Full-Day Humantay Lake Trek (Meals Included)
Description
Get ready to experience one of the most breathtaking landscapes in the Peruvian Andes. The Humantay Lagoon Trek combines a hike through the mountains of the Vilcabamba range with the beauty of the turquoise-blue waters of one of the most iconic lagoons in the Cusco region. Along the way, you'll be surrounded by mountain scenery, Andean valleys, and snow-capped peaks until you reach Humantay Lagoon, situated at approximately 4,200 meters (13,779 ft) above sea level. At a relaxed pace and with a guide by your side, you'll be able to take in the trail and learn about the cultural and spiritual significance this place holds for Andean peoples. The hike is rated as moderately difficult. Since Humantay Lagoon is located at approximately 4,200 meters above sea level, it's important to be properly acclimatized to Cusco's altitude before doing this activity. Walking at a relaxed pace and following your guide's instructions will help you enjoy the trail more comfortably.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Your adventure begins with an early pickup at your hotel in Cusco. From there, we'll travel to the Mollepata area, a trip of approximately 3.5 hours. Along the way, we'll stop for breakfast at a cozy restaurant before continuing on to the trailhead.
Before reaching the trailhead, we'll stop in Mollepata for breakfast at a cozy restaurant.
Before starting the hike, our guide will provide important information about the route along with some recommendations so you can enjoy the activity with peace of mind. The hike begins at approximately 3,800 meters above sea level and continues to Humantay Lagoon, located at around 4,200 meters in altitude. For this reason, we take the route at a relaxed pace, respecting each traveler's rhythm. Upon reaching the lagoon, you'll be able to admire its turquoise-blue waters, surrounded by the Andes mountains. Our guide will explain the lagoon's origin and its cultural significance for Andean communities. Afterward, you'll have free time to take in the scenery, snap photos, and enjoy the surroundings. As an alternative, part of the route can be done on horseback, subject to availability and an additional fee. After the visit, we'll head back to the parking area to board the vehicle and continue on to lunch. The walk back to the parking area takes approximately 45 minutes.
After a day of hiking and discovery, it will be time to enjoy a buffet lunch made with local ingredients. We've selected a restaurant where you can sample different flavors of Peruvian cuisine. After lunch, we'll travel back toward Cusco. Once in the city, you can choose to be dropped off at your hotel or at the Plaza de Armas, depending on the service logistics. After wrapping up all the activities, we'll return to Cusco, with drop-off at your accommodation.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
• We offer pick up services from several locations within the center of Cusco. • If your accommodations aren't on the list or fall outside the transfer route, we'll suggest a nearby meeting point. • You will receive a confirmed pick up time upon booking.
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 a high level of physical fitness
- The hike begins at approximately 4,200 m (13.780 ft) above sea level and requires a good level of physical fitness.
- We recommend travelers be properly acclimatized to the altitude before taking part in this experience.
- We recommend consulting a doctor before the trip if you have any health condition that could affect your ability to take part in this activity.
Reviews(739)
Guide Roberto mto friendly, helpful and attentive. He took good care of all 7 members of our group, in addition to teaching us a qechua ritual.
The guide Roberto and the driver Valentim were excellent, very welcoming and competent. The walk to the lagoon is impermeable!!! Worth every effort. Breakfast and lunch included and very good.
We went with the guide Roberto and the driver Valentin to the Laguna and had an incredible experience. They are very attentive and professional, I recommend.
Very good, the guide, Milton was super attentive and helped my mother who has a chemotherapy sequel, to go down the mountain, helped her all the way, an unparalleled dear
Very beautiful walk, but has to come prepared, walk a lot. For those who have no preparation even to climb mule is tired around. Important to carry an open shoe to leave in the van, to put on the back to rest your feet.
Milton was a wonderful guide, the same helped me a lot, even with a lot of difficulty to go down, he was accompanying me even getting a little behind, I would not have the courage to speak some bad of him! Seeing how he went with me
It was very good experience, wonderful place
The place itself is already very beautiful and pleasant. The attention of the guide Milthon and the driver were essential to make everything even more special
If you’re reading reviews before booking a private tour, I hope this saves you both time and money. I booked a private Humantay Lake tour with this business for late June. The total cost was $450 for two people (and that didn’t even include the guide’s tip). First, don’t assume you have to book online. Once you’re in Cusco, you’ll find plenty of locals offering private tours, and you can negotiate. The cheapest quote I found was around $150, so this company is definitely overpriced. Now for my experience: When I booked, I messaged them that I was staying in the Sacred Valley and not Cusco and if pickup is available there. They confirmed that this was fine and that they would pick us up from our hotel at 4:00 a.m. Then, at 8:00 p.m. the night before the tour (just seven hours before pickup) they suddenly messaged me saying I needed to be at a plaza in Cusco by 3:50 a.m. When I reminded them that my hotel was in the Sacred Valley and showed them our previous messages, they claimed it had been a “miscommunication” and told me to cancel the tour. This was a short trip with every day carefully planned, so imagine having your tour canceled at the last minute and being expected to figure everything out on your own. Fortunately, my hotel was able to arrange another private tour on short notice. It included a private guide, private driver, hotel pickup at 7:00 a.m., and lunch—for $250 total, including the tip! Save your money and book elsewhere. This company was expensive, unprofessional, and careless with their customers’ time.
The Humantay trail is very challenging, especially the climb, with the cold of the beginning of the day and the question of altitude. But I was very happy to be able to finish it. Our guide was Jehomar, very attentive from the beginning of the tour and search at the hotel, as well as during the trail and at the end of it.
