Humantay Lake 2023

The archaeological capital of Cusco is an excellent starting point for the most amazing tourist destinations in South America. In the city of Cusco you will be surprised by history, its archaeological monuments, natural wonders, food, music and traditions. One of those jewels that remained hidden from most tourists until 2015 was the beautiful Humantay lake.

Today, this turquoise lagoon has become an unmissable jewel for nature lovers who come to Cusco with the main objective of visiting Machu Picchu. IncaGo Expeditions has prepared a travel guide to successfully reach the Humantay lake and enjoy this beautiful jewel of water in the middle of the eastern Peruvian Andes.

Humantay Lagoon

Information about the hike to the Humantay lake:

• Distance from Cusco: 124 km
• Driving time: 3.5 hours one way. Approximately 6 hours in total.
• Entrance fee: 20 soles.
• Elevation, start of the trail: 3912 meters.
• Difficulty: Medium level hike.
• Trail Terrain: Flat trail for about 30 minutes and the next 2 hours a steep, undulating and rocky section.
• Walking distance: 6 km round trip.
• Mules rental: At the beginning of the walk for 70 soles.
• Walking time: 2 hours and 30 minutes to reach Humantay Lake. And 1 hour to return.
• Maximum altitude: 4200 meters.
• Tour duration: 12 – 13 hours.
• Height gained in the hike: 400 meters

Important information:

1. The earlier you leave Cusco, the better it will be, since you will arrive at the lake before everyone else.
2. The Humantay lake is the third most visited place after Machu Picchu and the Rainbow Mountain.
3. It is completely forbidden to take a dip in the Humantay lagoon.
4. We recommend that you visit the lagoon on a sunny day, that’s when the colors become more vivid. When it rains or is foggy, the lake tends to lose the turquoise color in its waters.
5. Know that there are horse or mule rentals to go up and down the Humantay lagoon.
6. Don’t forget that health and safety always come first. If you start to feel dizzy, nauseated, have a headache or feel tired during the trek, let your guide know immediately so they can give you the best possible suggestion.
7. The Humantay lake is also the starting point for the 5-day Salkantay trek.
8. Humantay and Salkantay have been known as sacred mountains since time immemorial in this part of the Andean region.
9. The Soraypampa camp is home to several camps, with geodesic dome tents popular today, which offer night views of the Andean sky.

Why is the Humantay lagoon popular?

The Humantay lake is a small high Andean lagoon, what makes it very popular is that, on sunny days, visitors can appreciate an impressive turquoise, blue and greenish color in this body of water, adorned by the impressive snow-capped Humantay. This lagoon is of glacial origin. This means that when the Humantay Glacier formed and eroded the land, it melted a bit, filling the depression created by the glacier.

Where is the Humantay lagoon located?

This natural wonder is located 124 kilometers northwest of Cusco, in the district of Mollepata, province of Anta.

Why is humantay turquoise?

There are two main reasons why the lagoons acquire different colors. One of them is the presence of mineral particles transported by the ice and melted as they descend from the snow. When these tiny mineral particles finally end up in the waters of the Humantay lake, they never sink to the bottom, creating these beautiful colors. Another reason is the presence of micro algae (Microcystis aeruginosa and Oscillatoria), which, when reflected by the sun, create those turquoise tones.

Is it worth visiting the Humantay lake?

The Humantay lagoon is one of the most instagrammable places in Cusco, just look at the photos posted by people who have already had the privilege of knowing this natural wonder. Once you arrive at the lagoon, ascend for 15 more minutes to one of the viewpoints, from where you will have a panoramic view of the place.

Instagrammable Humantay

When is the best season to go to the lagoon?

The weather in the mountains is very changeable, however, the best date to visit the Humantay lake is between the months of April to October, a time that is known locally as the dry season. This season undoubtedly offers very sunny days, with perfect solar lighting. Without a doubt, if you have one of those days you will enjoy the blue – turquoise color of Humantay with greater clarity. In any case, the Humantay lagoon is accessible all year round and of course, in the rainy season, getting a perfect photo is a matter of luck.

How is the weather in the Humantay lagoon?

The climate in the dry season, which runs from April to October, is frigid, especially in the mornings and nights, and very hot during the day. In the rainy season, which runs from November to March, the weather is somewhat temperate, but if it rains, you walk on slightly muddy trails, and this is not only on the Humantay tour but also for the other hiking trails. The average temperature in the dry season is 18 degrees Celsius.

Are there bathrooms on the way to Humantay?

The bathrooms are located in the parking area of the Soraypampa village. After hiking between 30 and 45 minutes you will find the last baths of the route. It is important to know that for the use of these bathrooms you pay 1 sol. The last 1 hour and a half of hiking, you will not find any bathroom.

Can you see the Salkantay snow-capped mountain from the Humantay lake?

From the town of Soraypampa you will have a spectacular view of the snowy Salkantay, an imposing sentinel of 6273 meters of elevation. On a perfect sunny day, you can see the snow-capped mountains of Humantay and Salkantay perfectly aligned.

Can you ride a horse?

In the surroundings of the Soraypampa camp there is a large group of mules placed in a wire fence and wooden fences. All these animals are destined to work on the road, taking visitors to the Humantay lake on their backs.

These animals are used for their physical strength and great resistance to altitude. These mules are also used as pack animals on the Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu. Once you arrive at the Soraypampa hamlet, you will find a lot of muleteers offering their services. The cost from Soraypampa to almost the Humantay lagoon has a cost of 70 soles.

Horse back riding to Humantay

How did the visits to Humantay begin?

Around the year 2000, tourists began to arrive to Machu Picchu in large numbers, most of these adventurers did so using the train to Machu Picchu or doing the classic 4-day Inca trail. However, the Inca trail has a limit of tourists per day. In this sense, the travel agencies looked for other alternatives to go to Machu Picchu on a hike. This is how the trekking route through the snowy Salkantay, became increasingly famous.

Later, the tour guides who did the Salkantay trek found out from the local people about the existence of the Humantay lagoon. They pointed out that there was a turquoise lagoon that was behind the hills and that it was close to the Humantay base camp. So it was that, just as it happened with the rainbow mountain, visitors posted a large number of photos on social networks so that it finally became an important tourist destination in Cusco region.

Recommendations to safely reach the lagoon

• You must be very careful in each step you take, because the path to the Humantay lake is full of gravel and slippery in some sectors.
• Avoid being too close to the mules, you never know when these animals may get scared or react defensively. A kick from these powerful animals could be fatal.
• Do not be scared by the small avalanches that usually fall daily in the Humantay lake.

Is there a cell phone signal in the Humantay lagoon?

So far there is no operator with a data connection in Humantay, however if it is an emergency, you can access a WI-FI connection at the Soraypampa base camp.