From Cusco: 7 Lakes Ausangate Trek with Breakfast and Lunch

The best part of this day is the setting: Ausangate’s snow-capped 6,384-meter peak watches over a chain of bright alpine lakes, grazing alpacas, and wide Andean views. You get a full mountain day without camping, plus a hot spring soak at the end.

I like the early breakfast stop, which gives you a chance to buy water and snacks before walking. I also like that guides such as Kevin, Eduardo, Carlos, and Inti have helped people manage the pace and altitude. The catch is serious: this is a long, cold hike at extreme elevation, not a casual sightseeing outing.

Key points to know before booking

• The trek reaches very high altitude: The route is listed at 4,620 meters, while the safety information warns that you may trek above 4,800 meters.
• You walk about 13 kilometers: Allow roughly 4.5 hours on foot, over steep and changing ground.
• Breakfast and lunch are included: Both meals are simple, useful fuel for a demanding day.
• Horse rental is optional: It can help if altitude or fatigue becomes a problem, but it costs extra and is arranged locally.
• The hot springs are the day’s reward: Bring 30 Peruvian soles in cash for entrance fees and the springs.
• The value is strong at $29: Transport, guide, two meals, first aid, oxygen, and drop-off are included, but extra costs remain.

Why Ausangate’s seven lakes are worth the long day

Ausangate is one of the highest and most impressive mountains in the Cusco Region. At 6,384 meters, its snow-covered slopes give the day a powerful sense of scale. You are not simply walking to one viewpoint, taking a photograph, and returning. The route moves through a large highland area where the light, weather, and colors can change quickly.

The seven lakes are the main attraction. Their exact colors depend on the sun, clouds, and season, but the setting is always dramatic: open Andean ground, distant ridges, high peaks, and water sitting in glacial country. You may also see llamas and alpacas along the route, which adds a welcome touch of daily life to what could otherwise feel like a pure mountain exercise.

I would choose this trip for the scenery and the sense of distance. It feels less built up than some of Cusco’s better-known day hikes, and several people found that they had stretches of quiet around the lakes. Still, conditions can change. Rain, wind, cloud, and cold may soften the colors and make the walking harder, so you should not book this for perfect photographs alone.

The 4 a.m. start and the road to Pacchanta

Pickup from central Cusco generally begins between 4 and 4:30 a.m. The collection can take 30 to 45 minutes, especially if you are picked up first and the van needs to gather the rest of the group. That early wait is not glamorous, so keep your phone, jacket, and booking details close at hand.

The drive to Pacchanta takes about three to three and a half hours. The road is rough in places, and the combination of winding travel, poor sleep, and rising altitude can leave you feeling unwell before the hike even starts. If you know you are prone to altitude sickness, bring any personal medicine you normally use and speak with a medical professional before choosing this day.

Pack more warmth than you think you need. Morning temperatures are given as about 5 to 9°C, but wind at high altitude can make it feel much colder. I would wear layers and carry a warm sweater, jacket, hat, and gloves rather than hoping the van will stay warm.

Breakfast in Pacchanta gives you a useful reset

The group stops in Pacchanta for about 30 minutes for breakfast. This is more than a courtesy meal. It gives you a chance to eat before the hard walking, use the facilities, and buy anything forgotten in Cusco, especially water and snacks.

The food is described as simple but sufficient. Most people should still carry a small snack because the walking lasts several hours and appetite can be unpredictable at altitude. Water is essential, and extra purchases during the day require cash in Peruvian soles.

Pacchanta is also where you get your first clear views of the Ausangate massif. Take a moment to adjust your day pack and check that your sunglasses, rain gear, and gloves are easy to reach. Sunglasses are required throughout the hike, and that makes sense in bright, exposed mountain conditions.

The hike to the lakes is beautiful but demanding

The walking portion covers about 13 kilometers, or roughly eight miles, with around 4.5 hours on the trail. The ground is varied and includes steep sections, so the challenge comes less from technical climbing than from the combination of distance, cold, wind, and thin air.

The route reaches a listed high point of 4,620 meters, or 15,090 feet. The safety notes also warn that you may go above 4,800 meters. Because the supplied details give both figures, I would plan for the higher number and treat the walk as an extreme-altitude outing.

You will not all move at the same speed. The guide may be in different parts of the group, checking on people and helping those who need support. That setup is useful, but it also means you should not expect one guide to walk beside you every minute. Stay aware of the route and speak up quickly if you feel dizzy, unusually breathless, sick, or confused.

The scenery is the reason to keep going. The lakes appear among broad mountain views, and the changing elevation gives you different angles on Ausangate and the surrounding peaks. One practical tip is to avoid racing at the front simply to finish first. If you walk at a steady pace, you will have more energy for the viewpoints and less chance of turning the day into a struggle.

Horse rental can change the day, but it is not included

Local horses may be available for people who are struggling with the altitude or cannot comfortably complete the route on foot. This is not part of the $29 package, and the local partner does not manage the rental process. You will need to arrange it locally and pay in cash.

One person paid about 120 soles, while another paid 130 soles, so confirm the current price before accepting a horse. The horse is not a magic shortcut. You may still need to walk at parts of the route, and the experience is different from completing the trail under your own power.

I see the option as useful insurance, especially for anyone who is unsure how their body will respond above 4,000 meters. It also helped one person with asthma and a heart problem enjoy the lakes, although those conditions are specifically listed among the reasons this tour may not be suitable. Do not rely on a horse rental to make an unsafe trip safe.

The seven lakes reward patience and warm clothing

At the lake area, you get time for photographs and a closer look at the mountain setting. The schedule allows about 30 minutes for a photo stop, but the overall pace can feel brisk if the group is spread out or weather worsens.

This is where good clothing matters most. You are exposed to cold and wind, with little shelter described along the route. Rain gear belongs in your day pack even on a clear morning, since the local partner does not control changing weather.

The lakes are not presented as a polished attraction with extensive facilities. That is part of their appeal. You should expect a remote highland setting rather than cafés, shops, or comfortable viewing platforms. Carry out what you bring in, protect your phone from rain, and keep your hands warm enough to use your camera.

The quiet is another benefit. Several outings had very few other groups around, and the area was described as less crowded than Humantay Lagoon. That can change by date and weather, but the seven-lake route generally offers more room to pause and take in the scale of the Andes.

Lunch and hot springs in Pacchanta

After returning to Pacchanta, you get a local lunch buffet for about 30 minutes. The food is basic, but it supplies the calories you need after the hike. Most people found it adequate, though one person found the meal cold and low in quality, so keep expectations practical rather than culinary.

Then comes the hot spring stop. For me, this is a smart finish to a hard walking day. Sitting in warm water while looking toward the highlands gives your legs a chance to recover before the drive back to Cusco.

The entrance fee and hot springs cost 30 soles and are not included in the tour price. Bring that amount in cash, along with a little extra for water, snacks, souvenirs, or other small expenses. Cards are not the dependable choice here.

The swimming time is listed as about 30 minutes. That is enough to warm up and relax, but not enough for an extended spa visit. Bring a swimsuit and a small towel if you have room, while remembering that large bags and luggage are not allowed.

The return drive makes this a very long day

The van normally reaches Cusco between 6 and 7 p.m., with drop-off near the historic center or at San Bernardo 132. You have a long evening behind you, so do not plan a demanding activity immediately afterward.

The total day includes roughly seven hours of road travel and about 4.5 hours of walking, with breaks for meals, photographs, and the springs. That is a lot for one day, but it also explains the low price. You cover a remote region without paying for lodging or a multi-day trek.

The rough road is the main transport drawback. If you become motion sick or feel altitude symptoms easily, sit where the ride is most comfortable, keep water handy, and bring personal medication. The van is a practical necessity, not part of the sightseeing.

Guides, pacing, and group comfort

The guide can make a major difference on this route. Kevin was praised for helping with photographs and explaining local culture and history. Eduardo was repeatedly described as attentive, and Carlos was noted for patience with slower walkers. Inti was especially caring toward someone feeling unwell, while Joseph helped a person dealing with breathing trouble.

Those details matter because the route is not equally hard for everyone. A strong hiker may find the distance manageable, while someone unused to altitude may need frequent pauses or a horse. The guide will assist and carry an oxygen bottle and first aid kit, but those supplies do not remove the need for sensible preparation.

English and Spanish tours are available. A small group may feel more personal, while a larger mixed-pace group can mean more waiting. One useful approach is to tell the guide early if you need a slower rhythm. Do not stay silent simply because others are walking faster.

Who should book this day trip?

I would recommend it to you if you have already spent enough time in Cusco to adjust to altitude, enjoy long walks, and want big mountain scenery without camping. It suits people who value remote views, alpacas, high lakes, and a hot spring more than comfort or a relaxed schedule.

Families with older children may manage it. Two children, aged 11 and 12, completed the route and enjoyed seeing alpacas, but that does not mean every child will handle the altitude well. You need to judge your own group honestly.

I would not choose it if you have heart, respiratory, back, or mobility problems, use a wheelchair, or weigh more than 120 kilograms. The tour also advises against it for those conditions, and the altitude is not a minor detail.

At $29 per person, the value is unusually good. You receive pickup, transport, a professional guide, breakfast, lunch, first aid, oxygen, and drop-off. Add 30 soles for the entrance and hot springs, plus possible horse rental, and it remains a low-cost way to reach a remote mountain area.

Practical packing advice for this exact route

Keep your day pack light. Large bags and luggage are not allowed, and every extra item becomes tiring when you are climbing above 4,000 meters.

Bring:

• Water and a few snacks
• Hiking shoes with a secure sole
• Warm layers, including gloves and a hat
• Rain gear
• Sunglasses
• Comfortable clothes
• Cash in Peruvian soles
• Personal altitude or motion sickness medicine, if normally recommended for you

I would wear the warmest layer during the early road section, then adjust as you walk. Keep rain gear and sunglasses on top, not buried under lunch or spare clothes.

Should you book the Ausangate seven lakes trek?

Book it if your priority is dramatic high-altitude scenery at a very low price, and you are ready for a tough day. The guides receive strong praise for patience, safety checks, and help with slower walkers, while the lakes and Ausangate views provide the main reward.

Skip it if you want an easy outing, dislike rough roads, or are not prepared for cold and thin air. The optional horse rental can help, but it costs extra and should not be your only safety plan. For a fit, altitude-ready visitor who wants something quieter than Humantay, this is one of the better-value day trips from Cusco.

FAQ

How long does the Ausangate seven lakes tour last?

It is a one-day experience. Pickup begins around 4 to 4:30 a.m., and return to Cusco is expected between 6 and 7 p.m.

How far do you walk?

The hike covers approximately 13 kilometers, or about eight miles, and takes around 4.5 hours in total.

How high does the trek go?

The highest listed point is 4,620 meters above sea level. The safety information also warns that parts of the trek may go above 4,800 meters.

Is breakfast included?

Yes. Breakfast is served in Pacchanta and lasts about 30 minutes before the hike begins.

Is lunch included?

Yes. A local lunch is served in Pacchanta after the walk.

Are the hot springs included in the price?

No. Entrance fees and the hot springs cost 30 Peruvian soles and are paid separately.

Can I rent a horse?

Horse rentals may be available locally for an additional cost. The tour provider does not manage the rentals, and payment must be made separately.

What currency should I bring?

Bring cash in Peruvian soles. Extra costs such as entrance fees, water, souvenirs, and horse rental are paid locally.

Which languages does the guide speak?

Guides are available in English and Spanish.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. Pickup from your Cusco accommodation is included. You should wait in the hotel lobby, and collecting the full group may take 30 to 45 minutes.