7 Lakes of Ausangate Full Day Tour from Cusco

We have booked this because we like non crowded places, was the best desition we did, the place is amazing, we hiked over the 4500 metters over the sea level, our guide (Holger) took oxygen with him along the way for emerrgency cases (good that we didn't use it). The lakes are amazing, different colors in small space, we recommend this trip for all people who want to explor hidden gems while they are in Cusco. This company provided all necesary staff and very good advises. Note: the placew is new, then do not espect fancy restaurtants or exclusive toilets, bring some snacks and toilet paper!. Thanks for all the atentions Holger, we will be back some day !

The hike itself is amazing and I recommend anyone to do it. However the company overcharges for what they offer and does not do everything they say in the inclusions. This tour company is horrible. First, this trip was supposed to be done with my friend but I had to do it solo because they changed the times twice literally the night before the hike and we ended up leaving almost two hours after what was advertised. She could not make it because her schedule was already set up and had to leave Cusco. No refund was offered. When I was picked up, the driver did not speak any English and there was no guide for the four hour ride to Ausangate and back. Throughout this whole time we were in 1-2 degree Celsius in the van (30’s in Fahrenheit) and it was extremely cold. I asked the driver if there was a heater and he said it only worked in the front (him) and not for the whole van. In one of the stops we had for a bathroom break I asked him where I can find the bathroom and he just said go straight in an annoyed manner. When we got to Ausangate we were fed cold bread with butter, strawberry jam, and one egg. I asked for another egg since I don’t eat jam nor strawberry and was denied. To someone else they told them it would cost them 5 soles. While there another group from another van joined our group so the tour was actually 24 people total and our tour guide was not a professional tour guide but more someone that knows the area and took us from lake to lake. When I asked him why the lakes were the color they were, he didn’t know how to answer. When others asked for further explanation he said it was the minerals and the rocks and to keep walking. At the end I made some friends in the tour and we ended up doing the hike alone. They told me that they waited for the van in the morning for over an hour because they were never told about the schedule change for pick up. The hike and the views were truly amazing! I would do this hike over and over again just not with this company. I also found out that what I paid 80 dollars for, they paid 80 soles for. If I would have paid 80 soles for the hike then I would understand these services but that was not the case. The guide also did not carry an oxygen tank as advertised and one of the girls from the group had altitude sickness and he did nothing. She struggled throughout the whole way and nothing was given to her. For lunch they gave us a tasty soup but the main course was cold and dried and I did not eat it as the chicken leg was very hard to cut and chew. On the way back to Cusco, the girl that was sick threw up in the van and again there was no tour guide and the driver just stopped so she could throw up outside. This tour company also advertised that we would be dropped off at the hotel. The driver dropped us off on the back of the plaza de armas and said that was the last stop and for everyone to get out. Again, the hike is amazing but I highly suggest to pick another tour company.

We really recomend to take this tour if you want to have a perfect day hike. We star at 4am from Cusco to Pacchanta, we took a confortable van with a very safe driver and a friendly guide. after a 1 hour hike you can see the first lake that is dark blue, you hike other 40 minutes and you see a green lake, near the grren lake there is a yellow lake, wow!! that was incredible !!.: On the way back we saw a orange lake and a black lake !! is shoking how the nature is such amazing in this paradise!!!. A perfect day with great views!.