Ausangate Seven Lakes
A circuit of glacial lagoons under Cusco's most sacred peak
- 1 day
- 4,600 m max
- Moderate
- Cusco to Cusco
Seven turquoise, emerald and deep blue lagoons strung below the Ausangate glacier, walked as a three-to-four hour circuit at 4,600 m, with thermal baths at Pacchanta afterwards and both meals included.
Ausangate is the highest mountain in the Cusco region and, to the communities living below it, the most important thing in the landscape — an Apu, a protective deity, not a view. The seven lakes sit in a valley directly beneath its glacier.
The walk is a circuit rather than an out-and-back: an hour and a half of climbing to the first lagoon, then a gentle route past the rest of them, each a different colour depending on what is dissolved in it. Three to four hours in all, at around 4,600 m.
What makes people talk about this one afterwards is the end of it. Thermal baths at Pacchanta, fed by the mountain, with the glacier directly above you, after four hours on your feet in thin air. It costs five soles and it is the best five soles in the region.
What you'll see
Seven lakes, each a different colour
Azulcocha, Otorongococha, Pucacocha and the rest, strung across a high valley, each one a different shade depending on the mineral in it.
Ausangate itself
6,384 m, the most sacred mountain in the Cusco region and an Apu to the communities below it. You walk directly under the glacier.
The hot springs at Pacchanta
Natural thermal water with the glacier in view, at the end of the walk. It is the reason people come back from this trip evangelising.
The hard part is over early
An hour and a half of climbing to the first lake, and after that the circuit is largely flat or downhill.
Almost empty
Three hours south of Cusco and far off the standard circuit. On most days you will share the lakes with alpacas rather than other groups.
Oxygen on the mountain
A first-aid kit and an oxygen cylinder travel with the guide.
Ausangate Seven Lakes: day by day
Times are what we actually aim for, not a best case. Traffic into Cusco and the train timetable move them by a little.
Day 1
Cusco to Pacchanta and the lakes
Around fourteen hours door to door with three to four of walking. The first ninety minutes are uphill at 4,400 m and above; the rest of the circuit is gentle.
- 04:30We collect you from your hotel or flat in Cusco. Pick-ups run until about 05:00.
- 07:30Pacchanta, after three hours south through the highlands, and a cooked Andean breakfast.
- 08:30The walk begins — an hour and a half of steady climbing to the first lake.
- 10:00The circuit proper, largely flat or downhill from here, taking in the seven lagoons one by one under the glacier.
- 13:00Free time at the last of them for photographs and for sitting still.
- 13:30The thermal baths at Pacchanta, if you want them. Bring a swimming costume and a towel.
- 14:30A traditional Andean buffet lunch back in the village.
- 18:30The three-hour drive to Cusco, dropping you near the main square in the early evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast and buffet lunch
- Night
- Not applicable — you sleep in Cusco
What the price covers
Transport
- Collection from your hotel or flat in Cusco between 04:30 and 05:00
- Comfortable round-trip tourist transport with a professional driver
On the mountain
- Small groups, fourteen to eighteen at most
- A certified English-speaking guide for the whole day
- A first-aid kit and an oxygen cylinder
Meals
- Andean breakfast at Pacchanta — juice, hot chocolate, coffee, tea, fruit and bread or pancakes
- Buffet lunch with soups, local dishes and vegetarian options
Not included
- The Seven Lakes entrance fee, about 20 soles, paid in cash at the checkpoint
- The Pacchanta hot springs, about 5 soles, paid to the community that maintains them
- Travel insurance
- Tips, which are genuinely optional
What to bring
Papers and money
- Your original passport
- Cash in soles for both entrance fees, in small notes
- Any medication you take
What to carry
- A small daypack
- A refillable bottle with one to two litres of water
- Snacks
- A swimming costume and a quick-dry towel for the thermal baths
Clothes
- Walking boots or trail shoes with grip
- Thermal layers, a fleece and a waterproof jacket
- A beanie, gloves and a neck buff
Sun and skin
- High-factor sun cream
- Sunglasses with UV protection
- A sun hat and lip balm
Questions we get asked
How hard is the circuit?
Moderate to challenging, and almost all of the difficulty is in the first ninety minutes. That stretch climbs steadily to the first lake at around 4,600 m. After that the route is largely flat or downhill for the remaining lagoons. Three to four hours of walking in total.
How long should I acclimatise first?
At least two days in Cusco or the Sacred Valley. A useful way to prepare is to do a lower day first — the Sacred Valley tour is the obvious choice, since the valley floor sits below Cusco.
Are the hot springs included?
No, but they cost about 5 soles, paid directly to the Andean community that maintains them. Bring a swimming costume and a towel — after four hours at 4,600 m, this is not the day to leave them in the hotel.
What happens if I get altitude sickness?
Your guide is trained in first aid and high-altitude assistance and carries oxygen and a medical kit. The practical advice is the boring kind and it works — drink far more water than feels necessary, set a slow pace from the first step, and have coca tea before you start.
When is the best time to come?
April to October for clear skies and the best visibility of the glacier. November to March brings mud and cold, though the valleys turn green and the light can be extraordinary.
Can you cater for my diet?
Yes — the buffet lunch always has vegetarian and vegan options. Tell us about allergies or coeliac disease when you book so the restaurant knows in advance.
How does it compare with Humantay or Rainbow Mountain?
It is the longest walk of the three and the emptiest place. Humantay is one lake and a steeper, shorter climb. Rainbow Mountain is higher and far busier. Ausangate Seven Lakes is a proper half-day circuit, and the thermal baths at the end are the closer that neither of the others has.
Can I do it privately?
Yes — your own vehicle, guide and timings. Private departures are quoted against your dates and party size.
Ask us about Ausangate Seven Lakes
Tell us your dates and we'll come back with availability, the circuit we'd recommend, and a firm price. No deposit to ask, and we answer within one working day.