In a city like Cusco, it’s common to feel that there’s not enough time to see both the most important places and the unique, lesser-known spots, leaving us with a desire to stay and return. Cusco is an incredible destination with so much to see and experience that it’s common for highly interesting places to be overlooked by many visitors.
And so, the ancient city of Cusco surprises us once again by offering a new alternative for travelers who want to enjoy nature and scenery at a place at the foot of a snow-capped mountain at over 4,200 meters above sea level.
Humantay Lagoon in Cusco
Lake Humantay is located in the province of Anta, an area of Cusco that has been presenting other points of interest recently.
In this unique spot in the Mollepata district (Anta), the Humantay snow-capped peak creates a surreal scene due to the melting ice. The only access is on foot (this is part of the Salkantay Trek) and offers incredible activities in its surroundings.
This gem is nestled between the Salkantay and Humantay mountains, at 4,300 meters above sea level. Lake Humantay is located in the Vilcabamba mountain range in southern Peru.
As part of the route to Salkantay Mountain, you can engage in hiking or mountain biking, and it also lends itself to other camping activities.
With a mystical air, the lagoon is visited by shamans and tourists from around the world who leave offerings to Pachamama, the deity representing Mother Earth in Inca culture.
By placing stones, an offering is made to Pachamama, thanking her for reaching the lagoon successfully and asking her to accompany us on our journey.
Lake Humantay is a place that impresses with its vastness, footprints, and colors in the landscape, making it one of the must-visit tourist destinations in the heart of Peru.
An Offering to Pachamama
Upon arriving at Lake Humantay, you will see several offerings or apachetas.
Apachetas are the stone mounds seen in the Andes, with one stone on top of another. They can be small or quite large.
The offering involves choosing a stone before starting the hike. Make a request to Pachamama. After admiring Lake Humantay and reaching your destination, leave the stone at a point along with three coca leaves.
Humantay Lagoon Tour
Initially, visits to Lake Humantay were part of the Salkantay Trek, but recently at Travelux Machu Picchu, we have been offering direct excursions to this fantastic place.
The first segment is a two-and-a-half-hour (2:30) ride in a small bus to the town of Mollepata, situated at 2,900 meters above sea level, a bit lower than Cusco.
Here, we have breakfast and finalize our plans before starting the hike.
After a well-deserved breakfast to energize us, we continue our journey to Soraypampa (3,900 meters above sea level). After a short rest, we will begin our hike to Humantay Lake, located at 4,200 meters (13,779 feet). After a 1.5-hour ascent, we can appreciate this wonderful place and return to our camp for lunch with beautiful panoramic views of the snow-capped peaks, and later return to Cusco.
We also include this tour in our Machu Picchu packages; this journey takes a full day to explore and enjoy this natural beauty.
Add a Spiritual Experience
You will hear many locals refer to the Andes mountains as “apus”. Apu in Quechua literally means “lord”. The Incas used the term to refer to the divine spirits inhabiting their imposing mountains and often made offerings to appease them. To this day, Andean locals make offerings to the apus, usually with coca leaves.
To make your own offering to the apus and gain favor for the rest of your trip, be sure to bring some coca leaves during the hike. Once at the lake, make a small hole in the ground.
Choose several coca leaves in good condition and place them in the hole. Then, find some flat rocks nearby and build a small tower or stone cairn over the leaves.
When is the Best Time to Hike to Humantay Lagoon?
The best time is during the dry season, which runs from April to the end of September. In October, the rains begin, and you might find Machu Picchu covered in clouds. If you travel in June, we recommend booking the Inti Raymi 2024 Tour, which will take place on June 24, and also consider the Color Mountain Tour or an incredible Huayna Picchu Mountain tour in the Andes.
Other Hiking Tours Near Humantay lake
There are many routes leading to Machu Picchu, but none like the Inca Trail Tours, the most famous hiking trail in the Americas. After flying from Peru’s capital, Lima, you will arrive in Cusco to hike for four days through forests and dense mist, ancient stone steps, and discovering the ruins of ancient Inca fortifications and cities, all while enjoying majestic views.
- 1-Day Color Mountain Tour
- 2-Day Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
- Classic 4-Day Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
- Trekking the 7 Lagoons of Ausangate
- 1-Day WaqraPukara Tour
- Palcoyo Mountain Tour
- Trekking to Kimsaqocha Lagoon in the Sacred Valley
If you want to travel to Machu Picchu, we recommend booking your entry ticket to Machu Picchu in advance so you can enjoy your vacation in Machu Picchu without any issues.