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Thi W TripadvisorHumantay Lake Full Day Tour from Cusco
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OVERVIEW
Trip Overview
Humantay Lake is not a place you reach by accident. You wake up before sunrise, leave Cusco while the city is still quiet, drive deep into the mountains, and then walk uphill until the air feels thinner and the peaks stand close around you.
At the top, the reward is direct: a high-altitude lake with turquoise water beneath the Humantay and Salkantay mountains. The color changes with the light, the wind moves across the water, and the silence of the place often feels stronger than any explanation.
This is a one-day hike for travelers who want nature, effort, altitude, and a real Andean mountain setting without committing to a multi-day trek. It is not technically difficult, but the climb is demanding because of the altitude and the steady uphill path.
With Pullman Machu Picchu, the tour includes early hotel pick-up, tourist transport, a professional guide, breakfast, lunch, entrance support, oxygen, and a first-aid kit, so you can focus on the hike and the mountain setting instead of handling the logistics alone.
Itineraries & Prices
Accomodation
Accommodation
Up to 12 people
Group size
15,090 feet (4,600 meters)
Max. altitude
Easy
Difficulty
by Bus
Transport
1B, 1L, 1D
Meals
Trip Details
- Tour name: Humantay Lake Full Day Tour
- Duration: 1 day, approximately 14 hours
- Departure city: Cusco
- Return city: Cusco
- Pick-up time: Between 4:30 and 5:00 AM
- Approximate return time: Around 6:30 PM
- Main places: Cusco, Mollepata, Soraypampa, Humantay Lake
- Starting point of hike: Soraypampa
- Lake altitude: Approximately 4,200 m.a.s.l.
- Hiking time uphill: Approximately 1.5 to 2 hours, depending on pace and altitude response
- Walking level: Moderate to demanding
- Trail type: Dirt path, rocky sections, uneven ground, steep uphill areas
- Meals included: Breakfast and buffet lunch
- Transport: Tourist transport by road
- Best for: Active travelers, nature lovers, hikers, photographers, and travelers who want a one-day mountain route
- Not ideal for: Travelers with serious heart or respiratory conditions, severe altitude sensitivity, or limited mobility
- Entrance fee: Included according to the original service description
- Important note: This tour does not include Machu Picchu
Independent hiking platforms describe the Humantay route as a moderate to hard hike, with roughly 4.5 to 5.8 km of walking depending on the route reference and an elevation gain of about 413 m / 1,358 ft.
Day by Day Schedule
Day highlight: Today you walk from the highland base of Soraypampa to a turquoise lake beneath snow-covered mountains, with the strongest part of the day coming from altitude, silence, and the final climb.
Your transport will pick you up from your hotel in Cusco between 4:30 and 5:00 AM. The city will still be dark and quiet, so we recommend preparing your backpack the night before. From Cusco, the route heads toward Mollepata, passing through changing Andean landscapes, rural roads, valleys, and mountain views as daylight begins.
In Mollepata, you will stop for a reenergizing breakfast at a local restaurant. This meal matters because the hike is short but intense, and starting without food can make the altitude feel harder.
After breakfast, the transport continues toward Soraypampa, located around 3,850 to 3,900 meters above sea level, depending on the reference point used for the route. Several trekking sources place the Soraypampa area near 3,850 m.a.s.l.
From Soraypampa, you begin the hike to Humantay Lake. The first section can feel manageable, but the climb becomes steeper as you gain altitude. The ground may include dry dirt, loose stones, grassland sections, and rocky parts. In rainy season, some areas can become muddy or slippery.
Your guide will set the pace, explain local mountain scenery, and monitor the group. You should walk slowly, breathe calmly, and avoid trying to keep a fast rhythm if your body is still adjusting to the altitude.
Technical details for the hike
- Starting altitude: Around 3,850–3,900 m.a.s.l.
- Lake altitude: Around 4,200 m.a.s.l.
- Uphill hiking time: Approximately 1.5 to 2 hours
- Trail surface: Dirt, rocks, grassland, uneven sections, possible mud in rainy season
- Difficulty: Moderate to demanding because of altitude and uphill slope
- Main challenge: Thin air, steady climb, sun exposure, cold wind
- Support: Guide, first-aid kit, oxygen
- Optional local support: Horses are sometimes offered by local providers near the trailhead, subject to availability and direct local payment
At the top, you reach Humantay Lake, set below the mountain. The water often shows a strong turquoise tone, caused by the clarity of the water, green microalgae, blue-sky reflection, and solar radiation, according to Peru’s tourism inventory description.
You will have time to rest, take photos, drink water, and take in the mountain setting. The guide will indicate how long the group can stay, depending on weather, wind, and the return schedule.
After the lake visit, you begin the descent back to Soraypampa. The downhill section is usually faster, but it still requires attention because loose stones and steep dirt can make the path slippery.
Your transport will be waiting at Soraypampa to take you back to Mollepata, where you will have a buffet lunch with regional dishes. After lunch, you return to Cusco, arriving around 6:30 PM, depending on traffic, weather, group pace, and road conditions.
Inclusions
What’s Included
- Professional tour guide
- Hotel pick-up in Cusco, according to hotel location
- Tourist transport Cusco – Mollepata – Soraypampa – Cusco
- Breakfast in Mollepata
- Buffet lunch in Mollepata
- Entrance ticket to Humantay Lake, according to the original service description
- First-aid kit
- Oxygen balloon
- Guided hike to Humantay Lake
- Return transport to Cusco
- Basic assistance before the tour
What’s Not Included
- Meals not mentioned
- Drinks
- Snacks
- Trekking poles
- Horse assistance, if requested locally
- Tips
- Personal expenses
- Travel insurance
- Extra oxygen beyond standard emergency support
- Private medical assistance
- Special meal upgrades not requested in advance
More Tour Information
- Reach one of the most striking high-altitude lakes near Cusco — Humantay sits around 4,200 meters above sea level, at the foot of the Humantay mountain in the Vilcabamba range. Peru’s official tourism inventory also lists Humantay Lake at 4,200 m.a.s.l. in Soraypampa, Mollepata district.
- Start the hike from Soraypampa — the trail begins around the highland area of Soraypampa, a known gateway to Humantay Lake and the Salkantay route.
- Walk through a real mountain landscape — the path includes dirt, rocky sections, open grassland, steep uphill areas, and strong sun or cold wind depending on the season.
- See the Humantay and Salkantay mountains — the route gives powerful views of the surrounding peaks, especially on clear mornings.
- A physically rewarding one-day route — the hike is short compared with multi-day treks, but the altitude makes it feel intense.
- Breakfast and lunch included — the day includes a morning meal before the hike and a buffet lunch after descending.
- Guided hiking support — the guide manages the pace, gives route information, checks the group, and helps travelers respond properly to fatigue or altitude symptoms.
- First-aid kit and oxygen included — useful support for a high-altitude route where some travelers may feel headache, dizziness, or shortness of breath.
Hotel Pick-Up
Pick-up is scheduled between 4:30 and 5:00 AM from your hotel in Cusco. Some streets in the historic center are narrow or restricted for tourist vehicles, so we may coordinate a nearby meeting point if direct access is not possible.
Please send your hotel name and address before the tour date so our operations team can organize the route properly.
Luggage Storage
This is a full-day hike, so you should bring only a small daypack. Large luggage is not allowed during the route unless approved in advance.
If you need to store luggage, coordinate with your hotel or with our team before the tour date.
Payment Conditions
A reservation payment may be required to confirm your space. This allows us to organize transport, guide assignment, restaurant coordination, entrance logistics, and daily operation.
Any remaining balance must be paid before departure or according to the terms given by the reservations team. Some local fees may require direct payment in soles because local controls are managed separately.
Availability
This tour does not include Machu Picchu, so availability is usually easier than tours that require Machu Picchu entry tickets or Inca Trail permits.
It is often possible to reserve this tour with at least 24 hours of notice, but last-minute bookings depend on transport space, guide availability, restaurant coordination, hotel location, and weather or road conditions.
For private service, earlier booking is recommended, especially for travelers who need a slower pace, special health support, or custom timing.
Humantay Lake Entrance
Your original service description states that the entrance ticket to the places visited is included. If your reservation includes this entrance, no separate payment should be required for the standard entrance.
However, local entrance fees can change. Current public tour information varies: some operators list the entrance around S/20, while another 2026 guide lists S/30 for foreign visitors and S/20 for Peruvians. Because of this variation, the exact local fee should be confirmed close to the travel date when the entrance is not included.
Transportation Included
The tour includes tourist transport from Cusco to Mollepata, then to Soraypampa, and back to Cusco after lunch.
The road includes early morning mountain driving, rural roads, curves, and highland sections. Travelers sensitive to motion should bring personal medication.
Meals Included
The tour includes breakfast before the hike and buffet lunch after the hike. Drinks, extra snacks, or special meal upgrades may not be included unless your reservation says so.
If you have dietary restrictions, inform the reservations team before the tour date.
Accommodation
Accommodation is not included because this is a one-day tour from Cusco. Travelers usually take this tour while staying in Cusco before or after other trips.
Travel Restrictions
Strikes and Demonstrations
Strikes and demonstrations are common in Peru and may interrupt some tours. Roads can be blocked, transport may be delayed, and access to certain areas may change without much notice.
Under these circumstances, the tour may be modified, delayed, rescheduled, or canceled. If this happens, our operations department will coordinate directly with you. Your safety comes first, and all decisions will be made with that priority.
Lost Objects
Please pay attention to your belongings during the tour. Check your seat before leaving the vehicle and keep your phone, passport, wallet, and camera with you.
You are responsible for your personal items during the tour.
Health and Altitude Restrictions
Humantay Lake is a high-altitude hike. The lake sits around 4,200 m.a.s.l., and the climb from Soraypampa involves a steady uphill trail.
This tour is not recommended for travelers with serious heart conditions, severe respiratory problems, uncontrolled high blood pressure, strong altitude sensitivity, or recent major surgery unless approved by a doctor.
Older travelers can do the tour if they are in good physical condition, but they should consult their doctor first and consider private service.
Pregnant travelers should consult a medical professional before joining this tour.
If you feel strong headache, dizziness, nausea, chest pain, confusion, or severe shortness of breath during the hike, inform the guide immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions
How difficult is the Humantay Lake hike?
The hike is moderate to demanding. The walking distance is not very long, but the altitude and uphill slope make it tiring. Hiking references describe the trail as moderate to hard, with around 4.5 to 5.8 km of walking and about 413 m / 1,358 ft of elevation gain, depending on the route reference.
Do I need to acclimate before the tour?
Yes, it is strongly recommended to spend 1 to 2 days in Cusco before doing this hike. This gives your body time to adjust before walking above 4,000 meters.
Is breakfast included?
Yes. Breakfast is included in Mollepata before continuing to Soraypampa.
Is lunch included?
Yes. Buffet lunch is included after the hike, usually in Mollepata.
Is the entrance ticket included?
According to the original tour description, yes, the entrance ticket is included. If your booking conditions change, confirm this with the reservations team before departure.
Can I rent a horse?
Horse assistance is sometimes available from local providers near the trailhead, subject to availability and direct local payment. It is not guaranteed and is usually not included in the tour price.
Can children do this tour?
Active children used to walking can do the tour, but the altitude is the main concern. Parents should consider the child’s physical condition and choose private service if they need a slower pace.
What time does the tour return to Cusco?
The tour usually returns to Cusco around 6:30 PM, depending on weather, road conditions, lunch timing, and group pace.
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