A Day Trek to Humantay Lake – A Hidden Paradise in The Andes Mountains

I would venture to say that Humantay Lake is one of the most beautiful bodies of water that I have seen. And possibly one of the most spectacular landscapes in the Andean region.

The Andes mountains that surround the Cusco area are some of the most magnificent of Peru. Therefore, many embark on multi day hikes like the long and challenging Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu to immerse themselves in the natural beauty the area has to offer.

However, not everyone has the time, money or physical ability to complete the Salkantay trek. And fortunately there are other time saving and more cost effective options available to experience the splendor of the Andes. One of the best being a day trek to Humanity Lake, a hidden paradise in the Andes mountains. And best of all the amazing views of Humantay Lake are easy to get to as a day trip from Cusco. 

Humantay Lake: What is it and Where is it Located?

The gorgeous Humantay Lake is a glacier fed lake in the Vilcabamba mountain range of the central Peruvian Andes. It is located North West of the city of Cusco, in the province of Anta, Mollepata district. 

The crystal clear water which comes from melting glaciers, take on blue, green and even yellow hue. The unique coloration is due in part to the green microalgae and the minerals in the soil. 

The word Humantay means “The Head of the Gods” and this mountain landcape is for many a very religious experience. It has a mystical quality to it and the region shamans and locals come here to make offerings to Pachamama. Pachamama is the deity that represents mother Earth and plays an important role in the Inca culture.

The area also offers travelers that enjoy hiking, nature and beautiful landscapes a quiet place in a serene location to get away from the city and reconnect with nature.

Humantay Lake is still a bit of a hidden gem but as pictures of its snowcapped mountains and crystalline turquoise waters spread over social media, this tour is quickly becoming popular.

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How to Get to Humantay Lake

You can take the 4-5 day Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu and see the beautiful Humantay Lake on the way. After the Inca Trail the Salkantay trek is the second most popular trek to Machu Picchu and definitely a great option to consider. However you do not need to do the multi day trek to enjoy these views.  It is easily accessible as a day trip from Cusco.

While there is no public transport to take you to Lake Humantay there is an abundance of tour companies to choose from. Tour prices vary significantly in cost dependent on the experience you are looking for.

Humantay Lake by Group Tour

Group tours are easy to arrange.  If you are a planner and like to book in advance, a simple google search will yield a great deal of options you can book online. If you have flexibility on dates and want to save some money, more inexpensive options will be available when you arrive in Cusco. Tour operators are everywhere and you will surely find one that meets your needs. Just make sure you are booking with a reputable company.

Keep in mind group tours will have larger capacity and you will be traveling with a bunch of strangers. This is not necessarily a bad thing, it all depends on your preferences.  For example, if you are a solo traveler this might be a fun way to meet other like-minded people. 

The biggest disadvantage of a group tour is the lack of flexibility. They have a stringent itinerary and you will need to follow it.  This means you do not dictate pick up time which for many tour companies is about 4 am. You also don’t have a say on the amount of time you spend at the location. As this trek involves hiking your fitness level will also determine how long you have at Humantay Lake. This may leave you feeling rushed.  However, if budget is your primary concern then a group tour is your best option.

Humantay Lake by Private Tour

Private tours also abound.  They are more expensive relative to a group tour. However you will benefit immensely by the amount of flexibility they allow. This is great if you are a slower hiker, or wish to take more time along the way or at the location for photography.

Not surprisingly we opted for a private tour for our group of 4. There are multiple tour companies that offer this option and I am sure many of them are quite good. We selected Apurimac Adventures and had a 5 star experience with them. Every detail was perfect. I felt they were well worth my investment and I would not hesitate to recommend them.

One of the best things about our private tour is that we got to sleep in till a more reasonable time. But that is not all, we also had a private van with plenty of space. They arranged for breakfast with a local family along the way. Made sure we did not encounter any crowds during the hike. And arranged the most exquisite lunch cooked on site and served in a private tent with views of the snowcapped mountains.

What to Expect on Your Adventure to Humantay Lake

This is a FULL Day tour. Regardless of which option you chose, the trek starts with a 2 ½ -3 hour drive to the trail head. Most tour groups will pick you up from your hotel and stop for breakfast along the route. Make sure to fuel up because you will have a steep 1 – 1  ½ hr hike before you reach the breathtaking views of Humantay Lake.

As I mentioned in the group tour portion, pick up by a group tour will come early.  Usually somewhere around 4 am. Our private tour allowed us to sleep in a bit but we still started our adventure right before 7 am.

Arrival at The Trail Head And Ascent to Humantay Lake

At the beginning of the trail you will have the opportunity to use the bathrooms. I highly recommend you pack toilet paper and some soles to pay to use the facilities.  Toilet paper was available on the day we were there but I am told that sometimes it is not, so having your own can come in handy. 

The trail starts off easy, you will pass a few base camps that hikers use during the multi day Salkantay trek. We also saw a few groups of porters, some on horseback and some on foot guiding the mules that carry the trekkers’ luggage.   You will soon come upon a small bridge and cross over a river to a small village.  Here you will find the last set of bathrooms you can use during the trek.

From here the trail that most follow to the top is well marked, and because it is steep, you will find locals offering rides on horses and mules for a small fee.  The animals looked like they were well cared for. However I still don’t like the idea of using them, especially since I am capable of doing the hike myself. Plus I feel like using them contributes to faster erosion of the landscape.

Our guide Juan Carlos forged his own trail off the beaten path.  He took a longer yet more scenic route. Using switchbacks which helped immensely on the steep inclines. And we did not encounter another hiker until we rejoined the main path close to the end. We stopped many times on the way up, not just to catch our breath but to take in the views. It was a beautiful and peaceful hike and we never felt rushed.

Arriving at The Summit And The First Glimpse of Humantay Lake

As I mentioned before it usually takes most reasonably fit people about 1 hr maybe 1 ½ hr max to reach Lake Humantay.  Because we took a longer more scenic route and made many stops for pictures along the way it took us about 2 hrs to reach the summit.  However, the steep climb and effort to reach the top was well worth it. 

The initial view of the turquoise waters and snow peaked mountains is nothing less than spellbinding. I had to take a moment to sit down and soak it all in. I could feel the wind coming off the glacier.  At first as a simple caress, welcoming and cooling my body down from the exertion of the climb. However, the temperatures began to dip pretty quickly, and I was glad I had my jacket, scarf and gloves in my day pack to help keep me warm.

We then head down to the banks of Humantay Lake for a closer view and to give our thanks to Pachamama.  Juan Carlos selected 3 of his best Coca Leaves for each of us to give in offering. He then guided us in prayer.

I am not a religious person but this was a beautiful ceremony done in the traditional Quechua language and we were all moved by it.  Plus we did have the best weather throughout our entire trip so maybe Pachamama was happy with our prayers and offering.

A Lunch With a View

After spending some time at the banks of Humanity lake we were eager to head back down and enjoy our promised lunch. Juan Carlos’ team was hard at work while we were exploring. And upon our arrival they had a tent set up for us to eat in.

The tent was open on one side and facing the beautiful Andean mountains. Inside a table was beautifully set and we had small but comfortable chairs to sit in. We then enjoyed the most exquisite and freshly prepared meal, including appetizer, main course, sides, dessert, juice and wine. All served on real plates and with real silverware not plastic. It was the perfect way to celebrate together a beautiful day trek to Humanity Lake.

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Would love to hear about your experience to Humantay Lake or any other favorites in Peru. So please leave your comments below or get social with me on Facebook or Instagram.