7 Lakes Trek in Ausangate Full-Day Trip
1 Day Trip
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.
Tour Price
7 Lakes Trek in Ausangate Full-Day Trip 1 Day Trip
Price $
160
USD
Per Person
Valid on Dec 31 2025
Group Size
Up to 16
Activity Level Relaxing
7 Lakes Trek Details
Itinerary
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Day 1: Cusco – Pacchanta – Lakes – Cusco
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.Meals included: Breakfast and lunch
Max Elevation: 4.850 meters / 15912 feet
Min Elevation: 4.300 meters / 14107 feet
Approx. distance: 15 km
Inclusions
-
included
- For this experience we include:
- Private transportation
- Professional guide
- Trekking chef
- Breakfast and lunch cooked at the spot
- Pick-up and drop-off to your hotel
-
Not included
- Hired horse
- Dinner
Price
-
Price
$160 per person
Travel Info
-
Weather
As mentioned above. We will pass the 4000 meters high elevation (13000 feet). This means that we will be in the high Andean region of Ausangate Peru. Weather at this elevation is quite changeable and known for its cold temperatures, low humidity and lesser oxygen levels (Something easily covered by properly acclimating before the hike).
Temperatures during the early morning and night can go from -10ºC to -5ºC (14ºF to 23ºF) making this a very cold portion of the hike.
During the day and with the sun up, these temperatures will increase to 20º to 25ºC (68º to 77ºF). -
What to bring?
Now that we know about the itinerary and also about the weather we can let you know about what to pack for this experience.
Trekking gear will be mandatory here. A good pair of trekking shoes will make your hiking easier and more comfortable as well. We advise this to avoid any kind of injury.
To compliment the trekking shoes, you need to bring comfortable pants and also layers for the upper part of your body. A fleece jacket always helps but having a base layer is necessary for the early morning portion of the trek.
Once you will start hiking you will need to use a hat or a cap and sunglasses to protect yourself from the sun. Remember, we are at a really high elevation which means that sun-rays are stronger combined with the lack of humidity. This can create sunburns and also dehydration so wearing hat is important. Don’t forget to bring sunscreen as well.If you plan to use the hot springs you will need your bathing suit.
We will provide you water after breakfast for we advise you to bring at least 2 liters of water so we can refill it for you after breakfast and before you start the hike.
-
Difficulty
This is a full day trek involving 15 Km distance. Due to the weather and elevation we can consider this trek medium difficulty.
More than the trek itself the increase of elevations is the most challenging part of this experience. You may also hire a horse for the trekking part if you wish.
7 Lakes Trek in Ausangate Full-Day Trip
Please fill in our BOOKING FORM carefully with your correct personal details.
The Alpaca Difference
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.
Meet the AE Trekking Team!
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.
AE súper porters
Our Porters represent the Peruvian people, both men, and women who are at the heart of our...
Equality Matters
Alpaca Expeditions aims to promote gender equality and empower women, hiring first Peru Wo...
Our Guides
Travelling and trekking along the mountains is one of the best activities in the World. Co...
Our Chefs
Trekking along the mountain on your way to conquer Machu Picchu is a once in a lifetime ex...
What do we do for our porters?
Alpaca Expeditions would not be where we are today without these hardworking men and women. We could not imagine a harder job and our team does it smiling. We do our best to thank them for their hard work and loyalty by doing as much as we can to make their lives and their families lives better. All our porters receive all their equipment for free from warm winter hats to proper hiking boots. They sleep in proper tents and are given warm sleeping bags for night. They enjoy the same food we serve our clients and all leftovers are donated to their families. We visit their villages with doctors and dentists, donate school supplies and sports equipment. And our favorite time of the year is when we bring a group of porters and their families to Machu Picchu to visit the ruins for the first time.
AE súper porters
Our Porters represent the Peruvian people, both men, and women who are at the heart of our company. It is not possible to ...
Equality Matters
Alpaca Expeditions aims to promote gender equality and empower women, hiring first Peru Women as Porters opening the door ...
Free Medical Assistance to Porters
In 2019, we hired our first Alpaca Expeditions Medical Doctor to help tend to our guides, drivers, chefs…
Our Porter’s bus
We treat our porters with the same dignity and respect as we do our clients. Just as our clients enjoy our…
Our Porter’s House
As we mentioned above, our Porters like many Peruvian people come from distant villages to work our treks…
Tents and Sleeping bags
Again, this is something unique that Alpaca Expeditions provides, and sad others are not doing. We supply…
Proper Equipment for our Porters
Every porter of ours receives proper equipment. That includes moisture-wicking long/short sleeve shirts…
Nutritious Meals for our Porters
A general comment from trekkers on an Alpaca Expeditions tour is that we serve too much food. Well…
Videos of our Porters
Extra information
Alpaca Expeditions is always ready to make your trip safe and as easy as possible for you. Because these trips are a bit more complicated than your typical tour, we have put together some notes on logistics, storage, and even recommendations on where to stay in Cusco. And of course our team is ready to answer any other question, as we promise to be your partner from the moment you first contact us to our last goodbye in Cusco.
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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.
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Alpaca Expeditions is internationally recognized as a leading tourism company in Peru. As proof, we have been awarded the World Travel Award for Peru´s Best Tour Operator 2021 for the second time.
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Porters will carry up to 7 kg of your personal items, which must include your sleeping bag and air mat (if you bring or rent one). From us, these two items weigh a combined total of 3.5 kg.
