Humantay Lake Hike – An Amazing Day Trip from Cusco Peru
If you love the outdoors, hiking, beautiful views, and nature, this is the place for you! Laguna Humantay, also known as Humantay Lake, is a breathtaking glacial lake near Cusco, Peru, surrounded by snow-capped mountains and seemingly endless mountain views.
Visiting Humantay was one of our favorite day trips from Cusco, and we would highly recommend it! The lake is relatively small, but its turquoise waters and mountain backdrop are well worth the visit for any outdoor enthusiast.
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How to get to Humantay Lake
Since the trailhead to Humantay is only three hours from Cusco, you have several options depending on your preference for getting there: private tour, group tour, “on your own” via taxi, or rental car (but probably not recommended).
We took a private tour (since there were seven of us) through NATIVA EXPEDITIONS, which included pickup from our AirBnb via private van (w/AC), breakfast, lunch, entry fee, and our fantastic guide. We found this to be the most convenient option for traveling, but check out alternatives that fit your needs and budget.
The drive to Humantay is three hours from Cusco. We opted to leave early (4 am) to try and beat the rush, but we have also heard that waiting until later in the afternoon might also provide a less crowded experience.
However, the six-hour round-trip drive plus time at the lake makes this a full-day excursion, so plan accordingly.
We drove for about two hours to the town of Mollepata, where we had a local buffet breakfast. Then, we drove another hour on a windy dirt road to the “new” trailhead parking lot (due to a recent mudslide preventing access to the “normal” trailhead). This added some hike mileage and time for us, but this section was a hard, hard-packed dirt road and was relatively flat.
How long and difficult is the hike to Humantay Lake?
With the lake sitting at just under 14,000 ft, the hike climbs around 1,400 ft (depending on where you start hiking) in about 3 miles, with most of the elevation gain happening within the last mile and a half.
Don’t let this deter you, though. There are alternatives for the last mile (e.g., hiking or riding a horse or mules).
We have done quite a bit of hiking, and the most challenging part of this hike was the altitude. The air is thinner at this elevation, making the hike more difficult. The last “steep” section up to the lake is not excessively long, and if you take it slow and consistently, it is very doable for those in moderate shape.
The hike starts on a packed dirt road where you will pass a bathroom area about a mile or so in and some small shops selling snacks and drinks.
TIP: Bring some soles with you as they charge for the restroom.
A little way up from this bathroom/snack spot (about .5 miles or so), you will find the horse rentals at the base of the climb. Take it slow and steady. If you are feeling the altitude or aren’t in hiking shape, opt for the USD $30 mule ride to the top (but you will have to hike down as it is a one-way trip).
Our 12-year-old son, Sean, who was feeling the altitude, opted for a mule ride, which helped him enjoy his time.
But our 10-year-old and 14-year-old both hiked the trail and managed it with minimal difficulty. The bottom line is to do what works for you and your ability/fitness level.
*The small “store” next to the horse rentals also offers passport stamps (for a small fee of $2 soles, if that is of interest). This small pit stop is also the last bathroom stop, as there are no bathrooms at the lake (at least not any facilities).
From here, the hike starts to get “steep,” but it is only about 1.5 miles from this point to the top!
Once you get to the top, grab a few pictures, relax, and catch your breath. Then, when you feel recovered, take the side trail to the left and up to the ridge.
This offshoot is a short trail, only climbing about 100 ft from the lake’s “beach,” but it gives you fantastic lake views without so many people and a different vantage point.
There is a large rock where you can capture a great picture. It also provides an alternative route back to the trailhead from the Lake, offering different views and landscapes.
Our Hike Profile
Hiking up was 2.9 miles and took 1 hour 36 minutes, including 1,450 ft of elevation gain. (It started at 12,400 ft and ended at 14,100 ft, taking the side trail to the left as you face the water on the beach.)
Hiking down was 3.67 miles (including some side trails at the top and a van parked quite a ways down the road) and took 1 hour 52 minutes, including stops.
Can you swim in Humantay Lake?
Whether or not I could swim in the lake was one of the first questions I had when researching Humantay Lake since a Polar Plunge sounded like a great way to end a strenuous, sweaty hike (freezing glacial lake waters!).
However, swimming is not allowed, as the main focus is to preserve the water’s color as much as possible. With people swimming, sediment would stir up, degrading the color. So, don’t pack your swimsuit on this one, as you can’t get into the water.
What should I bring with me on the hike?
Based on our hiking experience, we recommend some required and optional items. Still, consider the time of year you are visiting, the time of day, and your personal needs when exercising.
Recommended items:
- Water!
- Take plenty of water or a filtered bottle to fill up along the way. You can buy some from the snack stalls, but I wouldn’t recommend counting on that as your primary source.
- Food/snacks
- If you are anything like us, we don’t like to go hungry, especially on a multi-hour excursion. If you have kids, this is probably more important. Pack some snacks to munch on along the way and at the lake. You won’t regret it.
- Sunscreen/Hat
- The lake is about 14,000 feet above sea level, and if the sun is out, you will need SPF. Even on a cloudy day, sunscreen is recommended at this altitude.
- Layers
- We hiked in April, so the weather was cooler and unpredictable in the mountains at this elevation. You will want to have layers to adjust to your hike strain, the weather, and time at the lake.
- Good walking shoes
- Blisters are the last thing you need when walking several miles. Ensure you have the proper socks, hiking shoes with traction, and any bandaids or moleskin if blisters happen to form.
- Soles
- Bring some cash for the bathroom, snacks, or that needed horse ride to the top (at least $30 USD equivalent)
- Camera
- You don’t want to miss out on those breathtaking pics!
Optional items:
- Hiking poles
- Depending on your fitness level, past injuries, etc., hiking poles are very useful for hiking up or down. The terrain is sometimes uneven and rocky and can be wet and steep.
- Bug spray
- Thankfully, we didn’t encounter any bugs on our hike, but that may not always be true.
- Additional socks
- It can get wet and/or rain, and hiking in wet socks isn’t fun for anyone.
What not to take:
- Drone
- Unfortunately, you are not allowed to fly your drone at the lake. However, we were told that if it was empty, you could get away with it, but we probably wouldn’t add the extra weight to your pack.
Doing this with Kids?
Absolutely (depending on a few factors)! This is a hike, a real full-blown hike in nature, up a pretty legit trail, in altitude.
There are mules for those inclined, and you can take it nice and slow, but if your kids won’t hike more than a mile and the juice isn’t worth the squeeze, this may be one you leave them behind while you enjoy!
If you can push them a little, do it, and get them out there, they will love it and be grateful they went. As always, you know your family; take what you need to motivate and support them (candy, water, food, etc.) and enjoy this beautiful, fantastic hike with your family.
While this hike is challenging, it is well worth it and can be experienced by most.
This adventure was one of our favorite activities in Peru and rivaled our visit to Machu Picchu.
So, if you enjoy being outside in nature, this one is definitely for you.
