Humantay Lagoon day hike from Cusco: private tour with guide

A 12-hour climb to a turquoise lagoon ringed by snow peaks

This private day tour from Cusco reaches Humantay Lagoon, a high-altitude alpine lake at 4,250 meters, with a guide in English or Spanish, private transportation, breakfast and lunch included. The route departs at 4:30 am, passes through Mollepata and Soraypampa, and involves roughly 90 minutes of uphill walking to the lagoon. The tour returns to Cusco by 5 pm and runs every day year-round.

Step-by-step itinerary

Excursion to Humantay Lake from Cusco

• Pick up at hotel at 4:30 am
• Travel to Mollepata and have breakfast
• Continue journey to Soraypampa
• Hike to Humantay Lagoon (1.5 hours)
• Enjoy lagoon and participate in offering
• Descend to Soraypampa
• Bus to Mollepata for lunch
• Return to Cusco, arrive around 5 pm

The Experience

The day starts before dawn with pickup at your hotel at 4:30 am. You'll ride in private transportation to Mollepata, a mountain town where breakfast waits before the walk begins. From there the route climbs toward Soraypampa, a high-altitude staging point where the actual hike to Humantay Lagoon starts. The walk itself takes roughly 90 minutes upward through alpine terrain to reach the lagoon at 4,250 meters above sea level.

At Humantay Lagoon you'll have time to stand at the water's edge and take in the turquoise color and the peaks surrounding it. Your guide will lead a traditional offering ceremony to the sacred Apus (mountain spirits), and you can participate in that ritual if you wish. Oxygen assistance is available if altitude affects you during the climb or at the lake.

The descent retraces the same path back to Soraypampa, where you board the vehicle again for the ride to Mollepata. Lunch happens there before the final drive back to Cusco, with an approximate arrival time of 5 pm. Your guide speaks English or Spanish throughout, and the tour includes walking sticks for the uphill sections.

What’s included

• Private transportation from your Cusco hotel and back.
• private tour guide in English or Spanish.
• breakfast in Mollepata.
• lunch in Mollepata on the return.
• walking sticks for the climb.
• oxygen assistance if needed at altitude.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by MachuPicchu Journey

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you have one day in Cusco and want to reach a high-altitude alpine lake without arranging transportation, a guide or meals yourself—the private format means the timing and the route stay on schedule, and everything from pickup to lunch is handled so you focus on the walk and the view.

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Top questions

How high is Humantay Lagoon and what is the walk like to get there?

Humantay Lagoon sits at 4,250 meters above sea level. The walk from Soraypampa to the lagoon takes approximately 90 minutes uphill through mountain terrain, and you descend the same route afterward.

What time does the tour leave Cusco and when do I get back?

Pickup happens at 4:30 am from your hotel, and the tour returns to Cusco around 5 pm. The full day is 12 hours from start to finish.

What meals and gear are included?

Breakfast in Mollepata and lunch there on the return are included, along with a walking stick for the climb. Oxygen assistance is available if you need it at altitude.

Is this tour private or shared with other travelers?

This is a private tour, so you travel with your own guide and transportation rather than joining a group.

What language does the guide speak?

Your guide speaks English or Spanish, and you can choose which when you book.

Do I need to be very fit to do this hike?

The tour requires at least a moderate level of physical fitness because of the altitude and the 90-minute uphill walk. It is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, cardiovascular concerns, or if you are pregnant.