The Mirador Natural de Ocongate on Cerro San Francisco offers views of Ocongate’s main square and temple, its predominantly two-story adobe houses, and the Río Mapacho to the left of the town. At the viewpoint, there are wooden benches and a covered structure where visitors can sit and take in the district’s landscape. The path there also offers opportunities to observe nature: you can see a variety of plants, including medicinal plants, as well as Andean sparrows.

Townscape and Cultural Heritage

The Church of San Pablo Apostol de Ocongate was declared a Monument of Peru’s national cultural heritage on November 4, 2005, by National Director’s Resolution No. 1492/INC. The view from the Mirador brings together the main square and temple, the residential buildings, and the river; the church is also a distinct historical landmark in the town.

In the district of Ocongate, techniques for making traditional clothing from natural fibers such as alpaca and sheep’s wool are passed down through generations. This craft tradition is part of the region’s cultural identity. It is distinct from the individual natural attractions in the district: the trails, mountains, and lagoons each offer their own themes to explore and starting points.

Ausangate and Attractions in the District

The Santuario del Señor de Qoyllurit’i is located in the Sinak’ara gorge, in the communities of Mahuayani and Tayancani in the district of Ocongate, at an altitude of 4,900 meters. The image of the Lord of Qoyllurit’i is depicted on a dark gray basalt boulder weighing about ten tons. It wears a silver crown and a cloth made of alpaca fiber, decorated with motifs of llamas, alpacas, and Andean deities.

Nevado Ausangate is located in Anexo Pacchanta in the district of Ocongate, in the heart of the Cordillera Vilcanota, and reaches an altitude of 6,385 meters. In the Cusco region, it is regarded as a protector of people and a deity that provides water and life; it is also associated with the ancestral cultures of the communities living there. The trekking route around Nevado Ausangate is approximately 70 kilometers long.

Walking Routes of Different Durations

From Ocongate’s main square, a 600-meter walking route leads to the Mirador Natural de Ocongate in about ten minutes. Another route starts at the Comunidad Campesina de Mahuayani and leads to the Santuario del Señor de Qoyllurit’i: the walking distance is approximately seven kilometers, and the journey takes about three hours and 30 minutes. The two routes have different starting points and destinations—a useful distinction when planning your time around the town or other attractions in the district.

Lagoons and Seasonal Colors

Laguna Oqe Qocha is about ten kilometers from Anexo Pacchanta, at an altitude of 4,620 meters. It is the third lagoon visited on the Seven Lagoons circuit and has characteristically blue-gray water. Laguna Q’omer Q’ocha is part of the Ausangate Twelve Lagoons circuit; its water is an intense emerald green or turquoise. These two lagoons are part of different circuits.

The water colors of Laguna Sigrenacocha also change over the course of the year: from June to November the water is turquoise, and from December to May it is green. These time frames provide seasonal guidance, while Oqe Q’ocha and Q’omer Q’ocha are described by their respective locations on lagoon circuits. Thus, the lakes are distinguished both by seasonal color changes and by their inclusion on different routes.

Thermal Pools and Another Viewpoint

The Aguas Termales de Pacchanta consist of seven pools of varying sizes and depths, with water temperatures of 38 to 44 °C. One large pool, covering 60 m² and 1.60 meters deep, was described as being under maintenance. Before traveling, ask about the current pool configuration if this area is important to your plans.

The Mirador Natural de Tinke in the district is a place for observing the landscape, taking photographs, and walking in a natural setting. Together with the Mirador Natural de Ocongate, it adds another vantage point to the lakes and mountain scenery. The two viewpoints have different names and refer to separate locations.

Discover more destinations: Chillca, Quillabamba, Las Cruces, Cusco, Andahuaylillas, Urubamba, Manire, Huaro.

For the regional travel overview: Cuzco.