Shared Group Tour: $80-120 per person, groups of 8-16 people.

Private Tour: $150-250 per person, flexible group size.

A non-refundable deposit secures your date, and a minimum of 3 participants is required for the shared group option. Booking 6 or more months ahead, especially when combined with a Machu Picchu package, typically qualifies for an early-bird rate.

The Humantay Lake tour is a full-day trip from Cusco to a glacial lake at 4,200 meters (13,780 feet), known for its striking turquoise color against the Salkantay mountain range. Most tours run 12 to 14 hours door to door, including a roughly 2.5-kilometer uphill hike to the lake itself. Shared group tours start at $80 per person; private tours start at $150 per person. Here is everything you need to plan the day.

4:00-4:30 AM: Hotel pickup from Cusco
6:00-6:30 AM: Breakfast in Mollepata
6:50-8:30 AM: Drive to the Soraypampa trailhead (3,900m/12,795 ft)
8:30-10:00 AM: Hike to Humantay Lake, about 2.5 km uphill
10:00-11:30 AM: Time at the lake to explore and take photos
11:30 AM-1:00 PM: Descent back to Soraypampa
1:00-2:00 PM: Lunch
2:00-6:00 PM: Return drive to Cusco

Included: private round-trip transportation, an English-speaking guide, breakfast and lunch, the entrance fee (approximately S/20-25), and a first aid kit with oxygen on hand.

Not included: personal snacks, tips, and horse rental if you would rather ride part of the trail (S/80-100 additional, arranged locally at the trailhead).

Moderate to Challenging.

The hike to Humantay Lake involves a significant uphill climb at high altitude. While the distance (approximately 2.5 km one-way) is not extreme, the elevation gain and thin air make it a demanding trek. It is crucial to be in good physical condition and to have acclimatized to Cusco’s altitude for at least 1-2 days prior to the tour.

Elevation: Starting point (Soraypampa) is around 3,900m (12,795 ft), and Humantay Lake is at approximately 4,200m (13,780 ft).

Optional Horse Rental: For those who prefer not to hike the entire distance, local horse rentals are available at the trailhead in Soraypampa (at an additional cost, paid directly to the horse owner).

Shared Group Tour: $80-120 per person, groups of 8-16 people.

Private Tour: $150-250 per person, flexible group size.

A non-refundable deposit secures your date, and a minimum of 3 participants is required for the shared group option. Booking 6 or more months ahead, especially when combined with a Machu Picchu package, typically qualifies for an early-bird rate.

Altitude, not distance, is what makes this hike feel harder than its 2.5 kilometers suggests. You start at 3,900m in Soraypampa and climb to 4,200m at the lake, both well above Cusco’s already-high 3,400m, so the thin air is the main challenge rather than the terrain itself. Spending at least one full day in Cusco before this tour to acclimatize is strongly recommended, and staying hydrated on the trail matters more than pace. For general prevention tips that apply to this hike and any high-altitude day in the Cusco region, see our Cusco altitude sickness guide. Horses are available at the trailhead for anyone who wants to skip some or all of the climb.

May through September, Peru’s dry season, gives the clearest views of the turquoise water and surrounding peaks, according to SENAMHI, Peru’s national weather service. April and October are solid shoulder-season alternatives with thinner crowds. November through March brings more rain and cloud cover, which can hide the mountain backdrop, though the lake itself stays accessible year-round. For a full month-by-month breakdown that also covers Machu Picchu and the wider Sacred Valley, see our best time to visit guide.

Humantay Lake sits about 4 hours from Cusco by road, near the start of the Salkantay Trek. Almost everyone visits as part of a guided day tour, either shared or private, since the trailhead at Soraypampa is remote and public transport options are limited. Guided transport also means a driver who knows the mountain road and a guide who can pace the hike to your acclimatization level, which matters more here than on lower-altitude hikes.

Layers matter most, since Soraypampa starts cool and the temperature drops further as you climb toward the lake. Bring a warm jacket, a waterproof outer layer even in dry season since mountain weather shifts fast, sturdy hiking shoes with good ankle support, sunscreen and a hat for the strong midday UV, sunglasses, a reusable water bottle, and cash in soles for the entrance fee, optional horse rental, or snacks along the way. Trekking poles help on the steeper switchbacks but are not required.

Humantay Lake formed from glacial melt off the Salkantay range, which gives it the natural turquoise color visitors come to see. In Andean tradition, the lake and surrounding peaks are considered sacred, tied to the Apu (mountain spirit) Salkantay. Many visitors, guides included, leave small stone offerings called apachetas at the lake as a gesture of respect to Pachamama, Mother Earth in Andean belief. Shamans and spiritual travelers still visit the lake for this reason, alongside hikers there for the views.

Humantay Lake pairs naturally with a handful of other high-altitude day trips around Cusco if you have extra days to fill. Rainbow Mountain (Vinicunca) is the most popular pairing, similar in structure (early departure, high-altitude hike, big payoff view) but a different mountain and color palette entirely.

Ausangate’s Seven Lakes and the Palccoyo alternative to Rainbow Mountain are two more options if you are staying in Cusco for several days. Multi-day trekkers on the Salkantay route also pass close to Humantay Lake naturally on day one, so ask about combining it with your trek itinerary rather than booking it separately.