Humantay Lake Full Day

1 Day

General description

Humantay Lake is one of most magical lakes in the Cusco region, being surrounded by the impressive Salkantay and Humantay peaks. While gazing at unbelievable turquoise water, you will have opportunity to appreciate beautiful landscapes of the Peruvian Andes during our hike from Soraypampa
to Humantay Lake. This turquois lake is one of the photogenic jewels of the Cusco region and its proximity to Humantay and Salcantay mountains only adds to its beauty.

Humantay Lake is a great option for those looking to see the spectacular glacial landscapes of Cusco and only have a day to do it. Humantay Lake is a
glacial lake located on the slopes of Humantay Mountain (5835 m/19143 ft) and is part of the Salkantay massif which has become one of the world’s most
popular areas for higher altitude trekking. Along with turquois colored Humantay Lake we will also have spectacular views of Humantay and Salkantay Mountains.

Tour Type: Hiking and adventure.
Good For: Those with a sense of adventure and in good shape.
Temperature: Cold, temperature may go below 0 degrees at night.
Difficulty: Challenging.
Considerations: Enjoy the amazing colors of the mountains before they are discovered by the public.
Heigh: The height of Humantay Lake is reflected in its 4200 meters above sea level.

By booking The Humantay Lake with Cachi life Peru you are choosing the best. Don’t believe us? Check out our reviews on Tripadvisor.
Pre-trek briefing: You will have a thorough briefing with your guide 1 day before your Humantay Lake. Your guide will meet you at in your hotel or Airbnb and you can take this opportunity to ask questions and make any final preparations.

Detailed Itinerary

Day 01: Humantay Lake

Humantay Lake in Peru with vibrant turquoise glacial water and Andes mountain peaks — Humantay Lake (Laguna Humantay) in Peru is a stunning high‑altitude glacial lake renowned for its vivid turquoise water set against the dramatic backdrop of the Andes Mountains. Perched above 4,200 meters above sea level, this picturesque lake is a popular destination for hikers and nature lovers exploring the Cusco region, offering unforgettable alpine scenery and pristine landscapes.

Humantay Lake in Peru with turquoise glacial water and towering Andes mountain backdrop — Spectacular view of Humantay Lake (Laguna Humantay) in Peru with vibrant turquoise waters and dramatic mountain scenery.

We will pick you up from your hotel in Cusco at 4:00 AM and drive approximately 2 hours to the village of Mollepata, located in the lush Apurimac River Valley. Here, we will enjoy breakfast at a local restaurant before continuing our journey to Soraypampa.

The hike begins along the photogenic “Camino Real” trail, passing through beautiful Andean landscapes. As we gain altitude, we will reach the tiny village of Soraypampa, where few amenities exist. From Soraypampa, the hike continues for about 1.5 hours, ascending 1,200 feet over just 2 miles along a steep path. Along the way, enjoy breathtaking views of the Salkantay and Humantay peaks, and keep an eye out for llamas and alpacas grazing in the Andean highlands.

Finally, we reach the stunning Humantay Lake (4,200 m / 13,780 ft). Here, you can admire the vivid turquoise waters surrounded by majestic mountains, a perfect spot for photos and enjoying the incredible scenery. After taking in the beauty of the lake, we will begin our descent back to Soraypampa, then return to Mollepata for a well-deserved buffet lunch before driving back to Cusco. You will arrive at your hotel in the late afternoon, concluding this unforgettable adventure.

Included

Pre-trek briefing the night before the humantay lake
Collection from your hotel on the morning of your humantay Lake
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 Humantay Lake, as required
Breakfast and Lunch
English/Quechua/Spanish speaking professional guide
Oxygen tank (in case it is needed).
All taxes included.
Small group experience or custom private trips

Not Included

Flights/Hotel
Dinner
Walking poles (poles must have intact rubber bottoms)
Items of a personal nature and souvenirs
Travel interruption & travel medical/evacuation insurance (required)
Tip for your guide(s) and trek staff are optional but highly encouraged if you
enjoy your trip.

Recommendations

A good day pack: such as Eagle Creek Afar Backpack (Appropriate pack to
carry your personal belongings.)
Original passport (International Student Identity Card “ISIC” if applicable)
Travel insurance (strongly recommended but not required
Lighter trekking boots (with good ankle support)
3 pairs of trekking pants (not jeans), 1 hiking, 1 cotton–which is just
enough. Please spray both pairs with an insect repellent spray before the trip.
Layers for variable temperatures especially at night
1 rain jacket: The first night the temperature can be as low as – 5 degrees
Celsius/23 degrees Fahrenheit. A rain jacket can be helpful, because there are rainy days even in the dry season!
1 warm/winter jacket (Thermals: wool socks/gloves, scarf and woolen hat for cold nights).
4 pairs of underwear, 6 pairs of socks (Bamboo or cotton/nylon-blend
socks dry faster than 100 percent cotton, which lose their softness when air-dried.) It is nice to have a couple of extra pairs of socks to change into at night when you’re not hiking. Also, we recommend bringing both really
heavy hiking socks and lighter socks as well as the weather is variable, so
you want to make sure you’re not too cold or too hot.
4 shirts, 2 long sleeve shirts
1 good sleeping bag liner which is super lightweight and easy to pack. This definitely does its job!
Travel-size tissues and wet wipes–The air is cold and damp, so your nose is going to run a lot. Everyone seems to run out of tissues by the end of the trek. Also, most bathrooms do not have toilet paper (if you even get a bathroom), so wet wipes are key.
Iron tablets and pills for altitude sickness. Several people on the hike have
varying degrees of altitude sickness and both of these remedies (in addition to the coca tea) are very helpful in alleviating the symptoms.
Sun protection cream (SPF 45 or higher recommended).
Bug spray with 30% DEET in it–which you need, but it doesn’t work very
well. The issue with Cusco outdoor is that most of the bugs are not mosquitoes. They are these small flies you can’t even see that leave weird
bites that first look like you pricked your finger and then blow up into itchy
red bumps. Unfortunately, these bugs seem to bite you no matter what kind of spray you put on, so bringing some anti-itch ointment could be helpful.
Re-usable plastic or metal water container or a hydration pack such as Camel-back
Water (Only for first day of the hike, as we will provide you with water throughout the rest of the hike).
Camera and film
A headlamp to navigate camp in the evenings and pre-dawn mornings with spare batteries
Bandages or moleskin
Flip flops to change into at night. Your toes will thank you!
Toiletries: toothbrush, toothpaste/floss, shampoo/conditioner,
brush/comb, Vaseline (great for potential blisters on the feet), feminine
hygiene products, deodorant, nail clippers/file/tweezers, spare glasses and/or prescription, mini-eyeglass repair kit, contact lenses and supplies,
hand sanitizer etc. Pack what you need, but pack light.
Medication (Imodium AD or something for your stomach) because some people get an upset stomach on the trek. Also, Ibuprofen or Acetaminophen can be helpful to help with aches and pains after 8-10 hours of hiking each day.
Plastic bags for dirty and wet clothes
Something to read in the evenings
Extra money for drinks
Emergency money at least 300-450 extra soles (USD$ 220)
Tips (the amount you tip (or if you tip) is a personal decision and it is NOT an obligation.

Prices

Price: group service.
35 USD per person.
Price: Private service.
2 persons 99 USD per person
3 persons 89 USD per person
4 persons 79 USD per person
5 persons 69 USD per person
6 persons 59 USD per person

Starting from

US$35 USD

Duration

1 Day

Destination

Cusco

Type of activity

One Day Trek, Trekking in Cusco

Our team is ready to help. Send us a message on WhatsApp or contact us online — we’ll get back to you right away.

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 Verified Cachi Life - Peruvians bringing you an authentic Peruvian Experience!!! Just returned from an amazing five-day trip to Cusco, the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, Patabamba, and Palccoyo, all organized by David Aragon Villagra at Cachi Life! From the very beginning, David was extremely responsive and helpful, answering all my questions promptly and making the planning process easy and stress-free. Everything throughout the trip was smooth and well-coordinated. When I arrived in Cusco he sat down with me and gave me a detailed run down of the plans for the week. A special highlight was my guide, Frankin Aragon Villagra, who over three days took me through the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, and Patabamba. He is knowledgeable, engaging, and clearly passionate about sharing details of the history, culture, flora and fauna of his home region. I learned a lot!! I always look to support locally owned businesses when I travel, and Cachi Life truly stands out as a well-connected family-run company that provides a personalized touch. As a solo traveler, I felt completely safe and cared for by the Cachi Life Team! I highly recommend them to anyone planning a trip to Peru—especially if you’re looking for a more authentic and thoughtfully organized experience!!
  
 
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 Verified Best tour!!!! David was an excellent tour guide. From the first moment of contact he was informative and responsive. He provided great options especially since we were traveling with a 5 & 7 year olds he helped us navigate challenges and brought us to a beautiful restaurant on the water after our tour of Machu Picchu! Highly highly recommend Cachi Life Peru!
  
 
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   Inspire65446209466 
 
 
 
 Verified Let Cachi Life Peru guide you on the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu This is an amazing journey. If you haven't been before, make it happen! Cachi Life Peru provided the perfect experience. Our tour group was smaller, so we never felt like part of a herd. Our Chasqui (porters) and cook made the journey so much easier. They knew our names and were always looking for a way to help. We were traveling in mid-January, which meant slightly cooler temperatures (daytime highs in the 50-60's F, nighttime lows 30-40's F -- or 10-15 C and 0-5 C respectively) and some overcast and lightly rainy days. Wow! colors came alive. Every ecosystem was simply more beautiful. There were less travelers on the trail. For us it was the perfect time to trek the pilgrimage towards Machu Picchu. Despite the cooler temps and intermittent use of our rain ponchos, our Chasqui, Cook, and Guide cheerfully made this weather cheery. We slept warmly at night. Warm meals and shelter from the elements in camp, warm boiled water to wash our hands and face in the morning. Modesto, Esteban, Jose, Mateo, Vicente, Gabino, Samuel, and Alejandro ... you are the best! Someday we hope to be as good a Chasqui as you were on our trip! Speaking of which: they were meticulous in boiling water and cleansing our food and camp. We simply had no worries about water- or food-borne illness. And the meals were not simply delicious and warm, but also were perfectly balanced. If you pay attention to your macros (carbs, proteins, and fats), and appreciated fresh ingredients from all 4 food groups, you'll have no concerns about having delicious energy for your hike. I don't think we had the same meal twice during our 4 days. We didn't eat at restaurants ... a professional chef brought excellent cuisine to us. Our guide (Miguel) knew how to help us move along without rushing. We never felt hurried, and although our small group had various fitness levels, he helped us travel at a perfect variety of paces. We stopped to take a picture, or ask a question, or notice anything of interest, at our own wish. Yet we never seemed to leave or arrive too early or too late. He could offer insights into the people, the history, culture, flora and fauna, geography, and a host of other perspectives that helped us connect with the trail, the country, the Inca, our group, and ourselves. If you could request a guide, ask specifically for "Miguelito." On a personal level, I'll always be grateful for his rescuing my glasses from a precipice, and for strengthening within us a connection with Pacha Mama. The Sun Gate and our day in Machu Picchu were magical. If you go, make time to hike Wayna Picchu as well, the vistas and perspective will uniquely connect you to the geography. The value of these and other Incan sites really make this site a gem within the cultural and natural treasures of the world. Cuzco is a charming and vibrant city. The trail is a connection to culture and history that a bus ride to Machu Picchu cannot confer upon you alone. Machu Picchu is beyond amazing. Cachi Life Peru, our Chasqui, and Miguel made this experience a lifetime memory. Thanks! By Greg J on Feb 21, 2026