Humantay Lake is a stunning emerald-green lake in Peru. It is well-known for both its beauty and its picturesque surroundings. They are made even more alluring by the distant snow-capped Andes Mountains.
It’s a great day trip from Cusco Peru. Especially because it offers an alternative route for people searching for a change on the Inca Trail.
You must have seen countless photos online of the Humantay Lake when you are trying to find what attractions to visit in Peru. You must have felt that it must be a beautiful place to visit!
Yes, but when you go there the vibe is much more doubled in terms of the beauty of the landscape – the emerald green waters, snow-capped Andes mountains and the tranquillity.
It’s magical and looks straight out of a fantasy book. So, you will get the chance to take some nice photos and the experience you get here will stay in your memories all your life.
Almost all of the locals believe that Humantay Lake has some kind of different energy than other places around it. Trust me, you will also feel it once you are at Lake Humantay. The strange peacefulness and the feeling of being protected from all sides will make you calmer.
The locals also say that there are god-like spirits here watching over the place. Sometimes, even now they make offerings. It is also not advised to swim or bathe in the Humantay Lake. The lake is considered a sacred place protected by god-like spirits.
Traveling to Machu Picchu by hiking usually involves two tours names. The most famous is without a doubt the Inca Trail, however, for many other visitors the path of Salkantay represents the ideal way to hike the Andean region to the modern world wonder.
One of the highlights or reasons for you to decide on the latter could be the option of visiting this destination without the need of going through the path to Humantay’s Lagoon itself since the Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu takes you aswell to visit the famed Lagoon, two birds with one shot.
The hike to Lake Humantay is a challenging one. It involves hiking at an altitude of more than 4000 meters above sea level. It will also take 2-3 hours to complete the hike. When you finally reach the lake, you will feel like you have given greater meaning to your travels.
Along with the peacefulness and the different energy around the Humantay Lake, you will certainly feel like your sense of achievement and self-esteem has increased after you finish the hike.
At Humantay Lake, you will get a chance to see local rituals because it is considered a sacred place. Because people believe it is protected by god-like spirits, there are annual rituals and ceremonies dedicated to these gods.
For instance, one ritual they hold is for Mother Earth (Pachamama).It is a process called as Apacheta. You will see small piles of stones that have been put near the lake to show respect and thank her for providing water to the surrounding regions.