OVERVIEW OF THE HUMANTAY LAKE TREK:
Duration: Full Day 4:30am- 5pm
Distance: 7 km (4.4 Miles) Round Trip – 3 hours of hiking
Elevation: 3,869m (12,690 feet) / 4,200m (13,779 feet)
Difficulty: difficult (altitude and uphill climb)
HUMANTAY LAKE TREK 1 DAY – ITINERARY
DAY 1 – CUSCO – HUMANATAY LAKE – CUSCO
This spectacular day begins at 4:30am when your guide will pick you up from your hotel in Cusco. We will drive 3 hours to the trailhead of Soraypampa located in the lush valley of the Apurimac River. Here we will enjoy hot breakfast made by our professional chef.
We hike along a path called the “Camino Real,” which slowly gains altitude. After reaching a tiny traditional village, we continue for another hour and a half, ascending 1,200ft/366mt in just 2 miles up a steep path. After conquering the last hill, we will gaze down on a turquoise lake below, which is surrounded by steep peaks and an impressive glacier.
On the trek you are looking directly up to the Salkantay Mountain, one of Peru’s most sacred mountains, towering 20,600ft/6,279mt with a sheer and snowy face. The equally impressive Humantay Peak, rising 19,412ft/5,917mt, is also within view. Shamans and others who follow traditional Andean beliefs, will often give blessing when reaching the crystal-clear waters of Humantay Lake.
Once we reach the lakeshore, we relax, enjoy a snack, or give thanks to Pachamama (Mother Earth). When you are ready to hike back down, we descend to Soraypampa and have a hot lunch while enjoying the breathtaking panoramic views of the snowy peaks. Tired from such a beautiful day, we drive back to Cusco and drop you off at your hotel at about 5pm.
WHAT IS INCLUDED
- Hot breakfast & lunch prepared by our chef
- Private transportation to and from your hotel in Cusco
- Professional trekking guide fluent in English & Spanish
- Fees to access private land
- First aid kit & emergency oxygen tank
- Small group experience (max 8 guests)
WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED
- Water: please bring 1 liter per person
- Tips for guide, driver and cook
*We run our trips daily with a 2 person minimum. We take only small groups & private trips, to enhance the experience giving you the full attention of our guides and staff.
The Humantay Lake Trek 1 day it’s available on any date that it’s best for you as long as we have a minimum of 2 hikers. For private service of 2 or more add $50 per person.
PRICES:
GROUP PRICES
| # OF PERSONS | PRICE
PER PERSON |
|---|---|
| 2 persons | $150 pp |
| 3 persons | $125 pp |
| 4 persons | $99 pp |
| 5 persons | $80 pp |
| 6 persons | $70 pp |
WHY CHOOSE SAM TRAVEL?
SAM Travel Peru is a family owned travel agency and a local tour operator based in Cusco with personal experience over many years of trekking. SAM Travel Peru is a 100% Cusqueñian Company without any shareholders.
Our dream as a locally based company is to create small personalized tours & treks strictly and only operated by local professional staff catering in PERSONALIZED and HIGH QUALITY SERVICE.
We take pride in our reputation as a RESPONSIBLE & SUSTAINABLE tour operator. Our staff are our extended family. We ensure they are supported financially by offering them a fair salary. We are proud of our team without them , we wouldn’t be able to offer the best service and lifetime experiences to our clients.
SAM Travel Peru knows how important it is to trust in a reliable honest operator to create your adventure of a lifetime while in Peru. Check out our reviews and certificates of excellence on, TRIPADVISOR for yourself! Also we are highly recommended on Conde Nast Travelers, Lonely Planet and by many blogs like: Salkantay/Inka Trail ! July 14th to 20th 2016 Trek de Lares 4 hours, “It’s the journey, not the destination…”, Lares Pass – Day 3, Trekking in the Sacred Valley.
SMALL GROUPS
To ensure a more personalized service for our guests, at SAM Travel Peru we have a policy that our groups will not exceed 8 people. This fact alone sets us apart from other companies that operate departures with bigger groups.
OUR TOP TOUR GUIDES
We are so proud of our guides! They are highly professional and speak fluent English. They are very knowledgeable and passionate for Inca heritage and history. Our guides are dedicated to continuous personal and professional development. They do research to ensure that you receive accurate and recognized theories in Inca and Andean culture. Our crew is fun loving, great sports and well-educated. They all hold degrees in one of the following: Archeology, Tourism, Botany, History or Anthropology.
OUR CHEFS
Our fabulous chefs have been highlighted by all our clients who love their delicious and abundant gourmet style meals. Peruvian and international cuisine are prepared by our professional and dedicated cooks from a mixture of local and exotic produce. If you have dietary restrictions or food allergies, we can cater to your needs!
OUR SERVICE PROJECTS
SAM Travel Peru has always believed that we should give back to the local isolated communities. Therefore, as part of our commitment to responsible tourism, we always do many service projects and hire locally.
SAM Travel Peru is so proud to be able to support these people, not only employing them but go back to our grassroots as they share with their families. It makes us happy to have this holistic approach with our highland employees and their families!
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Please read carefully the following information; it will help with your questions about our services and Humantay Lake trek.
ARRIVAL TO CUSCO
You will be greeted at Cusco airport and taken to your hotel, please ensure that you inform us of your full flight details at least 14 days prior to arrival. Look out for our representative holding an orange SAM Travel Peru board at the exit from the arrival terminal.
HOW TO BOOK THE TREK
FIRST, to book your Humantay Lake trek, we need you to fill out our booking form by clicking on BOOK NOW on our homepage or click here the link BOOK NOW.
SECOND, we require a deposit of $53.00 USD per person. You can make you deposit by clicking on the VISA or PAYPAL symbols on the top of our home page, or you can click on the VISA or PAYPAL symbols on our booking page.
WHAT ABOUT THE BALANCE?
If you would like to avoid the high credit card fees in Peru, you may pay in cash at our office (US dollars or Peruvian soles) here in Cusco. There are many ATMS within the historical center to withdraw money. You can also pay by VISA or PAYPAL online but you will have to pay a 5.5% service fee, charged by VISA and PAYPAL. To pay your balance through PAYPAL, you need to log into your PAYPAL account and use our email address samtravelperu@gmail.com.
BRIEFING
The briefing will take place the night before the trek at 6pm in our office, which is located at Calle Garcilaso 210, office 213 (second floor) in the La CASA DEL ABUELO shopping center.
DO I NEED MY ORIGINAL PASSPORT?
Yes! You have to bring your original passport and it is very important that it is the same passport number you sent to us to book your trek, other entrances and reservations.
TIPPING
If you’re happy with the services provided, a tip – though not compulsory – is appreciated. While it may not be customary in your country, it’s of great significance for the people who will take care of you during the trek. It inspires them to give excellent service and is an entrenched feature of the tourism industry across many SAM Travel Peru destinations. Of course you are free to tip as much as you feel appropriate, depending on your perception of the quality and the length of your trip. Remember, a tip is not compulsory and should only be given when you receive excellent service.
ARE WE SUSTAINABLE?
Yes, we are a local, sustainable & responsible tourism operator that incorporates universal principles of tourism: protect the environment and benefit the local communities by respecting their culture and religion. With this in mind, we have trained all our local staff to know and understand, respect the places and the local people.
WHAT TO BRING FOR A DAY HIKE
- A lightweight, waterproof day pack
- Sturdy hiking boots
- Warm clothes and hiking pants, not jeans
- Layers of clothes for variable temperatures
- Camera with extra film and batteries
- Sun protection: sunscreen, sunhat, sunglasses
- Thermals, wool socks, gloves, scarf, wool hat in cold season
- Insect repellent
- Waterproof clothing and or a rain poncho
- Water bottles
- Personal medical kit with a simple whistle
- Extra money for souvenirs, drinks, tips
- Walking sticks if needed (rentable)
- Favorite snacks
- Hand sanitizer
- Toilet paper
- Passport
