Trek deep into the remote Ausangate region on this full-day adventure from Cusco. Hike past a chain of seven vividly colored glacial lakes framed by snow-capped peaks, then unwind in natural hot springs: a blend of adventure, scenery, and Andean culture.
Recommended from age 8.
More demanding than it looks on paper, because of where it starts. Pacchanta already sits above 4,200 m and the lakes climb to around 4,750 m, so you spend the entire walk higher than the summit of most European mountains. The path itself is not technical, and the guide sets a slow pace with emergency oxygen carried throughout, but this is not a first-day-in-Cusco tour.
The trailhead at Pacchanta is at about 4,200 m and the chain of lakes rises to roughly 4,750 m, fed by the glaciers of Ausangate, which at 6,384 m is the highest peak in the Cusco region and a sacred apu in Andean belief. The colours you see come from the mineral content of the glacial meltwater.
Two things: crowds and scenery. Ausangate is remote and receives a fraction of the visitors Vinicunca gets, so you are often walking with only alpacas and the glacier for company. Instead of one coloured ridge you get seven lakes in blues and greens, and the day ends beside the hot springs at Pacchanta. The trade-off is a higher starting altitude and a longer drive.
Yes, we stop there after lunch, and after several hours at altitude the thermal pools are the best part of the day for many travellers. Bring swimwear and a small towel in your daypack if you want to get in, plus a dry change of clothes for the drive back to Cusco.
Serious layers. Above 4,200 m the wind is constant and the temperature swings sharply between sun and shade. Bring a warm jacket, hat and gloves, a waterproof shell between November and April, strong sun protection, and walking shoes with real grip. Breakfast and a buffet lunch are included, and the entrance ticket is covered in the tour price.
We recommend it from age 8 upwards. The trek is not technical, but altitude affects younger children more unpredictably than adults, and this is a long day at high elevation. Children who join should already have spent a couple of days acclimatising in Cusco. For families with younger kids who still want a mountain day, Humantay Lake is the gentler option.
