Humantay Lake Full-Day Excursion

Spend a full day hiking through mountain terrain to reach Humantay Lake on this 15-hour excursion from Cusco. The itinerary condenses the visit into a single day.

Overview

This full-day excursion from Cusco packs a round trip to Humantay Lake into about 15 hours, starting with an early-morning departure, a breakfast stop, and a drive on to the Soraypampa trailhead. From there the route to the lake runs about 2.7 miles (4.3 kilometers) in a circular loop, and a guide points out wildlife and explains the sacred mountains that surround the area. Time at the lake itself is about 1 hour and 30 minutes.

The hike is the honest catch. Reviewers repeat the same message again and again: it is short but steep, mostly uphill on rocky terrain, at altitude. Walking sticks are included and reviewers found them genuinely necessary, and horses can be rented for the climb. Breakfast and lunch are served at the same restaurant stop, which some travellers described as delicious and others as merely adequate.

It suits people with moderate fitness who want a big payoff in a single day and can handle an early start and a long drive. Groups run to a maximum of 15 travellers. It is not a fit for wheelchair users, and the listing advises against it for pregnant travellers or anyone with back problems or serious medical conditions.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Early-morning departureThe tour begins with an early-morning pickup, with reviewers describing departures around 4am.
2. Drive and breakfast stopThe group travels a couple of hours out of Cusco and stops for breakfast at a restaurant along the way.
3. Soraypampa trailheadThe vehicle continues to the trailhead, passing through Mollepata with free admission.
4. Hike to Humantay LakeThe circular Soraypampa route runs about 2.7 miles (4.3 kilometers). Horses are available to rent for the climb at an extra fee.
5. Humantay LakeAbout 1 hour and 30 minutes at the lake. Admission is not included and costs extra, paid per person.
6. Return hike and lunchThe group hikes back down, then returns to the same restaurant for lunch before the drive back to Cusco.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points come up again and again in reviews of this tour, and they mostly concern the hike, the altitude, and the sun.

• Fitness and pace. Many reviewers call the hike steep and strenuous, even though it is short. The listing asks for a moderate physical fitness level. Walking sticks are provided and several travellers said they made a real difference.
• Sun protection. One reviewer reported getting severely sunburnt wearing only a T-shirt, and advised bringing sunscreen, a wide-brim hat, and a long-sleeve top.
• Footwear. The terrain is rocky, as reviewers note, and careful footing is needed. Sturdy shoes are a sensible choice for this route.
• Horse option. Horses can be rented for the climb up, and one reviewer also paid for a horse on the way down. That reviewer described a walk on foot before reaching the horses, along a narrow path on the edge of the mountain, and a further short hike after dismounting.
• Food and drink. Breakfast and lunch are included, both served at the same restaurant stop. Reviews of the food range from delicious to adequate, so do not expect anything grand.
• Long day, early start. The tour runs about 15 hours door to door. Reviewers describe very early departures around 4am.

Common issues. Some travellers reported late pickups or delayed responses from the operator, and one reviewer described a tour cancelled on the morning of. The vehicle is listed as air-conditioned, though one reviewer said the cooling was not working on their trip. Extra costs are the lake entrance and any horse rental, neither of which is included in the tour price.

Common Questions