Humantay Lake: The Salkantay Trek to Humantay Lake Peru (or the Blue Lagoon) is a one-day hike to visit the beautiful turquoise lake at the base of the glacial mountain of Humantay, located in the Vilcabamba mountain range.
Enjoy nature at its most spectacular! The special algae in the lake, combined with the reflection of the surrounding greenery, the blue sky, and the splendor of the Andean sun, create a deep shade of turquoise blue that is very rare indeed.
Humantay Lake | Your one day hike on the Salkantay Trail to the Humantay Lake (or Blue Lagoon) starts with an early morning pick up (4 AM) from your hotel or Air BnB within Cusco city. The drive itself is most impressive with amazing views of the mountains as we drive along, passing through a few indigenous villages and cornfields en route to the trailhead. The drive to Soraypampa is about 3 hours, and we will be starting our hike at an elevation of 3800 meters/12,460 feet. Here, surrounded by majestic mountains and valleys, your hiking team will prepare a delicious breakfast to give you lots of energy before we start our ascent. The uphill hike along the Salkantay Trail is 1½ to 2 hours, with your guide pointing out the various flora and fauna along the way, stopping for a postcard-perfect shot of the snow-capped peaks here and there.
At the top is the treasure! The magnificent Humantay Lake (Blue Lagoon), otherwise known as Laguna Humantay, is an incredible and unforgettable shade of deep turquoise with the snow-capped Humantay glacial mountains in the background! Of course, the descent is usually a bit quicker than your initial climb, and when we get to the bottom, we’ll have a nice lunch prepared to reward you! With our hearts and bellies full, we will start our 3-hour return to Cusco in our private van.
