A mountain day with a horse changes everything. This private, full-day horseback experience in the Ausangate area is built around getting you to the seven lagoons with dramatic views—glaciers overhead, big Andean sky, and those color-changers lakes—and doing it in a way that doesn’t beat you up before the fun starts.

I especially like how the day is structured for comfort: breakfast and lunch are included, and you’re not just dropped off and left to figure it out. I also like the confidence factor from the people behind it—bilingual guides and horses trained for the full circuit means less stress and more time looking at the scenery and the animals.

One thing to consider: this is still a long day (about 12 hours). Even with horses helping, you’ll be outdoors for a lot of the time, so plan for cold, wind, and basic “mountain day” fatigue.

Quick Highlights You’ll Feel Right Away

• Trained horses for the full circuit so you can focus on the trail and not on logistics
• Hotel pickup coordinated by the guide at your reception
• Breakfast + lunch included, which matters when you’re moving all day in the Andes
• Colorful Ausangate lagoons + glacier views as the main payoff
• A real culture touch, including Quechua ceremony time when your guide shares it
• Safety extras: a medical kit plus oxygen travel-ready setup

A Full-Day Ride to Ausangate’s Seven Lagoons

This isn’t a short “see a viewpoint and go” outing. It’s a private, all-day format designed to take you deep into the Ausangate scenery, then keep you on track from start to finish.

The heart of the experience is the horseback ride through the Ausangate seven lagunas area. You’re there for more than one pretty lake. Think of it as a circuit that lets you compare colors and lighting as you move—plus the backdrop of glaciers and rugged peaks that make the whole place feel bigger than a photo can show.

What I like about this kind of outing is the balance. If you’ve done hikes that felt exhausting before the best views showed up, the horse makes the “good part” last longer. You still get the mountain feel, but with less physical payback.

Hotel Pickup and a Smooth 12-Hour Rhythm

Expect the day to start with pickup arranged through your hotel reception. The guide will ask for you by name at the front desk, which is simple and easy when you don’t want to hunt for a meeting point.

From there, the timing is built around a full day of travel plus time on the circuit. The ride section tied to the seven lagoons is listed at about 4 hours, which is a useful anchor: you’re not doing a token ride, and you’re also not stuck sitting on a horse for the entire time.

Because this is private, only your group rides with the guide and driver. That matters more than you might think. On busy group tours, you can spend half your energy waiting, rushing, or repeating yourself. Here, the pace can match your group.

Food Included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Staying Comfortable

The biggest “value” detail is that breakfast and lunch are included. In the high-Andes context, food isn’t a perk—it’s what keeps you steady. A full-day outing can turn into a grumpy day if you start hungry or run out of snacks.

Breakfast sets you up before the morning movement. Lunch helps after your time on horseback and during the return flow. If you’re thinking about what to pack, this also reduces the pressure to bring a full picnic plan.

Also, the tour is set up for real people, not just athletic daydreamers. In past experiences with this company style, riders specifically called out the tasty breakfast and lunch as part of what made the day feel easy and well-run.

The Horseback Circuit: Why This Changes the 7-Lakes Day

You’re going to ride horses that are trained to ride for the entire circuit, not just for a short lead-in. That’s a key difference. It reduces the common problems that come with “new to horses” days—unpredictable behavior, stopping because the horse needs a handler, or the ride turning into a lesson instead of a journey.

This matters even more because the Ausangate seven lakes day is known for requiring physical effort on foot. The practical takeaway from guide-and-ride experiences shared with this company is simple: adding horses helps you handle the height and effort better, so you’re not arriving exhausted and missing the views.

On the trail, you’ll get close to:

• glacier-backed mountain views
• the colorful lagoons in the area
• alpacas and other local fauna
• a stronger sense of living landscape than you’d get from a bus stop

And because horses move steadily, you can actually look around. You’re not constantly stopping to catch your breath. You get time for the scenery, not just survival.

Glacier Views and Color-Changing Lagoons

The headline is Ausangate’s seven lagoons, but the real magic is how the scenery shifts as the day moves on. The lakes are described as colorful, and that usually means you’ll see different tones that react to light and cloud cover.

Then you get the glacier factor. Glaciers in this region don’t feel like background decorations—they read as real scale behind everything you’re riding through. The effect is dramatic in person and hard to reproduce in a simple “postcard” way.

One of the smartest reasons to do this as a guided tour is that you’re not just walking to lakes for a checklist. You’re experiencing how the route connects everything—so the lagoons feel like a story, not separate dots.

Alpacas, Fauna, and Meeting Local Life Along the Route

This outing isn’t only about photos. The tour format also aims to connect you to the living side of the area—alpacas and fauna you might spot while moving through the circuit.

Even better, the day is set up so you can interact with locals and learn about their culture. That can mean small moments: how people speak about the land, what they treat as meaningful, and how daily life fits into the mountain environment.

If your guide shares it, you may also get a cultural stop tied to Quechua tradition. Guides linked with this company—like Felipe in one shared experience—have made time to show a ceremony in Quechua. Whether you understand every word or just catch the spirit, it’s usually the kind of moment that makes the day feel human, not just scenic.

Guides That Actually Move the Day Forward

This private tour lives or dies on the guide. Here, you’ll get a professional bilingual tour guide, and the guide names you’ll hear associated with this operator include Ricardo, Julio, Felipe, and Juan.

What stands out across those experiences is a common theme: smooth timing and solid competence. People specifically praised guides for being expert and professional, with one note that everything ran on time and felt organized from start to finish.

You’ll want that kind of leadership in a remote mountain area. It’s not just about knowing where to go. It’s about making sure your group is cared for when conditions shift—light changes, wind picks up, or the day’s pace needs adjusting.

Safety and Peace of Mind: Medical Kit and Oxygen

In the Andes, “peace of mind” isn’t fluff. This experience includes a medical kit plus oxygen, which is a practical safety detail that can matter if someone in your group isn’t feeling great.

It’s also part of why this feels like a real tour and not an informal ride. When you see medical and oxygen included, you know they’ve planned for the kind of situations that can pop up outdoors.

You’re also told that most travelers can participate. That doesn’t mean it’s for everyone, but it does suggest the operator expects a range of visitor fitness levels and plans the day accordingly.

Price and Value: What $185 Really Buys

At $185 per person, you’re paying for a package that combines transportation, guide support, food, ticketed access, and horses trained for the full circuit.

Here’s the value logic I’d use if I were deciding:

• If you tried to DIY it, you’d likely spend real money on transport, a guide, and horse logistics anyway—without the “everything handled” feeling.
• With private transportation and entrances included, you remove the common friction that turns a scenic day into an administrative mess.
• The inclusion of breakfast and lunch reduces the chance you’ll need to scramble for food mid-day.
• Trained horses for the circuit is a big piece of the cost. It’s also the piece that most directly helps you enjoy the views instead of just getting through effort.

So yes, it’s not a cheap half-day. But for a full-day private horseback outing with trained horses and a bilingual guide, the price feels like it matches what you’re actually buying: time, care, and access.

Who This Private Horse Ride Is Best For

This tour fits best if you want the Ausangate seven lagoons experience without turning it into a suffer-fest.

You’ll like it if:

• you want private pacing and less waiting
• you’re excited by horses and want a less taxing route than hiking
• you care about guide-led culture moments (not just scenery)
• you want a day that includes food and safety basics

You might reconsider if:

• you dislike long outdoor days (it’s about 12 hours)
• you want an ultra-flexible itinerary with lots of unscheduled stops (this is organized and structured)

Also, it’s described as a tour that most travelers can participate in, which suggests they plan for a broad audience—but it’s still a mountain day, so bring common sense and dress for conditions.

Practical Tips Before You Go

A few practical things make a big difference on a long, windy, high-sun day in the Andes (especially when you’re outdoors for hours):

• Bring layers. The mountain can feel calm one hour and sharp the next.
• Wear footwear that’s comfortable for time outdoors; you’ll be on uneven terrain even if you’re riding.
• Expect cold at times and plan accordingly.
• Have a basic plan for motion comfort and staying warm during the rides between points.

And when it comes to your guide: take advantage of their knowledge. One of the most memorable elements in experiences with this operator is that guides don’t treat culture as a checkbox—they actually share it.

Should You Book This Private Ausangate Horse Ride?

If you’re choosing between a hiking-only approach and a horse-assisted day, I think this private horseback option is the smarter move for most people who want the seven lakes but don’t want the day to beat them first.

Book it if you want:

• the seven lagoons experience with real scenery time
• a well-run day with breakfast, lunch, and safety basics
• guides who can share culture moments in a bilingual way

Skip it only if you know long outdoor days and remote travel aren’t your thing. Otherwise, this is a strong pick for a first-rate Ausangate day: horses do their job, the route focuses on the lagoons, and the people guiding you seem to care about getting it right.

FAQ

How long is the horseback riding tour to Ausangate’s seven lagoons?

It’s listed as about 12 hours total.

How much does the private tour cost?

The price is $185 per person.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. The guide will ask for you by name at your hotel reception.

What’s included in the price?

Included are breakfast, lunch, private transportation, entrances, a medical kit plus oxygen, a professional bilingual tour guide, and horses trained to ride for the entire circuit.

What language is the tour guide?

The tour guide is bilingual and the tour is offered in English.

Is this a private tour?

Yes. It’s private, and only your group participates.

What about tickets or admissions for the lakes area?

Admission tickets are included as part of the experience.

Can I cancel for free?

Yes. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.

How many hours do you spend around the seven lagoons area?

The horseback riding experience tied to the seven lagoons is listed at about 4 hours.