Full day Tour to the 7 Lakes of Ausangate

Itinerary of the 7 Lakes of Ausangate Tour

04:00 – Hotel pick-up in Cusco – Transfer to Pacchanta – Local breakfast

The adventure begins very early with pick-up from your hotel in Cusco by our professional guide, who will accompany you throughout the entire tour. The journey takes approximately 3 and a half hours to the community of Pacchanta, where you will enjoy a simple breakfast prepared in a restaurant managed by the local community. You will also have a brief time to make any last-minute purchases (water, snacks, sunscreen, etc.).

08:00 – 13:30 – Hike to the 7 Lakes of Ausangate

Before starting the hike, the guide will offer a brief introductory talk and provide recommendations for the journey. Along the route, you will enjoy spectacular Andean landscapes, with views of the majestic Ausangate glacier, highland grasslands, free-roaming alpacas, and local families engaged in their traditional activities.

During the hike, we will visit the seven lagoons, each with its own unique beauty: Azulcocha, Huchuypukacocha, Hatunpukacocha, Tecyacocha, Otorongo Macho, Otorongo Hembra, and Qeyllacocha.

• Total distance: 13 km (round trip)
• Maximum altitude: 4,756 m.a.s.l. (15,603 feet).
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Approximate hiking time: 6 hours. If you choose to rent a horse, the walking time is reduced to 1 hour.

13:30 – 15:30 – Return to Pacchanta – Hot springs and lunch

After visiting the seven lagoons, we will return to the community of Pacchanta. Since this is a private tour, we adapt to your preferences: you can choose whether to enjoy the hot springs (entrance not included) or head directly to the restaurant to enjoy a well-deserved buffet lunch. Lunch is served at a restaurant managed by the local community. Please note that, as this is a rural area, the standards of the restaurant may be more basic compared to those in the city of Cusco or the Sacred Valley. Vegetarian and vegan options are available upon request.

15:30 – 18:30 – Return to Cusco

After lunch, we will begin the return journey by private transport to Cusco, arriving at your accommodation around 18:30 – 19:00 h.

Additional Information: Horse rental

It is possible to rent horses from members of the community for the ascent to the first lagoon and the descent from the seventh lagoon.

• Estimated price: 100 soles (one way) or 150 soles (round trip). O preço é referencial e pode variar de acordo com a decisão dos moradores locais.
• Payment: Direct, in cash, and in local currency.
• Important: There is a 2 km stretch between the first and seventh lagoon that must be done on foot, as it is not accessible by horse.
• Maximum allowed weight: 80–100 kg.
• Availability: Subject to current conditions.

Note: Guru Explorers is not responsible for this service, as it is managed directly by the community.

Price of the Ausangate Trek includes: 

• Transfer from lodging in the historic center of Cusco.
• Return to your lodging (Historic Center of the city).
• Professional guide in English, Spanish, Portuguese (ask for availability for these or other languages).
• 7 lakes entrance tickets.
• Breakfast and Lunch at a local restaurant.
• Trekking pole (on request)

Price of the Ausangate Trek excludes:

• Transfer from hotels outside the city of Cusco (for private tours, ask for extra costs to pick up from the Sacred Valley or other places).
• Hot springs entrance tickets.
• Tips for the guide.
• Beverages.
• Food not specified in the itinerary.

What to bring to the Ausangate Lagunas Trek:

• Comfortable and optimal footwear for walks, warm jacket, caps or hat, gloves, sunglasses, sunscreen, bottles of water, clothing or rain poncho (especially between November – April).
• Passport or DNI.
• Travel insurance.
• Devices for audiovisual recording (cell phone, camera, camcorders)
• Cash (local currency) In Peru, there is usually a fee to use public restrooms. We recommend bringing coins or cash for these situations and in case you wish to rent horses.

What considerations you should have when taking the Waqrapukara Trek:

• The streets of the city are narrow, an aspect that limits vehicular access to certain places; in this case the guide will suggest a nearby point to pass looking for you and enjoy the tour.
• You must be in optimal physical condition to complete the tour.
• It is important that you enjoy at least two days in Cusco before doing the Tour “7 lagunas de Ausangate”. Only then will your body be adapted to the height of the region.
• This tour is not recommended for children under 15 years of age. Adults over 60 years of age should bear in mind that this activity requires being in very good physical condition.
• Remember that, since these are outdoor activities, the natural features of the landscape may vary depending on weather conditions and the natural daylight. Each visit is an authentic experience, where nature reveals itself in unique and unrepeatable ways.

According to Peruvian regulations, foreign tourists may be exempt from the local tax IGV (VAT). As a formal and registered travel agency, we are required to submit to the local authorities a copy of the document you used to enter the country, as well as your date of entry. For this reason, a few days before your arrival, we will contact you to request a photo of that document and ask you to let us know the date you entered Peru. If we do not receive this information, we will be required to add the 18% corresponding to the IGV tax. 

Thank you for your cooperation!

Cancellation Policy

• More than 30 days in advance: Penalty is 20% of the total amount
• Between 7 and 30 days in advance: Penalty is 40% of the total amount
• Less than 7 days in advance: Penalty is 100% of the total amount

Date changes

• More than 30 days in advance: Penalty is 5% of the total amount
• Between 7 and 30 days in advance: Penalty is 10% of the total amount
• Less than 7 days in advance: Penalty is 100% of the total amount
• Subject to availability.
• There will be no refunds in case of delayed flights, train delays, bad weather, or other external factors.

Force Majeure Policy

• Guru Explorers values your time and makes every effort to follow the itinerary. However, it may be affected by force majeure events such as weather conditions, rain, natural disasters, protests, roadblocks, or other circumstances beyond our control. In such cases, no refunds or compensation will be provided, as these are unforeseeable and unavoidable situations. Nonetheless, we will do everything possible to offer efficient alternatives and solutions for your enjoyment. Any additional costs resulting from changes or alternative activities will be the responsibility of the client and not Guru Explorers.