Experience the 7 Lakes of Ausangate Peru, including Pariacaca, Otorongo, and the Pucacocha in The Cordillera Negra! This is an excellent option for a shorter trip when traveling to Cusco. If you are a trekker with limited time, this full-day experience is the best for you.
See unique landscapes and snowy peaks, visit 7 different lakes, soak in some relaxing hot springs, and enjoy delicious meals on a single Cusco day trip.
Tour Type: Hiking, adventure, lakes
Good For: A rewarding full-day trip from Cusco
Temperature: Cold with varying temps throughout the day
Difficulty: Challenging
Considerations: Enjoy a great intro to Ausangate trekking without needing to commit to an overnight experience.
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This is a full day hike in the Ausangate Peru region. Our journey will start at 4 am. We will pick you up from your hotel and take a 3-hour drive towards Pacchanta. This place is located at 4200 meters above sea level and passes by the Tinke village. This means that temperatures will be lower than Cusco itself. Once in Pacchanta your trekking chef will cook a hot breakfast for you. All safety protocols will be met in order to guarantee everybody’s health.
After breakfast and a small break, we will start our hike towards the lakes in the Ausangate region.
The hike will be about 5 hours and will take you along the path where we will see the different lakes like Azulcocha, Otorongo, Pucacocha, Alqacocha y Q’omercocha. That’s not the only highlight; we will also view the snow covered peaks that surround this area. These include Ausangate (6834 m.), Mariposa or Butterfly (5842 m.), Jampa (5500 m.), Pucapunta ( 5740 m), Caracol or Snail mountain (5625 m.), Tinke (5300 m.) and the whole Qayangate chain of mountains.
This area is located in the Andean region which means that weather is changeable. Expect everything from cold temperatures to hot sun impact. For this reason, we advise you to bring a hat or cap and to use a good sunblock to avoid any sunburn and headaches.
Along the path we will have the chance to see the local flora and fauna. From different kinds of birds to vicuñas and llamas. The views are breathtaking, and you will have the chance to visit all of the different lakes as you return along the same pathway. The return will be easier and faster hiking towards Pacchanta again. Once you get to the trailhead your trekking chef will have a hot lunch ready for you to recover your energy.
Pacchanta has a number of hot springs that you will be able to use to relax and provide comfort to your sore muscles. This water is naturally hot and will be the perfect ending after a great hike. You can enjoy this before having your lunch and then recover yourself while having a great meal cooked just for you.
Once lunch is finished take our transportation back to Cusco and towards your hotel for you to take some well-deserved rest.
Breakfast and lunch
4.850 meters / 15912 feet
4.300 meters / 14107 feet
15 km
Alpaca Expeditions is a 100% peruvian, indigenous owned company. Started by Raul Ccolque, a former porter and tour guide, Alpaca Expeditions separates ourselves by our dedication to both our customer and our team. We work very hard to make sure that all our clients needs are taken care of throughout the tour with us. At the same time, we never forget about our brothers and sisters working tirelessly for us to make all of this possible. Responsible and sustainable tourism that gives as much to our community as to our clients.
Everyone on the Alpaca Team is from Cusco region, living the traditions and history they share with you while on one of our tours. Our guides are all graduates of university studying tourism, history and english. Our chefs are trained every February by a professional cooking team learning new meals, adding varieties of entrees for all types of eating. And all our porters are from HUARQUI, HUACAHUASI, PATACANCHA, QUISWARANI, CANCHACANCHA, QUEYUPAY, UMACHURCO and CCACCACCOLLO villages, very often working this job on top of maining their farms back at home. Most of our team has been with us for years, as we have the most loyal, hard working, happy employees in Cusco. We know how lucky we are to have the best team trekking and you will immediately fall in love with all the men and women who call Alpaca Expeditions their home.
Our goal at Alpaca Expeditions is to create the best experience for all of our clients. We create journeys that are to be remembered for a lifetime. Journeys you can be proud of and can share with everybody around you.
In the pursuit to stand out from the rest, Alpaca Expeditions has obtained four ISOs plus our carbon footprint certificate to date. These achievements result from our efforts to implement the internationally-recognized integrated management system. They also represent our commitment to all of our clients and staff of operating sustainability and responsibility in every way possible.
