Overview
The 7 lakes day hike by the majestic tall mountain of Ausangate that towers the Cusco region with its 20,944ft of elevation is a home of beautiful blue-colored lakes all around, glacial mountains, domestic Llamas and Alpacas, and natives with traditional costumes.
Join Peru by Locals team on this amazing day hike in the Andes of Peru. The 7 lakes found around the tallest mountain of Cusco named and seen from Cusco takes you on a 3-hour journey through breathtaking views and finishing the hike on relaxing natural hot springs in the area.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Hike with our professional and passionate local guides
- Join a small group for personalized service
- Explore the colored lakes in a day hike at the base of the tallest mountain in Southern Peru
- Enjoy the hot springs after the hike
Details
- Distance covered: 3.7 miles
- Duration: 1 day
- Hiking hours: The morning hike from the start to the biggest lake takes about 1.5 to 2 hours maximum through a gradual uphill trail, and the way back to the trailhead is about 1 hour.
- Type of trip: Car transport and hike.
- Meals: Box Lunch will be provided and carried by your guide.
- Level of difficulty: Challenging, but your guide will be there encouraging you and helping you enjoy as much as you deserve.
Group size: Our hiking group sizes are very important to guarantee the quality of our service by giving you personalized service. That’s the reason we run with an average of 7 hikers. We know meaningful nature encounters must be undertaken in small groups. This not only guarantees you a more personal close-up wildlife experience, but also a lower impact presence on the earth’s fragile natural places we love.
Our guides: PERU BY LOCALS was a dream that came true in 2015 for Jose Condor, who guided treks to Machu Picchu from 2004 until today and has been to Machu Picchu over 1,000 times. Now Peru by Locals has a group of top guides, both men and women, who have professional degrees and receive refreshed training with NOLS (National Outdoor Leadership School). Since our treks go into the wilderness and your health is our priority in our trips, our guides are fully trained to assist any of your needs while you are vacationing. We invest in our guides because we believe they are the main ingredient of any trip. Peru by Locals is not only a travel company but a group of great tour leaders who love sharing our culture with you and love being with travelers.
Location: This trip starts in Cusco City or Sacred Valley upon your request. You will need to fly to Lima, which is the capital of Peru, then to Velasco Astete Cusco Airport, which is a small domestic airport.
Departures: This hike is operated by PERU BY LOCALS 100% when you book your hike or take any tour package. You go with us; we don’t rearrange tours, and we depart every day year-round. The size of the groups is from 2 to 5 people on average, which allows us to give you personalized service.
We take bookings year-round and this hike does not need to be booked far in advance, so anytime you are ready, join us and reach us with any questions you have at our 24/7 number +51 989585967 or email us at info@perubylocals.com
Itinerary
DAY 1.- CUSCO – PACCHANTA
Your designated guide will meet you at your hotel in Cusco by 5am for about 2.5 hours to Huayllabamba village, located along the way where we will stop for a delicious breakfast at a restaurant. Then, we will continue for another 45 minutes to Pacchanta, which is where the trailhead is. The journey begins with amazing vistas of snow-capped mountains such as Ausangate Mountain, the tallest mountain in the Cusco area. The trail is a gradual uphill for about 1.5 hours to the farthest lake called Otorongo, then we will start exploring the 7 lakes and breathing the pure air of the Andes. We will return to the hot springs for lunchtime to enjoy and relax at these natural springs.
Services
SERVICES INCLUDED
- Transport to and from your hotel in Cusco
- Trekking guide, knowledgeable in history, tradition, fauna, and flora, and trained in first aid
- Oxygen tank and first aid kit carried by your guide if needed
- Entrance tickets to the area
SERVICES EXCLUDED
- Tips for guide and driver (recommended 15% of the total cost)
Packing list
- Day bag for carrying your belongings
- Phone or camera for pictures
- Clothes (hiking shoes, warm fleece jacket, rain jacket)
- Snacks – it’s always good to bring your favorite snacks so you can enjoy while hiking
- Water (2 liters per person recommended) – we really recommend you bring a water bottle or camel bag to help us protect our home
- Sunscreen SPF 35+ recommended
- Sunglasses
- Repellent
- Money – cash is always good
- If you have any medications you use, please don’t forget to bring them with you
Important information
OFTEN ASKED QUESTIONS
What is the terrain like? How challenging is it?
The hike is rated as moderate since it is all downhill. The first hour will have some steep sections and the rest is gradual downhill.
How long before should I book this journey hike?
This hike does not require a permit, but Peru by Locals still needs at least a week to put everything together.
What is the weather like during the year?
The Cusco area has only two well-defined seasons: the wet season and the dry season. The wet season starts in November and ends in March. During this period, it rains almost every day for three or four hours, but there are also several sunny days. The dry season begins around March and lasts until October. June and July are the coldest months. Paradoxically, at noon the temperatures can reach 23°C (77°F), the annual highest temperature.
Should I tip the guide and driver? If I do, how much should I tip?
Our guides are paid fairly according to Peruvian labor laws – that is why we don’t force our clients to tip the crew. However, most of our clients want to show appreciation for the work they do and the service they receive, so if you feel like giving them a tip, feel free to do it at the end of their work. If that’s the case, we recommend tipping 15% of the total cost.
Is there any age limit?
In this hike, there is no minimum age or limit – any person who is prepared for hiking can do it. This day hike is short, but it can be challenging for someone who has never hiked.
Peruvian Currency
The Peruvian sol is the currency of Peru and usually fluctuates between 3.3 to 3.8 sol to 1 US Dollar.
Language
Spanish is the national language of Peru, and 20% of Peruvians also speak Quechua (Inca language). Our guides are fluent in Spanish and English.
Why Peru by Locals
- Peru by Locals offers tailor-made treks and tours, catering to your interests when we plan your tour.
- We are committed to providing world-class tours based on exceptional customer service.
- We are a locally owned and highly experienced travel company based in Cusco, Peru.
- Our staff consists of members who have decades of first-hand experience in the Peruvian tourism sector.
- All the management and staff at Peru by Locals speak English, Spanish, and Quechua (the language of the Incas).
- Our guides and staff members are professionally trained and educated in the history of the Incas, Peruvian history, culture and traditions, first aid in the wilderness, guiding treks and tours, the fauna and flora of the region, and tourism management.
- We are committed to protecting our environment.
- We are committed to creating jobs and empowering local people. We believe in fair labor practices and honor and treat all our employees with dignity.
- We have programs to help with the development of the porters’ families and communities, such as planting trees and buying school books and school equipment for poor local communities.
- We honor native communities that have stewarded the land you visit.
- We have also started an Education Fund to support the education of the children of porters. A percentage of income from every tour and trek goes to the education of needy ones.
- Our trips are designed carefully to your needs, and we create diverse unique itineraries from 1 to 15 days in length. We offer a wide range of tours and treks. We guarantee you the experience of a lifetime!
- Peru By Locals organizes free worry-free trips for you to enjoy fully.
Peru small group specialists
Our tours are designed for those who love adventure, want to explore new places, experience the local culture, love food, or like history or photography for all ages, whether you are traveling alone, with friends, as a couple, or with family. At Peru by Locals, there is not
Small groups are the best, and the average tour or trek group is around 4 to 8 people. Why is this great? Well, have you ever waited in line while 40 other people get a coffee in the morning? Believe it or not, it is not fun. Taking small groups allows us the flexibility to take you on an adventure to places that nobody else goes.
Price
Best Seller
Ausangate 7 Lakes Hike 1D | Peru by Locals

Discover the 7 beautiful lakes located in the Souther Cusco and near thetallest mountain of Cusco, the Ausangate mountain.
Product Brand: Peru by Locals
Product Currency: USD
Product Price: 95
Product In Stock: InStock
5
GROUP SERVICE
Our tour groups are very important. We usually run tours with 2 to 8 people per group and open any tour dates with a minimum of 2 guests. This service is considered semi-private for personalized experiences, so you can take full advantage of your time.
Accommodations
Costs are based on double bedroom occupancy and US dollars. For single room occupancy, contact us at info@perubylocals.com or at our 24/7 number +51 989585967 (WhatsApp).
To ensure your booking with us, we will require a 20% deposit pre-payment of the total cost, and the outstanding remaining balance will be paid 30 days prior to your trip.
Choosing this option
- Once a tour date is opened with 2 guests, the travel date probably won’t be changed later.
- This is a great option to meet other travelers and hang out during the trip.
- The quality of service is the same as the private option.
- If for any reason one of you or others can’t continue the tour for any reason, the tour will go as planned from the beginning to the end.
PRIVATE SERVICE
Our private service can start with 1 person and go up to any number you desire, and you can choose your travel date.
Accommodations
We run all our tours with 3-star hotels, but we can customize with 5-star hotels.
Costs are based on double bedroom occupancy and US dollars. For single room occupancy, contact us at info@perubylocals.com or at our 24/7 number +51 989585967 (WhatsApp).
To ensure your booking with us, we will require a 20% deposit pre-payment of the total cost, and the outstanding remaining balance will be paid 30 days prior to your trip.
Choosing this option
- We cater this tour to your needs with flexibility.
- Once a tour date is opened, it can still be changed if time allows at your requested time.
- This is a great option to spend time with your parents, family, and friends or travel for special occasions such as a honeymoon.
- The quality of service is the same as other tours.