Walk beside seven turquoise lagoons below the snow-capped Ausangate, then soak in the hot springs of Pacchanta, with a local guide and private transport.
The Seven Lagoons of Ausangate is a full-day trek that starts in the village of Pacchanta, at the foot of the Ausangate snowcap, and leads you to a string of turquoise lagoons. You climb gently for two hours, walk among the lagoons, then descend to Pacchanta and soak in its hot springs with a view of Ausangate. Choose a shared or private service, because we tailor-make every detail to your travel style, needs and budget.
Seven turquoise lagoons below Ausangate
Hot springs facing Ausangate
Led by a local expert team
Breakfast, lunch and private transport
Route and Itinerary
A Day Among the Seven Lagoons
Follow the route from Pacchanta to the lagoons and back, then check the altitude changes along the way.
Distance
17.18 km
Walking time
5 hrs
Start and end
4,309 m a.s.l.
Highest point
4,845 m a.s.l.
Route map
Elevation profile
Altitude comes from the route’s GPS track, so every value is in m a.s.l.
Itinerary
4:00 a.m. We leave Cusco or the Sacred Valley before dawn and travel for about four hours to the village of Pacchanta, so that you arrive hungry and ready for breakfast. There our team of horsemen and their horses are waiting for you, and we begin the walk with a gentle two-hour climb toward the high pass.
Then the landscape opens up, and you spend about two hours walking among the seven lagoons, with the snow-capped Ausangate rising above their turquoise water. After that, you take your time on the descent, which lasts about one hour, back to Pacchanta.
Once you are back, we share lunch together, and then you can relax in the hot springs with a spectacular view of Ausangate. Finally, we drive you back to Cusco in our private vehicle, which takes about four hours.
Your price
What's Included
Guide and safety
Professional guide in English and Spanish.
First-aid kit.
Meals
1 breakfast and 1 lunch at a local restaurant.
Transport
Transport from your hotel in Cusco or the Sacred Valley to Pacchanta.
Private transport from Pacchanta back to your hotel.
What’s not included
Tips for the guide.
Personal expenses.
Important Notes
Shared or private service, tailored to your dates and group size.
We leave Cusco or the Sacred Valley at 4:00 a.m. and drive about 4 hours to Pacchanta.
Bring a little cash in soles for tips and personal expenses.
Optional extras: horseback riding during the walk and walking-pole rental. Ask us for pricing.
FAQ
Difficulty and altitude
This is a full-day trek with about 5 hours of walking: a gentle 2-hour climb, about 2 hours among the lagoons and a 1-hour descent to Pacchanta. According to our GPS track, it covers 17.18 km, starts and ends at about 4,309 m a.s.l. and reaches 4,845 m a.s.l. at its highest point. Because the whole route is at high altitude, walk slowly and drink water often.
Good physical condition is recommended. Your guide walks with you, and we provide breakfast, lunch and a first-aid kit. If you prefer, you can ride a horse during the walk for an extra cost.
We recommend spending at least one full day in Cusco (3,399 m a.s.l.) before the walk, so your body has time to adjust to the altitude. The route starts at about 4,309 m a.s.l. and reaches 4,845 m a.s.l. If you have a health condition, check with your doctor before you travel.
Packing and booking
Bring trekking shoes or boots, waterproof clothes suitable for snow, a small backpack, two 600 ml water bottles, snacks, sunglasses, sunscreen and a warm hat. We provide breakfast, lunch and a first-aid kit. Bring a little cash in soles for tips and personal expenses.
Book as early as possible, so we can confirm availability for your dates.
You can choose a shared or a private service, and we tailor-make every detail to your travel style and needs. The price depends on your group size and the services you choose, so request a quote.
Write to us on WhatsApp with your preferred dates and group size, and we will confirm availability and explain how to secure your booking. We will reply as soon as we can.
Before and after the trek
On the day of the trek, we pick you up at your hotel in Cusco or the Sacred Valley at 4:00 a.m. and drive about 4 hours to the village of Pacchanta, where we have breakfast before the walk begins.
After the walk, we have lunch in Pacchanta, then you relax in the hot springs with a view of Ausangate, and finally we drive you back to your hotel in about 4 hours.
However, times are approximate and can change with the weather and the group’s pace.
Pack light
What to bring
The bag you carry yourself while walking.
Sun and rain
Sunglasses and sun hat
Sunscreen
Waterproof jacket, pants and gloves suitable for snow
Daypack essentials
Small backpack with two 600 ml water bottles and snacks
Trekking shoes or boots and spare socks
Health and essentials
Personal first-aid kit, toilet paper and cash in soles
Camera and power
Camera, flashlight and spare batteries
Keep your camera, spare batteries and snacks in your small backpack, because batteries run down faster in the cold. A walking pole is optional.
Tripadvisor · 2026 Reviews
What Our Travelers Say
Recent Tripadvisor reviews of Santu trips in Peru, posted in 2026.
This is Santu’s overall rating, not a rating specific to this walk.
“The experience was incredible; we were 3 families and we loved it. The level of food, the tents, the guides. A ten.”
Edgardo C · Toledo, Spain Written 4 August 2026 · Translated from Spanish by Tripadvisor
“… Giuliana exceeded our expectations. She did an amazing job listening to our wants/needs, make recommendations and take care of all the steps along the way. We felt fully informed.”
“Giuliana who is an amazing travel agent who planned everything for Us and give us lots of great ideas and she came with an amazing package that it took care of all our needs …”
To provide the best experience, we use technologies such as cookies to store and/or access device information. By consenting, we may process data such as browsing behavior or unique identifiers on this site. Refusing or withdrawing consent may negatively affect certain features and functionality.
Functional
Always active
Technical storage or access is strictly necessary to provide a specific service explicitly requested by the user, or solely to enable communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferencias
El almacenamiento o acceso técnico es necesario para la finalidad legítima de almacenar preferencias no solicitadas por el abonado o usuario.
Statistics
El almacenamiento o acceso técnico que es utilizado exclusivamente con fines estadísticos.Technical storage or access is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. The information collected cannot normally be used to identify you.
Marketing
Technical storage or access is used to create user profiles, deliver relevant advertising, or track users across websites for similar marketing purposes.
