Ausangate 7 Lakes Hike: A Top Trekking Review

Thinking about an adventure that gets you into some unreal mountain scenery? The Ausangate 7 Lakes Hike near Cusco, Peru, just might be that thing. It’s not that well known as some of the other hikes around there, but in that case, it delivers scenery that rivals pretty much anything you could find. From super high-altitude lakes, and vistas, too it’s got it all. If you are even kind of thinking about giving this a shot, then keep on going to read more. Let’s walk through what makes this experience pretty unforgettable.

What’s the Deal With the Ausangate Region Anyway?

Okay, so the Ausangate area, see, it’s dominated by Ausangate Mountain, right? This massive peak, like your average South American peak, touches the sky and looms large. This particular area is seen by many of the indigenous people as pretty important; it’s kind of wrapped up in local legends and traditions. Really, to get a feel for it is pretty impressive, as you have a bit of a taste of the Andean culture just out in the wild, kind of a neat thing.

What really makes this region a sight, really, would be the landscapes. Just envision massive glaciers slowly moving on down slopes, colorful mountain peaks looking pretty majestic in the sun, and, of course, the bright, alpine lakes. It’s this particular kind of scenery that will grab the average hiker pretty much all the way. You might even want to leave your cell phone at home just to let the images burn in.

Doing the 7 Lakes trek gives you a glimpse of what’s just amazing about the Ausangate Region. Too, it lets you see a good bit of the terrain and allows you to appreciate the remoteness without having to fully commit to, say, the longer Ausangate Circuit trek.

Why Should I Bother With This Specific Hike?

I mean, Cusco has Machu Picchu close. It’s super popular. And yeah, for real, the 7 Lakes Hike brings something more subdued. As a matter of fact, a more rugged sort of experience that may appeal just to someone kind of tired of the throngs of tourists.

Less Crowded Trails: Think about hiking in relative peace and quiet. That, there, is the 7 Lakes trek. Compared to some of the other famous routes, like, your Inka Trail type ones, you’ll meet more llamas here, basically.

Stunning Landscapes: And hey, I mentioned it before, and yet worth just restating. Those alpine lakes, so bright blue. The jagged peaks kind of tower all over you. These images and backdrops, that being the truth, create those moments that you would probably like to write home about (if people still wrote letters). Those scenes there will, that said, blow your mind. It can make you sound kind of poetic if you describe them in just the correct way.

Good for a Day Trip: If, in some respects, you want to hike some in that Cusco area without having to, maybe, pack a tent. A bit over only one day makes it so nice as the day’s physical activity. To get into some pretty outstanding nature, that is kind of nice when the clock’s always a ticking. Like clockwork, some of these tours from Cusco have this down.

Getting Yourself Ready to Rumble

Hey, if you ever hiked high up, and not done a little bit of, perhaps, due diligence, that trek won’t go that well for you. Too it is more of a test. You probably would rather show yourself the top-of-your-hiking game rather than, by the way, some huffing mess on some mountainside.

Acclimatize, Acclimatize, Acclimatize: Cusco will put you kind of high up there, at about 11,000 feet, almost. So, to go higher you have to do so slowly. A few days in Cusco prior, and maybe doing smaller hikes around. It’s better for your body to do this, believe me, than trying some all-day slog before, in other words, getting used to just walking uphill.

Get Some Gear: Check that, if anything, your footwear will go a bit rugged. The trail can get kind of uneven and steep in some parts. Solid ankle support just could save your day, by the way, for real. Pack layers too. Mountain climate will go real fast. Like almost zero to 60 in minutes. Sunglasses, sunscreen and, really, like the hat should be essentials too, to say nothing of a CamelBak or a refillable bottle. Think you would be fine without those?

Bring Some Snacks: Okay, yes, the tour often supplies lunch; that might be just enough. If that should happen, grab more snacks that are energizing. Trail mix. Power bars, something similar to that. You are going to burn calories, there, that’s a fact.

Alright, Break Down This Route Already

Just consider the 7 Lakes hike as part of the general Ausangate scenery and as your primer on hiking the terrain. That, of course, has the lakes which is kind of cool, if only because many hikes tend not to.

Up and at it from Cusco: Typically, and in short, the hike takes off somewhere right out of Cusco in one of the tour vans. Get settled into something long because it’s an awesome three-hour kind of drive. It goes on the up into the Andes, of course. In general, many groups start by the little town known as Pacchanta, by and large.

Pacchanta and into Those Views: Okay, that area sits pretty much 14,000-feet. From this spot you get it on some of the initial sights. The average mountain and that average sky over Peru. Get ready as you take, that said, the high road here.

Around Those Lakes: Next comes hiking near lakes, each one there having some special color, some different tint to that water. Some can be a turquoise blue, just gorgeous. Others show that mineral color. Keep taking images. Make videos even if your data is up to it.

Up to the Pass: One of that trek takes most on up to the pretty standard pass which hovers maybe just a little under 17,000 feet in the air. Just get your wind going, because some of those climbs kind of feel the distance and might cause one there to huff, you know?

Descent and Get Down to Pacchanta: Finally, start there down to Pacchanta from one pass, with a kind of easing of those legs a little and seeing maybe stuff that wasn’t easy from that elevation prior. And after arriving, and basically a good long day, the tours generally offer lunch, for real.

Tour Companies Or Should I Go It Alone?

For the 7 Lakes you could probably do this on your own; as it should be said, it may be easier to enjoy with tour support. Too it just takes many of that hassle away in these parts.

Guided Experience: Many of those tours give that additional context. People can provide an amount of info regarding local cultures, about that area in general and they tend there to carry safety equipment. That is always good to remember up in that spot. You have, actually, somebody around who knows something if anything occurs, really.

Logistics Support: If, in light of this information, there may not be any regular public transport to the start here. A tour then gets you sorted. This then kind of organizes your lunch, really your trek support as well, allowing one there to zero in the view.

Safety Considerations: Given the point that this trek runs high, high, too is kind of good knowing some folks there have radios, too satellite comms and know protocol must anything go that way wrong in a moment there on the mountain, right?

Tips and Points to Remember Before Trekking

So, this section has only pointers. Take just note to get an understanding before you just strap on and hit ground running.

Weather Can Change: Hey it always does. Plan maybe on all different scenarios, and keep checking any weather service before you leave to go. Just imagine one has a sun shining and the other has just pelting rain. Be armed for both scenarios there.

Elevation Illness Risks: Alright I made just that very point above, that said maybe to do remember you could feel altitude, regardless maybe the acclimatization. Take rests. Slow, constant movement only. Inform the guide here if something just begins wrong, just immediately.

Respect Locals: Those remote regions often still have, as it should be said, that Andean lifestyle for reals. So, respect all of that people, request permission on any photo requests. Buy some products coming that area as well if inclined, or give them something small in the kindest way.

And hey, after you are done hiking you still got the Cusco City tour?

Think the mountain here is good, just think too how well you might fill the remainder just after, basically being down the mountain.

See the city area, okay?: Check, the heart only. It’s just really that place only those days following if wishing for all to kick and feel like they are alive at that stage for people there at present?

Visit all that place that they might visit generally too for that region in some capacity now: Really you want a bit more than you could visit the churches and a place maybe for sun time also maybe some ruins of prior years which still hold. Now these for sure come for you so it should be.