The Humantay Lake is becoming a very famous lake in Cusco due to its color that gets because of the glacier of the mountain with the same name Humantay lake it is glacial water with incredible turquoise color the same water is used by the locals for agricultural propose, and it is located in the Andes mountains of Peru in the Salkantay mountain range considered the second highest mountain in Cusco region and one of the sacred ones venerated by the local people from the area. This places is on of the best places to visit in Cusco.
Where is Humantay lake?
Humantay lake is located in the Mollepata district province of Anta province in the Cusco region, at an elevation of 4200 m this turquoise lake became famous because of its location and the color of the lake it is a one-day tour from Cusco highly recommended if you have a spare day in Cusco.
How to get to Humantay lake?
Getting to this incredible Humantay lake is quite easy since it is a full-day tour if you go with a tour company they will pick you up from your hotel and drop you off in the same place the price varies depending on the type of tour you can go on a private tour just families or friends or in a group service in a group service ask for the pick place usually the group can be bigger than 20 so they don’t pick up from your hotel they have a meeting place.
From Cusco, the bus pass by Anta, Limatambo, Mollepata, and Soraypampa this place is the end of the bus road Soraypamapa is a well-established campsite of the Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu in this place you will start hiking to the Humantay lake the hike is steep for about 2 hours depending of your level of fitness and 1 hour to come back all downhill then you will back by bus taking the same route to Cusco.
Can I get to the lake on my own?
Yes, you can, there are two options the first one and the cheap one is taking public transportation but for this, you will need to speak a bit of Spanish otherwise will be hard to communicate with local people to ask the directions.
In Cusco, you have to go to Curahuasi bus station which is located in Arcopata close to the Hilton Garden hotel you can walk from the main plaza walking distance of 15 minutes once you take the vans you will drive for 2 hours and get off at Limatambo here you have to find taxis or minivans going to Mollepata district here you have to hire another taxi to the trailhead Soraypampa which is the starting point of the trek to Humantay lake and come back the same way.
The second option is hiring a private taxi from Cusco for the round trip!
And the third option would be going with a travel agency where is included round trip transportation service on a tourist bus with a licensed and English-speaking tour guide tour as well they include breakfast and lunch so you can enjoy better the lake without worrying about how to get to this incredible lake.
How much does a taxi to Humantay lake cost?
A private taxi from Cusco to Humantay lake cost round trip 300 soles just the transportation without guiding service and most of the drivers don’t speak English.
Where does the Humantay lake hike start?
It will depend on it you are doing a day tour you have to start at Soraypampa which is the official campsite of the Salkantay trek from this place you will cover 2 kilometers to the Lake is all uphill and will take you 2 hours approx. once you arrive you will have time to explore yourself there is plenty of places to climb more if you want to have different views of lake Humantay and the Glacier as the higher you are the better view you have and like one hour to come back all downhill.
The second option is starting the hike in Marko Q’asa here you can start your hike from this place you will hike to Soraypampa for about 5 hours once you arrive at Sorapampa you can spend a night and hike the following day to the lake early in the morning without people so quiet and relaxing you can enjoy the incredible lake.
How to get with a Travel Agency?
The best way is to contact us because we are the best local travel and tour operator in Cusco.
Get now your Humantay Hike Tour.
When is the best time to visit Humantay Lake?
The climate in the Andes or around Cusco is unpredictable but there are well-defined seasons dry and wet, our dry season is considered the high season and goes from mid-April to mid-October when you have sunny days with a clear view of the mountains and glaciers that surround Humantay and from October to April is our rainy season but Humantay lake it is still open year around so you can visit even in the rainy season some day you will have excellent view clear day and some other it could be rainy and foggy and of course fewer people.
Read: Best time to visit Humantay Lake.
What is the hike like to the lake?
The hike to the lake is not long only 2 kilometers but very steep and very high elevation the hike starts at an elevation of 3900 meters and you will hike up to 4200 meters it is highly recommended to get used to the altitude before you hike to Humantay lake otherwise you can suffer altitude sickness.
The entrance fee is 15 soles like 4.5 USD per person you have to pay at Sorapampa
Unfortunately, are not allowed to swim in the Humantay lake since this water is used for agricultural purposes and some families use this water for their consumption.
Humantay Lake is located approximately 100 kilometers (62 miles) northwest of Cusco, in the Andes Mountains of Peru. The journey from Cusco to Humantay Lake takes around 3-4 hours by car or bus.
The hike to Humantay Lake typically takes about 2-3 hours, depending on the individual’s fitness level and the pace of the hike. The distance covered is around 5 kilometers (3.1 miles) each way.
I am Juan Carlos, the founder of AdventureInPeru, a local tour operator based in Cusco, Peru. With over 15 years of professional experience as a tour guide, I specialize in providing immersive and authentic travel experiences in the Machu Picchu and beyond. My deep knowledge of Inca history and culture, combined with a passion for sharing Peru’s rich heritage, ensures that every journey with AdventureInPeru is unforgettable.
