Humantay Lake – one day hike
The Humantay lake is a charming and hypnotizing turquoise lagoon that is surrounded by the imposing glacier of the same name that is part of the Vilcabamba mountain range; The melting of this snowy gives rise to the splendid Humantay lagoon, which will connect you with the beauties made by our mother earth.
Highlights of Humantay Lake
In order to give you the best experience on this one day hike our tour guides will take a different to arrive to an amazing postcard lookout where usually other groups don´t go, we will also provide you an outdoor buffet breakfast and lunch surrounded by the beautiful Salkantay and Humantay snowy mountains; besides to all of the above, we prepare food for our hikers and team with 100% organic vegetables purchased from local producers.
Trip Overview
- Trek Type:trekking/hiking, landscape, experiential, adventurous, cultural, colors and flavours
- Good for: those in moderate shape or better
- Difficulty: moderate
Season:From March 1st to January 1st
Day 1. Cusco- SorayPampa- SalkantayPampa- Soyrococha
- Hiking distance: 1,5 miles/2,5 km (3 hours)
- Highest altitude: 4.200 meters above sea level
- Considered: Moderate
- Weather: Cold and windy
We pick you up at 5:00 am from your hotels to drive from Cusco to the trailhead of our humantay lake called soraypampa, located at 3900 m.a.s.l. (12,870 ft.). Once at soraypampa we have an outdoor breakfast observing in front of us the snowy mountains of Salkantay and Humantay in all its splendor with its 6240 m.a.s.l.
After breakfast we get ready to begin hiking uphill our one day hike program for 2 hours on a slow a steady pace enjoying the surreal andean scenery until reaching to the outstanding humantay lake composed of pretty teal greenish color, once on the humantay lake you will have plenty of time to have a sit, meditate and connect with the lake and glacier, also your tour guide will share interesting facts about the salkantay trek, the humantay lake and the mountains.
Then, we hike 45 minutes back downhill until we reach our lunch area where our team will be waiting with a cooled fruit juice and also a delicious buffet lunch, after lunch and digest time we will get ready to catch our private van and be driven for three hours to Cusco, then we drop you off at the door of your hotel or the closest possible if the is not car access until your hotel.
** The humantay lake is a crowded place so in order to avoid the crowds and give you peace and comfort we ascend gradually up to the lagoon by an alternative path which is known just by locals.
** Our service is from the door of your hotel to the one day hike and then back to the door of your hotel again
Included on the Humantay Lake
- Professional local english speaker Guides: all our super leaders grewp up in cusco region and studied tourism for five years at cusco’s university, they are friendly, funny charming, knowledgeable, professional and will care your safety into our one day hike
- Permits: As soon as we get your details and deposit, we will purchase your permits for the humantay lake.
- Transportation: Incas Path will be providing all transportation for this one day trek. You will be picked up from your hotel at 5 am and brought to the trailhead and then you will be brought back to Cusco.
- Food: Our one day trek includes expert hiking chefs who will will cook delicious meals that many previous trekkers have loved. We honor all food restrictions, so be sure to add any that you have on your booking form and let us know. Food is typically all served as buffet.
- Satellite phones: our priority will always be the safety of our customers and our crew. While all our guides are prepared and trained to deal with most basic problems that occur in the mountains; Very rarely serious problems may occur that will require the assistance of a specialist doctor and that is when our satellite phones are very useful and necessary, also if you want to call a friend who is anywhere in the world, from then humantay lake on our one day trek or from the dead woman´s pass on the classic inca trail or in case you need to verify the puppy that you left at home with the grandmother. While satellite phones are not cheap, We believe they are very important for your security and to give you the best possible experiencie.
- First Aid: Every guide has got training in first aid from a clinic and firemen. We elaborate mandatory training sessions every February on the salkantay trek, which every Incas Path tour guide must attend. Your tour leader is going to have always a first-aid kit for basic medical problems.
Not Included on the Humantay Lake
Due we are hiking the one day hike program ,each trekker needs trekking poles (with rubber tips). They are optional but encouraged for a better comfort. If you don’t want to bring it, it is available for rent:
- Trekking Poles (Pair): $10
Prices for Humantay Lagoon 2024
We would love to tour the Humantay Lake with you and your loved ones and take care of immortalizing your visit to Machu Picchu. We can leave any day from March to January as the one day trek is always available
Group Price
- $100 per person
Private Price:
Private tours are available and priced by party size.
| 2 persons | $150 pp |
| 3 persons | $125 pp |
| 4 persons | $99 pp |
| 5 persons | $80 pp |
| 6 persons | $70 pp |
Packing list
We suggest you to carry lightweight backpack that the is key to feeling good during this one day hike
Essentials:
- Original Passport ,
- STUDENT CARD (if you booked as a student)
- Good daypack (the smaller, the better)
- Comfortable hiking boots (lightweight with good soles) remember that the one day trek is entirely dirt soil
Inside Your Daypacks
Daypacks can be any size for hiking, but we always recommend the smaller, the better. Some items are listed below
- Sunhat
- Rain gear
- Fleece
- Camera
- Music (IPhone)
- Handsanitizer
- Toilet paper and small plastic bag for waste
- Extra Money for Souvenirs, Drinks & Tips
- Personal medication
- First aid kit: band aids, moleskin, etc.
- Sunscreen
- Handsanitizer
Faqs
Where do we pick up the hikers for the Humantay Lake?
Pick up will be from your hotel at 5:00 a.m. Please provide clear contact information of your place of accommodation when approaching our office in Cusco.
Where to pay the remaining amount for the Humantay Lake?
Most hikers arrive in Cusco 2 or 3 days before the one day hike or a 4 day trek for proper acclimatization. Once you are in Cusco it is imperative that you come to our office to review the last details of your excursion and also pay the remaining amount of your Humantay Lake.
Passport Number Update?
The government will only allow us to change passport numbers if we have a copy of the new passport and the old passport. If you no longer have your old passport, any identification document that you have in your hands will be accepted while the name is the same as in your passport.
Where to stay in Cusco?
You can stay in a hotel that you consider convenient, however you must have the account of the location of the hotel because the traffic within the city has become stressful in the last 5 years. Many roads are up to 100 years old; Especially near the main square the roads are only for pedestrians. We will notify you if it is not possible to pick you up by car from your hotel and coordinate another nearby pick-up point. For a list of recommended hotels, consult your Incas Path sales representative.
Where do I store my luggage?
All luggage not necessary for the hike must remain in Cusco. All hotels are very helpful and are quite accustomed to storing luggage of their guests, or if you wish you can store it safely with our customer service team in our office storage
Can I stay in the sacred valley?
Not, as the driving route to get the trailhead of the short salkantay trek does not go through the sacred valley of the incas.
During the trip, how challenging is the Humantay Lake?
Remember that this one day trek, it is from moderate to difficult because you will ascend from 3900 to 4200 ma.s.l.; if rains, the dirt soil path could be muddy ( don´t worry if you have good hiking boots).
Will I need extra money on the Humantay Lake?
Of course, if you want to buy some type of drinks, snacks, souvenirs «also remember that along the days of hiking into the humantay lake just cash is accepted».
How many people will be in my group on the Humantay Lake?
We require a minimum of 2 people for our tour, and if you are traveling alone, we invite you to join our groups that start each day. We can have up to 8 hikers with a guide and if our groups are between 9 and 16 people, we have 2 accredited guides with a lot of experience in this one day hike. During the low season it is most likely that the groups are small and during the high season the groups are probably much larger.
Do you need hiking boots for the Humantay Lake?
We always recommend hiking boots, since if it rains a little the 2 day trek can become a bit muddy and slipery. Please make sure they have good soles.
Are trekking poles really necessary on the Humantay Lake?
For the one day trek we recommend the use of trekking poles for everyone, especially for those passengers with knee problems or older people. There are several sections during the tour where you will need to use the walking sticks, either climbing or descending the dirt soil path.
Are there any toilets along the Humantay Lake?
Along the one day hike there are 2 places that has toilet. Firstly at the hiking start, then at lunch. Please carry a roll of toilet paper in your daypack.
What should I expect from the weather on the Humantay Lake?
Please understand that this is a very difficult question to answer. Historically, from April to October it is the dry season, from November to March it is the rainy season, but in recent years our weather has been affected by climate change and today it is very difficult to predict. Remember that in the mountains the radiation and heat are very high during the day and in the evenings always cold. We always recommend a short sleeve shirt for this one day hike, long pants to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes, rain jacket and a fleece jacket and for the night a down jacket.