Humantay Lake Cusco, Complete travel information
The city of Cusco has a wide range of attractions that impress tourists thanks to its history. One of these places is the Humantay Lake in Cusco , a beautiful turquoise lake that is very striking for those who enjoy nature.
If you are planning to visit Machu Picchu or any other tourist site in the Cusco region , and if you have a few days free during your trip, Humantay Lake may be just what you are looking for.
The so-called Humantay Lake is named after the snow-capped mountain located nearby, known as Humantay , which reaches a height of 5,473 meters. This Lake is considered one of the most impressive and sacred in the Cusco region due to its turquoise waters surrounded by the majestic Salkantay snow-capped mountain, whose peak rises to 6,270 meters. It is easy to understand why this lake is so popular when admiring its natural beauty.
In addition to travelers who visit the lake on day trips, there are other, more daring ones who venture to do the famous “Salkantay Trek”, a 5-day hike to Machu Picchu. During this tour, they have the opportunity to visit the lake on their way to the final destination.
What is the route to get to Humantay Lake?
The road to reach the Humantay Lake from the city of Cusco is around 120 kilometers, crossing the towns of Limatambo and Mollepata until reaching the community of Soraypampa.
After entering Soraypampa, we begin an uphill hike of approximately 2 km to reach the lake. If you are traveling with a tour package, transportation is covered, including horse rental for the hike, plus breakfast and lunch in Mollepata. Traveling on your own? No problem. Below we provide the complete route.
Is it possible for me to go to the lake on my own?
Of course you have the ability to do it, and now we will show you in detail each step you must follow on your way:
- To get to the town of Mollepata from the city of Cusco, it is necessary to use public transport. The bus leaves from the Arcopata station and costs approximately 25 soles (equivalent to 7 US dollars).
- After arriving in Mollepata , you need to take a shared taxi to get to the community of Soraypampa.
- You may not be able to find one of these collective taxis, so you will have to take a regular taxi. In this case, the cost of the taxi can be around 50 soles (about 12 US dollars).
- To reach the Humantay Lake in Soraypampa, you have to walk about 2km, which can take between 1 to 2 hours depending on your stamina. Although it is a very beautiful experience, it is recommended to do the tour on your own only if you are used to this type of hiking, since it can be exhausting to be at an altitude of 4,200 meters above sea level.
- What is the admission price to access the lake?
In order to reach the Soraypampa camp and visit the lake in the town of Mollepata, you must pay an entrance fee to the Humantay Lake. The price for foreign tourists is 25 soles (equivalent to 6.5 dollars) and for Peruvians it is 15 soles (approximately 1.5 dollars).
What are the recommended activities to do in Laguna Humantay?
If you want to live the full experience at Humantay Lake , you can participate in various activities offered in the area.
Witness the celebration
At the beautiful Humantay Lake, an ancient ceremony takes place in honor of Pachamama, considered Mother Earth. Upon arriving at the lake, visitors can join the ceremony by placing stones as a symbol of gratitude for having arrived at the place safely and happily.
The legendary story of Laguna Humantay tells of two brothers named Salkantay and Ausangate, who ventured to explore unknown lands in search of food for their people who were suffering a great shortage.
Humantay Lake
Humantay Lake is a beautiful lake located in the district of Mollepata, in the province of Anta in Peru. It is located at an altitude of more than 4,200 meters above sea level and is considered one of the most popular tourist spots in the region for its stunning natural beauty. It is known for its crystal-clear waters and the stunning landscape that surrounds it, with views of the snow-capped mountains and the imposing Salkantay snow-capped mountain.
Go camping
Just a few minutes from the lake in a snow-covered place there is an ecocamp that will allow you to live a unique experience by witnessing the sunrise and sunset. In addition, you will have the opportunity to explore the most interesting places in the Peruvian mountains.
It is advisable to bring appropriate cold weather gear if you plan to camp. This is due to the low temperatures recorded at the lake throughout the day.
To ride a horse
Residents of Soraypampa, a community near Laguna Humantay, offer horse rental services at the start of the trail. However, this service is only available for the steep parts of the trail and costs approximately 90 Peruvian soles (23 USD).
What time of year is it recommended to visit Laguna Humantay?
Although the weather in the highlands and mountains is unpredictable, many tourists visit Cusco during the dry season, which runs from May to mid-October. During this season, you can take perfect Instagram photos thanks to the sunny weather, and even more so in places like the lake where its beautiful turquoise-blue color stands out more clearly.
Although you can visit it at any time of the year, during the rainy season the influx of tourists to the Humantay Lake is lower. In addition, unlike other tourist attractions such as the Inca Trail tour or tickets to Machu Picchu , you will always find the Humantay Lake tour available in Cusco .
Speaking about Machu Picchu, it is important to mention the advantages of traveling on the PeruRail Expedition train. If you are a person who enjoys long walks, beautiful landscapes and adventures, this trip will be perfect for you. Are you interested? Don’t hesitate to buy your tickets right now!
