Beat the Crowds Humantay Lake Day Tour (Private)
Description
An Exclusive Early Access to Serenity: Begin your journey ahead of the crowd to Humantay Lake's pristine beauty. It’s not just about getting there; it’s about having that pristine space mostly to yourself. Elevate Your Experience: After a manageable 1.5-2h hike, stand at 4200m (13,800 ft.) beside a crystal-clear lake, taking in views that many travelers don't get to see. And because we know altitude can be a challenge, we ensure the hike is paced for enjoyment and safety. Picture-Perfect Perspectives: Go beyond the typical view. We guide you to elevated vantage points around the lake that most tours miss—ensuring you capture memories and photos that will be the envy of all. Journey in Comfort: The drive is long, but it doesn't have to be uncomfortable. Relax in our specially modified seats, a pleasant change from the standard hard ones you'll find elsewhere. Travel with the Best: With rave reviews backing us, join a small group of up to 8 enthusiastic travelers!
Tour Options
Itinerary
3:00 am: Early pick-up from your hotel in Cusco (it’s worth the early start to beat the crowds and make the most of your day).
5:35 am: Enjoy a wholesome and energizing breakfast (no touristy fare here—just fresh, high-quality ingredients) as we make our way to the briefing spot.
7:40 am: Arrive at the parking lot + Meet your guide for an informative briefing. 9:30 am: Reach the stunning Humantay Lake, where you'll soak in the tranquility and breathtaking beauty of nature. Later, explore various vantage points for the perfect photo opportunities. 11:00 am: Head back to the vehicle.
12:00 pm: Savor a delicious lunch at the top-rated restaurant in the area, known for its quality, cleanliness, and exceptional service.
3:30 pm: Return to Cusco and drop-off at your hotel. Note: All times are approximations.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Pickup from your hotel/hostel/AirBnb close to the Cusco city center. IMPORTANT: After you made your reservation, please send us immediately via the Tripadvisor messenger the pickup location and food preferences. This messenger will be available within your booking confirmation.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Bring your backpack, a rain cape and layers of clothes so you'll be warm
- Take gloves, a hat, hiking shoes + extra socks with you (in case of snow)
- Bring sunscreen, sunglasses and some extra money
- We highly recommend at least 24 hours of acclimatization before doing any of our tours in Cusco
- Minimum age is 12 years
Reviews(144)
We visited Humantay Lake with Exploor and really appreciated the early start to beat the crowds. Having the lake almost to ourselves for an hour was truly rewarding — after that it quickly became busy and noisy, which made us even more grateful for the timing. The hike was slightly challenging due to the altitude, but absolutely worth it once we reached the stunning turquoise lake. Our guide, Maik, was very friendly, attentive to our needs, and knowledgeable, and our driver Harold, was both skilled and welcoming. Pick-up was on time, and the car was very comfortable, making the whole trip smooth and enjoyable. Overall, a well-organized tour and a memorable experience!
Thank you so much for your wonderful review, Nikoleta! We're thrilled to hear that you had such a memorable experience at Humantay Lake and that the early start made it even more special. Having the lake almost to yourself truly is magical, and we’re glad you got to enjoy that peaceful moment before the crowds arrived. Maik and Harold will be delighted to know their friendliness, care, and professionalism made your journey smooth and enjoyable from start to finish. It’s great to hear that everything - from the comfortable ride to the timing and organization - met your expectations. Thanks again for sharing your experience and for choosing Exploor! Best wishes from our entire Exploor Peru team.
I had a very nice and bearable experience, I loved being able to enjoy this tour full of learning, thank you team.
Querida Hilsies, muchas gracias por tu comentario! Nos alegra muchísimo saber que tuviste una experiencia bonita y enriquecedora. Es un placer para nosotros poder compartir momentos llenos de aprendizaje y hacer que cada tour sea especial. Gracias por confiar en nosotros. Un fuerte abrazo de parte de todo el equipo de Exploor Peru.
The trip to the Humantay lagoon was fantastic, food was good enough for the remote area. Exploor is a serious company always on time and even when the group wasn't big enough never canceled the trip, but decided to going on even when the price was lower than what it is for private tour. Jesus, our tour guide, great guy always attentive and helpful. I would 100% recommended this company and this trip. Nathaly
Thank you so much for your detailed and thoughtful review, Nathaly! We're very happy to hear you had a fantastic experience at the Humantay Lagoon and that everything- from the punctuality and reliability of the service to the dedication of our team - met your expectations. We especially appreciate your mention of Jesús; he truly goes above and beyond to make sure everyone feels cared for. And yes, even when the group is small, we believe in keeping our commitment to travelers like you. Thanks again for the recommendation! Best wishes from our entire Exploor Peru team.
We booked a "Beat the Crowds Humantay Lake Day Tour" with Explore and we left feeling very happy with our experience. We were picked up in front of of the hotel very early, the van was modern, clean and comfortable and the long ride to the mountain base. On the way we stopped for a few minutes while our guide - Darwin - Grabbed breakfast to go. This saved us some time and allowed us to arrive to the lake with with only a few people there and most of the view unspoiled. It was definitely worth the early rise compared to other Tours we saw online. Darwin was fantastic, he allowed us to go at our pace... we are both in our mid 30's and this climb was definitely strenuous. We stopped often but we kept pushing onwards. When we got to the lake we had a snack and enjoyed the gorgeous scenery. Of course, we took our photos and walked about a little. When we were ready to leave, we saw big groups of people coming in, so we just missed them! So is this Tour recommended? yes, despite the higher price we felt it was worth it for the little details that made it better. I would not have want to do this with a group bigger than 4 people... in this case it was just me and my partner. Climbs are very personal and each one has their own pace. Is this climb difficult? I would say it is for those that dont usually do this kind of trail and hike. If you, like us, are city people then this will be challenging. Bring water, ask for the complementary walking sticks and take it slow and stop often. The views along the way are amazing so dont feel rushed to the top.
Thank you for sharing your experience! We're so glad to hear you enjoyed the tour with us. It sounds like the early start really paid off, allowing you to take in the serene beauty of the lake before the crowds arrived. Darwin will be thrilled to know his efforts to make the experience comfortable and paced to your needs made such a positive impact. Your tips about the climb and the personalized nature of the small group tour are incredibly helpful for others considering this adventure. We appreciate your thoughtful recommendation and are delighted we could provide a memorable and tailored experience for you and your partner. Thank you for choosing Exploor Peru, and we hope to see you again for more adventures!
Had an amazing time visiting Humantay Lake! Thank you Maik (our guide) for sharing your passion and love of Peruvian history and culture with us! It was an early early morning, but worth it as we had the Lake all to ourselves on arrival, it was very serene and beautiful:) Pick up with our guide went well, our lunch post walk was fantastic and the views were again amazing. Would definitely recommend this trip!
Thank you, Kathryn, for sharing your experience! We're thrilled to hear you had an amazing time visiting Humantay Lake and that Maik's passion for Peruvian history and culture added so much to your trip. Arriving before the crowds is just an incredible feeling, and we're glad you found the early start worthwhile. Your recommendation means a lot to us—thank you and best wishes from our entire Exploor Peru team!
So worth getting up early, my guide Maik and I were the only ones at the lake and there were hundreds of people hiking us as we were coming down. Maik was also able to sore my luggage in the van as I was changing hotels after the trip.
Thank you for sharing your experience, Christie! We’re so glad to hear that starting early allowed you to enjoy the serene beauty of the lake before the crowds arrived. It’s great that Maik could assist with storing your luggage and make your transition between hotels seamless. We’ll be sure to share your kind words with him. Best wishes from the Exploor Peru team!
We had an incredible experience with Junior as our tour guide and Haro as our driver. Both were exceptionally courteous and made us feel welcome throughout the trip. Junior showcased some breathtaking views and guided us along special routes, providing fascinating insights into the history of the lake and Peru. His knowledge made the experience not only educational but also enjoyable. Junior took fantastic photos of us and demonstrated remarkable patience during the entire tour. My fiancé and I were thrilled to arrive early, as we truly had the lake to ourselves, just as others had mentioned in their reviews. This early arrival allowed us to capture stunning pictures in a serene setting, just before the crowds arrived. The private tour and one-on-one experience with Junior felt exclusive and intimate, which we greatly appreciated. It was absolutely worth the additional cost. Junior and Haro were also very accommodating, taking us for lunch and ensuring a comfortable return to our hotels. We enjoyed our time so much that we requested Junior to be our guide again, with Haro as our driver. We felt safe, cared for, and entertained throughout our journey. Their professionalism and warmth truly made our experience memorable.
Thank you, Samantha, for your thoughtful review! We're thrilled to hear that Junior and Haro provided you with such an exceptional experience. It’s wonderful that their professionalism, warmth, and attention to detail made your journey so memorable. From breathtaking views and serene moments at the lake to the personalized care and insights, it sounds like an unforgettable trip. We’re so glad you appreciated the exclusivity of the private tour and felt safe and cared for throughout. We’ll be sure to pass along your kind words to Junior and Haro. Best wishes from the Exploor Peru team!
It's a very difficult hike but worth the trip! Carlos was our guide. He was patient, friendly, and made the journey memorable!
Allie, thank you for your feedback! We're delighted to hear that despite the challenging hike, you found it worth the trip. Carlos will be thrilled to know his patience and friendliness made your journey memorable. We hope to see you again on another adventure! Best wishes from the entire Exploor Peru team!
Went on this tour during our second day at Cusco. We were nervous due to the altitude and the difficulty of the trek but our guide Maik was incredible. We were picked up at 3:30am and took a 3+ hour ride to the start of the tour. We decided to take horses since it was our first major hike of 5 and didn’t want to run our race in the paddock (horse joke). We took the horses which cut our 90 mins of the climb so we were able to have more time at the lagoon. We had a 15 min climb to the upper most point of the lagoon which was 14,000+ feet elevation and maik was beyond encouraging of us. Once maik explained the history of the exploration of the lagoon and the glacier and the effects it’s facing due to global warming he became a photography expert, taking all these amazing pictures of us. On the trek down, we saw a couple hundred people making their way up the mountain so beating the crowd is really the truth and worth it. Maik was so patient with my wife and I taking our time to get back down with the steep terrain and the endless amounts of rocks we had to walk on. Overall he made an already incredible experience even better.
Thank you for sharing your detailed experience! We're thrilled to hear that Maik made your HUmantay Lake tour so memorable and that you were able to avoid the crowds with us. Your feedback about Maik’s patience and support, especially with the steep terrain, means a lot to us. We’re delighted he could enhance an already incredible experience for you and your wife. Best wishes from our entire Exploor Peru team!
Incredible experience! They arrived at our hotel on time, the vehicle was super comfortable and there was no sudden movement like on other tours we were on. Once we were ready to begin the hike, Carlos explained to us and answered all of our questions. Thanks to him, we got to know Humantay before more people arrived and we were able to take photos and enjoy the beautiful landscape without any problem. We fell in love with this experience and this mountain. We recommend it 100%! Unmissable experience
Hola Vivi, muchas gracias por tu increíble reseña. Nos alegra saber que Carlos pudo responder a todas sus preguntas y les permitió conocer Humantay antes de que llegaran más personas, permitiéndoles tomar fotos y disfrutar del hermoso paisaje en tranquilidad. Estamos encantados de que hayas quedado enamorada de esta experiencia y de la montaña. Agradecemos mucho tu recomendación al 100%. ¡Esperamos verte de nuevo para más aventuras inolvidables! Saludos de todo el equipo Exploor Peru.
