Humantay Lake Tour

At Vidal Expeditions, we try to make the booking system as easy as possible for you. Once you decide to do some of our day tours, we will send you a booking form where you need to complete all the required details that we need to book your tickets. We also need a previous deposit of 50% of the price per person. As soon as you pay it, we immediately book a spot for this tour. Once we are done with it, we will send you your invoice and a confirmation form that all the booking processes have been satisfactorily set up.

The Humantay Lake is the ultimate day tour in Cusco that takes you to explore a stunning lake in the Peruvian mountains. Located in the northeast of Cusco, the Humantay Lake is a hidden gem surrounded by giant snow-capped mountains that melt crystal-clear water toward the lake. This must be on the wish list of every explorer.

Definitely! This is a must-do thing in Cusco, and many people visit it to see its beautiful turquoise color. Just imagine hiking in the mountains and seeing a crystal lake with some of the most gorgeous color and clear water. For many Andean people, this was a sacred lake where they used to worship the Apus and Mother Nature (called Pacha Mama in the Andes).

Humantay Lake is located at 4,200 meters (13,779 feet) above sea level. The hike to get there begins at 3,980 meters

Yes, we included the entrance fee to this iconic turquoise lake, but extra expenses such as horse rides, water, or others are not included.

Well, the hike to reach Humantay Lake is quite challenging; it takes around 2.30 hours for the complete hike round trip, with some steps in the final section. We highly recommend spending a few days in Cusco before heading to this tour.

No. Most travelers consider the Humantay Lake hike slightly easier than the Rainbow Mountain Tour, although both are high-altitude adventures near Cusco. The hike to Humantay Lake reaches 4,200 m (13,780 ft) and covers approximately 5 km (3.1 miles) round trip, while Rainbow Mountain climbs to over 5,000 m (16,500 ft), where the thinner air makes hiking more physically demanding.

May to October is the best time to visit this wonderful Humantay Lake, as this is the dry season in Cusco and you will have more chances to get better views along the hike and at the same lake. However, this is also the busiest season as many travelers come to Peru to explore the highlights, and Humantay could be full of tourists.

Actually, you are not allowed to swim. Because there are many communities located in the valley, they use this water for drinking and farming. For others, this is considered a sacred lake, and they respect the ancient traditions with the purpose of leaving humans and nature in harmony. Just imagine hundreds of people swimming at the same time; it can be destroyed in a couple of years. That is why local authorities have put some regulations in place for this lake, and our job as visitors is to protect what nature gave us to appreciate its beauty.

The locals of Soraypampa offer horse service from the starting point to get to the Humantay Lake. The price is S/90 soles only uphill, and it can vary depending on where you take the horse.

Currently, the best way to get to Humantay Lake from Cusco is through the guide tour. Our Humantay Lake day tour usually starts at 4:00am with the pick-up from your hotel, and it includes the entrance fees, breakfast and lunch, transportation, the tour guide, walking sticks, and the drop-off.

All our guides who lead different excursions in Peru are well trained to assist in any emergency that can happen during the tour. They will always carry the first aid kit and an oxygen balloon for these situations where you could have problems with the altitude. We take small groups for our different tours, so don't hurry up to anyone in the group.

Definitely, it is always recommended to wear light hiking boots if possible. However, for our traditional day tours, where you do not need to hike for hours, you can go with sneakers. On the Rainbow Mountain and Humantay Lake tours, you need ones with ankle support, which are extra helpful, especially for the inexperienced hiker. Because you will be climbing and going down slippery stairs, some of which could be muddy, uneven, and at varying heights, the extra support helps prevent twisting your ankles.

Yes. Walking sticks are always helpful to trekkers, especially if is raining along the trek. Using walking sticks can help take the pressure off your knees while doing some portion of the trek. Plus they will help you get up the mountain as well.

Well, the hike to Humantay Lake is considered less challenging than the Rainbow Mountain Trek due to the difference in altitude and weather. While both hikes require a good fitness level, Rainbow Mountain is a high-altitude hike where you will get 5,036 meters above sea level through an ascending steep path with cold wind hitting your face.

The weather in Humantay Lake is very cold and the average temperature is anywhere from 4 to 12 degrees Celsius, however it can change easily in a couple hours even if the weather forecast says it’s sunny. We can’t trust it. It is an impossible question for us to answer. Historically, April through September is the dry season; November through February is the rainy season; and March and October are bridge months—a mixture of both. But the clouds have not followed these rules in the last few years. Prepare for sun and rain, no matter when you come.