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The immense mountains of Peru keep innumerable precious stones in their basins: blue, turquoise, green, yellow, and red lagoons. Among all of them, one of the most dazzling jewels that’s located in the Cusco region stands out: The Humantay Lake. Its emerald waters and the imposing presence of the glacier come together in dazzling harmony at more than 4,200 masl / 13,780 fasl. No photograph can do justice to this impressive natural wonder. So don’t miss the opportunity to meet her when you visit Cusco.
Humantay Lake is one of the many hidden gems of Peru’s highland region. There’s one destination, in particular, that has been gaining popularity in recent years. It’s an impressive lake at the foot of an immense mass of snow. Surprise yourself with the Humantay Lake after an exciting uphill hike. Feel the shocking presence of two sacred mountains covered in white, the Apu Salkantay and the Apu Humantay.
Enter a paradise world where perpetual snows melt and suddenly takes on an impressive turquoise coloration.
Our adventure begins very early. We’ll pick you up at 4:00 a.m. and we’ll go in our private transport for 2 hours to the beautiful town of Mollepata. There we’ll enjoy a delicious breakfast. Take advantage of the first light of the morning to take photos of the mountains.
After having filled our stomachs, we’ll go in our private transport to Soraypampa (3,900 masl / 12,795 fasl) where you’ll already feel the powerful presence of the glaciers. Be impressed by their haunting snow faces that defy any force or evil. After listening to brief instructions from your guide, we’ll begin our 2-hour ascent to the fantastic Humantay Lagoon. Remember that you’ll face very stony terrain, so using a cane always helps. Take your time, walk slowly, get some rest, and try to drink plenty of fluids. Please, don’t carry plastic on the route and in no case leave your trash on the trail.
After the effort, the reward is huge. Hidden among the undulations, the impressive Humantay Lagoon gradually appears. This beautiful turquoise body of water originates from the same snows that cover the mountain. Walk around and make the effort to climb a little further up the surrounding rocky slopes. The higher you are, the more turquoise the water will look.
You’ll be so close to the immense glacier that its presence will shake your soul and perhaps at that moment you understand why the mountains are sacred in the Andean culture. Therefore, our guide will perform a simple ritual of permission and thanks using coca leaves.
We’ll take 1.5 hours to descend again to Soraypampa where we’ll enjoy a buffet lunch. Then we’ll board our private transportation and head back to the city of Cusco. You’ll arrive at the doors of your hotel at approximately 5:00 p.m.
Note: Remember that to fully enjoy this walk you must be well acclimatized. That’s why we recommend that you arrive in Cusco at least 2 days in advance to avoid altitude sickness. It’s important that you avoid alcoholic beverages and cigarettes the first few days. In addition you must constantly hydrate yourself.
Altitude sickness symptoms include shortness of breath or extreme agitation, severe headaches, vomiting, and even diarrhoea. Nobody wants to feel like this in the middle of the mountain!
We want to make your trip to Peru as memorable and as easy as possible. In this section, you will find speedy answers to all those questions you had about Humantay Lake in one place. Please read the following information carefully – it will help you with any questions about our services.
Has another question that we haven’t answered here? Drop us a line, and we will get back to you asap!
Of course! During the travel, your main luggage can be stored at our office(you can organize briefing day or by email) or at your hotel, both free of charge.
Any equipment that you are not going to need on the trek can be stored safely in your hotel. Nearly every hotel will provide this service. Don’t leave items of value with your bags, put them in the hotel safe and obtain an itemized receipt (In the unlikely case of theft many insurance companies require that you have a copy of the receipt itemizing all the items). Best put items such as credit cards inside a sealed, signed envelope for extra peace of mind.
Peru Hike Company can pick you up from your hotel, as long as it’s in the Historic Center of Cusco. The pickup time will be coordinated with your guide in the briefing. The pickup time may vary between 30 and 45 minutes due to traffic. Cusco is a very old city, therefore, it has many narrow cobbled streets. Some hotels and Airbnbs may be located on streets without access to cars or on long, steep slopes, making it difficult to transport luggage. We strongly recommend that you book accommodation with good access.
Group tours are made up of different types of people. Physical conditions and ages can vary. By agreeing to be part of a group tour, you also accept that some people may be faster or slower than you. Therefore, each person can go at their own pace on the route. It may be the case that a group wishes to modify the tour; however, it will be the guide who decides, after consulting with all the participants, if said modifications can be made.
Strikes and demonstrations are usually frequent in Peru and this may interrupt some of our tours. Roads can be blocked and train tracks can be taken over. However, we will try to keep your excursion as planned, even if it means leaving the night before the scheduled date. Under these circumstances, tours may also be cancelled. In case of changes or cancellations, all situations will be coordinated with you by our operations department. Your safety is our highest priority and our decisions will be made to protect it.
You’re responsible for your objects during the tour. Please pay attention to where you leave your things and remember to take everything once you leave our trucks, tents, or restaurants.
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If it’s your first time to Cusco, I’d definitely recommend to take this tour. It’s so convenient. They picked me up from my hostel which is in the main plaza. Breakfast and Lunch is included. The view is stunning and shout out to my guide Yonatan. He’s super friendly and knowledgeable.
Incredible value for money. Very well organized trek. Though the pickup is early it helps you get the BEST photos because you get to Humantay around 10AM before the crowds come!! Breakfast and lunch are on a tight schedule but it helps squeeze in this adventure into one day. Yonathan was fun, energetic, and professional. Looking forward to more adventures in the future!
Yonatan was a great guide. The pick up transport, the organization all good. Perfect!
Great time on this tour. Be ready for the early start, and if you can, bring a neck pillow to help sleep in the van as you will have many hours on the road to and from the start of the hiking point. Breakfast was fine, but lunch was amazing, and much needed after the hike. It is not for the faint of heart, it is quite a difficult hike, even for someone healthy if you’re not used to the altitude. Jonathan was a fantastic guide, very engaging, friendly, and encouraging. Highly recommend!
Great experience and thanks to Jonathan for all the care and information about the Laguna Humantay.