Humantay Lake Full-day Tour– Enjoy the spectacular Humantay Lagoon Tour on an unforgettable hike to one of Peru’s imposing and beautiful turquoise lake on a full-day tour from Cusco and witness dramatic Andean mountains and glaciers in just one day. This Lake Humantay Day Hike, is perfect activity for all mountain and nature lovers, as well as for those interested in one day trek in Peru, without camping! If you are planning a trip to the imperial city of Cusco, don’t miss to see one of the nicest lakes located on the way of the famous Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu in the Andes Mountains.
In this Humantay Lake day trip, you’ll travel through the local indigenous villages of Iscuchaca, Limatambo, Mollepata, enjoying amazing views of the mountains and valleys en route to Soraypampa. You’ll then enjoy the presence of the two sacred peaks covered in white, The Salkantay and Humantay and then, hike through an incredible scenic trail to the famous Laguna Humantay to visit the breathtaking turquoise water and glacial peaks on this stunning guided day hike tour!
Trip Details For Lake Humantay 1 Day Hike
Tour Style: Hiking, adventure, and nature where you visit the beautiful turquoise lake at the base of the glacial mountain of Humantay, located in the Vilcabamba mountain range.
Adventure Rating: ★★☆☆☆ Moderate to Easy hike, high altitude trek designed for travelers who have some experience in hiking – Hikers should be reasonably fit and healthy.
Group Sizes: Our Humantay lake day trip is organized in group travel service and custom private trips, minimum 02 and a maximum of 08 persons, to enhance the experience giving you the full attention of our guides and staff.
Total Hiking Distance: The one day hike to Humantay is approximately 10km/6.2miles round trip and goes from 3900m/12,795 ft to 4230m/13,878ft. And it can take between 1 and a half to 2 hours-walk up to the lake with a low to moderate difficulty, depending on the physical condition of the hiker, and about 1.5 hours downhill to the place where we started the hike.
Reservations: We recommend booking 2-3 months prior to ensure availability. If your dates are flexible, we can take reservations on short notice, however our treks tend to book out as we keep our group sizes very small.
Guided Lake Humantay Day Hike Tour in Peru
Embark on an exciting day trip from Cusco to Humantay Lake in a private service or group travel service any day of the week and experience the hidden gem of Peru’s highlight region. It doesn’t matter if you’re traveling alone, with a partner, or as part of a bigger group; we can accommodate you. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to see this glorious natural wonder when in Cusco
Join the Lake Humantay day hike and expereince this high altitude ecotourism in the mountains, in complicity with nature, and witness this new experience in the Andes with the best local experts, and get adventure of a lifetime!
Itinerary at a Glance
DAY 1: Cusco – Mollepata – Soraypampa – Laguna Humantay – Cusco
To start the 1 Day Humantay Lake Tour, we’ll pick you up from your hotel at 4 am before dawn and drive for 2.5hrs to Mollepata to enjoy breakfast. After breakfast, we keep driving for 1hr through dusty path to the trail head in Soraypampa and hike up to the Lagoon Humantay for about an hour and a half to two and take a break there to enjoy the scenery. Afterward, we will return to the start point to enjoy lunch and drive back to Cusco, arriving at your hotel before dinner time.
Highlights of the Humantay Lake Full Day Tour
- Visit one of Peru’s most magical lakes called “Humantay Lagoon” and be surrounded by the impressive Salkantay and Humantay Peaks while gazing at unbelievable turquoise water.
- Get back to nature and marvel at beautiful lakes, valleys and mountains sacred to the Incas, and get stunning views of the glacier on a full-day trek to Humantay Lake
- Spend the prefect day away from the city in peace and quiet of the Andes on a fully supported tour with Peru Spirit Adventure private crew.
Private guided tour to Humantay Lake from Cusco, let you avoid the crowds and enjoy a personalized experience while hiking through the valleys of Salkantay Mountain toward the turquoise waters of Humantay, one of the most important lakes in Incan mythology.
Get insight into Incan history and culture from your guide while hiking to the Humantay Lake Full Day Tour and Ensures a personalized experience
The Humantay Laggon is located along the popular Salkantay trekking route and Humantay Lake ranks among Peru’s top natural attractions — but its remote location makes access a challenge. On our private tour, hike to the lake with entry fees and meals included — with your Peru Spirit Adventure’s private guide to lead the way. Delve into Peru’s wilderness landscapes and admire panoramic views over the beautiful lake and mountain scenery
Private Full Day Trip to Humantay Lake — Highlights
- Amazing view of Salkantay and Humantay Peaks
- Visiting the majestic unbelievable turquoise Humantay Lake
- Hiking on the Salkantay trail
- Beautiful rock formations
- Visiting isolated villages
- Spectacular scenery with flora & wildlife
Consideration for Humantay Lake Tour – 1 Day
For the Humantay Lake day trip is essential to be properly acclimatized for this hike, spending at least two or three days in Cusco (or equivalent altitude) before starting. Minimum passengers necessary for trek departure: 2 people (small groups, 1 person or private/custom treks possible with extra fee). Maximum trekkers per group: 8 people (special, private party groups can exceed maximum).
Full Itinerary of the Humantay Lake 1 Day Tour
Pre-tour briefing: We’ll meet you at your hotel lobby in Cusco the night before the “Lake Humantay Day Trip” to go over the itinerary and you’ll able to take this opportunity to ask final questions and make any final preparations. The meeting will be at 5:00 pm the evening before the trek begins. In case you can´t at this time “please let us know” to coordinate another time.
DAY 1: Cusco – Mollepata – Soraypampa – Laguna Humantay – Cusco
To begin our exciting one-day tour, hike or adventure to Humantay Lake or Laguna Humantay from Cusco, we’ll pick you up from your hotel at 4:00 am, very early morning to avoid the crowds at the beautiful Humantay Lake.
Then, we’ll start driving in our private roomy and comfy van for about 2.5 hours by the route Cusco-Mollepata, passing through small towns and communities like Izcuchaca, Limatambo, and make our way towards Mollepata, where we’ll stop for a taste breakfast, stock up the latest provisions, and enjoy the mountains against the early morning light.
After breakfast, we’ll continue our trip for one more hour in our transport; the road we will take is dirt (path) to Soraypampa, which is located in the lush valley of the Apurimac River and at an altitude of 3900 meters above sea level (12,795 ft.), where we will begin our Humantay Lake trek.
- Soraypampa has the extra benefit of being a prime location from which we can appreciate the majestic Salkantay mountain (6270 m / 20,571 ft.), the second highest mountain in Cusco.
Once we reach to the trailhead of Humantay Lake tour; if the sky is clear enough, you’ll begin to feel the powerful presence of the impressive snow-capped Salkantay and Humantay glaciers, as well as impressed by their haunting snowy faces that defy any force or evil.
After listening to brief instructions from your guide and get ourselves ready for the short hike to Humantay Lake! We’ll begin our ascent to the gorgeous Humantay Lake and it will take us about an hour and a half to two. The first 45 minutes are fairly moderate difficulty, but then the trail get steeper during the latter half and as we approach Laguna Humantay.
While we do the walk towards the impressive turquoise Humantay Lake, we will see a panorama of snow-capped mountains, impressive natural landscapes and a great diversity of flora and fauna. After the effort of hiking uphill with adjacent verdant fields and the surrounding snow peaks and magical views
Finally, we’ll arrive at Humantay Lake in Peru (4230m / 13,878 ft), sparkles in the Andes mountain range like an emerald jewel. Here, you’ll have plenty of time to enjoy this natural marvel in all its splendour, as well as enjoy the views in quiet contemplation, or capture that perfect Insta photo.
- This beautifully still, turquoise-emerald Humantay Lake is truly a stunning lake, hidden among the rocky landscape, that offer tourists an all-encompassing, breathtaking scenery; and this day hike is an easy way to take it in.
On our Humantay lake tour, we also have the opportunity to explore the area a bit more, hiking uphill for about 15 minutes to reach another viewpoint for even more spectacular views of Laguna Humantay, as well as the stunning Apu Humantay mountain (5480m / 17,979 ft). Being so close to the mountains will really shake you, and you’ll likely understand why they’re so sacred in the Andean culture.
After basking in nature’s beauty on this Humantay Lake day trip and some free time, we’ll start our hike back down to Soraypampa, where our day hike began. In Soraypampa or in the town of Mollepata, we’ll enjoy the lunch. After lunch, our private transport will take us back to the city of Cusco, thus ending our hike to the Humantay lagoon for 1 day, at approximately 6:30 in the afternoon with a drop off at your hotel.
What’s Included For Humantay Lake Full Day Tour?
- Pre-trek briefing the night before the Lake Humantay 1 Day Hike
- Collection from your hotel on the morning of your Laguna Humantay Tour
- Private transport from Cusco to the trailhead of Lake Humantay
- Private transport to Drive back and drop off at your hotel
- Entrance fee to the Lagoon Humantay, as required
- Breakfast & Lunch prepared by our chef (vegetarian or vegan are available)
- English/Quechua/Spanish speaking professional guide
- Oxygen tank (in case it is needed)
- All taxes included
- Small group experience or custom private trips
What is Not Included?
- Flights to/from Cusco
- Hotel
- Dinner
- Travel Insurance (optional, but highly recommended)
- Tips for your crew
- Trekking poles (can be rent from us)
- Items of a personal nature and souvenirs
- Horse to ride – you can add a horse to ride if you prefer
- Personal expenses
What to Pack for the Humantay Lake Day Tour?
- A lightweight, waterproof day pack
- Original passport
- Sturdy hiking boots
- Warm clothes and hiking pants, not jeans
- Layers of clothes for variable temperatures
- Camera with extra film and batteries
- Sun protection: sunscreen, sunhat, sunglasses
- Thermals, wool socks, gloves, scarf, wool hat in cold season
- Insect repellent
- Extra plastic bags, especially in the wet season
- Water proof clothing and or a rain poncho
- Water bottles
- Personal medical kit with a simple whistle
- Extra money for souvenirs, drinks, tips
- Walking sticks if needed (rentable)
- Favorite snacks
- Hand sanitizer
- Toilet paper
Price of the “Humantay Lake Tour 1 Day”
Our prices of the “Lake Humantay 1 Day Hike” are per person in USD, based in group size. We do not have fixed-date group departures.
We offer small group travel service and custom private trips, with private van transfers and professional driver, to enhance the experience giving you the full attention of our guides and staff. Please take a look below and choose one of them and let us know the departure date.
GROUP SERVICE PRICE
- US$ 140.00 per person
For our small group travel experience, we require a minimum 02 people to organize the Humantay Lake day trip. We guarantee that your “Lagoon Humantay tour or Humantay trek 1 day” will be limited to a maximum of 8 people and fully supported by private experience staff. No problem if your date does not match with other traveler departures, we can open a new departure just with you on any date you wish. Feel free to email us or call us at +51 957 326 998
PRIVATE SERVICE PRICE
- Price for 2 trekkers: 160 USD per person
- Price for 3 trekkers: 140 USD per person
- Price for 4 trekkers: 130 USD per person
- Price for 5 trekkers: 120 USD per person
- Price for 6 trekkers: 110 USD per person
- Price for 7 trekkers to more people: 100 USD per person
Advantages of booking the “Humantay Lake Full Day Tour” in Private Service.
- Flexibility on dates: Choose your own travel dates, you decide when to start your Humantay Lake day trip.
- Flexibility to Explore or Go at your own pace: Walk or explore on your own rhythm, and spend as little or as long as you want on your full day Humantay Lake tour, forget to stay or keep up with the large groups. It’s your own journey.
- Perfect for families, group of mates (friends), honeymoon: Make this Lagoon Humantay Tour for you and your loved ones or someone special.
- Totally customizable: Travel the way you want and enjoy a customized trip; where you specify the Itinerary of the Humantay Lake tour. Book this trip as is or customize it to be as active or relaxed, rustic or luxurious as you wish to go. Also, this trip is perfect for multi-generational families and to celebrate a special anniversary or milestone birthday.
Private treks, single trekker, custom treks, large groups, and packages welcome! Please email us to customize.
How to make reservations?
Please contact us through this page by filling out the ENQUIRY form, ask first for availability, and we will give you all the information on how to book the Humantay Lake Day Trip, and once we agree, you will book the requested tour, otherwise we cannot assure availability.
When you contact us, please include the information of their Hotel location, the number of members of travelers you are traveling with, group travel service or private tour. Thank you for your preference
Optional Extras & Upgrades
We offer you the opportunity to personalize your trek and make your experience more comfortable through our Optional Extras and Upgrades. All options are available during the reservation process; please ask your sales consultant for more information.
- Extra horse for you to ride, and horseman to lead it
- Light-weight aluminum walking stick. Two sticks are recommended for tough hikes.
- Combine with a day trip to Machu Picchu
IMPORTANT NOTE:
The “Humantay Lake Tour from Cusco” can leave any day of the week, from April through November. We do not run this trek, from December through March because rainy season & maintenance
Thank you for your interest in having and adventure travel experience to the beautiful Humantay Lake on a full-day tour in Peru curated by Peru Spirit Adventure. Please take a moment to complete our short form, so one our friendly Adventure Consultants could provide you all the information for your trip of a lifetime in Peru.
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Humantay Lake Full Day Trip from Cusco
To book the tour “Humantay Lake Day Trip”, you need to provide us the full name of the representative of the group and the date of tour. As the following step you have to deposit of US$ 150 per person to ensure your reservation.
Reservation deposits for Humantay Lake Day Trip can be paid through PayPal or Western Union. There is a 6% commission for deposits using PayPal. Deposits through Western Union have variable rates.
Once the two aspects of the reservation process are received, we will confirm your reservation with us. Thank you very much for choosing Peru Spirit Adventure – Direct Local Tour Operator.
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Where’s the Humantay Lagoon?
Peru is a country rich with culture and natural beauty. Known for the advanced civilization of the Inca, Peru has many breath-taking destinations, both man-made and natural. Representing one of the many magical locations of natural beauty is Humantay Lake. Laguna Humantay lies 4,200 meters (13,900 ft.) up so it is hidden from view from the ground below.
Located in the Andes of Cusco, Peru, Lake Humantay is in a region extremely rich in Inca history. Located right next to the Salkantay and near the Inca Trail, Lake Humantay is often accessed by hiking. The Salkantay trail runs between the Salkantay and Humantay mountains, which are part of the Vilcabamba mountain range. The water of the lake offers one of the most spectacular views of Cusco, Peru. The hike to Lake Humantay requires some effort and is rated as moderate on the easy to difficult scale. However, the end result of being able to stand in the middle of the snowy mountain peaks, on the edge of a turquoise lake, makes it worthwhile for travelers and hikers alike.
The History of Lake Humantay
Lake Humantay is formed as a product of the thawing of a large snow-capped mountain which in turn is part of a mountain range called the Vilcabamba mountain range. What makes Humantay’s lagoon characteristic is the natural color it has since it does not have much marine flora in its waters, it has an indescribable color in words, but understandable to the eyes, forming a unique landscape when travelers seek to capture the ideal moment with their cameras that are so eager to capture experiences and moments of landscapes all this and more make it an ideal place to visit if you travel to Cusco Peru.
The inhabitants of the area know Laguna Humantay as the Humantay Lagoon and it is believed that the lagoon was a sacred area for the Incas. It was common for people to leave sacred offerings on the edges surrounding the lake.
Today, Lake Humantay is often visited by shamans and other spiritual travelers, as well as by hikers and those who want to find this hidden sacred beauty. Many people still continue the tradition of making these stone offerings. The offerings that are scattered around the lake are very visible. The people of this region call them Apachetas. Apachetas as piles made of rocks stacked on top of other rocks. Sometimes the mounds are small, sometimes the mounds are large. The Apachetas are offered to an Inca culture deity called Pachamama.
It is a common ritual to make an offering when arriving at the lagoon. The process begins by first selecting a rock as an offering to be offered to the Pachamama. Then you thank her for having successfully arrived at the lagoon, as well as ask her to accompany you on your expedition before placing the stone.
How to get to Lake Humantay?
There’s no way to see Lake Humantay from ground level. Lake Humantay is a true gem of Peru and like most gems, it takes some work to reap the rewards. Lake Humantay is located at 4200 meters (13,779 feet) above sea level, but there are several ways to get there.
Your options to reach the Humantay Lagoon from Cusco are almost 4 hours by bus or go to Soraypampa from the historic heart of Cusco and then walk. At the end you decide if you want to take a private or group tour. Private Tour To Humantay Lake is definitely the best option! Depending on your hiking experience and the time you have to visit will help you determine the best option. The full day trip to Lake Humantay is ideal for nature and ecotourism lovers. During the tour we will be able to observe the exotic flora and fauna and appreciate the impressive snow-capped peaks of Humantay and Salkantay. The tour to Lake Humantay starts and ends in the city of Cusco. We also offer a horseback ride to Lake Humantay. For more information please contact us at info@peruspiritadventure.com
- Small or medium size backpack (to carry your personal belongings)
- A hiking pant – not jeans
- Comfortable sturdy walking shoes or runners
- Rain coat or rain poncho
- One warm/winter jacket/gloves, scarf, cap cold, thermal clothing etc. VERY IMPORTANT (the weather is very changeable and unpredictable)
- Bring some meds! Iron tablets and pills for altitude sickness
- Sun protection cream (SPF 45 or higher recommended)
- Extra money for tipping and souvenirs
- Camera and films
The uphill walk takes between 1.5 and 2 hours on a smooth trail, if you take the same path back it takes 1.5 hours.
