The Humantay Lake hike in Peru is a stunning four mile (6.4 km) round trip hike featuring a vibrant turquoise glacial lake at 13,779 feet (4,200 meters) directly in front of the Humantay and Salkantay mountains in the Vilcabamba mountain range in the Peruvian Andes. Located about 3.5 hours west of Cusco, the steep hike takes 1.5 to 2 hours to climb the vertical of about 1,350 feet (400 meters) from the start at 12,795 feet (3,900 meters) at the Soraypampa trailhead, making acclimatization essential.
Humantay Lake (Laguna Humantay) is fed by glacial melt water originating primarily from the Humantay Glacier and the massive Salkantay Glacier. The bright, turquoise-blue water is a result of glacial flour—finely pulverized rock created as the ice grinds against the bedrock. When the melting ice washes this flour into the lake, it scatters sunlight to give the water its signature blue/green/turquoise color.
Most visitors book a full-day Humantay Lake hike tour from Cusco (typically starting between 3:00 AM and 4:00 AM with a pickup from their hotel). These tours include round-trip transportation, a guide, and often breakfast/lunch.
The Humantay Lake hike is basically broken into two halves. The first half is along the original road to the trailhead. At some point the road was destroyed part way and large vehicles are no longer allowed to drive all the way to the trail head. The first half: The trail begins relatively flat with a gradual, gentle slope as it winds through a grassy valley. It crosses a large, wooden pedestrian bridge and then crosses the area where the road was washed out and the trail becomes basically one person wide. Just as you turn left onto the main trail to the lake, you’ll see a horse stables and a small marketplace.
This is also where the trail intersects with the Salkantay Trail to Machu Picchu. The Salkantay Trail is a longer and more difficult alternative to the Inca Trail, and it passes the Humantay Lake hike trailhead generally around lunchtime on the first day. Many Salkantay Trail hikes will camp at Soraypampa the first night and offer an afternoon hike to Humantay Lake, so you’ll often see large groups of more serious hikers joining the trail at Soraypampa.
Sorayampa signpost
There is a nice view of the valley behind you, if you stop for a look at Soraypampa.
Valley view from Sorayampa
The second half of the hike, after you pass Soraypampa, turns into a steep climb, with the incline increasing significantly to reach the glacial lake bowl. The path becomes rocky, muddy, and uneven.
The views when you reach the lake make the hike totally worthwhile.
Humantay Lake view
If you are interested in a little extra hiking, you can cross to the left of the lake to the ridge line around the left side of the lake.
Top of the ridge line leading towards Mount Humantay
It’s a short, maybe 20 minute climb, but the top of the ridge has some amazing views of the valley on the other side.
Valley on the other side of the ridge
The ridge also offers different angles for richer colors of the water in the lake.
View of Humantay Lake from the ridge
I booked the tour with Willka Travel in Cuzco. They did a great job with the tour. They picked me up at the central courtyard in Cuzco at 3:30 am and returned me there around 4:30 pm. We made breakfast and lunch stops at the same restaurant on the way in Mollepata. It was a nice, family run, buffet-style restaurant called the Casa Salkantay.
Back of Casa Salkantay
The Casa Salkantay had a nice view from the back and also had a large souvenir shop on the premises.
View from Casa Salkantay
Bring warm layers (as it gets cold/windy by the glacier, even on warm days), rain gear, sturdy hiking boots, sunscreen, and cash for the entrance fee (unless it’s included in your tour) and bathrooms, snacks and souvenirs.
You are so talented as a blogger and photographer
Thanks Karla, that was very nice of you to say!