Humantay Lake

The turquoise lake below Salkantay

Humantay Lake sits at 4,250 m above sea level, and its unbelievable turquoise water against dark rock and ice is one of the most gorgeous views in Peru. The lagoon is fed by glacial meltwater from the Humantay glacier, and its vivid, milky colour comes from the fine rock sediment the ice grinds off the mountain and carries down into the water.

The lake is cradled directly beneath two of the most striking peaks in the Vilcabamba range. Humantay rises immediately above the water; behind it towers Salkantay itself — at 6,271 m / 20,574 ft the highest mountain in the range. For trekkers, this is the first time on the route that the high Andes reveal themselves in full.

Day 1 — when the trek reaches the lake

Humantay Lake is the headline excursion of the trek’s first day. The morning starts early in Cusco (3,400 m) with a roughly 3-hour drive to the Mollepata trailhead and Challacancha (3,700 m), where the walking begins. A steady ascent through high Andean valleys leads to Soraypampa (3,900 m), the first night’s camp — and from there the trail turns uphill to the lagoon.

This is also where you cross the trek’s first ecosystem boundary, leaving farmland for alpine tundra — the first of the five ecosystems the route passes through. Both the Salkantay Express (4 days) and the Classic Salkantay Trek (5 days) visit the lake on this first day, while you are still fresh.

The climb — short, steep, and at altitude

From Soraypampa the climb to the lake is short but steep, gaining height quickly over rocky alpine terrain. It is the first real test of the trek and your first taste of walking near 4,250 m — which is exactly why the itineraries place it on Day 1, as an acclimatization climb.

Because the lake sits well above 4,000 m, altitude is the main thing to respect here. Take the ascent slowly, keep drinking water, and give your body time to adjust before pushing higher toward the 4,630 m Salkantay Pass on Day 2. It is a 4,250 m climb, so read the altitude & acclimatization guide before you fly — arriving in Cusco two or three days early makes all the difference.

Photos & best light

Humantay Lake is one of the most photographed places on the entire route, and for good reason. The best light is in the morning, when groups arrive after the dawn start from Soraypampa and the surface is still and reflective, before the wind picks up. Clear morning skies also give the cleanest views of the Humantay and Salkantay summits framing the lagoon.

Trekking to the lake

The only way to stand on the shore of Humantay Lake is to walk there. The lagoon is the opening highlight of the Classic Salkantay Trek (5 days / 4 nights), which continues over the pass and down through cloud forest to Machu Picchu — and it is one of four big stops on the route, all covered in the trek highlights hub.

Keep planning

• 4630Salkantay Pass Day 2’s summit moment — the highest point of any Machu Picchu trek.→
• ALTAltitude & acclimatization How to arrive ready for a first day that touches 4,250 m.→
• ZONESFive ecosystems The transitions begin at the lake — alpine tundra is only the first.→