Humantay Lake Day Trip: A Blue Lagoon Surrounded by Beautiful Landscapes
Tierras Vivas invites you to discover the turquoise waters of Humantay Lake on a 1 Day tour. Connect with nature on one of the most famous routes.....
Description
This Humantay Lake day trip is ideal for nature lovers who do not have many days but who will find spectacular landscapes, with exotic flora and fauna along this adventure hike through beautiful valleys and white mountains especially the Humantay lagoon considered one of the mountains and most sacred lagoons in the region.
Humantay Lake is surrounded by imposing glaciers that are part of the Andes, among them the majestic Salkantay and Humantay snowy that at the thaw gives rise to the splendid Humantay Lagoon, which when you visit it will transform your way of seeing the nature, enjoying the flora and fauna that will be recorded in your wonderful photographs in the place with 100% pure oxygen that your body will thank you for.
Enjoy with us this great adventure full of breathtaking landscapes, it is an unmissable route that little by little is being very popular and requested by all visitors to the city of Cusco. The Humantay Lake tour includes a short walk of approximately 1 hour, it is worth doing it since at the end you will find one of the most beautiful panoramas.
What to Expect
Quick Itinerary:
4:30 We pick you up from your hotel
5:00 Driving to Soraypampa.
9:00 Breakfast in Soraypampa.
9:30 Trekking to Laguna Humantay
11:30 Free time.
12:30 Trekking back to Soraypampa.
14:00 Lunch in Soraypampa.
15:00 Return to Cusco.
Many reasons to do the Humantay Lake tour
The Humantay Lake is a Peruvian gem of nature that is part of the Salkantay route, in Cusco. A paradise that until now has remained hidden, but little by little the whole world is getting to know and is falling in love, not only with the colors of the lagoon but also with the majesty of the Humantay snowy, which together added to the shine of the Cusco sun form The most beautiful natural mirror you can imagine. If you also want to be one of the first to know this beautiful place, here are all the tips to encourage you, pack your bags and start a new adventure towards this earthly paradise.
Highlights of the Humantay Lake day trip:
- The Humantay Lagoon is located at 4200 meters above sea level.
- The tour starts at 5:00 am and returns around 6:00 pm.
- Among the landscapes to see are Andean mountains, wide pampas, jungle brows and snowy mountains.
- On the tour you will see the sacred snow of Salkantay.
- You can take binoculars for a better view!
- You can wear a swimsuit in case you dare to dive into the waters of the lagoon.
- You can extend your adventure and take the five-day route through the snowy Salkantay, Humantay Lagoon and Machu Picchu, known as the 5-day Salkantay Hike, of medium to moderate difficulty.
Itineray Details
Humantay Lake day trip
Our transfer will pick you up from your hotel between 4:15 to 4:30 a.m and set out on a drive throught Mollepata town where we will enjoy a typical breakfast in the area.
After breakfast we will return to our bus to continue our Humantay Lake tour so we can observe the beautiful landscapes and streams that surround us until we reach Soraypampa, where we will start our walk towards the Humantay Lagoon. Here our specialized guide will give us enough time to be able to prepare our equipment such as canes, water, personal backpacks, etc.
We will start our hike to the Humantay lagoon at an altitude of 4,250 m.s.m., our ascent lasts about an hour and a half until we reach the Humantay lagoon. When you arrive at this beautiful Humantay lagoon, you will have all the time necessary to be able to enjoy the natural beauty that surrounds us and also fill us with the energy that this mountain of the snowy Salkantay has. Here our guide will give us a demonstration of the use of the coca leaf and a small offering to our apus (Mountains) that allowed us to arrive, which we will be participants of it.
After all this beautiful adventure we will descend to the starting point of the trek (Soraypampa). Continuing the trip we will go to Mollepata where we will enjoy our lunch and after that we will return to Cusco, arriving at the city at 18:30.
Included
What is included?
- Pick up from your hotel in Cusco
- Entrance to Lagoon Humantay.
- Professional bilingual guide
- Meals: 1x breakfast, 1x lunch
- Tourist transport from Cusco - Soraypampa - Cusco
- First aid kit, emergency oxygen.
Not Included:
- Meals not destails and Snack
- Tips
- Emergency horse in case you need.
Essential Information
Tips for the Humantay Lake tour
- Take a light breakfast, try to include a coca tea, as it helps a lot to avoid altitude sickness.
- For the trek brings water or rehydrating drinks, chocolates, cereal bars or candies that serve as a source of energy.
- Protect your face with sunscreen and sunglasses.
- Try to go with warm clothing but comfortable, so it does not hinder the trek.
Packing List
- Trekking shoes
- Walking stick
- Mosquito repellent
- Sun cream, sunglasses
- Warm or thermal clothing.
- Snacks
- Water bottles.
- Rain poncho
- Bags for trush
Humantay Lake hike difficulty
The Humantay Lake day trip has an average difficulty. We leave early, at approximately 5:00 am in a tourist van to Mollepata, the town that marks the beginning of the trek.
The terrain is hard and with small stones. Depending on the season, the temperature can drop by half to the snowy Salkantay, so it is necessary to take some shelter as protection.
Considering the Humantay Lake hike difficulty, in case you need walking sticks, you can rent them with Tierras Vivas. Remember that our professional guides have all the necessary equipment such as oxygen ball, first aid kit, among others.
The Humantay Lake hike difficulty is medium but it is suitable for people of all ages.
How to get to Humantay Lake?
How to go?
To get to the Humantay lagoon from the city of Cusco, a road trip of approximately 120 kilometers must be followed, passing through the towns of Limatambo and Mollepata until arriving at the community of ‘Soraypampa’.
Once in ‘Soraypampa’ an uphill walk of approximately 2 kilometers begins until reaching the lagoon. If you travel with a package tour, transportation is included as well as breakfast and lunch in the town of Mollepata. If you travel on your own, you must hire a public transport in the city of Cusco.
Map to get to the Humantay lagoon
When to go to the Humantay Lagoon?
Best time to get to the Humantay Lagoon
The best time to go to Humantay is from May to November because it is the dry season: the sky is clear, the weather is beautiful, and the scenery is magnificent.
Don't forget to bring your camera!
Climate
Between the months of November and March the climate in the Humantay lagoon is temperate with rainfall, while between April and October the climate is cold but with lots of sun during the day.
| Month |
Max. T. |
Min. T. |
Climate |
| January |
18.5ºC |
6ºC |
With rains |
| February |
18ºC |
6ºC |
With rains |
| March |
18.5ºC |
6ºC |
With rains |
| April |
19ºC |
4ºC |
Dry |
| May |
19ºC |
2ºC |
Dry |
| June |
18.5ºC |
0ºC |
Dry |
| July |
18ºC |
0ºC |
Dry |
| August |
19ºC |
1ºC |
Dry |
| September |
19ºC |
3ºC |
Dry |
| October |
20ºC |
5ºC |
Dry |
| November |
20ºC |
5ºC |
With rains |
| December |
18ºC |
6ºC |
With rains |
Altitudes on the trek to Humantay Lagoon
According to our image we have the following altitudes in trekking to humantay:
- Beginning of the Trekking the town of Soraypampa at 3,875 m.s.n.m. (12,714 feet)
- Camps for the route from Salkantay to Machu Picchu 3,908 m.s.n.m. (12,822 feet)
- Humantay Lagoon at an altitude of 4,180 m.s.n.m. (12,714 feet)
- Humantay Lake viewpoint at an altitude of 4,200 m.s.n.m. (13,780 feet)
Will I feel the effect of the altitude?
It is impossible to know in advance how our body reacts to altitude because it is not related to age or physical condition.
Some people feel the symptoms strongly (most common: headaches, nausea), others hardly.
That is why before starting a hike at this altitude, it is very important that you spend 2 or 3 days in Cusco to allow your body to acclimatize.
Difficulty of the Humantay Lake Tour
How much distance is walked to reach the Humantay Lagoon?
We start the walk in the town of Soraypampa from this point to the Humantay lagoon is a distance of 2.25 km away, the average time to arrive is 45 min to 1h 20min. At the edge of the humantay lagoon you can see stone towers that are called Apachetas and are a symbol of respect for the lagoon and the Apus of the area that are considered as living sacred beings, where the offerings are also made with the sacred leaf of the Coca, asking for permission and invoking the Pachamama (mother earth) to take care of the people who visit them.
How long is the walk?
The final section of the trip is the walk from Soraypampa to the Humantay lagoon. This section is approximately 2 kilometers and can take 1 to 2 hours, depending on the physical condition of the visitor. Tourists who are not used to this type of hike, can rent a horse as transport to the lagoon. It is common for tourists to feel the symptoms of altitude sickness, whether in Cusco, Machu Picchu or Humantay.
How to rent a horse? How much?
The residents of the community of Soraypampa offer horse rental at the starting point of the walk to the Humantay lagoon. The service is only for the uphill section and has an approximate cost of negotiable 90 Peruvian soles (30 USD).
FAQ's about Humantay Lake day trip
Where is the Humantay Lagoon located?
The Humantay lagoon next to its snow-covered lake of the same name is located north-west of the city of Cusco, in the town of Soraypampa, belonging to the District of Mollepata, Province of Anta, Department of Cusco, Peru.
Why does the Humantay Lagoon have turquoise coloration?
The turquoise color of the humantay lagoon is due to the crystallinity of the water and microalgae, possibly of the species Microcystis aeruginosa and Oscillatoria, this even in research and analysis, this would be the factor of said coloration to this beautiful lagoon.
What is the temperature in the lagoon?
The climate in the Humantay lagoon is cold. It varies from 10ºC. (50ºF). at 0 ° C. (32ºF). Because its waters come from the melting of the snow, the temperature can be even lower. There are two seasons in the year: a) the dry season (without rain and colder) and the rainy season (with more probability of rain and less cold).
Can you swim in Lake Humantay?
No, you cannot swim in the lake because it is a source of water for the surrounding communities.
You can drink it if you have a filter, otherwise I do not recommend it because there may be a risk of indigestion.
How much does the entrance to the lagoon cost?
In the town of Mollepata you must pay to enter the Soraypampa camp where the lagoon is. The cost for foreign tourists is 10 Peruvian soles (3 USD). The cost for Peruvian tourists is 5 Peruvian soles (2 USD). Some tour packages include this ticket while others do not.
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