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Ride above the tree line across glacial meadows to seven vividly colored highland lakes beneath Ausangate. This full-day private tour from Cusco pairs steady horses with bilingual guides, alpine scenery, and a post-ride hot spring soak.
Ride above the tree line across glacial meadows to seven vividly colored highland lakes beneath Ausangate. This full-day private tour from Cusco pairs steady horses with bilingual guides, alpine scenery, and a post-ride hot spring soak.
A high plain wind lifts dust from the trail as riders pick their way between low tussock and glacial runoff. On this full-day horseback circuit, the saddle becomes a slow-moving vantage point: one moment you’re skirting a cobalt lake, the next you’re watching a glacier-fed stream muscle its way over stone. The air is thin and crystalline; the horses are sure-footed and used to the route.
Verified experiences and guided adventures in the surrounding area.
Operated by Apu Ausangate Trek · Cusco, Cusco Region
A high plain wind lifts dust from the trail as riders pick their way between low tussock and glacial runoff. On this full-day horseback circuit, the saddle becomes a slow-moving vantage point: one moment you’re skirting a cobalt lake, the next you’re watching a glacier-fed stream muscle its way over stone. The air is thin and crystalline; the horses are sure-footed and used to the route.
Ausangate is an Andean giant whose ridgelines record millennia of glacial sculpting. The seven lakes that punctuate its slopes reflect mineral-rich waters—turquoises, greens, and deep blues—formed where moraines trap melt. The region is home to Quechua-speaking communities whose seasonal herding and alpaca pastures shape both landscape and culture; riders often pass small stone shelters and corrals. Local guides will explain Apu Ausangate’s role as a sacred mountain in Andean cosmology.
Expect mixed terrain: grassy highland trails, rocky steps next to lakes, and occasional muddy approaches after snowmelt. The outing typically includes breakfast, lunch, entrance fees, and pickup from Cusco with a bilingual guide and medical kit with oxygen on hand. Plan for strong sun, sudden wind, and altitude-related fatigue—take it steady in the saddle, sip water frequently, and use layers.
Practical tips: acclimatize in Cusco for 1–2 days before the ride, choose closed-toe boots, and bring a small daypack for camera, water, and windwear. A soak in the Pacchanta hot springs afterward rewards tired legs and rounds out a day that blends geology, livestock culture, and high Andean scenery.
The horses are trained for the circuit and guides match pace to riders; basic comfort in the saddle is needed, but no advanced riding skills are required.
Possibly—Ausangate is high elevation, so acclimatizing in Cusco for 1–2 days and hydrating helps; guides carry oxygen and a medical kit.
Typical inclusions are private transportation from Cusco, breakfast and lunch, entrance fees, trained horses, bilingual guide, and basic medical kit; confirm specifics with the operator.
Yes—most itineraries include a visit to nearby hot springs (Pacchanta) after the ride to relax sore muscles.
Apu Ausangate Trek operates guided outdoor trips and adventures with an emphasis on safety, stewardship, and memorable experiences.
A high plain wind lifts dust from the trail as riders pick their way between low tussock and glacial runoff. On this full-day horseback circuit, the saddle becomes a slow-moving vantage point: one moment you’re skirting a cobalt lake, the next you’re watching a glacier-fed stream muscle its way over stone. The air is thin and crystalline; the horses are sure-footed and used to the route.
A high plain wind lifts dust from the trail as riders pick their way between low tussock and glacial runoff. On this full-day horseback circuit, the saddle becomes a slow-moving vantage point: one moment you’re skirting a cobalt lake, the next you’re watching a glacier-fed stream muscle its way over stone. The air is thin and crystalline; the horses are sure-footed and used to the route.
Ausangate is an Andean giant whose ridgelines record millennia of glacial sculpting. The seven lakes that punctuate its slopes reflect mineral-rich waters—turquoises, greens, and deep blues—formed where moraines trap melt. The region is home to Quechua-speaking communities whose seasonal herding and alpaca pastures shape both landscape and culture; riders often pass small stone shelters and corrals. Local guides will explain Apu Ausangate’s role as a sacred mountain in Andean cosmology.
Expect mixed terrain: grassy highland trails, rocky steps next to lakes, and occasional muddy approaches after snowmelt. The outing typically includes breakfast, lunch, entrance fees, and pickup from Cusco with a bilingual guide and medical kit with oxygen on hand. Plan for strong sun, sudden wind, and altitude-related fatigue—take it steady in the saddle, sip water frequently, and use layers.
Practical tips: acclimatize in Cusco for 1–2 days before the ride, choose closed-toe boots, and bring a small daypack for camera, water, and windwear. A soak in the Pacchanta hot springs afterward rewards tired legs and rounds out a day that blends geology, livestock culture, and high Andean scenery.