THE ADVENTURE COLLECTIVE® · Independent discovery and booking for outdoor travel
A full-day private drive-and-hike from Cusco to the Ausangate 7 Lagoons takes you across high Andean plains to jewel-toned glacial lakes and ends with a restorative dip in Pacchanta Hot Springs. Expect high altitude, rocky trails, and close encounters with alpaca herds and Quechua highland culture.
A full-day private drive-and-hike from Cusco to the Ausangate 7 Lagoons takes you across high Andean plains to jewel-toned glacial lakes and ends with a restorative dip in Pacchanta Hot Springs. Expect high altitude, rocky trails, and close encounters with alpaca herds and Quechua highland culture.
You step out of the van into thin, cold air and the first lagoon catches the light like a struck coin. Snow rims the distant ridges of Ausangate; wind tugs at your jacket and a line of alpacas grazes the high puna. The route threads between turquoise lakes carved by glacial action, each basin a different blue, each moraine a sharp, stony spine beneath your boots.
Verified experiences and guided adventures in the surrounding area.
Operated by Machupicchu Adventure · Cusco, Cusco
You step out of the van into thin, cold air and the first lagoon catches the light like a struck coin. Snow rims the distant ridges of Ausangate; wind tugs at your jacket and a line of alpacas grazes the high puna. The route threads between turquoise lakes carved by glacial action, each basin a different blue, each moraine a sharp, stony spine beneath your boots.
Geologically the seven lagoons are shaped by the Vilcanota range’s glaciers and seasonal melt, their colors driven by mineral content and suspended rock flour. Culturally, Ausangate is an Apu — a protector mountain in Quechua cosmology — and small herding communities still guide flocks across these plains. Expect to pass shepherds, see traditional corrals, and hear Quechua names applied to ridgelines and lakes.
Practically, this private day tour from Cusco runs about 12 hours with guided transport, breakfast, and a buffet lunch; it finishes with a soak at Pacchanta Hot Springs. Trails are high-altitude and rocky with intermittent gentle climbs and short steep pitches; typical elevation ranges from ~4,300–4,800 m, so acclimatization is essential.
Pack layered insulation, sun protection, and 2–3 L of water; wear stiff-soled boots and consider poles for stability. Start early to avoid afternoon weather and give yourself time at viewpoints and at the thermal pools to loosen tight muscles before the return drive to Cusco.
challenging.
12 hours.
Good cardiovascular fitness and experience with day hikes at altitude are recommended; expect long periods of walking and uneven footing.
The route reaches roughly 4,300–4,800 m; many visitors feel breathless or develop mild altitude symptoms — rest, hydrate, and descend if symptoms worsen.
This itinerary is not recommended for pregnant travelers or very young children due to altitude and physical demand; check with the operator for age policies.
Most private day tours include round-trip transport from Cusco, a guide, breakfast, and a buffet lunch; this tour also includes time at Pacchanta Hot Springs.
The dry season (May–September) offers clearer skies and firmer trails; the wet season brings afternoon rain and muddier conditions.
Ausangate has long been revered in Andean cosmology as an Apu (sacred mountain), and local Quechua communities maintain pastoral traditions on its slopes.
High-Andean wetlands (bofedales) and fragile puna grasslands are easily damaged by off-trail traffic; follow Leave No Trace principles and support local guides to minimize impact.
Machupicchu Adventure operates guided outdoor trips and adventures with an emphasis on safety, stewardship, and memorable experiences.
You step out of the van into thin, cold air and the first lagoon catches the light like a struck coin. Snow rims the distant ridges of Ausangate; wind tugs at your jacket and a line of alpacas grazes the high puna. The route threads between turquoise lakes carved by glacial action, each basin a different blue, each moraine a sharp, stony spine beneath your boots.
You step out of the van into thin, cold air and the first lagoon catches the light like a struck coin. Snow rims the distant ridges of Ausangate; wind tugs at your jacket and a line of alpacas grazes the high puna. The route threads between turquoise lakes carved by glacial action, each basin a different blue, each moraine a sharp, stony spine beneath your boots.
Geologically the seven lagoons are shaped by the Vilcanota range’s glaciers and seasonal melt, their colors driven by mineral content and suspended rock flour. Culturally, Ausangate is an Apu — a protector mountain in Quechua cosmology — and small herding communities still guide flocks across these plains. Expect to pass shepherds, see traditional corrals, and hear Quechua names applied to ridgelines and lakes.
Practically, this private day tour from Cusco runs about 12 hours with guided transport, breakfast, and a buffet lunch; it finishes with a soak at Pacchanta Hot Springs. Trails are high-altitude and rocky with intermittent gentle climbs and short steep pitches; typical elevation ranges from ~4,300–4,800 m, so acclimatization is essential.
Pack layered insulation, sun protection, and 2–3 L of water; wear stiff-soled boots and consider poles for stability. Start early to avoid afternoon weather and give yourself time at viewpoints and at the thermal pools to loosen tight muscles before the return drive to Cusco.