The circuit 7 lagoons of Ausangate shows us a set of lagoons born from the glaciers of the Ausangate mountain, in this tour we will walk a circuit to observe its beauties and colorful waters under the mountain. We will start from our base of operations in the community of Pacchanta at 4334 m.a.s.l.
In addition to the adventure, this package that involves the culture, experiences, gastronomy, plants and animals that this Ausangate environment possesses, which for a traveler like us is a jewel on short trips, to take us a beautiful experience. If you want to know even more about this destination you can visit the blog of the seven lakes of Ausangate. Being Ausangate one of the best nature destinations in Cusco, it is recommended and necessary that we develop this trip through the Circuit of 7 lagoons of Ausangate.
Walking Distance: 17 km on foot
Difficulty: Moderate
Daily walking time: 05 hours on foot
Optimal season: March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November
Maximum altitude: 4600 m.a.s.l.
Minimum altitude: 4334 meters above sea level.
Temperatures: 9-15 °C during the day
The circuit 7 lagoons of Ausangate or Ausangate Full Day, first of all, is one of the complete routes for a traveler curious to know the culture and thus live a true adventure in an unknown town. This trek to the 7 lagoons of Ausangate developed by Huillca Expedition begins with breakfast at Huillca Lodge. The team is made up of 1 certified trekking guide, a qualified cook, a muleteer who carries emergency items and necessary luggage.
To do this adventure, the traveler must be acclimatized for at least 2 days in Cusco or have done similar treks in Peru above 3,500 meters above sea level, it is a super one-day trek, where you can visit several turquoise green lagoons, part from the Vilcanota mountain range and also be close to the mountains of Ausangate and Callangate. You can also enjoy the relaxing Pacchanta hot springs with a beautiful view of the mountains and local life. In our company you have the option of visiting our museums of native potatoes, alpaca handicrafts and Andean handicrafts.
The Huillca Expedition team picks you up from the hotel at 4:00 in the morning, the departure is towards the town of Pacchanta, a traditional town of alpaca breeders and weavers of traditional handicrafts. After the road in mobility you will pass through the Apacheta Pass from where you can see a part of the Vilcanota Mountain Range (Ausangate and the Callangate), the stopping point is in the town of Tinke (a town in improvement that before in the 90s was the main starting point of the walks to the Ausangate, but today there are already roads to different nearby towns, but Tinke continues to be the main market of the inhabitants of the Ausangate valley).
The continuous journey towards the community of Pacchanta accompanied by the sun, from here you can see the Ausangate mountain from the north face with its 6,384 meter above sea level at its top. A fact, the first ascent to its top was in 1953 by an Austro-German team and they reached the top on the south face. Finally, all the explorers will arrive at the Huillca Expedition base of operations, the team will be waiting with a welcome and breakfast ready for you to enjoy and increase your energy to live the adventure and the trek. Where we will have the opportunity to wear the typical Ausangate clothes.
The walk of the 7 Lagoons of Ausangate begins ascending until reaching the first lagoon called blue lake 4 618 meters above sea level, we will continue ascending through the sacred lagoons of Otorongo (one of the lagoons of purification and mystical sanctifications in the Ausangate), passing these lagoons we will observe the Oqecocha and Pucacochas lagoons. After making a circuit we will return to Pacchanta community.
In our premises you have the option to visit our museum of native potatoes, alpaca crafts and walk through our facilities.
Walking distance: 15 km on foot.
Walking time: 5 hours on foot
High elevation: 4,600 m.a.s.l.
Low elevation: 4334 m.a.s.l.
Difficulty: moderate
Lodging: Huillca Lodge (breakfast, lunch)
Additional horse: If you have problems or are not prepared for the pace of the expedition, you can hire this service. It has a cost of USD 21.00 (80.00 PEN), cost of a muleteer plus a horse to ride. This service can be ordered in advance by recommendation or also.
With the experience in the trip we leave you the following recommendations that are useful in your trip:
Wear necessary clothing to combat the cold wind during the walk.
Reservations are made in advance with a 30% payment of the total cost. The remaining balance is paid in cash in Cusco during the informational briefing.
Travel packages and programs include transaction fees for the 30% reservation payments.
Tour rescheduling is allowed with proper notice, except for Machu Picchu tours. Passenger no-shows will result in the total loss of the service. Cancellation or withdrawal from the service will not be eligible for a refund.
Although this route is a single day, it always requires an acclimatization of 1 to 2 days at an altitude of 3,500 m.a.s.l. The maximum altitude on this hiking route to the seven lagoons of Ausangate is 4,650 meters above sea level.
The best travel season recommended by our company are the months of April, May, June, July, August, September where the turquoise lagoons of Ausangate show their best colors and the splendor of the Ausangate mountain.
On short walks we recommend you to carry a 20-liter backpack with items necessary for the walk such as sunblock, chullos, gloves, batteries, warm clothing, waterproof layer, water to hydrate, among others.
Yes, shoes with static or high soles are recommended due to the rocky road conditions, and with high canes. Or it can also be normal running shoes are thick soles.
The answer is YES you can take your children, but we recommend informing the Travel Agency so that they can review the conditions of the group. However, you can hire a riding horse for your children so they can keep up with the Group's walking pace.
If you want to go by horse you can make the request, this may be one of the difficulties you may have in developing a walk of approximately 15 km. The cost of the horseback riding service is S/. 80.00 PEN or 21.00 USD. You can hire this service at the Pacchanta place or notify the Travel Agency so that it can manage for you the day you require.
Trekking poles are necessary because they allow us to rest part of the body, especially if you are equipped with a backpack, on the arms and thus unload the legs. They help us when walking and to be able to improve gait or prevent injuries to the lower limbs. You can take as personal equipment or you can also rent at the Agency in Pacchanta for a cost of S /. 5.00 soles.
Food is prepared by our chefs with local ingredients and purchased the same day. Special meals such as vegetarians, vegans, celiacs are also prepared on request at no cost.
Yes, the company carries emergency medicinal oxygen to prevent Soroche or also known as Altitude Sickness that originates from Hypoxia or lack of oxygen in the body due to high atmospheric pressure, because we will reach a maximum altitude of 4600 m.a.s.l. If you present this type of emergency, let the guide in charge of the group know for the corresponding support.
The entrance to the hot springs of Pacchanta has a cost of S /. 5.00 PEN per person. The duration is approximately 2 to 3 hours.
Yes, all the clients that travel with Huillca Expedition will always dress.
This Ausangate 7 lakes route is located in:
The route of the trek to the 7 lakes of Ausangate is a route with the following characteristics:
Distance of the hike: 17 km (10 miles) during the entire hike.
Hiking time: 2.30 hours one way and 1.30 hours return.
Highest altitude of the hike: 4630 masl (Pacchanta Community)
Normal altitude of the hike: 4346 masl / 13,880 fasl
Starting point of the trek: Huillca Lodge in the community of Pacchanta.
Type of terrain of the trek: the trail is stony throughout the entire route.
Climate during the months: there are dry months (April, May, June, July, August, September and October) and rainy months (November, December, January, February, March).
The sequence of the lagoons: the first lagoon that we will visit is the Azulcocha (Blue lake) lagoon and the last one is the Pucacocha lagoon (Red lake).
This photo indicates the type of terrain during the route.
In this part we make you know the useful information that can help you on this trip to the 7 lagoons of Ausangate.
To make the tour to the 7 lagoons of Ausangate there are three seasons during the year, these seasons range from rainy to dry, we explain:
There are two walking routes to make the walk of the 7 lagoons of Ausangate. The first route is the commercial one that starts from the hot springs of Pacchanta to the 7 lagoons. The second is private from our company that starts at our Huillca Lodge house to reach the 7 lagoons of Ausangate. The difference of the routes are almost the same in the technical difficulty, the distance, but in our route there is no presence of the crowd.
These are the names of the 7 lagoons of Ausangate and their order of visit:
¿Do you want to know the meaning of these gaps? You can visit our blog 7 lagoons of Ausangate and their colors
On this trip you can visit and bathe in the hot springs of the Pacchanta community. This place is very nice at the foot of the snowy Ausangate, has a temperature of 40 to 50 ° C that can be regulated to the taste of customers.
In this beautiful route of the circuit of the 7 lakes of Ausangate we can observe a great diversity of mountain plants and animals, among them alpacas, llamas, wild ducks, vizcacha, among other animals. Likewise, there is also a great variety of flora such as yareta, small flowers, Andean grass.
Alpacas in the 7 lagoons of Ausangate hike
The vizcachas in the tour to the 7 lakes of Ausangate
The cultivation of native potatoes in Ausangate
The Pacchanta community is one of the important communities and host of the 7 lagoons of Ausangate. Today it has most of the basic services such as water, roads, schools, which in its early years was one of the forgotten and distant communities of Cusco. It has friendly people dedicated to agriculture, raising alpacas and crafts.
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