As there are many options to do amazing tours when you’re in Cusco, the Humantay Lake tour might not be an obvious choice for every traveler.
In fact, until a few years ago, most people used to stay in Cusco and its surroundings for 3 days only. In concrete, this meant one day to get used to the altitude and to check out Cusco, another one to visit the Sacred Valley and another one for -of course- Machu Picchu.
Nowadays, we can see that more and more people stay between 4 and 5 days in Cusco, as they also want to get to know Cusco’s rainbow mountains and/or the Humantay lake (check out or Best of Cusco in 4 days tour if that sounds interesting to you).
Both options are absolutely worth considering as they will show you more of Peru’s spectacular nature.
In this post, we will tell you all you need to know about the tour and why going to the Humantay lake with us is your best choice.
Check out the following video of the Humantay Lake tour to see what our tour is like.
The alarm clock rang at 3:00 am, we got our stuff ready and our guide Carlos picked us up from our hotel at 3:30 am as communicated the night before. In the bus, there were 2 Americans, 1 Indian, 3 Germans and 1 Peruvian waiting for us.
Everyone was still a little tired but definitely very excited for what was to come. Once we were on the outskirts of Cusco, Carlos put on some relaxing music which was perfect for falling asleep.
I woke up when we got to the checkpoint where you need to pay an entrance fee of S/ 20 ($6). From this point, it took us around 1 hour more until we reached our breakfast spot.
It was 6:26 am and the first sun rays came out. Perfect time to get an energetic breakfast of coffee/tea, bread, fruit and cereals.
After some nice group conversations where we got to know each other better, we entered the van to get to the starting point of the trek. During this ride the driver really earned our respect.
You could tell that he knew how to drive (and that it wasn’t his first time doing this tour). There were quite some locals with their horses on the way and the on top that it was curvy and very narrow.
We arrived at the parking lot together with another van, but they headed to a restaurant to get breakfast so we were the only ones on the hike.
In front of us, there were a couple horses and two beautiful mountains: the Humantay mountain on the left and the Salkantay mountain on the right. The Salkantay trek is a great option if you want to see both mountains during a multi-day hiking tour. Take a look for yourself.
View of the Humantay mountain (17,956 ft. / 5473 m)
View of the Salkantay mountain (20,574 ft / 6271 m)
On the way to the starting point of the hike, we passed various igloos in which people sleep before starting the Salkantay trek, a 5-day tour to Machu Picchu.
Once we made it to the starting point, some people in our group decided to rent a horse for S/ 70 ($20-25) for the way up. That’s definitely a great option for inexperienced hikers or people that want to take it easy.
The beginning of the hike to Humantay lake.
If you’re in a good shape, I wouldn’t say it’s necessary. Just make sure to take it slow as the altitude is no joke.
As our guide Carlos said, “The first part up to the wooden house is the most difficult part. The rest of the hike is easy.” And he was right.
On the way to the wooden house we could see the fog coming closer and closer behind us. I was worried that we wouldn’t get any clear shots of the Humantay lake. Luckily, the fog disappeared after a while and we were good to go.
View of the valley when hiking to Humantay lake.
We made short stops along the way and Carlos took great care of us respecting everyone’s pace. During a stop, he poured some Eau de Cologne, also known as “condor piss” in Peru, in our hands which we then rubbed and inhaled. This felt great and we were ready to take on the last part of the hike.
This part turned out to be rather simple to be honest. The feeling of hiking to the lake being the only group around was incredible. Nobody around us, even when we finally arrived at the lake.
Everyone of us was surprised by the beautiful setting: a crystal-clear lake at 4200 m and a mighty mountain, the Humantay mountain (17,956 ft / 5.473 m) in the back.
After taking some photos at this spot, we moved on to another one where we could see the entire lake from a more elevated position. Just fascinating!
No matter from which position, the lake is just beautiful.
After 40 minutes or so, the first tourist groups started to arrive. We made sure to get the best photos and then started to descend after being at the lake for 1 hour enjoying the sun and the view.
The hike to the lake took us around 2 hours and the distance was 3 km. Descending was faster, but the distance was the same.
Saying “We’re the first ones to get you there” sounds nice but when you have experienced it yourself, you will understand why it’s so amazing.
It makes you feel like an explorer that just discovered an impressive piece of nature before everyone else. It somehow feels like a privilege. And that’s not just me saying it, but everyone in the group agreed on that.
The way down was uncomplicated. It was the same way we used to get to the Humantay lake, only that this time there were tons of people coming up.
Small groups, large groups, people with horses, guides that urged their clients to hurry up etc. We’ve seen all of it.
Once we made it back to the van, everyone was happy to sit down again knowing that lunch wasn’t far. We headed back to the same restaurant where we had breakfast and everything was all set already.
Lunch buffet with different options of salads and main dishes
For lunch we had a quinoa-vegetable soup and a buffet with different vegetables, rice, chicken and spaghetti with meatballs. The server brought us a kind of sweet pineapple juice and there was also tea or coffee available.
I think everyone fell asleep on the way back to Cusco, as we were all exhausted from getting up so early and hiking at 4000+ meters.
We made it back to Cusco at 4:00 pm which was great as we had the entire afternoon for ourselves. The driver dropped us off in front of our hotel with 3 others that stayed close to us, said goodbye to everyone and were left with incredible memories from this day.
Happy travelers after arriving first at the Humantay lake
The Humantay lake tour is a great option for a day tour from Cusco. Even though it is well known already, you won’t be bothered by large crowds as you arrive before them.
The crystal-clear water and the incredible view of the Humantay mountain and the Salkantay mountain convinced us at Exploor that this tour is definitely one of the top things to do in Cusco.
No matter if you plan on doing this tour or another high-altitude trekking tour, we definitely recommend getting acclimated minimum 2 days before so you don’t have problems with the altitude sickness.
A standard Humantay Lake tour from Cusco lasts a full day, usually around 12 to 13 hours door to door. Most tours start with an early pick-up in Cusco between 4:00 and 5:00 a.m., followed by a drive of about 3.5 hours to the trailhead near Soraypampa. The uphill hike to the lake takes about 1.5 to 2 hours for most travelers, with 40 minutes to 1 hour spent at the lake, then about 1 hour to hike back down. After lunch near the trailhead, you return to Cusco in the afternoon or early evening.
The hike to Humantay Lake is short in distance but challenging because of the altitude. The trail starts around 3,800 meters (about 12,470 feet) and climbs to about 4,200 meters (about 13,780 feet). Most people spend 1.5 to 2 hours hiking up a steep, uneven path with loose rocks and some switchbacks. Anyone with average fitness can usually complete the hike, but those not used to high altitude may need frequent breaks. Some travelers choose to hire a horse for part of the ascent if they find the climb too demanding.
Pack for changing mountain weather and high-altitude conditions. Essentials include warm layers (thermal top, fleece, windproof or waterproof jacket), comfortable hiking pants, and sturdy shoes with good grip. Bring a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, and lip balm with SPF because the sun is very strong at high altitude. A refillable water bottle or hydration pack, light snacks, and personal medication are also important. Many travelers also bring cash in Peruvian soles for local entrance fees, bathrooms, snacks, or optional horse rentals, since card payments are rare in the area.
Yes, you should spend time acclimating in Cusco before hiking to Humantay Lake. Cusco already sits at about 3,400 meters (11,150 feet), and the lake is even higher. Staying 2 to 3 days in Cusco before the tour gives your body time to adjust and lowers the risk of strong altitude sickness symptoms like headache, nausea, or shortness of breath. During those days, drink plenty of water, avoid heavy alcohol, eat light meals, and consider easier activities before you do the Humantay hike.
Most organized Humantay Lake tours from Cusco include round-trip transportation from central meeting points or hotel pick-up, a professional guide, breakfast on the way to the trailhead, and lunch after the hike. Some tours include entrance fees, while others require you to pay these in cash on arrival. Oxygen, basic first aid, and walking sticks may be provided or available to rent, depending on the operator. Always check what is included in your specific tour so you know whether to bring extra snacks, cash, or gear.
Petra7 November, 2021 at 4:45 am
Do we really reach the top before the crowds??? Is it also possible to take a horse for the way back?
Konsti from Exploor Peru7 November, 2021 at 5:11 am
Hello Petra,
with us you’ll reach the top before the big crowds arrive! Why? Because we are starting the tour at already 3.30am :-).
In case you have any further questions then feel free to reach out.
Team Exploor