Ausangate 7 Lakes Trek: A Full-Day Hike from Cusco
Seven glacial lakes ringing sacred Ausangate, reached in a single spectacular day from Cusco.
The Ausangate 7 Lakes Trek takes you into one of the most dramatic high-altitude landscapes near Cusco: seven glacial lagoons scattered across the slopes of Ausangate (6,384 m), each with its own name, color, and character — from the deep red of Pucacocha to the turquoise of Azulcocha. All in a single, demanding day, with no camping required.
Starting from the traditional community of Pacchanta (4,300 m), the trek climbs to Patacocha Lake (4,860 m) — the highest point of the circuit — before looping back down through four more lagoons and finishing with a soak in Pacchanta’s natural hot springs.
Kondor Path Tours, a licensed operator based in Cusco, handles every part of this trip directly — no middlemen taking a cut. This trek operates year-round, with clearer skies typically between May and September.
Already done Rainbow Mountain? The Ausangate 7 Lakes Trek covers similar altitude and effort, but with almost none of the crowds — most days you’ll see only your own group on the trail.
| 🥾 Duration | Full day (round-trip from Cusco) |
| 📏 Distance | 14.5 km (9.0 mi) |
| ⛰️ Max altitude | 4,860 m / 15,944 ft — Patacocha Lake |
| 🚐 Trailhead | Pacchanta, reached by private transport from Cusco |
| 🏞️ Lagoons visited | 7 (see Section 7) |
| ♨️ Hot springs | Included, Pacchanta, end of day |
| 💪 Difficulty | Challenging |
| 📅 Season | Year-round; clearest skies May–September |
| 👥 Group size | 1–13 hikers |
| 💲 Price | Scalable $89–$308 USD per person (groups of 1–10) |
Get ready: the Ausangate 7 Lakes Trek covers 1 day of real Peru – Walk beneath Ausangate (6,384 m) — Peru’s fifth-highest peak and one of the most sacred mountains in the Andes – Pucacocha, the Red Lake — mineral sediments give this glacial lagoon its striking reddish tone – Patacocha, the highest point of the circuit — 4,860 m, with sweeping views across the Vilcanota range – Orco and China Otorongo, the “Jaguar Lakes” — a paired male and female lagoon. This is the Ausangate 7 Lakes Trek at its best.
The Ausangate 7 Lakes Trek is a full-day, high-altitude hike through one of the most visually striking landscapes in the Cusco region — a circuit of seven glacial lagoons at the foot of Ausangate, each fed by the mountain’s own glaciers and each with a distinct color, from the mineral-red waters of Pucacocha to the pure turquoise of Azulcocha.
This is not a beginner’s walk: the trail sits above 4,300 m for its entire length, reaching 4,860 m at its highest point. Good physical fitness and at least 1–2 days of prior acclimatization in Cusco are strongly recommended.
| Feature | Ausangate 7 Lakes Trek | Rainbow Mountain Classic Trek |
|---|---|---|
| Distance | 14.5 km | ~7 km |
| Max altitude | 4,860 m | 5,036 m |
| Crowds | Very few — one of Cusco’s least-visited circuits | Busy, especially at sunrise |
| Main draw | 7 distinct glacial lagoons | One iconic striped mountain |
| Duration | Longer, more demanding full day | Shorter, more accessible |
If you’ve already done Rainbow Mountain and want a quieter, more varied high-altitude experience, the Ausangate 7 Lakes Trek is the natural next step. If you’re looking for an easier introduction to high-altitude hiking first, consider Palccoyo Rainbow Mountain instead.
This full-day trek circles seven glacial lakes around Nevado Ausangate (6,384 m), Cusco’s highest and most sacred peak — from the red waters of Pucacocha to the green Q’omercocha and the twin “jaguar” lakes, Orco and China Otorongo. It’s the fastest way to experience Ausangate’s dramatic high-altitude scenery, without committing to the multi-day trek that circles the mountain in full.
The circuit’s highest lake, Patacocha, sits at 4,860 m — meaning the entire hike takes place at serious elevation from the very first steps. Because this is a single day at altitude rather than a gradual multi-day ascent, spending several nights in Cusco (3,400 m) beforehand is essential, and the out-and-back structure of the circuit means the body faces the same elevation exposure on the way out as on the return, with no lower-altitude recovery stretch until back in Cusco itself.
Your guide picks you up from your hotel in Cusco at 05:00 AM. The drive heads southeast through Ccatca and Tinki toward Pacchanta (4,300 m), a small Quechua-speaking community at the base of Ausangate — a scenic but long drive of roughly 3.5 hours, with the terrain growing higher and more remote with every kilometer.
From Pacchanta, the hike begins with the ascent portion of the circuit. The trail climbs first to Pucacocha, the Red Lake (4,500 m) — named for the reddish mineral tones in its waters, a striking first sight against the pale grass of the high plateau. From there, the path continues climbing to Patacocha (4,860 m), the highest point of the entire trek, where the thin air and the close-up views of Ausangate’s glaciers make clear why this circuit demands real fitness and prior acclimatization. The third lagoon of the ascent, Alqacocha (4,750 m), sits just below, often reflecting the surrounding peaks on calm days.
From Alqacocha, the trail turns into its descent phase, looping back toward Pacchanta through four more lagoons. Q’omercocha, the Green Lake (4,666 m), is the first — its color a striking contrast to the red and blue lakes seen earlier. Next come the two Otorongo lakes — Orco Otorongo (Male Jaguar Lake) and China Otorongo (Female Jaguar Lake), both sitting at 4,620 m and named for the jaguar, a powerful figure in Andean cosmology. The circuit closes with Azulcocha, the Blue Lake (4,610 m), the last lagoon before the final stretch back down to Pacchanta.
Back in Pacchanta, a well-earned reward awaits: the community’s natural hot springs, where you can soak and warm up after a full day above 4,300 m. Afterward, the drive back to Cusco takes approximately 3 hours, with arrival at your hotel between 17:00 and 18:30.
Day 1 stats
Box Lunch
Challenging
12 or 15km (7.5 or 9 miles)
5 o 6 Hrs.
Pacchanta: 4,350m (14,271 ft)
Pacchanta: 4,350m (14,271 ft)
Alqa Cocha: 4,752m (15,590 ft)
Looking for something different in duration or pace? Compare it with our Ausangate Trek 5 Days.
| Upgrade | Detail | Extra cost |
|---|---|---|
| Horse with saddle | For hikers who prefer not to walk the full circuit at altitude — available for certain sections | Contact us for pricing |
Here you’ll find answers to the most common questions about the 7 Lakes of Ausangate day hike, including difficulty, altitude, and what to expect on the trail.
A full-day, high-altitude hike from Cusco to seven glacial lagoons at the base of Ausangate mountain, starting and ending in the community of Pacchanta. No camping — you return to Cusco the same evening.
It’s a full-day tour, not a multi-day trek. Including the drive to and from Pacchanta, the full day runs from about 05:00 AM to 17:00–18:30 PM, with 5 to 6 hours of actual hiking covering 14.5 km.
In order: Pucacocha (Red Lake), Patacocha (the highest point, 4,860 m), and Alqacocha on the ascent; then Q’omercocha (Green Lake), Orco Otorongo (Male Jaguar Lake), China Otorongo (Female Jaguar Lake), and Azulcocha (Blue Lake) on the descent back to Pacchanta.
It’s rated Challenging — the entire route sits above 4,300 m, with steady uphill sections on the way to Patacocha and a more moderate downhill return. Good physical fitness and prior acclimatization in Cusco (1–2 days minimum) are strongly recommended.
Patacocha Lake, at 4,860 m (15,944 ft), is the highest point of the circuit — higher than the trailhead at Pacchanta (4,300 m) and higher than any of the other six lagoons.
No. This is a full-day trek with no overnight stay. You return to Cusco the same evening after visiting all seven lakes.
Yes — at the end of the hike, you’ll soak in the natural hot springs of Pacchanta before the drive back to Cusco.
The Ausangate 7 Lakes Trek operates year-round. May through September tends to offer the clearest skies and driest trail conditions; the rest of the year can bring more cloud cover and occasional rain or snow at altitude.
The recommended minimum age is 13 years old, given the altitude and the physical demands of a full day hiking above 4,300 m.
Yes — horses with saddles are available for certain sections of the route for hikers who prefer not to walk the full distance at altitude. Contact us for availability and pricing.
Llamas and alpacas grazing freely are common throughout the route; with some luck, you may also spot vicuñas in the more remote sections of the circuit.
Both are high-altitude day hikes near Cusco, but the Ausangate 7 Lakes Trek is longer (14.5 km vs. ~7 km), reaches a similar altitude, and sees far fewer visitors.
If you want variety — seven distinct lagoons instead of one mountain — and prefer a quieter trail, this is the stronger choice.
Warm, layered clothing (temperatures fluctuate and can drop sharply), a waterproof jacket, sturdy hiking boots, sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, a reusable water bottle, snacks, and a swimsuit for the hot springs at the end.
7 Lakes of Ausangate Trek New Map
| Persons | Price (p/p) | |
| 1 | $ 308.00 USD | |
| 2 | $ 195.00 USD | |
| 3 | $ 158.00 USD | |
| 4 | $ 134.00 USD | |
| 5 | $ 124.00 USD | |
| 6 | $ 113.00 USD | |
| 7 | $ 106.00 USD | |
| 8 | $ 99.00 USD | |
| 9 | $ 94.00 USD | |
| 10 | $ 89.00 USD |
Climb the highest peak in Cusco, host to one of Peru’s Wonders of Nature—visit seven Ausangate lakes in just one day!
