Cusco to Humantay Lake: Day Hike with Breakfast & Lunch

Summary

Early morning from cusco to humantay lake with sacred mountain rituals

You’ll start before sunrise in Cusco, sharing sleepy jokes with your guide on the way to Humantay Lake. Feel the altitude as you hike from Soraypampa, join a traditional offering at the turquoise lagoon, then refuel with lunch in Mollepata before heading back—tired but changed.

What’s the experience like?

Ever wondered if you can actually wake up at 4:00 AM and not regret it? Turns out, you can — especially if you’re heading from Cusco to Humantay Lake. When the van pulled up outside my hostel, the city was still dark and quiet, except for a few dogs barking somewhere down the street. Our guide, Maribel, greeted everyone by name (how does she remember?) and handed out walking sticks with this little grin that said we’d need them. I clutched mine like a lifeline as we bumped along winding roads out of Cusco.

We stopped in Mollepata just as the sun started warming up the rooftops. Breakfast wasn’t fancy — eggs, bread, coca tea — but somehow everything tasted better after that chilly drive. The air smelled faintly of eucalyptus and wood smoke. Maribel chatted about the Apus (the sacred mountains) and how people here still leave offerings for them; I tried repeating “Humantay” properly but totally failed. She laughed and said I’d get another shot at the lake.

The hike from Soraypampa is no joke if you’re not used to altitude. My legs burned within minutes but there was this quiet between our group, just boots crunching on gravel and someone’s playlist leaking out tinny pop songs behind me. It took us about an hour and a half — maybe longer because I kept stopping “for photos,” which was really just catching my breath. When we finally reached Humantay Lake, it didn’t even look real: turquoise water under snowy peaks, cold air stinging my cheeks. A local shaman led a short offering ceremony; he let us sprinkle coca leaves into the wind while he murmured something I couldn’t quite catch. That moment felt heavier than I expected — not sure why.

On the way down my knees wobbled but I felt lighter somehow, like I’d left something behind up there (maybe just exhaustion). Lunch back in Mollepata tasted like actual reward — hot soup and rice with chicken that disappeared fast. We dozed most of the drive back to Cusco; I kept thinking about that silence by the lake and how even now it feels close when everything else gets loud again.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Full day tour to Humantay Lake

• Hotel pick-up in Cusco at 4:30 AM
• Travel by bus to Mollepata
• Breakfast in Mollepata
• Continue to Soraypampa
• Hike to Humantay Lake (1.5 hours)
• Enjoy lake and sacred Apus offering
• Descend to Soraypampa
• Bus back to Mollepata
• Lunch in Mollepata
• Return to Cusco, arrive around 6:00 PM

Top questions

How long does it take to hike to Humantay Lake?

The hike from Soraypampa to Humantay Lake takes about 1.5 hours each way.

Is breakfast included on this day trip from Cusco?

Yes, breakfast is included in Mollepata before starting the hike.

What time does the tour start and end?

The tour starts with pickup around 4:30 AM in Cusco and returns around 6:00 PM.

Is lunch provided during the Humantay Lake tour?

Yes, lunch is provided after descending from Humantay Lake back in Mollepata.

Is there a guide during the hike?

Yes, a local guide accompanies you throughout the day trip from Cusco to Humantay Lake.

Are walking sticks or oxygen available?

Walking sticks are included and oxygen assistance is available if needed during the hike.

Can travelers with health issues join this tour?

This tour is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, pregnancy, or poor cardiovascular health.

What’s included

Your day includes early morning hotel pickup in Cusco, breakfast in Mollepata before hiking, all guidance and support (walking stick plus oxygen assistance), time at Humantay Lake with an optional local offering ceremony, a hearty lunch after your descent, and comfortable transport back by evening.