Humantay Lake Tour (One Day)

Humantay Lake at the foot of the Humantay glacier
Travelers at Humantay Lake with the snow-capped mountain behind
Turquoise water of Humantay Lake
Humantay Lake reflecting the glacier
Glacier of Humantay mountain above the lake
DURATION 1 Day - 04:45am to 17:30pm
DEPARTURE Hotel - Plaza San Francisco
GROUP SIZE 2-19 pax
MAX. ALTITUDE 4200 m.a.s.l.
DIFFICULTY Desafiante

The beginning of the journey

  • We will have a 4-hour hike to reach Humantay Lagoon in Cusco (2 hours up and 2 hours back), during which we will appreciate the landscapes, see the Salkantay snowy peak, and the turquoise color of Humantay Lagoon.
  • Connect with the Andean wildlife as you encounter llamas, alpacas, and horses, which you can even rent to facilitate your ascent to the majestic Humantay Lagoon in Cusco.
  • Along the way, you will have the opportunity to meet local communities and discover how they organize themselves to work, preserving their traditional way of life in harmony with nature.
  • Enjoy stunning mountain landscapes, with spectacular views of the snow-capped peaks. Every step is an opportunity to capture photographs that will last a lifetime.

Itinerary

On this day, we will pick you up from your hotel between 4:30 and 4:45 a.m. to start the tour, taking you to the town of Mollepata, in the lush valley of the Apurímac River. After a semi-buffet breakfast to fill us with energy, we will continue our journey to Soraypampa (3900 m.a.s.l.) and, after a brief rest, we will begin our hike to Humantay Lake, located at 4200 m (13,779 ft).

After an ascent of approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes, we will witness the wonderful view and have free time to take photographs. We will then descend to Soraypampa and drive back to Mollepata for lunch (semi-buffet). Finally, we will return to the city of Cusco, arriving at approximately 5:30 p.m.

Schedule:

  • 04:30 - 06:30 Journey from Cusco to Mollepata
  • 06:30 - 07:30 Semi-buffet breakfast
  • 07:30 - 08:30 Journey from Mollepata to Soraypampa
  • 08:30 - 12:30 Hike to Humantay Lake
  • 12:30 - 13:30 Journey from Soraypampa to Mollepata
  • 13:30 - 14:30 Semi-buffet lunch
  • 14:30 - 17:30 Journey from Mollepata to Cusco

What's included

  • Pickup from your hotel. Hotel pickups begin at 4:30am for group tours. For private tours to the Humantay Lake, the pickup time can be arranged.
  • Bilingual professional guide (Spanish and English). In group tours, the tour is conducted in Spanish and English, one after the other. In private tours, you can choose to have the tour in Spanish, English, or Portuguese.
  • Transport Cusco-Mollepata / Soraypampa-Mollepata-Cusco
  • First aid kit and oxygen balloon
  • Trekking poles
  • Buffet breakfast and lunch. We will enjoy breakfast in Kusipata at the beginning of the tour and a buffet meal at the end of the tour.
    • For the breakfast, the following will be offered: Andean bread (pan chuta), pancakes, fruit salad (chopped watermelon and papaya), jam and butter, 2 varieties of cereals (granola and crispy rice), 2 types of yogurt (strawberry or vanilla), and scrambled eggs. You have the opportunity to serve yourself from thermoses of coffee, hot chocolate, and muña tea. Sometimes juice and salad are also served.
    • For the lunch, you can serve yourself spaghetti, white meat (fried chicken, tenderloin, beef stew, trout chicharrón), red meat (lamb stew, beef tenderloin, pork chicharrón), quinoa chaufa, lentils, Andean potatoes, as well as white rice or Peruvian-style vegetable rice (arroz a la jardinera). For lunch, there are also 2 varieties of salads: cooked (carrot, broccoli) and raw (lettuce, cucumber, tomato), excellent vegetarian options. If you want soup, you can have quinoa soup. For dessert, you can try mazamorra morada or arroz con leche (both are among the most popular Peruvian desserts), gelatin (jell-o), or peach stew. Hot beverages include muña tea, coca tea, and coffee.
  • Horse. You can rent a horse to ease the hike:
    • S/. 80.00 Soles – Price for round trip. Maximum capacity 75 kilos. Rented at the beginning of the hiking circuit.
  • Entrance ticket for Peruvians to the town of Mollepata and the Humantay Lagoon
    • S/. 10.00 Soles. Can be paid at the entrance.
  • Entrance ticket for foreigners to the town of Mollepata and the Humantay Lake
    • S/. 20.00 Soles. Can be paid at the entrance.

    • To purchase the tickets, you must bring Peruvian Soles in cash.

  • Drinks and snacks
  • Drinks are not included with lunch.
  • Dinner.

Recommended to bring

  • Oxyshot, in case you need it to adapt to the lack of oxygen.
  • Good hiking shoes (trekking).
  • 1 liter of water.
  • Camera.
  • Sweater and gloves for the cold.
  • Raincoat or poncho.
  • Sportswear.
  • Hat or cap.
  • Sunglasses and sunscreen.
  • Standard backpack.