Hey awesome travelers! When you think about visiting Peru, you probably think about Machu Picchu, right? It’s the most famous place! But Peru has so many other beautiful spots high up in the mountains. One place that lots of people love to see is a lake with an amazing color called Humantay Lake!
Imagine seeing water that looks like a bright blue or green gem sitting right under a giant mountain covered in snow. That’s Humantay Lake! It’s a truly beautiful sight and feels like something from a magic story.
To see Humantay Lake, you need to take a trip from Cusco and do a walk uphill. This trip is called a Humantay Lake tour.
In this story, we will tell you all about going to Humantay Lake. We’ll use simple words so you can easily understand what the trip is like, why the lake is so colorful, how hard the walk is, how to get ready, and what to expect on this beautiful mountain adventure. Get ready to see some incredible blue water!
What is Humantay Lake? (A Colorful Lake High Up!)
Okay, let’s talk about the lake itself. Humantay Lake is a mountain lake. This means it’s a lake found high up in the mountains.
What makes it so special is its color. The water often looks like a bright turquoise or a deep blue-green. It’s not just clear water; it has a really strong, beautiful color!
Why does it have this color? It’s partly because of the minerals in the ground and rocks around it, and partly because of the clean water that comes from the melting snow and ice from the mountain above. The way the light hits the water can also make the color look even brighter. It’s like nature painted the lake!
Right behind the lake is a big, rocky mountain that is often covered in snow. This mountain is called Mount Humantay. Having the white and grey of the snowy mountain right behind the bright blue-green lake makes the view look truly amazing and very pretty. It feels very peaceful and powerful at the same time.
Where is This Beautiful Lake?
Humantay Lake is located high up in the Andes Mountains of Peru. It’s part of the same group of mountains as Salkantay Mountain. In fact, the walk to Humantay Lake is the first part of the longer Salkantay Trek.
To visit Humantay Lake, you start your trip from the city of Cusco. You travel by car or bus for several hours to get closer to the mountains where the lake is. The lake is in a valley surrounded by other mountains.
It’s a place that feels far away from the city, where you are deep in nature with big mountain views all around you as you travel.
What is a Humantay Lake Tour? (Usually One Long Day!)
Most people visit Humantay Lake by taking a one-day tour from Cusco.
This kind of tour takes up one whole day, and it’s a long day!
Here’s a simple idea of what a one-day tour is like:
- Very Early Morning (like 4:00 AM or earlier!): A small bus or van picks you up from your hotel or a meeting spot in Cusco. It’s still dark outside!
- Morning: You travel for a few hours by bus. You might sleep during part of the drive. As the sun comes up, you start to see the valleys and fields outside the window.
- Morning (Breakfast Stop): The bus usually stops in a small village along the way for breakfast. You eat a simple, warm meal to get ready for the walk.
- Morning (Finish Driving): After breakfast, you drive for maybe another hour or so to get closer to the place where the walk starts. This starting place is called Soraypampa.
- Late Morning (Start Walking): You get off the bus at Soraypampa. This place is already quite high up! Your guide will get the group ready, and then you start walking towards the lake.
- Walking Uphill: The walk to Humantay Lake is mostly uphill. It’s not a super long walk, maybe about 1.5 to 2 hours for most people, but because it goes up and is at a high place, it feels like good exercise! The path can be rocky or sometimes muddy.
- Reaching the Lake: After walking uphill, you will reach the top of a small hill, and then you will see Humantay Lake right in front of you! You will see the amazing blue-green water with the snowy mountain behind it. It’s beautiful!
- Time at the Lake: You get some time to spend at the lake (maybe 30 minutes to 1 hour). You can take pictures, look at the view, and just enjoy being in this special place. It can be cold and windy up here!
- Walking Down: After enjoying the lake, you walk back down the same path to where the bus is waiting at Soraypampa. Walking downhill is usually faster but can make your legs feel a bit tired.
- Lunch: When you get back to Soraypampa or drive a little way back, you will have lunch. It’s usually a warm meal, and it feels great after the walk!
- Driving Back: After lunch, you get back on the bus for the long drive all the way back to Cusco. You might be tired and want to sleep on the bus.
- Evening: The bus drops you off back in Cusco (maybe around 5:00 PM or 6:00 PM). Your long day to see the beautiful lake is finished!
So, even though the walk is not as long as a multi-day trek, the trip takes the whole day because of the many hours of driving to get there and back from Cusco.
Is the Walk to Humantay Lake Hard?
Yes, the walk to Humantay Lake is hard.
It’s not as hard as walking over the super high passes on the Inca Trail or Salkantay Trek for many days, but for a walk that is only about 1.5-2 hours uphill, it is still challenging.
Why is it hard?
- It’s Uphill: The path goes up steadily. Walking uphill makes your legs and lungs work hard.
- It’s at High Altitude: Just like Cusco and other places in the Andes, the lake is at a high elevation (around 4,200 meters or 13,800 feet!). This means there is less oxygen in the air. This makes it much harder to breathe when you are walking, especially uphill. It can make you feel very tired and out of breath quickly.
Many people find this walk challenging because of the uphill part combined with the high altitude. You will probably need to stop and rest to catch your breath as you walk up.
But, it’s a path that many people, even those who don’t hike a lot, can complete if they go slowly.
Getting Ready for the Walk and the Height (Simple Steps!)
Since the high place and the uphill part are the challenge, getting ready is important:
- Spend time in Cusco FIRST: This is the most important thing. Before you go to Humantay Lake, spend at least 1 or 2 full days in Cusco. Cusco is also high up (but lower than the lake). By staying in Cusco first, your body starts to get used to having less oxygen in the air. This helps a lot for the walk to the lake. Relax in Cusco, drink water, and walk slowly.
- Go VERY SLOW on the Uphill Walk: When you start walking from Soraypampa, do not rush. Walk much slower than you normally would. Find a slow, steady pace. If you feel tired or out of breath, stop and rest for a minute. It is okay to take breaks! Going slow is the best way to finish the walk and feel better at the top.
- Drink Lots of Water: Drink water before the walk, during the walk, and after. Staying hydrated helps your body at high places.
- Listen to your Guide: Your guide knows the path and knows about altitude. Tell them if you are not feeling well.
- Consider a Horse: If you are very worried about the walk or feel very tired, local people at the start of the walk often offer horses to ride up most of the way. This costs extra money, but it’s an option to help you reach the lake if walking is too difficult.
Taking it easy in Cusco first and walking very slowly on the path are your best strategies!
What Kind of Cool Stuff Will You See?
The biggest highlight is definitely the lake itself and the mountain behind it!
The Blue-Green Lake
The color of Humantay Lake is really the star. It’s such a bright, clear blue-green color that it almost doesn’t look real. Seeing this color with the grey and white of the snowy mountain right there is beautiful. The color can look different depending on the sun and the sky.
The Snowy Mountain (Mount Humantay)
The big mountain that is right behind the lake is impressive too. It’s rocky and often has snow or ice on its top. Standing at the lake and looking up at the mountain makes you feel small and makes the lake look even more special.
Other Mountains
As you walk to the lake, and especially from the view spots, you can see other big mountains around the valley. Some of them might also have snow. It’s a true mountain landscape all around you.
The Valley
The path to the lake goes through a mountain valley. You see hillsides, maybe some small streams, and grass. It’s simple nature, but beautiful because it’s wild and high up.
Animals
You will probably see llamas and alpacas near the start of the walk or in the valleys you drive through. Seeing these friendly animals in their mountain home is always nice. You might also see some birds.
Getting Ready: What to Bring (Simple Packing for a Day Trip!)
Even though it’s just one day, you need to be ready for cold, sun, and possibly rain, because you are high in the mountains. Pack a small backpack with what you need for the walk.
Your Small Backpack Should Have:
- Water bottle (full!)
- Some snacks (like energy bars or fruit – the uphill walk needs energy!)
- Sunscreen (the sun is very strong high up!)
- Sunglasses (bright sun!)
- Hat for the sun
- Warm hat (it will be cold and windy at the lake!)
- Gloves (hands get cold!)
- Rain jacket or a waterproof jacket (mountain weather can change fast!)
- Small first-aid kit (for little things)
- Toilet paper, hand sanitizer (there are usually basic bathrooms at the start/end)
- Camera or phone (for the amazing lake pictures!)
- Some cash (small money for maybe buying a snack or riding a horse)
What to Wear (Layers Again!):
Wear clothes in layers so you can take things off or put them on easily.
- Underwear
- Warm socks (wool or hiking socks are good)
- Comfortable walking pants
- A t-shirt or base layer
- A warm shirt (like a fleece)
- A warm jacket (maybe a puffy jacket)
- Your rain jacket (even if it’s not raining, it helps against wind)
- Comfortable walking shoes or hiking boots (make sure they are good for uphill and downhill)
It will be cold when you start driving in the dark morning, you will get warm walking uphill, it will be cold and windy at the lake, and then you will cool down walking back down and driving back. Layers help you stay comfortable!
Simple Tips for Your Humantay Lake Tour
- Be Ready for an Early Start: These tours leave very, very early from Cusco. Go to bed early the night before!
- Walk SLOWLY: Seriously, don’t rush the uphill part. Your body will thank you at the top.
- Take Breaks: Stop when you need to, enjoy the views on the way up.
- Stay on the Path: The path is clear. Don’t wander off.
- Respect the Place: It’s a beautiful natural spot. Don’t leave trash. Don’t touch the water (it’s cold anyway!).
- Be Prepared for the Cold and Wind at the Lake: Have your warm hat, gloves, and jacket ready before you reach the top.
Can You Swim in Humantay Lake?
No, you usually cannot swim in Humantay Lake. The water is considered sacred by local people, and it’s also very, very cold because it comes from the melting mountain ice! Most tours do not allow swimming to protect the lake and for safety reasons. You just enjoy looking at its beauty from the edge.
Ready to See the Amazing Blue Lake?
Visiting Humantay Lake is a wonderful experience if you love seeing beautiful nature and colorful landscapes. The trip is long because of the drive, and the walk uphill is a good challenge, especially because of the high altitude.
But seeing the incredible blue-green color of the lake with the big snowy mountain right behind it is truly worth the early morning and the uphill walk for many people. It’s a taste of the high Andes beauty without needing to do a multi-day trek.
If you are visiting Cusco and want to see a stunning natural wonder with a unique color, and you are ready for a challenging uphill walk at a high place, a Humantay Lake tour could be the perfect trip for you. Get ready to see a lake that looks like a giant blue gem!