long early logistics, the guide support, transport, and two meals. That can be good value in a region where independently arranging transport and a guided hike can eat time and energy.
What to do with the cost math: you should plan on adding those two entry fees—S/ 20 for Ausangate plus 10 soles for thermal waters—plus dinner costs. If you’re thinking about horses, those are also listed as not included, so any horse help would cost extra.
One more value note: the guide is meant to cover English and Spanish, which is useful if you’re more comfortable in one of those languages. Still, I’d recommend you don’t rely on perfect explanations for safety-critical decisions. Your best defense is to pace yourself, follow the group, and listen carefully when the guide gives direction.
Comfort, Delays, and Group Size: What to Expect on Transport Days
This tour is built around an early bus ride and a full walking day, so transport conditions matter more than usual. I’d go in expecting that the morning drive can be long and tight, and that comfort may not feel like a city shuttle. The tour does include tourist transport, but it doesn’t promise luxury.
Also, group dynamics can affect how smooth the first part of the day feels. If your day starts at 4:30–5:00 a.m., you’ll appreciate clear communication. The guide calls about 10 minutes before pickup, which helps, but you should still show up in the hotel lobby on time.
If you’re sensitive to crowded seating or you get motion-unwell easily, bring what you can to stay comfortable (layers, snacks, water if allowed, and a way to block cold wind). For the hike itself, don’t wait until the first lagoon to decide your pace. Start slow on the uphill portions.
Who This Tour Suits Best (and Who Should Skip It)
This hike is serious enough that the tour sets clear limits on who should not book:
- Pregnant women
- People with mobility impairments
- People over 60
- People with altitude sickness
- People with low level of fitness
If you’re in good health and you can handle a long uphill day, you’re the target audience. The walk lasts about 5 hours round trip, and you’re also dealing with the altitude effects in the Andes, which can make even normal steps feel harder than expected.
This is also a good fit if you like photography. The combination of snow-capped Apu Ausangate views and mirror-like lagoon reflections gives you a lot to work with. And because the day ends with hot springs, you get both the adventure and the recovery.
If you want an easy, low-effort nature outing, look for something less demanding. This one trades comfort for scenery and keeps you moving.
Should You Book This Ausangate Seven Lagoons + Hot Springs Day?
Book it if you want a classic high-Andes circuit: early start, a structured trek to seven lagoon stops, wildlife along the way, and a warm soak afterward. If you’re fit, acclimatized, and you don’t mind a long day, the value can be excellent because breakfast and lunch are included and the guide handles the flow between stops.
Skip it if you’re prone to altitude sickness, you’re not confident with sustained uphill walking, or you fall into the tour’s “not suitable” categories. Also skip if you hate long early mornings. This day is designed to start before most people are awake, and the return to Cusco is planned for about 7:30 p.m.
If you do book, plan like a serious hiker: wear the right shoes, pack layers, bring swimwear and a towel for the springs, and bring cash for the Ausangate entry ticket and thermal waters fee.
FAQ
What time is hotel pickup in Cusco?
Pickup is scheduled between about 4:30 a.m. and 5:00 a.m., and your guide will call you around 10 minutes before pickup.
How long is the trekking portion?
The walk is about 5 hours round trip.
Which lagoons are included on the route?
The listed lagoons are Azulcocha, Otorongo, Pucacocha, Alqacocha, Q’omercocha, Orqo Otorongo, and China Otorongo.
What meals are included?
Breakfast and lunch are included. Dinner is not included.
Are the hot springs included?
You’ll have time to relax in the hot springs, but the thermal-water entry fee is not included and is listed as 10 soles.
Do I need tickets for Ausangate?
Yes. The Ausangate entry ticket is listed as not included (S/ 20.00).
What should I bring?
Bring comfortable shoes, sunglasses, a sun hat, jacket, gloves, gloves, outdoor clothing, snacks, camera, cash, and swimwear plus a towel for the hot springs.
Will the tour run in bad weather?
Yes. The tour takes place rain or shine.
Who is this tour not suitable for?
It’s not suitable for pregnant women, people with mobility impairments, people over 60, people with altitude sickness, and people with a low level of fitness.
