Lake Tours in Cusco: The 15 We Recommend

1.Cusco: Humantay Lake Tour with Breakfast and Buffet Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 2,976 reviews · 1 day · from $22Our pick

Leave Cusco before dawn for Humantay Lake, stopping for breakfast in Mollepata before the steep 3-kilometer climb from Soraypampa. Guides such as Jonathan, Eduardo, Kevin, and Waldir pace the group carefully. You get Salkantay views, time at the lake, breakfast, buffet lunch, transport, and emergency oxygen for $22, plus the entrance fee and optional horse rental.

“Such a fun experience. I mean that wake up time wasn't fun, especially on New Years Day 😅 But the rest was great! The food at the breakfast and lunch stop was great. And Jonathan was a fantastic guide, making sure to hike at the perfect speed for all levels of fitness, keeping an eye on everyone and making sure to have some personal time to get to know everyone a little. This hike is pretty difficult but soooo worth it! Such a fun off the beaten path tour from but yet outside of Cusco!”

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2.From Cusco: Excursion to Humantay lake from Cusco

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 514 reviews · 1 day · from $20Best value

Leave Cusco around 4:00 a.m. for Humantay Lake with guides such as Jonathan, Alex, Wally, or Heber. The day includes breakfast and lunch buffets, transport, walking sticks, and time beside the turquoise lake below Nevado Salkantay. Expect a demanding high-altitude hike, winding roads, and optional horse support.

“Jonathan is an extremely passionate and knowledgeable guide! Tour highly, highly recommended!”

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3.From Cusco: 7 Lakes Ausangate Trek with Breakfast and Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 360 reviews · 1 day · from $29

Leave Cusco before dawn for Pacchanta and hike about 13 kilometers past Ausangate’s seven colorful lakes. You’ll travel with an English- or Spanish-speaking guide, eat breakfast and lunch, then soak in hot springs. Guides such as Kevin, Eduardo, Carlos, and Inti have been praised for pacing and altitude support, but the route is cold, remote, and very high.

“Our guide, Kevin, was amazing! The hike was absolutely beautiful. The food was plentiful and good! Overall, it was a phenomenal experience! Unforgettable! And lastly, did I mention: our guide Kevin was AWESOME! 10/10 recommend!”

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4.Humantay Lagoon Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 96 reviews · 13 hours (approx.) · from $70Top rated

Join Jisa Adventure for a long day from Cusco to turquoise Humantay Lagoon at 4,200 meters. You get hotel-area pickup, breakfast, lunch, entrance, trekking poles, oxygen, and a guide. Guides Victor André and Russell are praised for safety advice, pacing, local information, and taking photos. Expect an early start and a demanding uphill walk.

“Of course we did not go to the Humantay lagoon as access was closed, but the trip to the 7 lagoons was exhausting, but it was worth seeing every lagoon and the landscape of the Ausangate mountain, as well as the flames. Thank you Victor André, again our guide on the trip.Auto-translated”

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5.Excursion to Ausangate & 7 lakes with Coca Ceremony |Private|

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 80 reviews · 14 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $108

Travel from Cusco to Pacchanta at 4,200 meters for a private hike to Ausangate’s seven lakes. Your guide leads a coca leaf ceremony, then you return for hot springs, breakfast, and lunch. A guide named Alex has been praised for his calm, polite manner and strong knowledge of the area.

“Alex was an excellent guide. Calm, polite, extremely well-educated. The place had spectacular views.”

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6.Humantay Lake Full Day Hike

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 75 reviews · 12 hours (approx.) · from $89

Leave Cusco before dawn for Humantay Lake with a small group of up to 15 people, breakfast in Mollepata, transport to Soraypampa, and a guided uphill walk to the turquoise lagoon. Guide Luz is noted for patient, hands-on help. Lunch, entrance, oxygen, and first aid are included.

“Tour was awesome. Pick up perfectly on time. Our tour guide Luz was above and beyond , she was perfect. She answered all questions we were asking and most important she helped us to get all the way to the top because at the beginning of the climb I was struggling. Thank you Luz and I hope we meet again on some other tour.”

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7.Excursion to Humantay Lake from Cusco

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 74 reviews · 4 to 18 hours (approx.) · from $22

Leave Cusco around 4:30 am for Mollepata, breakfast, and a ride to Soraypampa. Hike about 90 minutes to Humantay Lake at 4,250 meters, with time for photos and a coca offering ceremony. Guides such as Katy, Alex, José, and Edwin have earned praise for patience and care, but confirm hotel pickup and horse prices before departure.

“The guide was wonderful. She took care of us. I had difficulty to climbing to the lake she was patience with us.”

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8.Full-Day Trek to Humantay Lake from Cusco with Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 66 reviews · 14 hours (approx.) · from $29

Leave Cusco at 4:00am for Humantay Lake, stopping in Mollepata for breakfast before a 90-minute uphill walk from Soraypampa. An English- or Spanish-speaking guide explains the lagoon’s Inca importance. Transport, breakfast, lunch, oxygen, and first aid are provided, but the 20-sol entrance fee is extra.

“Tough but AMAZING hike and experience! I struggled as I was not quite adjusted to the altitude yet but the tour guide was patient and helpful during the climb. It’s a long ride up and down and the hike is a little intense but the views and the lagoon were totally worth it!! Would recommend for a day trip in Cusco!!”

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9.Cusco 7 days Tour in Machu Picchu, Humantay Lake and Vinicunca

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 64 reviews · 7 days (approx.) · from $945

This seven-day Cusco program pairs Machu Picchu with Humantay Lake and Vinicunca, plus the Sacred Valley, Maras, Moray, and Chinchero. You get airport transfers, three-star hotels, trains, entrance fees, meals, and a private Machu Picchu guide. Expect early starts, long drives, and serious altitude at 4,200 to 5,020 meters.

“We had an amazing trip all of our guides were friendly, knowledgeable and attentive.”

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10.Humantay Lake 2 Day Trek with Sky Camp from Cusco

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 62 reviews · 2 days (approx.) · from $520

This two-day trek from Cusco combines Humantay Lake at 4,200 meters with a night in a private Sky Camp dome and a climb to Salkantay Pass at 4,650 meters. You get transport, meals, gear, water, and a licensed guide. Guide John has earned praise for his help, but group size and pickup arrangements may vary.

“We picked this tour as it mentioned that it had a MAXIMUM of 10 participants (as we prefer small groups) but we were 19! We were the first to be picked up at 4.20am and spent the next 35/40mins picking up other people around Cusco. Therefore it added more time to the journey. It was a rough start but the rest of the day went as planned. Humantay lake is challenging but definitely worth it!”

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11.Laguna Humantay Full Day Trail

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 57 reviews · 14 hours (approx.) · from $121

Leave Cusco around 4:00 am for Mollepata, Markahuasi, and Soraypampa. After breakfast and a guide briefing, hike roughly two hours to Laguna Humantay beneath Humantay and Salkantay peaks. A bilingual guide, entry, transport, snacks, walking sticks, and meals are included. The hike is steep, high, and physically demanding.

“Humantay lake trek was very enjoyable and a very nice exercise, but I can see how it can be a lot especially if you are older. There are horses available which will take you up the mountains up to a certain height for 80-90 soles. Our tour was the day after we came back from Machu Picchu so we were quite tired but managed to wake up on time and had a great time. One of the best tours during our trip Decided to take a day off after this trek (which we didn’t plan on but our schedule was quite packed to begin with) as it is quite demanding…”

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12.From Cusco: Humantay Lake Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 56 reviews · 12 hours · from $27

Leave Cusco around 4:00 am for Mollepata, breakfast, and a scenic drive to Soraypampa. Then hike about 1.5 hours to turquoise Humantay Lake with an English or Spanish guide. Jesse and Roland have guided recent departures. Breakfast, lunch, transport, poles, first aid, and oxygen are included, while entrance and horse fees cost extra.

“Jesse was amazing. Best guide! Good English. I’m solo, and assisted me with pictures. Grateful for her!”

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13.Full-Day Tour to Ausangate 7 Lakes

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 56 reviews · 15 hours (approx.) · from $69

Leave Cusco at 4:00 am for Pacchanta, then hike among seven high-altitude lagoons beneath Ausangate. Guides such as Ernesto, Roberto, Milton, and Jehomar lead the route in English or Spanish. Breakfast, lunch, transport, and an optional Pacchanta hot-spring visit are included.

“Ernest was a great tour guide, super friendly and flexible. Helpful and detailed with his tour and explanation. Took a lot of nice pic for our family.”

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14.Humantay Lake small group with late morning departure option

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 55 reviews · 13 hours (approx.) · from $110

Travel from central Cusco to Humantay Lake at 4,200 meters with a professional guide, driver, breakfast, lunch, water, oxygen, and first-aid support. Guides such as Solidad pace the hike carefully, while horses and local motorbikes may be available for part of the climb at extra cost. Confirm the exact pickup time, since departure details vary.

“We had almost two hours of riding the ATVs and it was so much fun! Thankfully they were automatic vehicles so we didn’t have to worry about switching gears when driving up the hill. Be prepared for a dusty ride! Wear a face covering and sunglasses while you ride. The hike itself is VERY DIFFICULT! If you are not a frequent hiker or use to walking at high elevations this tour will be very hard to complete. Our tour guide was so nice and encouraging while we were hiking but we needed to make frequent stops to stretch and catch our breath. You may get light headed or have an…”

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15.7-Day: Sacred Valley, MachuPichu, Rainbow Mountain, Humantay Lake

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 53 reviews · 7 days (approx.) · from $769

Spend seven busy days exploring Cusco and the Andes with Chullos Travel Peru. You will visit Koricancha, Sacsayhuaman, Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Machu Picchu, Moray, Maras, Rainbow Mountain, and Humantay Lake. Hotels, most meals, guides, trains, buses, and airport transfers are included, but Machu Picchu admission depends on ticket availability.

“DO NOT Book this trip. This was a trip from hell. The Chullos tour do not care about your safety or honor their agreement. You will be placed in a dirty hotel, they will not communicate with you, they will leave you in the middle of Peru to find your way to the hotel, they will abandon you on the day of your tour, if you book this tour you will regret it. All they care about if collecting your money after that you are on your own in a strange country with no help. Book at your own risk. Don’t even look at the reviews to guide your choice…”

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