Humantay Lake: Altitude, Hike Difficulty, Entrance Fee and How to Get There

Humantay Lake is a turquoise glacial lake at about 4,200 m (13,780 ft), at the foot of the snow-capped Humantay peak in the Salkantay range, about 3 hours by road northwest of Cusco. You reach it on a short but steep hike from Soraypampa (3,800 m / 12,467 ft): about 1.5 hours up and 1.5 hours down. You can go on a day tour or on your own by shared transport, paying the community entrance fee on site.

• 4,200 m(13,780 ft): the altitude of the lake, about 800 m higher than Cusco.
• ≈1.5 h upfrom Soraypampa, gaining about 400 m (1,310 ft); the way down takes about 1.5 hours and is much easier.
• S/20community fee for foreign visitors (October 2026), paid in cash at Soraypampa; included on our tour.

What and where is Humantay Lake?

The lake sits above Soraypampa, in the district of Mollepata (Anta province, Cusco region), in the Vilcabamba range. It is fed by meltwater from the glaciers of Nevado Humantay, and on clear days you see the Salkantay peak on the walk up. Spanish-language Wikipedia gives it a length of about 618 m and a width of about 164 m. A bathymetry by Peru’s glacier institute INAIGEM, reported by La República in July 2026, measured about 500,000 m³ of water and a depth close to 20 m.

Peru’s state news agency Andina reported in August 2026 that the lake receives hundreds of visitors a day and up to about 1,500 on some weekends. On our tours there is time at the shore for photos and for an offering to the Apus, the mountain spirits, before the descent.

Lake altitude as published by El Peruano; Soraypampa, the pass and Salkantay from our route data. Every stop of a Machu Picchu trip is listed in our Machu Picchu and Cusco elevation guide.

The Humantay Lake hike: distance, time and real difficulty

The trail is a single path from Soraypampa to the shore: about 3 km (1.9 mi) one way, according to Spanish-language Wikipedia, with a gain of roughly 400 m. Most of it is uphill. Our groups take about 1.5 hours up and 1.5 hours down; slower walkers may need up to 2 hours for the climb.

We rate it challenging, even though it is short. The reason is altitude: you start at 3,800 m and finish at 4,200 m, so even fit hikers get short of breath on the climb. The descent is easy on the lungs but can be slippery after rain, so wear shoes with grip and consider trekking poles.

• HorsesLocal muleteers rent horses at the trailhead for about S/80 (October 2026), for the way up only, in cash; you walk the descent. A horse is not included in our tour price.
• AltitudeThe CDC lists Cusco among destinations where altitude illness is common in the first days. Spend 2–3 days in Cusco or the Sacred Valley before the hike and talk to your doctor before the trip; symptoms and a plan are in our guide to altitude sickness.

Humantay Lake weather and the best time to go

NOAA climate normals for Cusco airport (3,249 m) show how sharp the seasons are: about 153 mm of rain in January against about 3 mm in June. The lake is about 950 m higher than the airport, so it is colder: on the Salkantay route, days are about 10–20 °C (50–68 °F) in sun and 5–10 °C (41–50 °F) under cloud, and dry-season nights at Soraypampa drop below freezing.

Seasons from NOAA climate normals for Cusco and our route data. Conditions change fast at 4,200 m: carry rain gear and warm layers in any month.

Time of day matters as much as the month. On our day tour we reach the lake around mid-morning, when the sky is most often clear and the sun brings out the turquoise color. In our experience the wind picks up in the early afternoon, so plan to start down before then, especially if you go on your own.

Humantay Lake entrance fee

Access is paid as a community fee charged by the Mollepata district municipality, in cash, at the control point in Soraypampa. No official fee schedule is published online.

In October 2026 the fee for foreign visitors is S/20 per person, paid in cash.

The fee is included on our guided day tour and on all our Salkantay treks.

How to get to Humantay Lake: on your own or with a guide

There is no bus to Soraypampa, but you can get there by shared transport: a shared van from the Arcopata area of Cusco to Mollepata (about S/15–20 and 3 hours), then a shared taxi to Soraypampa (up to about S/10, 30–40 minutes) or a private car if none is leaving (about S/50). These are approximate fares reported in 2025. Shared taxis leave when they fill up, so agree your return ride from Soraypampa with a driver before you start the hike.

Approximate shared-transport fares reported in 2025; tour details from our own itinerary.

Our Humantay Lake full-day tour, from US$45 per person, includes hotel pickup, breakfast and a buffet lunch in Mollepata, a bilingual guide and a first-aid kit. Horses, dinner and tips are not included.

• What to bringRain jacket or poncho, warm layers, hat and gloves, sunscreen and sunglasses, at least 1 liter of water, snacks, shoes with grip, a camera and cash in soles for the entrance, a horse or the bathroom.
• Full packing listOur packing list covers layers for high-altitude weather in more detail.

Safety and rules at the lake

Avalanches. In July 2026 visitors filmed an ice and snow avalanche falling from Nevado Humantay toward the lake; no one was hurt. INAIGEM, Peru’s glacier research institute, told La República that it has identified a potential hazard, that Soraypampa is the most exposed area and that the lake has no early warning system yet, and asked the authorities for a risk assessment. On August 3, 2026, Andina reported that Cusco’s regional disaster-risk office had asked for an early warning system, while stressing that this does not mean the visit is dangerous or should be suspended. Stay on the marked path and the main viewpoint, follow your guide and check for announcements before you go.

Closures. Heavy rain can close the road. In February 2024, the Mollepata municipality suspended visits after a river overflowed and cut the access road, as Gestión reported. In the rainy season, check conditions the day before.

Swimming and drones. Swimming is not allowed, and not advisable: the water is glacier meltwater and the lake is protected. Ask at the control point before flying a drone, and take all your rubbish back down.

Combining Humantay Lake with the Salkantay trek

Soraypampa is the first campsite of the Salkantay trek, so on most of our treks you hike up to the lake in the afternoon of day 1 and cross the 4,650 m Salkantay pass the next morning. The lake hike also works as an acclimatization climb before the pass.

• 2 days, from US$310Our Humantay Lake and Salkantay pass trek with a night in a sky dome: the lake on day 1, the pass and back to Cusco on day 2.
• 4 days, from US$440The Salkantay trek in Andean huts sleeps at Soraypampa and includes the Humantay community fee, then continues over the pass to Machu Picchu.
• 5 days, from US$675The 5-day Salkantay trek in sky domes visits the lake on day 1 and ends with a guided tour of Machu Picchu.

Routes, distances and difficulty of each version are compared on our Salkantay trek page. Torn between this route and the classic trail? Read Inca Trail vs Salkantay.

Humantay Lake or Rainbow Mountain if you only have one day?

Both are full-day trips from Cusco; the main differences are altitude and the kind of view.

From our route data and our Rainbow Mountain guide (viewpoint altitude: MINCETUR).

If you have only been in Cusco for two or three days, Humantay is the gentler choice: the whole hike stays about 840 m below the Rainbow Mountain viewpoint. If you are well acclimatized and want the higher summit, read our Rainbow Mountain guide, and compare the colored mountains in Rainbow Mountain vs Palcoyo vs Pallay Punchu.

Frequently asked questions

About the author

Raquel Sánchez

CEO and co-founder of Terra Quechua Peru · Cusco

Raquel Sánchez co-founded Terra Quechua Peru in Cusco in 2012 together with Edwin Medina, both with extensive trekking experience. She writes our Inca Trail guides from the day-to-day work of securing permits and organizing every departure with our guides, cooks and porters.

Published October 29, 2026 · Updated October 29, 2026