Seven Lagoons of Ausangate: Coca Ceremony & Hot Springs in Cusco

The coca leaf ceremony happens at the first lagoon, not before you leave.

The Seven Lagoons of Ausangate is a 15-hour hiking tour from Cusco that visits seven high-altitude lagoons in the Andes with a private guide and vehicle. You start with breakfast in the Pacchanta community at the foot of Ausangate, hike roughly 10 kilometers through the mountains to the lagoons, participate in a coca leaf ritual with your guide, and finish at the thermal springs before returning to Cusco around 7 p.m. Breakfast, lunch, a private vehicle with air conditioning, oxygen, first aid and hotel pickup are included; the tour runs year-round and requires a moderate level of fitness.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Ausangate lagoons and Pacchanta

• Pick up from Cusco accommodation
• Travel to Pacchanta community
• Have nutritious breakfast
• Hike 5-6 km to first lagoon
• Participate in coca leaf ritual
• Hike 10 km visiting seven lagoons
• Return to Pacchanta community
• Enjoy hot springs
• Have lunch
• Return to Cusco

The Experience

Your day starts with hotel pickup in Cusco's historic center and a drive to Pacchanta, a community sitting at 4,200 meters on the slopes of the Ausangate mountain range. Breakfast waits there around 7:30 a.m. — fuel for the hike ahead. From Pacchanta, you walk 5 to 6 kilometers into the high Andes to reach the first lagoon, where your guide performs a coca leaf ritual. You can join in, using the moment to connect with the landscape and the tradition the local people practice there.

The main hike covers roughly 10 kilometers over about five hours, moving between the seven lagoons — Azulcocha, Otorongo, Oq'ecocha, Pucacocha, Pachaspata, Alqacocha and Q'omercocha — each one surrounded by Andean wildlife and vegetation. The altitude and the distance demand a moderate level of fitness; oxygen is provided if you need it. After the lagoons, you descend back to Pacchanta and soak in the thermal hot springs before lunch. The return drive to Cusco takes you back around 7 p.m.

A private vehicle with air conditioning picks you up from your hotel and waits for you throughout the day, so you do not arrange separate transport between stops. Your guide speaks English or Spanish and carries a first aid box. The tour runs every day of the year, though the high altitude and the 15-hour commitment mean this is not a casual half-day outing — it is a full immersion in the Andes.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup from central Cusco.
• private vehicle with air conditioning for the full day.
• breakfast in Pacchanta.
• lunch after the lagoons.
• oxygen.
• first aid box.
• professional private guide in English or Spanish.
• access to the thermal hot springs.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Chullos Travel Peru

Is this one for you?Book this as a private tour if you want to hike at your own pace without a group schedule, and if you have the full day — the 15-hour commitment and the 4,200-meter altitude mean this suits travelers with moderate fitness who are acclimatized to Cusco and ready for a serious mountain day, not a casual afternoon walk.

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Top questions

What is the coca leaf ceremony at Ausangate like?

The coca leaf ritual happens at the first lagoon after your initial hike. Your guide performs the ceremony, a traditional practice of the local Pacchanta community, and you can participate in it as a way to engage with the landscape and the cultural connection the Andean people hold with the mountains and Mother Earth.

How high do I climb on the Seven Lagoons tour?

The Pacchanta community where you start sits at 4,200 meters above sea level, and the lagoons themselves sit at similar elevations in the high Andes. Oxygen is included on the tour in case you need it at altitude.

How much of the day is spent hiking versus driving?

The main hike covers roughly 10 kilometers and takes about five hours, plus an initial 5 to 6 kilometer walk to reach the first lagoon. The rest of the 15-hour day includes the drive from Cusco to Pacchanta, breakfast, the coca ceremony, the thermal springs, lunch and the return drive to the city.

What meals are included in the tour?

Breakfast is served around 7:30 a.m. in the Pacchanta community before you start hiking, and lunch is provided after you finish at the thermal springs. Both meals are included in the tour price.

Can I do this tour if I arrive in Cusco the same day?

Yes — the tour runs every day of the year and is designed for visitors who have a free day in Cusco or who arrive and want to spend it in the Andes. Hotel pickup is included, so you can arrange it once you reach your accommodation.

What should I bring for a 15-hour high-altitude hike?

The tour includes oxygen, a first aid box, breakfast and lunch, so you do not need to carry food or medical supplies. Wear layers for the cold at altitude, bring water, and wear hiking boots suitable for rocky terrain and elevation gain. A hat and sunscreen are essential at 4,200 meters.