- Availability: Available now
- Group size: 2-10
- Tour Type: Trekking/Hiking
- Max. Elevation: 4850 meters above sea level
Ausangate 7 Lakes Trek – 1 day Ausangate Trek
40 USD Per person
Ausangate 7 Lakes Trek – 1 day Ausangate Trek
The Ausangate snow-capped mountain is located in the Vilcanota knot, a branch of the Andes mountain range that is home to 469 snow-capped mountains and around 800 lakes of various colors. This 1-day tour allows you to visit 7 lagoons of different colors, shapes and depths. If you are an adventurer and a hiker; then the Ausangate 7 Lakes Trek is perfect for you. This day hike will take you to a fairy tale landscape; surrounded by huge snowy peaks, 7 colored lakes, hot springs and dozens of alpacas, llamas and vicuñas.
The 7 lagoons of Ausangate are called Laguna Azul Cocha, Oq’ecocha, Alqacocha, Otorongo, Puca Cocha, Q’omercocha and Morococha. In the case of Otorongo, it is made up of 2 lagoons, a small one, called Nina Otorongo (female lagoon), and Macho Otorongo (male lagoon). These two lagoons are used by the Andean priests called Altomisayoq, Pampamisayoc and Pacos to perform initiation rites for the people chosen by mother earth, the mountains, the lightning and the lagoons and who possess clear gifts of spiritual wisdom and a vocation for help. The material evidence of these Andean rites carried out on full moon nights and on August 1, the day of the Pachamama, is observed when making the hiking circuit through the 7 lagoons of Ausangate.
Highlights of our Ausangate Lake Trek
* We wish to give you the best experience on this one-day hike to the Ausangate 7 lakes trek.
* We have the best and most passionate team of workers.
*Be part of our social and environmental projects.
*Our 1-day Ausangate seven Lakes Trek has a fair and cheap price compared to other operators.
* Let’s take a dip; in the beautiful and medicinal thermal baths, of the community.
* Make your trip to the one day Ausangate Trek, unhurried and with guides trained in first aid by a physician.
*In addition to all the above, we prepare food for our hikers and team with 100% organic veggies purchased from local producers.
Ausangate 7 Lakes Trip Overview
- Trek Type:Trekking/hiking, scenic, cultural and nature
- Good for: those in moderate shape or better
- Difficulty:Moderate to difficult
- Season:From March 1st to January 31th
Day 1. Cusco – Pacchanta – 7 Ausangate Lakes – Hot Spring –Cusco.
- Hiking distance: 9.2 miles/15 km (4 hours)
- Highest altitude: 4.850 meters above sea level
- Considered: Moderate to difficult
- Meals: Breakfast,snacks and lunch ! All served as buffet
- Weather: Cold and windy
We collect you from your accommodation at 4:00 am. to be driven for four hours to Pacchanta, which is the Ausangate 7 lakes Trek trailhead. Upon arrival you’ll be amazed by incredible snow-capped mountains that are in front of you. After a delicious and nutritious outdoor buffet breakfast; you’ll hike uphill and downhill for five hours, around 7 different colored lagoons. The main lagoons are called: Azulcocha, Otorongo, Pucacocha, Alqacocha and Q’omercocha; five of them have a teal, light blue, and emerald pigmentation and the other two have a brown reddish coloration. During the five hour hike you’ll be surrounded by five imposing snow-capped mountains, that are higher than 6000 meters above sea level.
Your guide will make lots of breaks to teach you about the flora, fauna and geology of the Ausangate region; he’ll also take memorable photos for you and your loved ones. If you’re lucky you may glimpse Alpacas, llamas, vicuñas (wild ancestors of Alpacas) and condors (world’s largest flying bird). Upon arrival to the lunch spot; our expert chef will wait you with a hot coffee mug and a delicious outdoor buffet lunch. After digesting, let’s soak in the pretty and medicinal thermal baths of Pacchanta hamlet. In the afternoon you’ll be driven for four hours to Cusco; where will be arriving around 19:30 pm.
** This one-day hike within 7 lakes of the Ausangate Trek, will give us a fantastic short immersion in the best bits of the Andes mountain range.
Included
Professional local english speaker Guides: all our super leaders grewp up in cusco region and studied tourism for five years at cusco’s university, they are friendly, funny charming, knowledgeable, professional and will care your safety into our one day hike
Permits: As soon as we get your details and deposit, we will purchase your permits for the Ausangate Trek.
Briefing: you should come to our office at least one day prior to your one day hike to pay the balance, provide exact information about your accommodation and receive some details for the tour.
Transportation: IncaGo Expeditions will be providing all transportation for this one day trek. You will be picked up from your hotel at 5 am and brought to the trailhead and then you will be brought back to Cusco.
Food: Our one day trek includes expert hiking chefs who will will cook delicious meals that many previous trekkers have loved. We honor all food restrictions, so be sure to add any that you have on your booking form and let us know. Food is typically all served as buffet.
Water: We are going to provide you a water bottle of 1.5 liter.
Details: We profess that it is the attention to small details that separates us from other travel agencies. Each hiker receives a water bottle, walking sticks and snacks.
First Aid: Every guide has got training in first aid from a clinic and firemen. We elaborate mandatory training sessions every February on the hiking trails; which every IncaGo Expeditions tour guide must attend. Your tour leader is going to have always a first-aid kit for basic medical problems.
Not Included on the 7 lagoons Ausangate Trek
- tips
- drinks
Prices
We would love to tour the Ausangate 7 Lakes Trek; with you and your loved ones and take care of immortalizing your visit to Machu Picchu. We can leave any day from March to January as the one day trek is always available.
Group Price (2020):
- $40 per person
Private Tour:
Private tours are available and priced by party size.
- 2 Trekkers: $125 per person
- 3 Trekkers: $95 per person
- 4 Trekkers: $75 per person
- 5 Trekkers: $65 per person
- 6 Trekkers: $60 per person
- 7 Trekkers: $50 per person
- 8 or more Trekkers: $40 per person
Packing list
We suggest you to carry lightweight backpack that the is key to feeling good during this one day hike
Essentials:
- Original Passport ,
- STUDENT CARD (if you booked as a student
- Good daypack (the smaller, the better)
- Comfortable hiking boots (lightweight with good soles) remember that the one day trek is entirely dirt soil
Inside Your Daypacks:
Daypacks can be any size for hiking, but we always recommend the smaller, the better. Some items are listed below
- Sunhat
- Rain gear
- Fleece
- Camera
- Music (IPhone)
- Toilet paper and small plastic bag for waste
- Extra Money for Souvenirs, Drinks & Tips
- Personal medication
- First aid kit: band aids, moleskin, etc.
- Sunscreen
- Handsanitizer
Where do we pick up the hikers for the Ausangate 7 Lakes Trek?
Pick up will be from your hotel at 5:00 a.m. Please provide clear contact information of your place of accommodation when approaching our office in Cusco.
Where to pay the remaining amount for the Ausangate 7 Lakes Trek?
Most hikers arrive in Cusco 2 or 3 days before the one day hike or a 4 day trek for proper acclimatization. Once you are in Cusco it is imperative that you come to our office to review the last details of your excursion and also pay the remaining amount of your Ausangate 7 Lakes Trek
Reserve for the Ausangate 7 Lakes Trek?
We try to make the booking as easy as possible in Incas Path. We prepare a reservation form where you will complete and include all the details for the excursion, and then a deposit of $ 50 per person. Once we have all the deposits and details, we will reserve your permits. Once the one day hike permits are in our hands, we will send you your invoice and confirmation that everything is 100% organized. All excursions once confirmed, are guaranteed.
Permissions for the Ausangate 7 Lakes Trek?
Only tour operators licensed by the government, such as Incas Path, can obtain the corresponding permits from the government. Once we have obtained your one day trek permits, the name and start date cannot be changed under any circumstances. The only information that the government allows us to change are passport numbers.
Passport Number Update?
The government will only allow us to change passport numbers if we have a copy of the new passport and the old passport. If you no longer have your old passport, any identification document that you have in your hands will be accepted while the name is the same as in your passport.
Where to stay in Cusco?
You can stay in a hotel that you consider convenient, however you must have the account of the location of the hotel because the traffic within the city has become stressful in the last 5 years. Many roads are up to 100 years old; Especially near the main square the roads are only for pedestrians. We will notify you if it is not possible to pick you up by car from your hotel and coordinate another nearby pick-up point. For a list of recommended hotels, consult your Incas Path sales representative.
Where do I store my luggage?
All luggage not necessary for the hike must remain in Cusco. All hotels are very helpful and are quite accustomed to storing luggage of their guests, or if you wish you can store it safely with our customer service team in our office storage
Can I stay in the sacred valley?
Not, as the driving route to get the trailhead of the rainbow mountain does not go through the sacred valley of the incas.
During the trip, how challenging is the Ausangate 7 Lakes Trek?
This one-day hike will be moderate; the route is a cobblestone path in some areas and dirt soil in others. Most of this hike will be relatively flat.
Will I need extra money on the Ausangate 7 Lakes Trek?
Of course, if you want to buy some type of drinks, snacks, souvenirs «also remember that along within the Ausangate 7 Lakes Trek; just cash is accepted».
How many people will be in my group on the Ausangate 7 Lakes Trek?
We require a minimum of 2 people for our tour, and if you are traveling alone, we invite you to join our groups that start each day. We can have up to 8 hikers with a guide and if our groups are between 9 and 16 people, we have 2 accredited guides with a lot of experience in this one day hike. During the low season it is most likely that the groups are small and during the high season the groups are probably much larger.
Do you need hiking boots for the Ausangate 7 Lakes Trek?
We always recommend hiking boots, since if it rains a little the one day hike can become a bit muddy and slippery. Please make sure they have good soles.
Are trekking poles really necessary on the Ausangate 7 Lakes Trek??
For the one day trek we recommend the use of trekking poles for everyone, especially for those passengers with knee problems or older people. Remember, we have five hours of hiking.
Are there any toilets along the Ausangate 7 Lakes Trek?
Along the one day hike there are 2 places that has toilet. Firstly at the hiking start, then at lunch. Please carry a roll of toilet paper in your daypack.
What should I expect from the weather on the Ausangate 7 Lakes Trek?
Please understand that this is a very difficult question to answer. Historically, from April to October it is the dry season, from November to March it is the rainy season, but in recent years our weather has been affected by climate change and today it is very difficult to predict. Remember that in the mountains the radiation and heat are very high during the day and in the evenings always cold. We always recommend a short sleeve shirt for this one day hike, long pants to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes, rain jacket and a fleece jacket and for the night a down jacket.
Can Incas Path please my dietary needs? What kind of food will there be?
For us it is an honor to please all kinds of dietary needs, just let us know at the time of booking. If you are vegetarian, vegan, lactose intolerant, gluten intolerant or any type of allergies, we have a team of chefs with a lot of experience in the preparation of all types of diets on the Ausangate 7 Lakes Trek. Also remember that we want to pamper you during your trip and for that reason we use 100% organic vegetables for the elaboration of our buffets.
What type of outlet is used in Cusco and Machu Picchu?
Most hotels and even homes in Peru now have the standard US output and also that of South America.
What is the standard procedure when it comes to tip?
Tipping is part of the tradition of any trip in Peru and, although we pay good salaries to our entire team, We always appreciate any extra appreciation. Keep in mind that this is not mandatory and that you should never feel pressured for this reason.
In general, participants in a group show their appreciation as a group for their porters and chef and a personal appreciation towards their tour guide, which will be according to their degree of satisfaction with the service provided.