Excursion to Humantay Lake from Cusco

Recommended by 96% of travelers

Badge of Excellence

Cusco, Peru

Great choice

5+ bookings last month.

4 to 18 hours (approx.)
Pickup offered
Group discounts
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

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Overview

The beautiful blue-green waters of Humantay Lake are not to be missed when visiting Cusco. If you don’t have time for the full 5-day Salkantay Trail, opt for this 1-day small-group tour. Trek through the Andes to reach the alpine lake with included hotel pickup and enjoy plenty of time to explore before returning to Cusco.

Learn about the importance of the Lake to the local culture
A hearty breakfast and delicious lunch are included
Enjoy round-trip transfers with hotel pickup from your central Cusco hotel
A small group means more attention from your guide ;

What's Included

Transport.
Tour Guide.
Walking stick
Dinner
Lunch

Entrance
Gratuities

Meeting and Pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Pickup details

Pick up from your hotel in the city center.

Itinerary

Humantay Lake Peru

Admission Ticket Free

MEDICAL CUSCO “your home medical Doctor” (Pass By)

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Infants must sit on laps
Not recommended for travelers with back problems
Not recommended for pregnant travelers

No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
May be operated by a multi-lingual guide
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelers

Supplied by

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Featured review

Eric_B

This is most definitely the Humantay tour that I recommend!! Katy our guide and Cirilo our driver were both the best that we could ask for. Katy not only explained the lake and the mountain in great detail, but she was always right there to ask if we were doing alright and if we had any questions or concerns. You could tell that she was very excited about her job and wanted to make friends with everyone in the group, and she was my best guide in Peru in that regard for sure. Cirilo also gave us a nice peaceful drive where we could nap on the way to Humantay and on the way back, and that was very much appreciated as the hike is moderate and is not as simple as a walk in the park (not too difficult though!) The breakfast and dinner buffet were also amazing, very nice restaurant and tons of great options to choose from, including coca tea and muna tea for any of those who might have any altitude symptoms… 10/10 5 stars!! Thanks Katy and Cirilo and Chullo!!!

Reviews

4.8

based on 75 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

Not the best alternative to visit Humantay Lake

Gabriel_B, Aug 2025

This trip's only saving grace is that Humantay Lake is absolutely mesmerizing. First off they will not pick you up from your hotel or leave you at your hotel. Then they will cram the bus until everyone doesn't even fit comfortably (unlike all the other tours that avoid this by limiting group numbers), this is a problem because tour buses all drive fast to get to their destinations as soon as possible. Then we go to the breakfast that if you were not quick enough you wouldn't even have enough for a plate (not including that they will pressure you to eat fast). After that you head straight to the site of the lake crammed in the bus. Once there you will be given the option to take a horse up to the lake for 80 soles which they can arbitrarily decide that they will charge more because 80 soles is a "special price" and if you don't like it than walk even though they were the ones that established the price in description they give you via message (Also if you for some reason don't agree with the price change of the horse "that's a you problem" and you can just walk if you're not willing to fork out the cash). The money grab tactics with the horse were just the start because after you are back for lunch they won't even provide water to have with the food. And after you're done to add insult to injury they won't even turn on the AC after the trip in the ride back unless multiple people ask for it. Truly it was a dissapointing dynamic to what was otherwise a beautiful place to visit in Peru.

Wally excellent tour...

Peter_G, Jul 2025

Wally excellent tour guide did a great job showing everyone around. Stayed with us during the horse ride

Good challenging hike, a little rushed

Grace_W, Jun 2025

This was a challenging but very worthwhile hike. The view is incredible throughout the entire hike. It’s 7 km there, 7 km back. That’s about 3 km from the bus to the beginning of the trail, and then it’s 4 km up and 4 km down the mountain. I wish this was made more clear in the description of the hike. I am not a super experienced hiker and found it challenging but not impossible. I did feel a little rushed throughout even though I got to the top at the time when we said we’d meet there. The food was surprisingly good for a buffet style meal (I had low expectations). The bus ride was the worst part of the whole experience. Very fast driving through the Sacred Valley which made it hard to sleep because you’re getting thrown around on the turns. Driving fast through these roads seems to be a theme with most tour companies. Bring nausea medicine if you get carsick. It’s three hours there and back, which is miserable if you’re sick.

Must do

jenniferpfaff76, May 2025

Great hike although challenging. The guide was good. The hike is at your own pace and the guide sets up meeting spots for the group to regroup and head back down to the transport. Breakfast/lunch is decent food.

Good guide and timely...

namrata_a, Nov 2024

Good guide and timely start and end of the activity. Breakfast and lunch was included and decently good.

Perfect

Eric_B, Sep 2024

Great excursion from Cusco

Brandon_H, Aug 2024

Alex was a fantastic guide and we had a great driver as well. Breakfast and lunch were both pretty good buffet options.

The guide was wonderful....

Alexander_R, Aug 2024

The guide was wonderful. She took care of us. I had difficulty to climbing to the lake she was patience with us.

Beautiful

Bart_P, Jul 2024

Beautiful lake! Our guide Nilton told us some history about the area. sad to know that it took only several years for the glacier around the lake to disappear. Rough path going up.

Beautiful place

Hao_Y, Dec 2023

Absolutely beautiful. I booked the optional horse ride and it was good. Quickly shoot your photos/videos as clouds and fogs shift quickly.

Mother Nature in all it's Glory

Alex_B, Dec 2023

This adventure was more than I imagined. Humantay Lake was picture perfect. Mother Nature in all its glory. Was worth every breath to get there.

Unbelievably beautiful...

Tatsiana_L, Dec 2022

Unbelievably beautiful virgin nature, memory for all life. Tried water from stream, so good! Just be careful with latitude, I went to trip in 4 hours after airport and did not sleep, honestly physically was not easy. But mentally is fantastically and I forgot about my symptoms. Coca tea helps, but better be prepared well before trip.

Stunning - worth the trip!

JuanH, Mar 2022

Picked up on time. The trip is long. When we got there we were able to see some of the mountains before it got cloudy. Other tour guide advised that we should have gotten there earlier to avoid the clouds - probably something that our tour agency should have prevailed.

Response from Host, Jul 2022

We thank you very much for sharing your experience on the platform, we are always eager to read what you liked, this helps in our performance as a travel agency, in this way we seek to improve day by day in our different tourist services, greetings and we hope to hear from you soon you. Chullos Tarvel Peru.

Pérou magique

Eric_P, Jun 2024

Excellente journée et super guide La montée est dure mais ça vaut vraiment le coup de se surpasser,quelle paysage magique

Local incrível e guia muito atencioso

Marina_A, May 2024

Fomos acompanhados pelo guia José, que desde o início foi muito atencioso pois esquecemos um dos celulares no hotel, e ele se disponibilizou nos ajudando a ligar para o hotel, até encontrarmos o celular. Durante o passeio, ele foi muito paciente com o nosso tempo até o ponto final, já que decidimos ir a pé e não a cavalo, como a maior parte das pessoas do nosso grupo. Recomendo muito a experiência!

Lago Humantay- Peru

LIZA_F, Apr 2022

Es un lugar espectacular!! El guía Edwin fue muy claro y nos explicó todo!! La altura nos afectó pero el fue muy paciente. Lo recomiendo ya si no puedes caminar tienes la opción de tomar un caballo para parte del camino!!

Pésimo servicio de Chullos Travel

Xinia_A, Apr 2022

El operador Chullos Travel NO pasó por nosotros, nos dejaron botados en el hotel, me llamaron cuando ya iban lejos, nos pidieron tomar un taxi para alcanzarlos, así lo hicimos y cuando llegamos al sitio nuevamente se habían ido…. Perdimos el dinero del taxi, el tour, el día y el dinero del tour…. Pésimo servicio