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Kontiki Hikes
Plan My Trek
Kontiki Hikes

7 Lagoons Ausangate hike
full day | from USD$ 65

Info Stripe

Breakfast & Lunch

Meals

Up to 15 People

Group Size

4800m

Max. Altitude

Moderate

Difficulty

Ausangate & 7 lagoons Hike | Off-the-beaten wonder

Discover the pristine beauty of the Ausangate Peak, a dazzling showcase of Peru’s high-altitude wonders.

Nestled in the shadow of the sacred Ausangate Mountain, these turquoise, emerald, and sapphire lagoons have drawn intrepid travelers since their rise to prominence in the 2010s.

Nature’s Hidden Jewels

The 7 Lagoons gained fame through social media, becoming a must-visit destination for adventurers seeking surreal landscapes beyond Machu Picchu. Each lagoon’s unique hue is shaped by mineral deposits and glacial meltwater, creating a mesmerizing spectrum of blues and greens.

Preserving the Andes’ Fragile Beauty

Rapid glacial retreat in the Cordillera Vilcanota highlights the urgency of sustainable tourism. Kontiki Hikes prioritizes eco-conscious trekking to protect these pristine ecosystems. Join us on an unforgettable journey through the heart of the Andes!

Ausangate Trek

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The Ausangate 7 Lagoons Hike is a full-day guided trek among a series of glacial lagoons at the base of Ausangate, the highest peak in the Cusco region, costing from $65 per person (or $58.50 booking direct) and including hotel pickup, breakfast, buffet lunch, natural hot springs, and a professional guide. This tour offers comparable Andean scenery to Rainbow Mountain with noticeably fewer crowds.

A licensed guide is required to visit this area, and enforcement of this has become stricter each year. A guide is included on every Kontiki departure, along with support for altitude safety and trail navigation. An entrance/community access fee may apply, paid on-site in cash — confirm the current amount with your guide.
Price
$58.50SAVE 10%direct · $65 standard
Max Altitude
~4,800m
Duration
Full Day
Difficulty
Light to Moderate
Places Visited
7 Lagoons, Hot Springs
Departs
Daily

Location

The 7 Lagoons sit at the base of Ausangate (6,384m), the highest peak in the Cusco region, near the community of Pacchanta.

Altitude

The lagoons sit at approximately 4,600–4,800 meters, with the hot springs stop at Pacchanta around 4,100 meters.

Trail & Difficulty

A relatively gentle walking circuit among the lagoons, rated Light to Moderate — the altitude is the main challenge rather than the terrain itself.

Scenery

A series of glacial lagoons, each with a distinct color from mineral sediment and glacial melt, set directly beneath the Ausangate glacier — one of the least crowded high-altitude landscapes near Cusco.

Hot Springs

The tour includes a stop at the natural hot springs of Pacchanta, a genuine Andean thermal-bath tradition, before the hike begins.

Local Culture

The route passes through Quechua herding communities in the Ausangate region, where alpaca and llama herding remains a central part of daily life.

Tour Options

Available as a small group tour; travelers wanting a deeper Ausangate experience can extend into the multi-day Ausangate Trek.

Ausangate 7 Lagoons vs. Rainbow Mountain — Which Should You Choose?

Ausangate 7 LagoonsRainbow Mountain (Vinicunca)
PriceFrom $65From $65
Max Altitude~4,800m~5,200m
DifficultyLight to ModerateModerate
CrowdsNoticeably fewer visitorsPeru's most-visited single-day rainbow-mountain hike
Unique featureNatural hot springs at PacchantaIconic single striped-mountain postcard view
Best forTravelers wanting solitude and multiple distinct lagoonsFitter trekkers wanting the classic photo

Want a deeper Ausangate experience? See our multi-day Ausangate Trek guide for the full circuit around the mountain.

Quick Glossary

Ausangate
— pronounced ow-sahn-GAH-tay; the highest peak in the Cusco region (6,384m) and a sacred Apu (mountain spirit) in Andean tradition.
Pacchanta
— pronounced pahch-CHAHN-tah; the community and natural hot springs at the start of the hike.
Apu
— a mountain spirit in Andean cosmology, believed to protect and provide for nearby communities.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many lagoons are on the Ausangate 7 Lagoons hike? +
The hike passes a series of glacial lagoons — commonly referred to as the "7 Lagoons" or Siete Lagunas — at the base of Ausangate, each with a distinct color depending on mineral content and glacial melt.
How do you pronounce Ausangate? +
Ausangate is pronounced ow-sahn-GAH-tay — the highest peak in the Cusco region and a sacred Apu (mountain spirit) in Andean tradition.
How much does the Ausangate 7 Lagoons tour cost? +
The group tour costs $65 per person at standard price, or $58.50 per person when booked directly through kontikihikes.com with the automatic 10% direct-booking discount.
Are the Ausangate hot springs included in this tour? +
Yes, the tour includes a stop at the natural hot springs of Pacchanta before the hike begins.
Do I need a guide to hike the Ausangate 7 Lagoons? +
Yes, a licensed guide is required to visit this area, and enforcement of this requirement has become stricter in recent years. A guide is included on every Kontiki departure.
Is Ausangate 7 Lagoons less crowded than Rainbow Mountain? +
Yes — Ausangate sees noticeably fewer visitors than Vinicunca Rainbow Mountain, making it a good choice for travelers who want comparable Andean scenery with more solitude.
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Ausangate 7 Lagoons Hike

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Seven distinct glacial lagoons including Puca Cocha (red lake), Alqa Cocha and Q'omer Cocha — each a different colour from mineral deposits and glacial meltwater from the Ausangate glacier. The viewpoint at 4,800m gives you a panoramic view of all seven spread across the valley beneath the sacred Ausangate peak at 6,384m.
  • The natural hot springs at Pacchanta village are optional — approximately $3 USD entrance fee payable on the day. Highly recommended after the trek. Bring a swimsuit and towel.
  • Similar difficulty — rated moderate with a maximum altitude of 4,800m versus 5,200m for Rainbow Mountain. The Ausangate hike covers 8 km round-trip. Both require at least 2–3 days acclimatisation in Cusco beforehand.
  • Approximately 3.5 hours southeast of Cusco in the Vilcanota mountain range. Hotel pickup from Cusco is at 4:30 AM with return by approximately 6:00 PM.