Humantay Lake is a turquoise lake at the foot of the snowcapped peak of the same name, in the Vilcabamba range. It lies on the Salkantay trek route, and you can visit it on a full-day trip from Cusco.
The hike
From Soraypampa, where the road ends, it’s about an hour and a half uphill on a steep trail. The lake sits at about 4,200 m. You return the same way.
Tips
- Do this trip once you’ve acclimatized in Cusco.
- Bring warm clothes: you leave before dawn.
- Horses are available for the climb, at an extra cost.