Ausangate 7 Lakes day Hike

This unique hike will take you through the most beautiful Andean landscapes of Cusco. You will be very close to the snow-capped Ausangate (elevation 6384 masl/20,944  ft), surrounded by these 7 multicolored lakes, which you will discover one by one along the way. Therefore, we recommend that you enjoy this adventure without worries and leave everything in our hands!

• Departures: Every day.
• Duration: One day (4:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.).
• Maximum altitude: Patacocha Lagoon (4,860 masl).
• Distance of the hike: 10 km.
• Hiking time: 5 hours.
• Difficulty level: Medium.
• Type of tour: Hiking/Trekking.
• Group size: Less than 18 people per group.
• Location: Quispicanchi.

SHORT ITINERARY

Cusco - Pacchanta - Circuit 7 lagoons - Pacchanta Hot Springs - Cusco

• 04:30 am pick up from your hotel.
• Transfer in tourist transport to Pacchanta town. Duration: 3:30 hours.
• Breakfast at this point.
• Hike through the circuit of the 7 lagoons: 5 hours (round trip).
• Lunch in Pacchanta.
• Rest in the hot springs of Pacchanta (optional).
• 17:30 hrs return to Cusco in tourist transport.

Note: The times indicated are referential.

Day 1: Cusco - Pacchanta - 7 Lagoons Circuit - Pacchanta Hot Springs - Cusco

We will start our trip very early picking you up from your hotel at 4:30 am. This to be able to fulfill all our itinerary. We will go in our tourist transport to Pacchanta town (4,200 meters above sea level), located in the southern area of Cusco. The van journey will last 3:30 hours. And in the way we will make two short stops in Oropesa and Tinke villages, so you can do some shopping of typical products of these areas and you can use the toilets.

Once we arrive at Pacchanta village, we will take a short break and enjoy a delicious breakfast offered by the villagers of the area. Then, the guide will give us some more indications to start our hike. We will be given the water necessary to be hydrated and walking sticks. In this way we will be ready to start our hike to the 7 lakes of Ausangate.

We will begin our adventure on a nature trail. During the route the surrounding landscapes are enchanting by the presence of snow-capped mountains like the Ausangate (6,384 masl), colorful vegetation and wildlife. After walking for approximately 2 hours, we will arrive at our first destination, the Pucacocha lagoon, with an intense reddish natural color. Not far from it, we will find the Patacocha and Alkacocha lagoons, with similar tonalities to the first one.

We will have to walk another 20 minutes more to find the fourth lagoon, Qomercocha, with a predominant green color and flashes of blue. You will be able to take spectacular pictures from its viewpoint. The fifth and sixth lagoons are China Otorongococha and Orco Otorongococha, both have crystal clear water, allowing us to see natural formations in the background that resemble the fur of the otorongo, the largest feline in South America.

The seventh lagoon of our tour will be the Azulcocha lagoon, with an intense blue color that reflects the sky. After having finished with this tour we return to the starting point of the hike in Pacchanta village. Here we will enjoy a comforting lunch. Afterwards, if you wish to have a luxurious rest, you will be able to submerge in the thermal waters of the area. This is optional. Then we will return to Cusco. 

Note:

• To avoid trekking fatigue. There is the option of renting horses.
• The times indicated are only for reference

HIGHLIGHTS

The protagonists of our trip will be these beautiful lagoons that are found in the foothills of the snowcapped mountain Ausangate. All of them have Quechua names, the ending "cocha" or "qocha" means lagoon.

Pucacocha (4,500 masl)

It is the first of the lagoons that we will see on our tour, the edge of this mirror of water is red, that is why the name is "puca" and we can see how this color degrades towards the center becoming a clear stubborn tone. At some times of the year this lagoon is usually seen in shades of brown for that reason it is sometimes called the "Chocolate Lagoon".

Patacocha (4,860 masl)

It is very close to the first, it has a similar coloration and this point will be the highest point that we will reach, but it is worth it, to enjoy these impressive views. When you move away from this place, you can see how its intense color contrasts with the color of the mountains.

Alkacocha (4,750 masl)

This is the third lagoon that is also very close to the previous ones. From it you can also see the Ausangate snowcapped mountain. It allows you to see a landscape where color contrasts are the protagonists.

Qomercocha (4,666 masl)

This lagoon is located at a longer walking distance from the first three, it is one of the closest to Ausangate and you can sometimes even see migratory birds swimming in it. The intense color in contrast to the grasslands and the snowy mountains, makes this landscape incredible. It has a viewpoint from where you can take spectacular photos.

China Otorongococha (4,620 masl)

The meaning of "china" in Quechua is female, therefore this lagoon represents a part of the Andean duality. It is small and its waters are crystal clear, but it reveals natural formations at the bottom that resemble the stripes of the otorongo, the largest feline in South America.

Orco Otorongococha (4,620 masl)

The meaning of "orco" in Quechua is male, this is the other part of the Andean duality. This lagoon is larger and also one of the deepest. Its waters are very crystalline and the Lapis Lazuli stone can be seen at the bottom, which gives it a greater blue color. The natural stripes at the bottom of the lagoon together with the ichu (Andean grass) that surrounds it, represent much of the fur of the otorongo.

Azulcocha (4,610 masl)

This is the last of the lagoons that we will visit, it is one of the largest and clearly reflects the colors of the sky. We will walk very close to it, feeling much of the energy that these water mirrors reserve.

INCLUDED:

• Pick up service from your hotel.
• Transfer in tourist transport Cusco – Pacchanta – Cusco.
• Professional bilingual guide. (Spanish and English).
• 1 breakfast.
• 1 lunch.
• First aid kit, including oxygen.
• Walking stick.

NOT INCLUDED:

• Entrance to the 7 Lagunas del Ausangate.
• Entrance to the Pacchanta Hot Springs.
• Horse rental (Their use is optional).
• Tips.
• Travel insurance.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

What should we bring for our trip?

In our hike to the 7 Lakes of Ausangate, we can find varied climates for that reason we recommend you to bring:

General:

• Passport or Identification Document.
• Trekking shoes.
• Light backpack to carry personal belongings. Preferably with rain cover.
• Cell phone/photo camera.
• Portable Charger.
• Personal snacks (water, nuts, etc.).
• Personal medications.

For cold or rain:

• Warm clothing: jacket, T shirt and thermal pants, gloves, socks, etc.
• Waterproof clothing/rain poncho.

For the Sun:

• Sunscreen
• Sunglasses.
• Hat.

For the Hot Springs:

• A swimsuit/swimwear.
• Towel.
• Sandals.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Here are some recommendations for you before your trip to the 7 Lagunas del Ausangate:

• We recommend you to be acclimatized to the altitude of Cusco before doing this tour. You must be at least two days in the Cusco city. You can previously make other tours such as the Cusco City tour, Machu Picchu or the Sacred Valley.

• We will pick you up very early in the morning from your hotel and we will hike for approximately 5 hours. For this reason, we recommend that one day before the tour you avoid drinking alcoholic beverages or going out to party.
• The hike to the 7 Lakes of Ausangate has areas that are flat, but also slightly steep climbs. For this reason, there is the option of renting horses to avoid fatigue.
• You must be in good physical condition to be able to do this tour, since you will have to walk for approximately 5 hours.
• This trip is not recommended for people with heart problems or other serious medical conditions.

Private service: the price depend of the number of people.