Start before dawn, then chase turquoise lagoons. This private Ausangate day pairs 12 high-Andes lakes with a wind-down in Pacchanta hot springs, guided in English from Cusco.

I especially like the early start plus planning that keeps the route feeling organized, not chaotic. You also get a private setup, so you can move at the pace your body allows.

I love the way the included lunch is built into the day. The picnic-style meal is timed so you eat with lagoon views, not in a random stop with bland food.

The main consideration is the altitude reality and the clock: you start around 3:00 am, and you’ll pay extra for admission in cash at the thermal portion. If you’re not used to high elevation, you need to take it seriously and be fit enough for a long hike.

Key highlights you’ll feel on day one

• Private guide and driver so you’re not stuck with a slow or fast group
• English-speaking mountain guide trained for high-altitude safety
• Emergency oxygen included, plus snacks to keep energy steady
• A full 12-lagoon route with remote passes, alpaca areas, and standout colors
• Picnic-style lunch at a beautiful spot during the trekking portion
• Extra admission in cash (20 soles) and optional horse riding uphill

3:00 am pickup and the long, high-altitude start in Cusco

This trek is built on timing. Your day kicks off at 3:00 am, which sounds brutal until you realize why it matters. In the Andes, early starts help you get moving before conditions shift, and you spend less of the day trying to catch up.

What makes this feel easier is that you’re not guessing the plan. The day before, the team contacts you to coordinate the exact pick-up time, and once you book you receive confirmation at the time of booking. You’ll also get a mobile ticket, which helps reduce paperwork friction.

If you like clarity, this one delivers. You know when the day begins, and you know where the day ends—back in Cusco after the thermal stop. The 15-hour total isn’t small, but the structure keeps it from feeling like a scramble.

Private transportation, guide care, and oxygen for real altitude concerns

The value of a private tour shows up fast on a high-altitude route like this. Instead of waiting around, you’re moving as one group—your group. That matters when you’re trying to manage effort on steep, thin-air terrain.

You get private comfortable transportation from your Cusco hotel. That sounds simple, but it’s a big deal when you’re leaving so early and you want your body to start the day working, not recovering from travel stress.

Then there’s the guide. The route is led by a professional mountain guide who speaks English and is trained in high-altitude safety. In one account, the guide and driver team handled an altitude issue for adults and even kids, and the group only ran a few minutes behind schedule. That’s the difference between a route that’s just scenic and one that’s actually run with skill.

One more thing that makes you feel calmer: emergency oxygen is included and provided for your disposal if needed. You hope you never touch it, but having it changes the tone of the day—less worry, more focus on enjoying the scenery and pacing yourself.

Stop 1 at Nevado Ausangate: the 12-lagoon hike through passes and herding country

The heart of the day is the Nevado Ausangate portion, roughly 8 hours. This is where the route earns its name. You’ll move through high Andean terrain toward twelve glacial lakes, each one showing different shades of turquoise and emerald against snowy peaks.

Expect a lot of variety in a single hike. The area includes alpaca-populated grasslands, and you may follow or cross older Inca herding trails. That’s not just a sightseeing detail. It helps you understand why this region looks the way it does: people have been moving animals through these heights for a very long time, and the trail logic still makes sense if you pay attention.

The guide also connects the walk to Quechua culture, which helps you see the place as living and working, not just dramatic scenery on a postcard. On routes like this, the story matters because it changes how you watch: you’re not only chasing the best angle for photos, you’re also noticing how the terrain supports local life.

What the lunch feels like on the Ausangate trek

Lunch is included, and it’s delivered as a lunch box picnic in a beautiful spot. A picnic style meal works well here because you’re already in motion and you don’t want a long sit-down restaurant break. In another account, the lunch was tasty, and the group ate with a great view of the lagoons—exactly what you want after hours at altitude.

Still, be realistic. You’ll be hungry, and you’ll be cold or cool at times. Eating something warm and salty helps, and the included snacks for the hike help you avoid the trap of saving energy for later.

A note on tickets for Stop 1

Stop 1 is marked as admission ticket free. That means the extra 20 soles you pay is tied to the rest of the day—most likely the thermal admission portion. More on that below.

Aguas Termales Pacchanta: 45 minutes in warm pools to reset your legs

After the hike, you get your recovery break at Aguas Termales Pacchanta, about 45 minutes. The pools are described as natural, mineral-rich waters carved into the mountainside. The practical payoff is simple: warm water helps loosen tight muscles after hours at altitude.

This is also where the timing of the day becomes a trade-off. Forty-five minutes is enough to feel human again, but it’s not a long spa session. If you’re the type who wants to linger, you’ll need to accept that this tour is a full-day trek with a packed schedule.

Also plan for the extra cost here. The thermal stop lists admission ticket not included, and the overall non-included fee is 20 soles per person paid directly in soles and cash. If you forget and only have cards, you’ll lose time. Keep a small amount of cash set aside just for this.

Price and value: what you’re paying for at $198 per person

At $198 per person, this isn’t a budget hike—and it doesn’t try to be. It’s priced for the things that matter most on a difficult route: private transport, a guiding team, and safety tools.

Here’s what’s included:

• Lunch box lunch at a scenic picnic spot
• Private comfortable transportation
• Professional mountain guide
• Oxygen in case it’s needed
• Snacks for the hike

What’s not included:

• Admission fee: 20 soles per person, paid in soles and cash
• Horse riding (optional) for the uphill ride, paid in soles and cash

So is it worth it? For me, it comes down to risk and effort. On a high-altitude trek, your biggest costs are physical and mental. A private setup helps reduce stress: you’re not waiting for others, your guide can adjust pacing, and oxygen availability is a real safety factor.

You also see the care factor in how people describe the day. One group highlighted punctuality, explanations, and attentive handling even with altitude problems. That’s not just nice service—it’s what prevents a “good hike” from turning into a painful slog.

Also, the optional horse ride can matter. If uphill time is your main limiter, you can choose support without turning the entire day into a mule-and-chair experience. The horse riding is optional and costs extra in cash, but the choice is yours.

Why the private format helps you actually enjoy the 12 lagoons

A lot of tours advertise scenic routes. Fewer are run with the reality of high elevation in mind.

In this setup, you only share the day with your group. That makes a difference in timing, too. When altitude hits—headache, nausea, fatigue—the fix isn’t just “push harder.” It’s pace, breaks, and good decision-making. The guide and driver team in one account kept things close to schedule even when altitude affected multiple people, including kids.

That kind of control usually comes from experience and good communication. It also shows up in the small details: punctual pick-up, clear explanations, and a driver who gets you to the trailhead without drama. When people mention attention to detail, on a day like this they usually mean the logistics don’t steal energy from the hike.

Fitness check: what “strong physical fitness” really means here

The tour is listed as requiring strong physical fitness. That’s not marketing language. This day is long, starts extremely early, and takes place at high elevation while you hike to a sequence of lagoons.

Even with oxygen available and a guide trained for altitude safety, you’re still responsible for your body. If you’re prone to altitude sickness, recently had a respiratory illness, or you haven’t done hikes with steady elevation gain, treat this as a serious challenge—not a casual walk.

Here’s a good way to think about it: this is not a “see the view from one viewpoint” day. It’s an 8-hour trekking chunk plus recovery time, and your breathing and legs will be working the whole way.

If you’re traveling with kids, it’s even more important to be honest about fitness. One account included three adults and two children, and altitude affected everyone, but they still stayed close to schedule. That suggests kids can do it if they pace well and the family is prepared—but it’s not a guarantee.

Practical tips that make the day smoother

You can’t control the altitude, but you can control your readiness.

• Go in with layers. Early morning in the Andes can be cold even if the sun later warms things up.
• Bring your own pacing mindset. A private guide can slow the route, but you still need to commit to steady effort over fast strides.
• Carry cash for the admission fee. The 20 soles is specifically noted as paid directly in soles and cash.
• Decide about horse riding before you’re exhausted. If uphill work is your main limiter, optional horse riding could make the difference between a stressful day and a manageable one.

If you’re concerned about altitude, this is also a good day to take the provided oxygen seriously. Having it doesn’t mean you’ll need it, but you’ll feel better knowing it’s there.

The team behind the scenes: Edwin, Marco, Christian, and Lucio

One of the strongest signals that this tour is run with care is how people describe the team by name.

Edwin Pimentel is listed in one group’s exchange as the point of contact, and that kind of communication matters when you’re dealing with a 3:00 am start. People also mentioned the driver Marco and guide Christian as being punctual, explanatory, and attentive. Those traits matter because early departures can feel disorienting—good communication keeps you calm and ready.

There’s also a note about Lucio, connected to the mule and the horse. That points to a real-world fact of high Andean trekking: logistics on the trail are handled by working animals and staff. Even if you’re mostly focused on the lakes, it helps to know the day depends on a functioning support system.

When all of that works together—planning, driving, guiding, and trail support—you get what the best treks have: you spend your energy on the hike, not on fixing problems.

Should you book this Ausangate 12 Lagoons private trek from Cusco?

Book it if you want a private, English-guided day on a serious high-altitude route where safety support is part of the plan. The combination of oxygen, a careful guiding team, a picnic lunch with lagoon views, and a thermal soak at Pacchanta makes sense for travelers who care about comfort and execution, not just checking boxes.

Skip or reconsider if:

• You’re not confident in your fitness for a long day with elevation
• You’re uncomfortable with a 3:00 am start
• You don’t want to handle extra on-the-spot costs in cash (20 soles for admission, plus optional horse riding)

If you do book, go in with realistic energy, keep cash handy, and trust the pacing. This is the kind of day where the right setup lets you enjoy the real payoff: the 12 lagoons, the high passes, and the warm water waiting for you afterward.

FAQ

What time does the Ausangate 12 Lagoons tour start?

The start time is 3:00 am. The exact pick-up time is coordinated by message one day before the tour.

How long is the private tour?

It runs for about 15 hours. The Nevado Ausangate trekking portion is listed at about 8 hours, and the Pacchanta hot springs stop is about 45 minutes.

Is this a private tour or shared group?

This is a private tour. Only your group participates.

What’s included in the price?

Included items are lunch box lunch, private comfortable transportation, a professional mountain guide, oxygen available in case it’s needed, and snacks for the hike.

What costs extra that I should budget for?

The admission fee is 20 soles per person, paid directly in soles and cash. Horse riding is optional and also paid directly in soles and cash.

Is there an oxygen kit provided?

Yes. Oxygen is included and is provided for your use if needed.

Do I get a ticket and confirmation after booking?

You should receive confirmation at the time of booking, and the tour offers a mobile ticket.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel for a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. If you cancel less than 24 hours before, the amount paid won’t be refunded.