Humantay Lake Day Hike (Small Group or Private)
Traveler rating
5.0/5
Based on 30 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Humantay Lake Day Hike (Small Group or Private) worth booking?
Humantay Lake Day Hike (Small Group or Private) is a 24-hour experience in Cusco, Peru, from $175 per person. It scores 68 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Solid Choice”, based on a 5/5 rating across 30 reviews. This booking is non-refundable, so pick your date carefully. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 68 / 100
- Rating
- 5/5 (30)
- Duration
- 24 hours
- From
- $175 per person
*Small Group Experience* (max 8 trekkers) This full-day trek will take you and a small-group to Humantay Lake, nestled along the famous Salkantay trek. Hike to one of Peru's most magical lakes and be surrounded by the im
What you get
- Professional FlashpackerConnect guide (English and Spanish)
- First aid kit and oxygen
- Breakfast at a local restaurant
- Lunch prepared by a chef (local Peruvian food is prepared, and drinks such as teas and coffee)
- Hotel pickup and drop-off (Cusco)
- Snacks for the trek
About this experience
*Small Group Experience* (max 8 trekkers) This full-day trek will take you and a small-group to Humantay Lake, nestled along the famous Salkantay trek. Hike to one of Peru's most magical lakes and be surrounded by the impressive Salkantay and Humantay Peaks while gazing at unbelievable turquoise water. Enjoy a hot breakfast prior to getting to the trail head, snacks for along the way, a wonderful lunch prepared by a chef in a dining tent with table and chairs, private transportation to and from your hotel in Cusco, a fluent English speaking guide, and all proper first aid and emergency oxygen to ensure a safe journey.
What's included
Included
- Professional FlashpackerConnect guide (English and Spanish)
- First aid kit and oxygen
- Breakfast at a local restaurant
- Lunch prepared by a chef (local Peruvian food is prepared, and drinks such as teas and coffee)
- Hotel pickup and drop-off (Cusco)
- Snacks for the trek
- Transport by private vehicle
- Small Group Experience* (max 8 trekkers)
Not included
- Water (bring 1 liter per person)
- Gratuities
What you'll see and do
Humantay Lake
Your day starts in Cusco where you are picked up from your hotel between 3am and 3:30am for a 3 hour trip via private van to the start of the trail. You will be given a local Peruvian style breakfast prepared by a chef and fuel up for the hike ahead of you. Your day starts in Cusco or the Sacred Valley region where you are picked up from your hotel between 3am and 3:30am for a 2.5 hour drive to the village of Mollepata, located in the lush valley of the Apurimac River. Here we will enjoy breakfast in a local restaurant before we start the trek to Soraypampa. We travel along a photogenic path called the “Camino Real,” as we gain altitude. After reaching the tiny village, where few amenities exist, we continue for another hour and a half, ascending 1,200 feet in just 2 miles up a steep path. After conquering the last hill, we will gaze down on a turquoise lake below, which is surrounded by steep peaks and an impressive glacier. The hike is dominated by Salkantay Peak, one of Peru’s most sacred mountains, towering 20,600 feet with a sheer and snowy face. The equally impressive Humantay Peak, rising 19,412 feet, is also within view. Shamans and other natives will often give blessing when reaching the crystal-clear waters of Humantay Lake. Once we reach the lakeshore, we relax, enjoy a snack, go for a swim (if you are brave!) or give thanks to Pachamama (Mother Earth). When you are ready to hike back down, we will descend to Soraypampa and have lunch while enjoying the breathtaking panoramic views of the snowy peaks. We drive back to Cusco (or the Sacred Valley) drop you off at your hotel. NOTE: This is a challenging day of hiking. Hikers should be reasonably fit, and spend some time in Cusco to acclimate as the hike takes place over 4200m (13,000ft) and is about 7 kilometers (5 miles) in length. We recommend guests have at least 2-3 days of acclimation. Pick up time is between 3am and 3:30am, please be waiting in your hotel lobby at 3am and keep a lookout for the van. You may want to bring a pillow and blanket to get some extra sleep during the van ride (these can be left in the van while you hike). If you are prone to motion sickness we also recommend taking something to help with this.
840 minutes here
Where it starts and ends
Meeting point
Cusco
Our driver will come to your hotel. Please be sure to provide at least 72 hours in advance of the tour or you may not be picked up.
Hotel pickup
Pickup is available for selected locations. Pickup begins about 10 minutes before departure.
Ends at
Our driver will come to your hotel. Please be sure to provide at least 72 hours in advance of the tour or you may not be picked up.
Options you can book
Small Group
Private Trek
Before you book
- Cancellation
- All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
- Languages
- en, es
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 15 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- FlashpackerConnect LLC
Know before you go
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Service animals allowed
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- A minimum of 2 people per booking is required
- The duration of transfers are approximate, the exact duration will depend on the time of day and traffic conditions
- Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
- Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking
- Minimum age is 10 years
Photos
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 30 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
The guide
9 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Knowledge and storytelling
8 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
Food and drink
8 mentionsThe tastings and food stops are a highlight for most reviewers.
Photo opportunities
7 mentionsThe views and photo stops come up again and again.
Physical effort
7 mentionsExpect real walking or climbing: reviewers mention the effort involved.
Organization
5 mentionsPickup, timing, and logistics are described as running smoothly.
Traveler reviews
30 verified traveler reviews for Humantay Lake Day Hike (Small Group or Private). Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
An excellent time with Baker and Rafael!
I took a solo trip to Humantay lake with Baker as my guide and Rafael as my driver. Baker was friendly and welcoming during my on time 3am pickup and let me rest during the 2 hour drive to breakfast. Breakfast was simple but sufficient! Then we had an hour left of twisty curvy roads which Rafael navigated with ease. We began our trek around 7 and reached the lake around 8:30 where Baker explained some history and culture of the lake (and provided great photo ops). We stayed for awhile taking in the views and then headed back down. Overall WONDERFUL trip and everyone should go with Baker and Rafael!
via Tripadvisor
Wonderful
My daughter and I did the Humatay Lake tour with Flashpackers Ivan, David, and Cristobal. We had an absolutely wonderful experience all around. From timely pick-uo at our hotel to their politeness and kindness. Ivan climbed to Humantay lake with us and he was wonderful and fun. We then had a great meal cooked by Cristobal and we enjoyed very much being able to share a delicious meal with these wonderful guys. Our trip back to Cusco was smooth and easy thanks to David's excellent driving skills. It had rained and the roads were treacherous, but he did great! We loved our trip. We would recommend this company to anyone who wants to have a great experience.
via Tripadvisor
Amazing experience!
Wow, Flashpacker and our guide, Aiben were amazing! Our original tour, Rainbow Mountain, was closed, so they were able to accommodate our last minute Humantay Lake request. It was just my boyfriend and I so Aiben was very funny, knowledgeable, and accommodating with our hiking pace and we took it nice and easy. It was a beautiful trek and definitely worth it. The meals were also amazing! Our chef, Mario prepared us breakfast and lunch and it was both way more than we were expecting, especially the lunch. For lunch we had chicken, pork, beef, quiona, potatoes, veggies, and a few other dishes. Everything was so tasty and we were very satisfied after our hike. Highly recommend Flashpacker and this trek!
via Tripadvisor
Lake Humantay
We went to Lake Humantay with our guide Giovanny, our driver Antonio, and our chef Sergio. We were picked up from our hotel in Cusco early in the morning and drove to Lake Humantay, which was about 3 1/2 hours ride. When we arrived, we had breakfast prepared by Sergio which was delicious! Then, we had the option to ride a horse up a majority of the hike which had beautiful views of the mountains. After a short hike more, we arrived at Lake Humantay. It was a bit foggy at first, but then the sun came out and the views were stunning! Giovanny was very knowledgeable and gave us tons of information about the lake and about Peruvian culture. We stayed at the lake for about an hour to talk and take photos, and then hiked back down. We had lunch prepared by Sergio again, which was a full buffet-style spread of several different local foods, before heading back to Cusco. Lake Humantay is a must-see when visiting Peru! Flashpackers made everything convenient and was very well organized and on time. We also did all of our other excursions while in Peru through Flashpackers and had a great experience with each of them. Highly recommend!
via Tripadvisor
Awesome Experience: Humantay Lake with Flashpacker Connect!
I booked this excursion last-minute while my 18-year old son and I were on a 10-day visit to the region. Humantay Lake was on our bucket list for treks. This was the one trek I had not pre-booked, so I did a search on TA and other forums to find a top-rated company for a 1-day excursion. I saw that Flashpacker had consistent, high ratings and reached out while in Cusco. They were quick to respond and I went into their local office to discuss. I had some concerns with weather and if this was the right time (others told me timing was bad), but Abel, the manager, had a long discussion and assured us a great experience. Given the late booking, my son and I were the only people booked, but Flashpacker locked us in for the same rate and trip features for our private tour. We were picked up the following morning at our Cusco hotel, promptly at 3:00 a.m. , with David, our guide meeting us in the hotel lobby to begin a 3-hr drive to our starting point. The van was extremely nice, spacious and clean. We were introduced to our driver, Mario and Charlie, our chef extraordinaire for the day - all extremely friendly! This was a great surprise as we only expected boxed breakfast and lunch based on our small group of two. Mario did a great job driving which included carefully navigating us on a turning, bumpy dirt road for the last hour of the ride. When we arrived at "camp", Charlie began to cook a great breakfast with eggs, local homemade bread, fresh fruit and other to get us started - really great. David, our guide, was the best. Can't say enough good things about him - extremely well-educated, informative, fun and set the expectations for the hike. We are both in good shape, but had to regularly stop to catch our breath (coming from TX) once we got higher. Poles were definitely helpful for us. David led us on a perfect pace - really enjoyed our talks on the way to the lake. When we got the lake there was only one other small group of 4, so we had great "alone" time with the lake to take plenty of pictures. David knew the best spots and angles and took many of our pics for me and my son. The lake was amazing - clouds cleared shortly after we arrived for an amazing view. The valley behind the lake is just as beautiful and we capture videos of horses running and an eagle. Almost too beautiful to believe. We had a nice, quick trip down and passed a lot of groups coming up (glad we beat them and had our time). We had an amazing lunch when we got back prepared by Charlie - quinoa soup, fresh avocado salad, trout and so much more. So much better than I could have imagined - really made us feel special. My son said it was his favorite hike/trip of our busy 10 days (which included many other hikes including Machu Picchu, Huchuy-Qusqo and other). Again, I can't say enough about David - super engaging and really made this the highlight of our trip. We're keeping in touch with him and will definitely use Flashpacker on another trip we're planning with the rest of our family in another year.
via Tripadvisor
Good to know
- Duration
- 24 hours
- Free cancellation
- Non-refundable
- Minimum age to book
- 10+
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Price range
- $175 to $200
- Hotel pickup
- Available for selected locations
- Booked in 30 days
- 11
- Verdict
- Solid Choice
Why this scores 68
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Humantay Lake Day Hike (Small Group or Private): questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Cusco.
How much does Humantay Lake Day Hike (Small Group or Private) cost?
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Prices start at $175 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Cusco usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Humantay Lake Day Hike (Small Group or Private) take?
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Plan for about 24 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Cusco is not rushed.
Is Humantay Lake Day Hike (Small Group or Private) worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 68 out of 100, which we label "Solid Choice". That score blends traveler sentiment (5/5 across 30 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable outdoors in Cusco, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Humantay Lake Day Hike (Small Group or Private)?
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No. This experience is sold on a non-refundable basis, so only book a date you are confident about. Similar experiences in the city do offer free cancellation if flexibility matters more than price.
Is Humantay Lake Day Hike (Small Group or Private) suitable for kids and families?
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The operator sets a minimum age of 10. Older children generally do well here, and families should factor in the 24-hour running time when deciding.
How far in advance should I book Humantay Lake Day Hike (Small Group or Private)?
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Around 11 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Cusco can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Cusco and add a light layer if any part of the 24-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Humantay Lake Day Hike (Small Group or Private) start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Cusco within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Cusco?
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On Outty we rank every Cusco experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Sacred Valley Full Day Tour, Cusco: Rainbow Mountain & Red Valley Premium Day Trip with Meals, Excursion to Rainbow Mountain Full Day Optional Red Valley. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Cusco?
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Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Cusco?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
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