AUSANGATE 7 LAGOONS- FULL DAY
Stile:
Trekking
size group:
15 people
Age min:
18 years old
Nivel Fisico:
Moderate
Tour description
The Ausangate day trip is a true hidden gem, perfect for those seeking a peaceful experience away from the crowds . Unlike other trekking routes, this trail doesn’t involve steep climbs or overly demanding sections , making it accessible to most visitors.
During the hike, you’ll have the opportunity to admire several Andean lakes , each with its own unique charm and color. One of the highlights of the trek is the view of the imposing Ausangate mountain , considered one of the five highest peaks in Cusco . If you visit during the rainy season , you might witness light snowfall , adding an even more mystical and spectacular touch to the landscape.
This experience is ideal for those with a deep love for nature, mountains, and glaciers , as well as remote environments . It also offers a valuable opportunity to connect with the local culture and observe typical regional animals, such as alpacas , grazing freely along the trail.
The highlights of the tour and why you should do it with us
Safety guaranteed: The guides always carry oxygen tanks , essential when going above 4,500 meters above sea level (14,435 feet) .
Reliable operator: Machupicchu Destinations is a 100% local and licensed company , recognized for its reliability and excellent reviews on TripAdvisor .
Small groups: Tours are conducted with a maximum of 10 people , without sharing the service with other agencies.
Professional guides: They are highly trained and constantly update their knowledge to offer the best possible experience .
Plenty of time: The hike to the 7 lakes of Ausangate can be enjoyed without rushing or hurrying.
Secure communication: A satellite phone is always carried for emergencies or unforeseen events.
Full service: Includes hotel-to-hotel transfers , ensuring you are not stranded before or after the tour.
Final relaxation: At the end, you can enjoy a bath in the thermal waters .
Itinerary
We will pick you up from your hotel in Cusco at 3:00 am to begin the journey to the village of Pacchanta. The trip takes approximately 3 hours, with 2 hours on paved roads and 1 hour on a dirt road. Pacchanta is located near the majestic Ausangate mountain, at an altitude of 4,200 meters above sea level. There, we will enjoy a nutritious breakfast at 7:30 am.
After breakfast, we’ll begin our hike into the Andes to visit the seven stunning lakes of Ausangate. The trail starts with a gentle climb, continues with a flat section, and ends with a steeper incline. Along the way, you’ll see local people in their traditional clothing, as well as llamas and alpacas grazing freely in their natural habitat.
After a hike of approximately one and a half hours, we will reach the first lagoon, called Azulcocha. From this point, we will ascend to a viewpoint where you can take spectacular photographs of the lake with the imposing Ausangate Glacier in the background. We will then continue the route, visiting the other lagoons, each surrounded by unique Andean landscapes and typical vegetation of the area.
At the end of the hike, we will return to the village of Pacchanta, where you can relax in the hot springs, enjoy a lunch prepared especially for the group, and finally begin the return journey to Cusco, bringing this unforgettable experience to a close.
Trek Details:
Hiking time: 5-6 hours
Elevation gain: 356 m / 1,167 ft
Elevation loss: 357 m / 1,171 ft
Total distance: 11.9 km / 7.39 miles
Starting altitude: 4300 m / 14,107 ft
Highest point: 4619 m / 15,154 ft
Included
Experienced guides
Safety guaranteed
Full board
Private transport
Additional equipment
Door-to-door service
Personalized communication
Hydration guaranteed
Included entrance fees
Final relaxation
24/7 Support
No Included
Tips
Optional horse
Pack List
- Passport (Optional) : You can bring a photocopy instead of the original.
- Water (1.5 liters) : Bring enough water to stay hydrated during the hike.
- Personal snacks : Although snacks are provided, you can bring extras, such as energy bars, if you tend to eat frequently.
- Van pillow : Use it during the journey and leave it in the van while you hike.
- Trekking shoes : Recommended for the dusty and slippery trails of the seven lakes of Ausangate.
- Waterproof trousers (Optional) : Useful during the rainy season (December to March).
- Extra clothes (Optional) : To change into if you get wet during the rainy season.
- Lip balm with sunscreen : Protects against dry air in the Ausangate lagoons.
- Warm jacket : A down jacket is recommended, as it is usually cold.
- Raincoat or waterproof : It can rain even in the dry season due to climate changes.
- Long-sleeved shirt : Protects against sunburn; if you wear short sleeves, apply sunscreen.
- Woolen hat : Keeps you warm, especially on cloudy and cold days in the mountains.
- Trekking trousers : Ideal for hiking, although any suitable trousers will do.
- Rain poncho : Essential in the rainy season and useful in the dry season if there is a risk of rain.
- Wide-brimmed hat : Important to protect yourself from the strong sun above 4,600 meters.
- Sunscreen : Protects the skin from both sunburn and extreme cold.
- Reusable water bottle or Camelback : To reduce plastic use and stay hydrated.
- Sunglasses : They protect your eyes from the intense sunlight and the glare on the snow.
- Extra money : Cash to buy snacks, local food, or to tip for photos with alpacas.
- Thick socks : They keep your feet warm in the cold.
- Buff or neck gaiter : Protects the neck and face, especially in winter.
- Gloves : They keep your hands warm in cold and windy conditions.
- Basic medications : Bring painkillers like ibuprofen and altitude sickness pills like Diamox.
- Portable charger : Keeps your phone charged, as batteries drain faster in the cold.
- Phone or camera : To capture unforgettable memories of your trip.
Gallery





Plan Your Trip With Us
Why Travel With Us
- Personalized Service
- Local Knowledge
- Trusted Team
- Unique Experiences
- Quick Assistance
- Quality Planning
EXCELENTE A base de 12 reseñas Publicado en Tripadvisor kieranlthompsonVerificada Top Salkantay & Machu Pichu Trip We organised our trip with the company before arriving in Cusco. Vidal was our guide and he offered a fun and insightful Salkantay Trek. We had great food on the trip for each meal. It was obvious that Vidal would have gone out of his way to adapt the trip to any of our needs ! We were advised by Vidal that we could buy tickets for Machu Pichu when we arrived in Aguas Caliantes the afternoon before our desired date. This was great advice as the tourist offices release 1000 tickets each day in person and we were able to get Circuit 2 tickets. I had the company recommended to me by a friend who went on the trek last year. Id pass on the recommendation to anyone else who wishes to do the Salkantay trek. Cheers !Publicado en Tripadvisor Eilis MVerificada Amazing experience from start to finish! We booked the 5 day Salkantay trek via Vidal thanks to our friend that has done it the month prior. Vidal was incredibly helpful and friendly, explained everything and even met us at our hotel for the briefing the day before and popped by to collect the bags and see how we got on once we arrived back from Machu Picchu. Our guide on the trek was Oscar and he was fantastic, very knowledgeable and had funny. Kept us entertained and motivated on rainy and hard days. Best hike I’ve done and was all made easy thanks to Vidal and Oscar.Publicado en Tripadvisor AtticusVerificada Best 4 days of my trip Wow what a 4 days! I have to say the trip was even better than expected. Vidal completely made our experience. Such a warming character that made our trip that much better. Gracias Vidal!!!Publicado en Tripadvisor Clara WegnezVerificada Salakantay with bidal ☀️🏔️ I had such an amazing experience doing this trek. The views were stunning, the food and hostels very nice. But Bidal sure made the trip unforgettable! His good energy and talks were inspiring, motivating and interesting. I really feel like the we had a sincere connexion, we just had such a good time together, I will never forget those 4 days!Publicado en Tripadvisor Josue CVerificada La mejor experiencia 100% recomendado Muy recomendable el Salkantay trek 5 días lo cual es full de experiencias increíbles y vistas impresionantes lo recomiendo hacer el Salkantay trek hacia machu picchu con MACHUPICCHU DESTINATIONSPublicado en Tripadvisor Daydream50371221517Verificada Super expérience !! Vidal a été un super guide et il a rendu notre expérience formidable ! L'organisation était parfaite et nous avons adoré toute l'aventure que nous recommandons fortement !!Publicado en Tripadvisor Lucy HVerificada Vacaciones perfectas ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Hice el trekking Salkantay 5D/4N con MACHUPICCHU DESTINATIONS y fue una experiencia increíble. Excelente organización, guías muy profesionales y atentos, comida deliciosa y paisajes espectaculares durante todo el recorrido. Todo estuvo muy bien coordinado y la llegada a Machu Picchu fue el cierre perfecto. 100% recomendable, sin duda volvería a viajar con ellos.Publicado en Tripadvisor Safari47050082033Verificada More Than a Trek🤩 We booked this tour and were genuinely very positively surprised. Vidal is an excellent tour guide, especially well suited for young and active groups. He is funny, keeps the atmosphere relaxed, and at the same time explains the history of the Inca in a clear and engaging way. You can really tell that he has a lot of experience and knows how to motivate and lead a group. I would recommend this tour to anyone who wants to have an unforgettable experience on the Salkantay Trek.🥾 Ps: Don’t underestimate the power of the pisco at the hot springs🤪 Moritz&Felix🇦🇹Publicado en Tripadvisor Dominik LVerificada ⛰️🏞 We went with a group of 4 friends. The trips can be exausting but its definitely worth the nature and views! Vidal was the best bestpossibal guide. Very funny and motivating, helped with everything. All in all we had a great time together.Publicado en Tripadvisor Bastian GVerificada Alles super Beste Reise. Super freundlich und top strukturiert. Kann ich jedem weiter empfehlen! Auf Fragen waren immer Antworten da