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.
04:30 We pick you up from your hotel
05:00 Driving to Soraypampa.
09:00 Breakfast in Soraypampa.
09:30 Trekking to Laguna Humantay
11:30 Free time.
12:30 Trekking back to Soraypampa.
14:00 Lunch in Soraypampa.
15:00 Return to Cusco.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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 |
According to our image we have the following altitudes in trekking to humantay:
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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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).
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.
Yes. To go to the lagoon on your own you must take public transport from the city of Cusco to the town of Mollepata. The buses leave from the ‘Arcopata’ terminal and cost approximately 15 Peruvian soles (5 USD).
Once in Mollepata you must get a collective taxi service to the community of Soraypampa. There are times when you will not find this transport so you will need to get a taxi. This service could cost 50 Peruvian soles (15 USD).
Finally, in Soraypampa you must make the walk to the Humantay lagoon. Due to the complexity of the trip by public transport, it is recommended to choose a tour package with transport included. It can be cheaper and safer than going on your own.
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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