Travel Guide

How to get to the Humantay Lake

Before continuing you should know that the fastest, safest and most economical way is to hire an excursion to the Humantay Lagoon but if your thing is adventure, here I explain the step by step to get there on your own (without a tour).

Humantay Lake

The route begins in Cusco, where you must go to the bus terminal of Arcopata (north of Cusco), there you will take a bus (mini-van) to the town of Mollepata.

The trip lasts 2 to 2.5 hours and costs S/ 15 per person, once you arrive take advantage of the trip to have breakfast and buy snacks to eat for the rest of the day.

Further along the way it becomes more difficult and more expensive to get supplies. You can also stay overnight in Mollepata to leave early the next day for the lagoon.

While you are looking for food, take the opportunity to see if there are other travelers who are traveling on their own to the lagoon so that you can share the cab to Soraypampa.

But first you will have to pay in Mollaypampa the entrance fee to the Soraypampa camp, S/ 20 for foreigners and S/ 10 for national tourists or residents of Peru.

Cabs from Mollepata to Soraypampa can cost from S/ 70 to S/ 100 depending on your negotiation skills (one way trip).

From Soraypampa you will pay the entrance fee to the Humantay Lagoon (S/ 10) and start the hike to the lagoon, depending on your physical condition it will take between 1.5 to 2 hours to climb up and 1 hour to descend.

The terrain during the first moments of the hike is almost flat but as time goes by it becomes steeper and at times you must be careful where you step to avoid slipping.

To return from Soraypampa to Mollepata there is usually no public or private transportation so I recommend you negotiate with the cab driver who brought you to also pick you up at a certain time.

Best time to go to the Humantay Lake

Like other tourist attractions in Cusco it is important to consider the weather before embarking on the route to the Humantay Lagoon.

To do this let’s start by saying that the months of December to March are the least recommended to go because of the rains and possible hailstorms.

On the other hand, April to November are the ideal months to go to the lagoon, although it should be noted that July and August are the ones that offer a warmer and clearer climate.

What to Bring

• Day pack
• Hiking shoes
• Walking sticks
• Warm clothes
• Scarf and gloves
• Rain Jacket or Poncho
• Hat or Cap to protect you from the sun or the cold
• Sun Block
• Sunglasses
• Water and Snacks
• Camera