Humantay Lake is one of the most iconic glacial lakes in the Peruvian Andes. Fed by the melting ice of the Humantay Glacier, its turquoise waters contrast beautifully with the surrounding snow-capped peaks, making it one of the most photographed landscapes in the Cusco region.
We offer three different ways to discover this beautiful region: a one-day tour to Humantay Lake, a two-day journey combining Humantay Lake and the Salkantay Valley, or a three-day experience including Humantay Lake, Salkantay and Machu Picchu.
1-day trip
We start our trip at 10:00 a.m. and drive for about two hours to the small village of Soraypampa. After lunch, we begin our hike to Humantay Lake (4,300 m). Depending on the pace of the group, the hike takes between one and two hours.
For those who prefer, horses can be rented in Soraypampa to assist with the climb.
After hiking back to Soraypampa, we enjoy a small snack before returning to Curahuasi.
In recent years, Humantay Lake has become one of the most popular destinations in the region. To avoid the busiest hours, we deliberately leave Curahuasi later in the morning and visit the lake in the afternoon, after most of the large tour groups have already returned to Cusco. This allows us to enjoy a much quieter atmosphere while experiencing the same breathtaking scenery.
Other options
2-day trip: Humantay & Salkantay
For travelers with a little more time, we highly recommend extending the journey with an overnight stay in the mountains. Instead of returning to Curahuasi after visiting Humantay Lake, we spend the night in a small local lodge in Soraypampa, where we enjoy dinner and wake up surrounded by the impressive peaks of the Salkantay range.
The following morning, we set off early for the hike to Abra Salkantay (4,650 m), the highest point of the Salkantay Trek. The trail takes us through spectacular mountain scenery to the foot of the majestic Salkantay Mountain (6,271 m), one of the most sacred mountains, or Apus, in Inca tradition.
After taking time to enjoy the views, we return on foot to Soraypampa before driving back to Curahuasi (approximately 2½ hours) or Cusco (approximately 3 hours 40 minutes).If you have a little more time, you can extend this tour into one of our multi-day adventures.
Continue to Machu Picchu (3 days)
Continue your journey across the Salkantay Pass towards Santa Teresa and finish at the world-famous citadel of Machu Picchu.
→ Discover the 3-day itinerary
Looking for an other option?
Salkantay can also be visited as a carefully timed one-day tour from Curahuasi.
→ View the 1-day Salkantay tour
Good to know
During our multi-day journeys, we stay in small locally owned lodges, allowing us to experience the mountains at a relaxed pace while supporting local communities.
Because every group is different, we do not work with fixed itineraries. We are happy to adapt the route to your travel plans, interests and level of acclimatization.
Tours can start in Curahuasi or Cusco and can easily be combined with other destinations, such as the Rainbow Mountains, Waqrapukara, the Seven Lakes of Ausangate, Choquequirao, or the Manu rainforest.
| Location | 1. Humantay Lake 2. Humantay lake & Salkantay mountain 3. Humantay lake, Salkantay mountain & Machu Picchu |
| Duration | 1 day 2 days 3 days |
| Age | / |
| Included | – Private transportation – Professional guides (English, Spanish, little Dutch) – Lunch – Drinks and snacks – First aid kit – x nights in local lodges |
| Not included | – Pictures – Horses |
| We recommend to bring | – Trekking shoes or sportive shoes – Repellent – Sun block – More drinks and snacks – Hat – Flashlight – Jacket, warmer clothes for in the evening |
Casa Lena Peru 