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.
40 USD per person.
Price: Private service.
2 persons 110 USD per person
3 persons 100 USD per person
4 persons 90 USD per person
5 persons 80 USD per person
6 persons 70 USD per person

Map:

Starting from

US$40 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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What Our Travelers Say

Authentic stories from travelers who explored Peru with us.

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   Based on 135 reviews 
    
 
 
 
   
 
 
       Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   lanahb304 
 
 
 
 Verified Machu Picchu and sacred valley
We had an absolutely wonderful experience with David from the very beginning of planning our trip. As three ladies traveling together we couldn’t have had any smoother and safer experience. He was there for us throughout the entire process, spending countless hours helping us plan full 5 days, answering all our questions, and responding to our WhatsApp messages within minutes. His communication was truly amazing, and we always felt that we were in great hands. We visited Pisac, Chinchero ruins, Maras and Moray, Ollantaytambo ruins, Machu Picchu, and Rainbow Mountain. When we arrived, David was waiting for us at the airport. He even arranged for someone to help us with our luggage at the Cusco airport, drove us around, and gave us invaluable tips on how to adjust to the high altitude. He was always attentive, alert to our needs, and making sure we were comfortable. David also took us to authentic local places where we could experience things like traditional alpaca weaving, which made the trip feel much more genuine and special. Everything went exactly as planned. He also brought a driver along, which made getting around much smoother and easier. Our Machu Picchu experience, including Circuits 3D and 1B, was unforgettable. There were three of us, and one of us was having difficulty with the mountain climbs. David stayed right behind her throughout the journey, making sure she was safe and supported every step of the way. His care and patience really stood out. And as if being our guide and driver wasn't enough, David also became our personal cameraman! 😊 He was constantly directing us and helping us get the best photos and memories from our trip. On our last day, he took us to Rainbow Mountain and was once again incredibly patient and accommodating to our needs. Throughout the entire trip, David went above and beyond to make sure we had a wonderful experience. We are so grateful for everything he did for us and would highly recommend David to anyone planning a trip to Peru. If you want someone who is knowledgeable, caring, responsive, organized, and genuinely invested in making your trip special, David is your person! Thank you, David, for helping make our trip so memorable!
  
 
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   Ashley W 
 
 
 
 Verified Incredible Time with Frank!
Frank was a fantastic guide, we are so happy we had him with us! He understood the pace that was best for our fitness level, and he would take breaks at good moments to teach us about local people, plants, animals, history, and culture, which we felt was all really interesting. We learned so much about Machu Picchu, the Incas, and each archaeological site, and we genuinely enjoyed listening to him. It felt like traveling with a friend, he was so nice and had a great attitude, we were always laughing together. He also had great English, we were able to laugh together at our joke that a sitting chinchilla we saw was "chinchilling." We were also really happy to support Cachi Life which is a Peruvian owned company. We did the 2-day trek, and we appreciated the amount of care put into each step. The hotel that was included in our tour package was very quiet, the bed comfortable, the shower hot, with good breakfast choices as well. Frank also took great photos of us, with good framing and angles, and he never rushed us. He was so knowledgeable and friendly that we would love to return someday and trek with him and Cachi Life again!
  
 
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   Charlene K 
 
 
 
 Verified An Exceptional Experience!
We had an absolutely wonderful experience with Cachi Life during our time in Peru, and we cannot recommend them highly enough! We had created our own bespoke itinerary for our trip but we wanted a knowledgeable guide to bring the history to life when visiting the incredible ruins around Cusco and during our two days in Machu Picchu. After reading so many wonderful reviews from other travellers, we decided to use Cachi Life and we are so glad we did. We also used them for transportation throughout the Sacred Valley including journeys from Cusco to Pisac and Ollantaytambo as well as visits to Maras and Moray. From the very beginning, everything was handled with such warmth, professionalism and care. David came to meet us at our Airbnb the day before our tour to personally brief us on the schedule for the coming days. This was such a thoughtful touch and gave us a great sense of confidence that everything was organised and that we were in very good hands. Over the following days, we had the pleasure of spending time with David exploring the remarkable archaeological sites around Cusco, including Sacsayhuamán, Q’enko, Tambomachay and Puka Pukara, as well as experiencing the incredible Machu Picchu. David was an exceptional guide. His knowledge of Peruvian and Inca history was impressive, but what really stood out was his passion and enthusiasm. It was very clear that this was far more than just a job for him. He genuinely loves the history, culture and heritage of Peru and that passion came through in every story and explanation. He had a wonderful ability to bring the ancient sites to life, helping us understand not just what we were looking at, but the people, culture and history behind them. We learnt so much from David and having him with us made the experience of visiting these extraordinary places even more meaningful and memorable. We also had the pleasure of having Frank (David’s brother) drive us from Cusco through the Sacred Valley to Pisac and Ollantaytambo. Although we had not booked a guide for this particular day, Frank was incredibly generous with his knowledge and shared lots of interesting information about the places we passed along the way. It was very much appreciated and added another wonderful dimension to our journey. Both David and Frank were friendly, reliable, thoughtful and genuinely lovely people to spend time with. Their warmth and hospitality really captured what we had hoped to experience in Peru. We never felt like just another tourist booking. They took a genuine interest in making sure we had a fantastic experience and were always happy to help. Thank you so much, David and Frank, for making our time in Cusco, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu so special. Your knowledge, enthusiasm, kindness and hospitality made a lasting impression on us, and we would wholeheartedly recommend Cachi Life to anyone planning a trip to Peru.
  
 
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   Trail19335405803 
 
 
 
 Verified Rainbow Mountain private two days trip
We had an amazing experience with Cachi Life travel agency in Peru! 🇵🇪 From the very beginning, David, our guide helped us create a fantastic and personalised plan for Rainbow Mountain. They took the time to understand what we wanted and made sure everything was well organised and suited to our needs. The communication was excellent throughout the whole process. They were always helpful, responsive and happy to answer our questions or make adjustments whenever needed. We really appreciated the personal approach and attention to detail. The whole experience was very well organised, and thanks to their support, we could simply enjoy the incredible views and the experience without having to worry about the logistics. 🌈⛰️ I would definitely recommend this agency to anyone planning a trip to Peru. They genuinely care about their customers and go the extra mile to make the experience special. Thank you for helping us create such an unforgettable experience! ❤️🇵🇪
  
 
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   Cesco_Food 
 
 
 
 Verified Unforgettable
Spending two days in the Sacred Valley with David of Cachi Life has incredibly turned into positive our vacation in Peru. In this country you are pretty much jumping from one operator to another and we didn’t have good experience until we find Cachi. David has a natural passion and a great knowledge of the story of this country and his people, plus is also very friendly and curious by nature. If we ever come back to Peru I would avoid passing through internet and I will get in touch directly with Cachi to organize all my trip. Thank you David for guiding us and sharing your passion and Thank you Oscar for demonstrating that driving is an important part of the trip. Unforgettable.
  
 
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   Suman Maharjan 
 
 
 
 Verified Awesome Experience
We did full day tour to Pallay Punchu with David from Cachi Life. David was professional, knowledgeable, and caring. My wife has fear of heights, and he made sure we felt safe the whole time. Highly recommended this tour for anyone looking for a less crowded hike with stunning views and also Cachi Life. We would definitely lgo with them again.
  
 
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   Rich C 
 
 
 
 Verified Fantastic experience!
We had an excellent experience with Cachi Life. David was Extremely helpful and professional. We did the 5 day Salkantay Trek and it was fantastic, Taking us from the high Andes to the cloud forest and coffee growing region and on to Machu Picchu, it was amazing. The food prepared by Juan, our guide was exceptional. I highly recommend Cachi Life when trekking to any of the Cusco treks.
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Mich 
 
 
 
 Verified Awesome Experience
David is such a great tour guide and owner. He was always very communicative, accommodating, helpful, and a pleasure to work with. He treated my family and me with the utmost respect and kindness. His knowledge of Machu Picchu is excellent and we learned so much from him. He took care of us the minute we set foot in the Cusco region, including having a driver pick us up and take us to and from the train station in Ollantaytambo. He met us with us at our vacation rental the evening prior to go over everything with us. He even stopped at the store to buy us tea and sugar. He took care of everything for us and all we had to do was pay and show up. You will not find better service to see Machu Picchu than Cachi Life Perú.
  
 
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   Sara M 
 
 
 
 Verified Exceptional experience
I thank David Aragon Villagra for organizing a fantastic three-day tour for us in the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu. We were accompanied by the guide Frank, who skillfully and enthusiastically immersed us in the Inca world. Thanks to the super driver Oscar, who was cautious and attentive. Unbeatable value for money. I highly recommend Cachi Life Peru — with Cachi Life Peru.
  
 
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   Liz K 
 
 
 
 Verified Incredible trip, outstanding on every level
David (Cachi Life) was recommended by friends when I decided to take a solo trip to Peru. I'm a woman in my mid-60's, fairly physically fit, who wanted to experience Peru's scenery, history, culture, and people. David helped to customize my 11-day trip to include exactly what I wanted (Manu/Amazon rainforest, Inca Trail hike to Machu Piccu, various day tours out of Cusco, etc.) Lodging and transportation arrangements everywhere were clearly arranged and communicated efficiently. Upon arrival he met me at the airport and drove me back at the end of the trip. The entire time David was always quickly responsive and communication was outstanding. This trip was utterly incredible (also exhausting!) in every way. Truly stellar. I will carry the experience with me always. I highly recommend David/Cachi Life to anyone considering a trip to this magnificent country. You will be in very good hands.