Man reflecting and admiring the amazing Humantay lake under the Humantay Glacier (Recharging energies in the mountains of Peru)

Humantay Lake Hike

Full Day Tour
Starting from US$100 per person
Meals Icon
Breakfast & Lunch Meals
Group Size Icon
Up to 12 People Group Size
Max. Altitude Icon
4,200 m / 13,780 ft Max. Altitude
Difficulty Icon
Moderate Difficulty

Hike to the Andean Mountain Gem

Mollepata - Soraypampa -Sky Camp - Humantay Lake
Meals Icon
Breakfast & Lunch Meals
Group Size Icon
Up to 12 People Group Size
Max. Altitude Icon
4,200 m / 13,780 ft Max. Altitude
Difficulty Icon
Moderate Difficulty

The immense mountains of Peru hide innumerable precious stones in their basins: Blue, turquoise, green, yellow, and red lagoons. Among them, one of the most dazzling jewels that’s located in the Cusco region stands out—Humantay Lake. Its emerald waters and the imposing presence of the whiter than white glacier come together in dazzling harmony at over 4,200 m / 13,780 ft.

No photograph can do justice to this absolutely stunning natural wonder. So don’t miss the opportunity to visit this gorgeous lake when you come to Cusco. Take a day away from the city and head out with nature to visit Humantay Lake on the ultimate trip with Salkantay Trekking. It’s the perfect respite from busy Cusco and is a must when in the region.

Humantay Lake Full Day Hike (One Day | 1D Treks) Humantay Lake Full Day Tour Map
  • Itinerary
  • Inclusions
  • Before You Go
  • Packing List
  • Pricing
  • Enquire Now
  Itinerary

You can join us on this exciting day out any day of the week. 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.

Humantay Lake is one of the many hidden gems in Peru’s highland region. Feel the shocking presence of two sacred mountains covered in white, the Apus Salkantay and Humantay. The lake sits like a turquoise gem in front of the snowy backdrop and feels like something out of a dream.

During the day, you’ll witness incredible scenery as you drive to the starting point of the hike. You’ll get to enjoy a visit to our exclusive Sky Camp and hike up to the lake in the middle of the mountains. You’ll have plenty of time to take in the most beautiful landscapes imaginable before heading back to the city.

Book your ultimate day out with us, and we’ll take care of every last detail. All you need to do is relax and enjoy yourself. We’ll collect you and drop you off at your accommodation door. What are you waiting for? Join us on this expedition to a paradise in the Andes.

Highlights

  • Be astounded by the gigantic glaciers, Humantay and Salkantay, that tower over you.
  • Stare in awe at the absolute beauty of the turquoise waters of Humantay Lake against the snowy white background.
  • Feel the powerful energy of Mother Nature as you immerse yourself into her world.
  • Enjoy some delicious food as we prepare you an amazing lunch in the middle of the mountains.
  • Spend the perfect day away from the city in the peace and quiet of the Andes.

Detailed Itinerary

Day 01

Cusco | Mollepata – Soraypampa - Sky Camp - Humantay Lake

Highlight of the day: Without a doubt, reaching the lake and looking out at the stunning scenery all around.

Day Out at the Incredibly Beautiful Humantay Lake

Meals Icon
Breakfast and Lunch Meals
Difficulty Icon
Moderate Difficulty
Walking Distance Icon
5 km / 3.11 miles Walking Distance
Walking Time Icon
3.5 hours approx. Walking Time
Starting Elevation Icon
3,900 m / 12,795 ft Starting Elevation
Humantay Lake Elevation Icon
4,200 m / 13,780 ft Humantay Lake Elevation

Your day starts at 4:00 am when we pick you up and take you to Mollepata for breakfast. We’ll then continue to Soraypampa, which is where we begin our hike. You’ll slowly walk up to Humantay Lake, where you’ll be shocked by the sheer beauty of this place. You’ll have plenty of time to enjoy the scenery and take some memorable photos.

In the afternoon, you’ll head back down to Soraypampa (Sky Camp) for an exquisite lunch beside the mountains, which our chef will prepare for you. Then, it’ll be time to board our transport and head back to Cusco. We’ll drop you off at your accommodation at around 5:00 pm.

Our exciting day out begins at 4:00 am when our private transport picks you up from your accommodation. We’ll start by driving to Mollepata, where we’ll stop for a tasty breakfast and enjoy the mountains against the early morning light. This is a great opportunity to get some memorable photos.

Once we’re full, we’ll continue in our transport to Soraypampa (3,900 m / 12,795 ft), where you’ll begin to feel the powerful presence of the glaciers. You’re sure to be impressed by their haunting snowy faces that defy any force or evil. After listening to brief instructions from your guide, we’ll begin our 2-hour ascent to the gorgeous Humantay Lake.

Remember that you’ll be hiking across very stony terrain, so using a walking stick is a great idea. Take your time, walk slowly, get some rest, and try to drink plenty of fluids—you’ll be at a high altitude, so you need to take things slowly. Please, don’t carry plastic on the route and never leave your trash on the trail.

After the effort of hiking uphill, you’ll enjoy the most incredible reward. Hidden among the rocky landscape, the impressive Humantay Lake gradually appears. This beautiful turquoise body of water originates from the same snows that cover the mountain, which melt and run down. Walk around and make an effort to climb a little further up the surrounding rocky slopes to get even better views. The higher you are, the more turquoise the water will look, and you’ll be able to take in the ultimate panoramic view.

Being so close to the mountains will really shake you, and you’ll likely understand why they’re so sacred in the Andean culture. Our guide will perform a simple ritual and thank nature by using coca leaves.

It’ll be around an hour-and-a-half descent to get back to Soraypampa, where our Sky Camp is located. You’ll enjoy a spectacular lunch prepared by our chef here before boarding our private transport to take you back to Cusco. We’ll drop you off at your accommodation around 5:00 pm.

Please Remember

To enjoy this trip to the fullest, you need to be well-acclimated. That’s why we recommend you arrive in Cusco at least two days in advance to avoid altitude sickness. It’s important that you avoid alcoholic beverages and cigarettes the first few days. You also need to stay well-hydrated.

Altitude sickness symptoms include shortness of breath or extreme agitation, severe headaches, vomiting, and even diarrhea. Nobody wants to feel like this in the middle of the mountain! So, make sure you prepare well and take the proper precautions.

Why Travel with us

  Inclusions

At Salkantay Trekking, we specify the included and non-included services under all the tour itineraries listed on our website. We take care of all the logistics, but please pay attention to the details to avoid missing anything. Some items may be different for specific programs, so please read carefully before booking with us.

What Is Included?

High Quality Service & Safety

  • Pre-departure Briefing

    You’ll meet your trekking guide and group in our office for an orientation before your trek. The meeting will be at 5:00 pm the evening before the trip begins.

  • Experienced Tour Guide

    English and spanish speaking official tour guide. All our guides are graduates of the professional career of Tourism of the National University San Antonio Abad of Cusco. We choose them for their professionalism, experience, responsibility, seriousness, unbridled passion for exploring, and sincere desire to proudly share in our culture and history. He or she will keep you safe, sound, and comfortable on your trek so that you can enjoy your time worry-free!

  • Medical Kit or First AID Kit

    All Salkantay Trekking guides have received specialized training in first aid. We hold mandatory training sessions with our guides every February. Your guide will always carry a first aid kit to face basic emergencies (altitude sickness, travelers' diarrhea, cuts, scrapes, etc.) as well as oxygen. If necessary, we’ll evacuate you from the path as quickly as possible and ensure that you arrive at a clinic for treatment.

  • Extras Included in our Service

    We believe that attention to small details is what sets us apart from other local companies. You’ll receive a pair of walking sticks (trekking poles) with rubber tips, and a rain poncho.

  • 24/7 Customer Service

    We have telephone service available 24 hours/day for ease of communication with Salkantay Trekking leading up to your trek.

Meals

  • Breakfast & Lunch

    Our chef prepares the best dishes in the middle of the mountain. Our passengers love our food! We respect all diets (vegetarian, vegan, or special menus are available at no extra cost), so let us know if you have any particular allergies or restrictions on your reservation form and remind your guide during the briefing.

  • Snacks and water

    Before starting your trekking, your tour guide will provide you a cloth bag with local fruits, cookies, chocolate, caramels, etc. In addition, you'll receive a bottle of water.

  • One cloth snack bag per person

    To avoid the usage of plastic bags that contaminate our environment, we'll give you a cloth bag for your snacks.

  • Hygiene Products

    You’ll be provided with a small towel and soap before each meal to clean your hands.

Transportation

  • Transport

    All your transportation is included in this package. We will pick you up from your hotel and take you to Soraypampa, the starting point of the hike. Once you complete the tour, we will take you back to the door of your hotel in Cusco.

Permits & Entrance Tickets

  • Entrance for Humantay Lake

What Is Not Included?

  • Dinner
  • Hiking Clothes
  • Travel Insurance
  • Tips for our staff

    Tipping is the norm on any excursion in Peru. Although we pay good salaries to our entire team, something extra is always welcome.

  • Additional costs or delays beyond our control

    Landslides, bad weather conditions, itinerary modifications due to a safety concern, illness, pandemia, government policy changes, political instability, strikes, act of God, etc.

  Additional Items

Here we leave you with a brief list of extras that you can enjoy during this package.

Huayna Picchu Mountain

Huayna Picchu is the mountain behind Machu Picchu and which can be climbed in 45 minutes. Although this excursion is up to you, our guide will take you to the place of entry. This walk requires an entrance ticket which we can assure for you if we have enough time in advance.

Your entry ticket will be purchased to coincide with the dates of your excursion on the Inca Trail. The entry can be done in two shifts: from 7:00 am to 8:00 am or from 10:00 am to 11:00 am. We buy the tickets in the second shift so that our clients can fully enjoy their guided tour of Machu Picchu. Remember, the shifts only indicate the time of entry. You can go up and down Huayna Picchu without haste.

The ticket for Huayna Picchu costs US$ 75.00 per person.

Machu Picchu Mountain

Machu Picchu Mountain is another of the mountains that surround the archaeological site of Machu Picchu. It offers even more incredible views than Huayna Picchu, but it takes 1.5 hours to reach the top. This walk requires an entrance ticket which we can assure for you if we have time in advance.

The excursion entrance to Machu Picchu Mountain is open in two shifts as well, the first from 7:00 am to 8:00 am, and the second from 9:00 am to 10:00 am.

The ticket for Machu Picchu Mountain costs US$ 75.00 per person.

Vistadome Train

All our tours include the PeruRail Expedition train. This train leaves Aguas Calientes at 4:22 pm. The Vistadome train is a higher category service that offers more comfortable seats, a panoramic design that will allow you to see through the roof, as well as an entertainment show on board. The Vistadome train leaves Aguas Calientes at 4:43 pm and goes to Ollantaytambo train station. From there, we’ll take you on our transport to your hotel in Cusco.

You can access this service for an additional payment of US$ 60.00 per person.

  Before You Go

We want to make your trip to Peru as memorable and as carefree as possible. In this section, you’ll find the answers to all the questions you have about traveling with Salkantay Trekking in one place. Please read the following information carefully – it will help you with any questions about our services.

Have another question that we haven’t answered here? Drop us a line and we will get back to you asap!

How many days do I need to acclimate in Cusco before the Trek?

It is very important to be well acclimated to the altitude before exerting yourself on a trek. We do recommend that you arrive in Cusco at least 2 or 3 days before the trek starts to help you become acclimatized and avoid possible problems with altitude sickness while on the trek.

Suppose you have already been in another area of Peru at a high altitude before arriving in Cusco. In that case, we still recommend you have a whole day in Cusco to rest, recover from your travel, and enjoy the sights and sounds of Cusco before departing for the trek.

Here some suggestions for activities to do in the Cusco vicinity before starting your adventure trek:

Briefing or Informative Meeting

All information meetings and briefings are held in our main office in Cusco (or your hotel) at 5:00 pm, one night before the tour begins. These meetings last approximately 30 to 45 minutes. If you’re unable to attend, you must coordinate another time by email, by phone or at the Salkantay Trekking office.

Can I store my luggage at your office?

Of course! During the trip, your main luggage can be stored at our office (you can organize it with us on the briefing day or by email) or at your hotel, both free of charge.

Any equipment that you won’t 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 everything). It’s best to put items such as credit cards inside a sealed, signed envelope for extra peace of mind.

Pick up of guests

Salkantay Trekking can pick you up from your hotel, as long as it’s in the Historical Center of Cusco. Your guide will coordinate the pickup time in the briefing session, but please keep in mind that the time may vary between 30 and 45 minutes due to traffic.

Cusco is an old city, meaning 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

Group tours are made up of different types of people, then 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, the guide will be the one who decides, after consulting with all the participants, if such modifications are possible.

Strikes and demonstrations

Strikes and demonstrations are common 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 trip as originally planned, even if it means leaving the night before the scheduled date.

Under these circumstances, tours may also be canceled. In case of changes or cancellations, everything will be coordinated with you by our operations department. Your safety is our highest priority, and our decisions will be made to protect it.

Lost objects

Please pay attention to where you leave your things and remember to take everything once you leave our transport or restaurant. You’re the only one responsible for your objects during the tour.

  Packing List

WHAT SHOULD YOU BRING?

ESSENTIAL

Valid Passport
Valid Passport
Extra money (recommended soles)
Extra money (recommended soles)
Personal medication
Personal medication
Water bottle or CamelBak
Water bottle or CamelBak
Sunblock: factor 70 or more
Sunblock: factor 70 or more
Insect repellent
Insect repellent

CLOTHING

Hiking boots or shoes (preferably waterproof)
Hiking boots or shoes (preferably waterproof)
Trekking pants (*)
Trekking pants (*)
Trekking socks
Trekking socks
Pair of thermal pants
Pair of thermal pants
Warm jacket
Warm jacket
Waterproof jacket
Waterproof jacket
Raincoat or rain poncho
Raincoat or rain poncho
Sun hat to protect neck and face
Sun hat to protect neck and face
Wool hat for the cold
Wool hat for the cold
Neck gaiter or buff
Neck gaiter or buff
Sunglasses with UV protection
Sunglasses with UV protection

EQUIPMENT

Medium trekking backpack (15 - 25 liter)
Medium trekking backpack (15 - 25 liter)

RECOMMENDED

Camera and charger
Camera and charger
Power bank
Power bank
  Pricing

"Humantay Lake Hike" can leave any day of the week, from March through January. We don’t operate this itinerary in February because of the rainy season & maintenance of the route.

2023 Land Cost

Group Price: US$ 100.00 per person

This small-group journey is guaranteed to operate with just two guests.

Notice that PayPal charges a fee of 5%, which we ask the client to cover since it's due to the use of its service. This tax is just for online deposits.

Extensions & Offers

There are several extensions you can include to your Peru Adventure.

  • Rainbow Mountain:  US$ 100.00  US$ 80.00
  • Sacred Valley:  US$ 60.00  US$ 50.00
  • City Tour:  US$ 30.00 US$ 20.00

Price Guarantee

Once your booking has been confirmed, we guarantee the price won’t increase, whatever the circumstances. So please, before booking, ensure you’ve read all our important tour information.

  Enquire Now

Thank you for your interest in having an adventure travel experience in Peru curated by Salkantay Trekking. 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.

Our Pledge |  Your privacy is respected and protected. The Salkantay Trekking Company will never share, sell, or make public any of your personal contact information to third parties.

Personal Details

Trip Details

Humantay Lake One Day Tour
14 years and above
Below 14 years
7 + 3 =

Remember |  One of our Travel Experts will contact you soon to confirm the availability of the trip you chose, give you more information, and/or provide you alternative options. Once availability is established, we will ask for a deposit and a completed online registration to confirm your spot on the trek. Please call us at (+51) 958 191 179 with any questions or to confirm availability over the phone.

Note |  Due to the rainy season and trail maintenance, we don't offer this trek during the whole month of february. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you, we are working to provide you a better service!

Feel free to reach us via email at sales@salkantaytrekking.com or by calling us directly at (+51) 958 191 179

Every Day: 9:00 am to 7:00 pm

Triunfo Street 346 - Main Square of Cusco, Peru

Customer Support
Exciting Treks in Cusco icon

Related Peru Tours & Hikes

Alternative journeys you may be interested in

Here you have other options that will suit your needs from the Humantay Lake Hike

Exciting Treks in Cusco icon

Related Articles

Explorations Journal

Just looking for inspiration? Take a look at our latest blog posts below.

Logotype Certified Covid Control Service Logotype Latin American Excellence Model Tourism Quality Peru Logotype TRIPADVISOR Excellence Certificate Tourism Quality Trekking TourCert International Responsible Tourism
From US$100

Start a Conversation

Hi! Click one our members below to chat on WhatsApp ;)