Laguna Humantay (Humantay Lake): How to Get There and When to Go

The best time for the Laguna Humantay hike is the dry season, from May to September, when there's less rain and the views are better. June to August is high season, so we recommend leaving early to avoid the crowds.

Laguna Humantay is in the Cusco region of Peru, in the Andes, at more than 4,200 m (13,780 ft) above sea level. It's part of the route to the snowcapped Salkantay peak, and it's one of the most visited places thanks to its beautiful turquoise color and impressive mountain setting.

One of the most practical and safest ways to get to Laguna Humantay from Cusco is on an organized tour. These usually include everything you need for the hike: transportation, a professional guide, food and first-aid equipment.

📌 How do you get to Laguna Humantay? If you go on your own, you need to arrange transportation to Soraypampa, where the hike starts. But the most common (and comfortable) way is on a Laguna Humantay tour that leaves directly from Cusco.

Most tours include:

• Round-trip transfer from your accommodation in Cusco
• A mountain guide
• Breakfast and lunch
• Oxygen and a first-aid kit

We did the tour with Machu Picchu Tours and had an excellent experience. We chose the 2-day option, which lets you enjoy the lake with fewer people and visit Paso Salkantay. They also have a one-day option, ideal if you're short on time.

🧡 If you'd like to book, here are some tours we recommend:

• 👉 1-day Laguna Humantay tour from Cusco (small group)
• 👉 2-day Salkantay trek with Laguna Humantay
• 👉 Full Salkantay trek (4 or 5 days)

✨ Remember that Laguna Humantay sits at 4,200 m (13,780 ft), so we recommend acclimatizing in Cusco for at least 48 hours beforehand.

Type: Out and back
Total distance: 7.5 km (4.7 miles)
Duration: 3 to 4 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
Maximum altitude: 4,200 m (13,780 ft)
Trailhead: Soraypampa
Map: You can see it on Wikiloc

1. Hiking to Laguna Humantay in 1 day

The tour starts very early, around 3:00 AM, when the agency picks you up at your hotel. You stop for breakfast and then continue to Soraypampa, where the hike begins.

The hike is short but intense: about 3 km (1.9 miles) that take 90 to 120 minutes, with steep sections. But it's worth it! The scenery gets more and more impressive as you climb, and when you arrive, the contrast between the turquoise blue of the lake and the snowy mountains is simply magical.
After enjoying the place, you hike down, have lunch and drive back to Cusco.

2. Laguna Humantay as part of the Salkantay Trek

The Salkantay Trek is an alternative to the Inca Trail and takes 4 to 5 days. The route passes Laguna Humantay and Paso Salkantay, one of the highest and most beautiful points on the circuit.

We chose a short 2-day version to see those two iconic spots. We booked the tour with Machu Picchu Tours (the operator was Salkantay Trek, which has the best camps).

Day 1: they picked us up at the hotel, we had breakfast and started walking from Challacancha to Soraypampa, where we had lunch at the Sky Camp. In the afternoon we went up to the lake when there was almost no one left, which made the experience even more special.

👉 Here you can read more about our experience on the 2-day Salkantay Trek.

• Book with a reliable agency. We recommend this 1-day tour, and this one if you want to do the Salkantay Trek in 2 days like we did.
• Get a good night's sleep the night before.
• Dress in layers: it's very cold in the morning. Bring thermal clothes, a down jacket, a rain jacket, a hat, gloves and good hiking shoes.
• Sunscreen and sunglasses.
• Eat light the night before and on the day of the hike.
• Spend at least 48 hours in Cusco beforehand to acclimatize.
• Go at your own pace: you'll feel the altitude, so take breaks and drink water often.
• Bring at least 1.5 liters of water. A hydration pack was a big help for us.
• Chewing coca leaves or coca candies can help with the altitude.
• Don't ride horses. If you can walk, it's better for the animals.
• Respect nature: don't leave trash, don't go into the lake, and follow the local rules.
• Get good travel insurance that covers high-altitude trekking. We use Heymondo.