Humantay Lake (Laguna Humantay) is a bright turquoise glacial lake at 13,779 feet (4,200 m) in Peru's Cusco region, about 120 km from the city of Cusco. Most people visit on a long day trip: a 3-to-3.5-hour drive to the Soraypampa trailhead, then a short but steep hike up to the lake. It's one of the most popular day hikes near Cusco, and the payoff is straightforward the water really is that color, and the glacier that feeds it sits right above the shoreline.
It's also high, cold, and crowded by mid-morning, and the climb is harder than the short distance suggests. This guide covers exactly how to get there, how tough the hike is, when to go, what to pack, what it costs, and whether it's worth your time. Everything here is based on current on-the-ground numbers, not guesswork.
Humantay Lake: quick facts
| Quick fact | Detail |
| Elevation (lake) | 13,779 ft / 4,200 m |
| Elevation gain on the hike | ~1,540 ft / 470 m |
| Hike distance | 1.2–2.1 mi / 2–3.4 km each way (depends on where transport drops you) |
| Hike time | 45 min–1.5 hr up · ~45 min down |
| Distance from Cusco | ~75 mi / 120 km · 3–3.5 hr drive (last 25 km is a gravel road) |
| Entry fee | 20 soles (~US$5.50), paid in Mollepata |
| Restroom fee | 2 soles (~US$0.55) |
| Horse (arriero) | ~90 soles (~US$23) |
| Day tour from Cusco | US$20–50 · departs 3–4 a.m. |
| Best time to go | May to mid-October (dry season) |
| Swimming | Not allowed, sacred lake, and dangerously cold |
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What is Humantay Lake?
Humantay Lake is a glacial lake fed by meltwater from Nevado Humantay, one of the peaks in the Vilcabamba range southwest of Cusco. The turquoise color comes from "glacial flour" fine rock particles ground up by the glacier and suspended in the water, which scatter light and give the lake its milky blue green look.
It sits in an amphitheater of rock and ice, and on a clear morning you can see the glacier calving small avalanches above it.
The area around the lake is high-altitude puna grassland: low ichu grass, cushion plants, and not much tree cover. You'll likely see grazing horses and, if you're lucky, an Andean gull or a caracara. It's a short, dramatic environment you go from grassland to glacier in under two hours of walking.
Where Humantay Lake is located
Humantay Lake is in the Cusco region of Peru, in the district of Mollepata (Anta province), below Nevado Humantay near a spot called Soraypampa. It sits right at the start of the classic Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu, which is why it's often bundled with that route. On a map, it's roughly 75 miles (120 km) west-northwest of Cusco as you drive it.
Humantay Lake elevation and altitude
The lake sits at 13,779 feet (4,200 m). For reference, that's higher than Cusco (11,150 ft / 3,400 m) and lower than Rainbow Mountain (about 16,400 ft / 5,000 m).
The trailhead at Soraypampa is around 12,800 ft (3,900 m), so you're climbing roughly 1,500 vertical feet to reach the lake. At this elevation there's about 40% less oxygen than at sea level, which is the real reason the hike feels hard more on that below.
What "Humantay" means
"Humantay" comes from Quechua and is tied to the mountain above the lake, which is considered an apu a sacred mountain spirit in Andean belief.
Locals still leave offerings here, and the lake is treated as a sacred site, not just a photo stop. That matters for how you behave when you visit (no swimming, no drones, pack out your trash).
How to get to Humantay Lake from Cusco
Every trip to Humantay Lake starts in Cusco and runs through the town of Mollepata to the Soraypampa trailhead. The drive is about 3 to 3.5 hours, and the last stretch roughly 25 km is a narrow gravel mountain road that takes over an hour on its own. You have three ways to do it: a guided day tour, a private taxi, or public transport on your own.
How far is Humantay Lake from Cusco?
It's about 120 km (75 mi) from Cusco to the Soraypampa trailhead, which works out to a 3-to-3.5-hour drive each way. Add the hike and time at the lake, and the full day runs 14 to 16 hours door to door.
Coming from Aguas Calientes (the Machu Picchu town) is much harder there's no direct route, so you'd backtrack toward Cusco first. Plan Humantay from Cusco, not from Machu Picchu.
Guided tour, private taxi, or on your own
A guided day tour is what most travelers pick. It runs about US$20–50 per person and usually includes round-trip transport, breakfast, lunch, and a guide, with a 3–4 a.m. pickup in Cusco. A private taxi gives you control over timing and costs roughly US$55 from Mollepata or US$82 from Cusco round-trip good if you want to beat the crowds.
Doing it fully on your own is cheapest: a bus from Cusco's Arcopata terminal to Mollepata runs about 15 soles (~US$4), then a shared taxi (colectivo) up to Soraypampa for around 50 soles. Renting a car (under US$30/day) is possible, but the final gravel road is single-lane and rough, so only self-drive if you're comfortable with mountain roads.
| Option | Cost | Pickup / timing | Best for |
| Guided tour | US$20–50 pp | 3–4 a.m., fixed | First-timers, no planning |
| Private taxi | ~US$55–82 round trip | Your call | Beating crowds, small groups |
| Public transport | ~15–65 soles | Flexible, slower | Budget, independent travelers |
Entry fee and where to pay it
There's a 20-sole (~US$5.50) entrance fee for the Humantay area, and it's collected in Mollepata on the way in. Tours usually don't include it, so carry cash in small soles. Bring a little extra for the restroom (2 soles) and a horse if you want one cards are useless up here.
The Humantay Lake hike: what to expect
The hike starts at Soraypampa and climbs steadily to the lake. It's short but relentless mostly uphill, on a dirt-and-rock trail that gets loose and dusty in the dry season and muddy in the wet.
Early on you'll pass a shelter and a gate, then the trail steepens into switchbacks before leveling out at the lake basin. Most people reach the water in 45 minutes to 1.5 hours depending on fitness and acclimatization, and come back down in about 45 minutes.
Distance, time, and elevation gain
Here's a detail almost no one clears up: the distance depends on where your driver parks. From the upper drop-off it's roughly 2 km (1.2 mi) each way; from the lower lot it's closer to 3.4 km (2.1 mi) with about 470 m (1,540 ft) of climbing.
Either way, the vertical is what you feel, not the mileage. Budget 3 to 4 hours for the round trip including time at the lake.
How hard is the hike?
Rated honestly, it's moderate-to-hard but the difficulty is almost entirely about altitude, not distance or technical terrain. If you've spent two or three days in Cusco first, and you take it slow, most reasonably fit adults can do it. It's harder than it looks on paper and, in the opinion of a lot of hikers, feels tougher than Rainbow Mountain despite being lower, because the climb is steeper and more sustained.
Kids who are used to activity and older travelers who pace themselves manage it every day; if you have heart or lung conditions, talk to your doctor first.
The moraine viewpoint above the lake
Once you're at the lake, there's an optional 10-minute scramble up the moraine (the rock ridge on the right) for a higher, wider view looking down on the water.
It's steep and loose but worth it if your legs and lungs have anything left. Skip it if you're already gassed the shoreline view is the main event.
Can you visit Humantay Lake without hiking?
Partly. You can hire a horse with an arriero (handler) for about 90 soles that carries you up most of the climb, but the final 10–15 minutes to the lake is on foot for everyone horses aren't allowed on the last section.
So there's no way to reach the water fully without walking, and it isn't wheelchair accessible. The horse is a solid option if the altitude is the problem, not your legs.
Can you do Humantay Lake in one day?
Yes, nearly everyone does it as a single day trip from Cusco. Just know it's a 14-to-16-hour day with a 3–4 a.m. start.
Doing it in a tight 8-hour window isn't realistic once you count the six-plus hours of driving. If a long day sounds rough, the alternative is basing a night closer, in Mollepata or a Soraypampa dome camp.
Altitude and health
At 13,779 feet, altitude is the one thing that can wreck this hike, so take it seriously. Common early signs of altitude sickness (soroche) are headache, nausea, dizziness, and shortness of breath beyond what the effort explains. Mild symptoms are normal; if they get worse as you climb confusion, vomiting, a headache that won't quit turn around and descend.
Going down is the fix. Drink water, walk slowly, don't skip breakfast, and go easy on alcohol the night before. Coca tea and hard candy help some people; talk to a doctor about medication like acetazolamide before your trip.
Acclimatize in Cusco first
The single best thing you can do is spend at least two ideally three days in Cusco or the (slightly lower) Sacred Valley before this hike. Don't fly in from sea level and head straight to Humantay the next morning; that's how people end up miserable at the trailhead.
A good rule is to avoid gaining more than about 500 m of sleeping altitude per day, and to do an easy warm-up walk or two in Cusco first.
Best time to visit Humantay Lake
The dry season roughly May to mid-October gives you the clearest skies, the bluest water, and the most reliable views. The wet season (November to March) brings clouds, mud, and a real chance the lake is flat gray instead of turquoise. Here's how the year breaks down:
| Months | Weather | Crowds | Notes |
| May–Aug | Dry, cold, clear | Highest | Best color and views; freezing mornings |
| Sep–mid-Oct | Dry, milder | High | Great balance of weather and slightly thinner crowds |
| Nov–Dec | Shoulder, variable | Medium | Hit or miss; go early, keep plans flexible |
| Jan–Mar | Wettest, cloudy | Lowest | Muddy trail, often gray water; cheapest |
Dry season vs. rainy season
If clear photos are the priority, go in the dry season. That said, the rainy season isn't a write off mornings can still be clear before clouds build, and you'll share the lake with far fewer people. If you visit in wet months, start as early as possible, pack a rain shell, and keep your dates flexible so you can pick a decent-weather morning.
Best time of day to beat the crowds
This is where timing pays off. The big tour buses tend to reach the lake around 10 a.m., so it's busiest from mid-morning to early afternoon. If you get there by about 9:15 a.m. or, going the other way, arrive around midday as the first wave leaves you'll get far more space and calmer water for photos. Early also means better light and less wind. A private taxi or self-drive is the easiest way to control this; standard tours all run on the same schedule.
What to bring to Humantay Lake
Pack for two climates in one morning: freezing at the trailhead, strong sun at the lake. Bring warm layers (base layer, fleece, and a wind/rain shell), a hat and gloves, sunglasses, and high-SPF sunscreen the UV at this altitude is brutal. Carry at least 1.5–2 liters of water, snacks, and cash in small soles for the entry fee, restroom, and a horse if you want one. Good footwear matters more than anything else on this trail. Trekking poles help a lot on the steep sections and the loose descent.
Two quick notes people forget: bring cash (no cards up here) and pack a small bag for your own trash.
What to do at the lake
Most people spend 30–60 minutes at the lake. The main things to do are walk the shoreline, climb the moraine for the higher view, and take photos. Some tours include a short despacho ceremony a traditional offering to the apu which is worth watching if it's offered. There are basic paid restrooms near the trailhead (2 soles) and no stores at the lake, so bring what you need. Camping is possible down at Soraypampa, not at the lake itself.
Can you swim in Humantay Lake?
No. Swimming and wading are not allowed the lake is a sacred site and it's protected, plus the water is glacial meltwater just above freezing, which is genuinely dangerous. Enjoy it from the shore, take your photos, and keep out of the water.
Is Humantay Lake worth it?
Short answer: yes, for most people with a caveat. The lake is genuinely striking and the setting under the glacier is hard to beat for a half-day of effort. The trade-offs are the very early start, the altitude, and the crowds.
If you plan around those acclimatize first, go early or in the shoulder season, and pick a good operator it's one of the best day trips near Cusco. If you can't acclimatize, hate crowds, and won't go early, you might come away underwhelmed. Manage the timing and it delivers.
Avoiding tourist traps
A few honest warnings. The cheapest tours pack big groups onto buses, rush the schedule, and sometimes push extras once you're there. Guides on budget trips have been known to charge ahead with the fast hikers and leave slower people behind, and there's steady pressure to rent a horse.
None of that is a dealbreaker, but it's why the operator you choose matters more than the price. Ask about group size, whether the entry fee is included, and how the guide handles different paces.
Visiting Humantay Lake responsibly
Humantay gets thousands of visitors in high season, and it shows litter on the trail and pressure on the small communities that run it. A few simple habits keep it in good shape. Pack out everything you bring in, including fruit peels and tissue. Stay on the trail, don't fly drones over the lake, and don't swim.
Respect the site as the sacred place locals consider it to be. And where you can, put money into the local economy fairly tip your arriero, buy from Mollepata and Soraypampa vendors, and choose an operator that pays and treats its staff well rather than the absolute cheapest one. That last choice does more good than any single action on the trail.
Humantay Lake vs. Rainbow Mountain
These are the two big day hikes from Cusco, and travelers with one free day often choose between them. Quick comparison:
| Factor | Humantay Lake | Rainbow Mountain |
| Elevation | 13,779 ft / 4,200 m | ~16,400 ft / 5,000 m |
| Climb | Steep, sustained | Higher, but graded |
| Drive from Cusco | ~3–3.5 hr | ~3 hr |
| Crowds | Heavy by 10 a.m. | Heavy |
| Scenery | Turquoise glacial lake | Striped mineral ridges |
If you want a lake and a steeper, shorter climb, pick Humantay. If you want the higher, more famous colored ridges and can handle 16,000+ feet, pick Rainbow Mountain. Fit travelers with two days sometimes do both just space them out and acclimatize first.
Related: other lakes near Cusco
If you're chasing lakes on your Cusco trip, Humantay is the headliner, but it isn't the only one. For gentler, lower-altitude days, look at Laguna Huaypo and Laguna Piuray in the Sacred Valley. (See: The Most Beautiful Lakes in Peru · Lakes Near Cusco Worth Visiting.)
Frequently asked questions
How much is the Humantay Lake entry fee?
The entrance fee is 20 soles (about US$5.50), collected in Mollepata on the way in. It's usually not included in tours, so bring cash in small soles.
Are there restrooms at Humantay Lake?
Yes, there are basic paid restrooms near the trailhead for about 2 soles. Bring your own tissue and cash; there are no stores at the lake.
How do you pronounce "Humantay"?
It's roughly "oo-mahn-TIE," with the stress on the last syllable. You'll also see it spelled Huamantay.
Can you visit Humantay Lake with children?
Yes, active kids do it regularly, but the altitude and steep climb are real. Let them acclimatize in Cusco first, go slow, and consider a horse for the way up.
Is Humantay Lake safe?
It's a safe, well-traveled day trip. The main risks are altitude sickness and cold, not crime. Acclimatize, pace yourself, and turn back if altitude symptoms get worse.
Can you camp at Humantay Lake or Soraypampa?
You can't camp at the lake, but there are campsites and dome lodges at Soraypampa, near the trailhead, which make for an easier early start.