Still do not know what else to visit after Machu Picchu in Cusco? Do you want to see a place that is not so touristy, but with extraordinary natural beauty? Well, once you are in Cusco you have the chance to find a lot of options. One of them is the Ausangate 7 lakes, which can be visited depending on the time available, from day trips that start from the city of Cusco to multi-day hikes in the Ausangate.
We all have dreams that we want to achieve, for those who love and like excursions, nature; You travelers, explorers, walkers or whoever you are with a willing spirit and determination to reach places out of the ordinary, see something different, because one of the best options should be the one-day hike to the Ausangate 7 lakes in Cusco. It is not that popular yet, only about 30 people arrive a day, which makes it the perfect place to come into direct contact with the natural beauty of the snow-capped mountains and the lakes of different colors.
Nina Otorongo lake
Summary
Detailed information about the Ausangate 7 lakes
- Driving distance from Cusco: (50 Miles / 81 KM)
- Driving time: 3 hours one way and another 3 hours back.
- Entrance price: 10 soles
- Entrance price to the thermal baths: 5 soles
- Elevation of the beginning of the Trek: 4200 meters / 13900 feet.
- Difficulty: Moderate to challenging.
- Trail: Dirt trail with some little ups and downs.
- Walking distance: 10 km round trip.
- Horse rental: The cost is 80 soles for one way.
- Walking time: Walking to the first lake viewpoint (with some breaks along the way) is approx. 2 hours. After all, the return and stops in the other lakes, takes 2 hours.
- Photo sessions: From time to time, locals appear on the road, walking with an alpaca offering a photo session. In return, they just want a tip.
- Maximum elevation: 4630 meters / 15190.29 feet.
- Tour duration: 10 hours.
- Elevation difference during the hike: 400 metres/1230 feet.
Why are they different colors?
The Ausangate 7 lakes have different shades of green and blue, that is what makes them attractive, because the water coming down from the snow-capped mountains also brings with it pulverized minerals that finally end up swimming in the water, without submerging at the base of the lagoon. . In this way, on days when it is sunny, the effect of the coloring can be better appreciated. Another aspect that gives a distinctive color to the lagoons are the different types of bacteria and algae that grow in the Ausangate lagoons.
Where are the 7 Ausangate lagoons?
These beautiful lagoons are located 81 kilometers from the city of Cusco. The lagoons are located at the foot of snow-capped peaks such as Ausangate, which exceed 6,000 meters of elevation. You can visit on an one-day tour to the 7 Ausangate lakes, starting at the Pacchanta farmhouse. You can also make the visit in two days of hiking through the town of Upis or take a 5-day hike that also allows you to visit the mountain of colors at dawn.
Name of the Ausangate 7 lakes Cusco
- Laguna Azul Cocha
- Laguna Oq´ecocha
- Laguna Alqacocha
- Laguna Otorongo
- Laguna Puca Cocha
- Laguna Q´omercocha
- Laguna Morococha
Interesting fact: The Macho Otorongo lagoon is used by Andean priests to perform flowering bath ceremonies, cleansing of negative energies and also preparation for Ayahuasca ceremonies. If you want to know more about Ayahuasca rituals visit our link: Ayahuasca retreats
Azulcocha
What is the best time to visit?
The best time to visit natural beauties located more than 3 thousand meters high in the Andes, are the months of April to October. Those months are dry, and the percentage that you have a spectacular sunny day exceeds 90% of the possibilities. During this time it is usually very cold in the mornings and nights and very hot during the rest of the day. The average temperature during the day is 22 degrees Celsius. ?¡These months assure you an instagrammable photo of the Ausangate 7 lakes¡.
How is the trail to the 7 Ausangate Lagoons Cusco?
The circuit of the Ausangate 7 lakes is well signposted so that it will be easy for those traveling on their own to find their way around. In addition, there are some stalls along the route, where some women sell water, coca leaves, gloves, chullos, and even rain ponchos. They are scattered every 2 kilometers approximately. To do the two-day route or even the complete Ausangate route, it is necessary to have a good map or contract with a travel agency.
Where to eat on the route 7 lagoons of Ausangate?
Being a growing tourist destination, some residents of Pacchanta have been serving local, national and foreign travelers in their local restaurants who arrive every day to visit the Ausangate 7 lakes. If your plan is to travel on your own, then it is recommended that before leaving for the lagoons, reserve lunch at any of the restaurants, so that when you return you can have a guaranteed place to have lunch. The dishes usually offered are: saltado de alpaca and chicharron de trucha.
How to get to the 7 Lagunas Ausangate Cusco on my own?
From the city of Cusco you can take a local transport. Head towards Av. Tomasa Titto Condemayta and as a reference is, the closed Coliseum Casa de la Juventud, right there will be the vans that cover the Cusco – Ocongate – Tinki route. The ticket has a cost of 10 soles. On a paved road trip for about 3 hours. Arriving at the final destination Tinki, prepare to continue towards the Ausangate 7 lakes.
You can hire a taxi or a motorcycle to take you for 30 minutes to Pacchanta, the closest town to the Ausangate 7 lakes. When you finally find yourself in Pacchanta, ask a local person for the start of the trek. But beware! There may be roads that go in the wrong direction. Try to look for the first sign, after this, the whole circuit is very well signposted. After contemplating the beauty of the snowy Ausangate and its 7 lagoons, return to the town of Pacchanta to enjoy the thermo-medicinal baths.
How to go to the 7 lagoons with a Travel Agency?
You can book the tour to the Ausangate 7 lakes through a website or also directly in the city of Cusco. Doing this type of tour with a travel agency saves you a lot of inconvenience. The prices are between 90 and 120 dollars per person and include private transportation, an expert guide in hiking, food, walking sticks, and entrance tickets.
Pacchanta thermal baths
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