If you visit Peru, I highly recommend that you make a visit to Lake Humantay. A lake surrounded by mountains and snow, it is a sight to be seen. My trip there went a little like this...
Part 1: A Rough Start
We left around 4 in the morning from Cusco City in a our tour guided van. We booked through Viator, which I would recommend to anyone interested in going. The plan was to drive about half way and then stop for breakfast, but that plan quickly changed. We hit a landslide resultant of the previous night's rain that did not allow our van to pass. We ended up sitting in the same place on the road for about 3 hours. It was upsetting and I was ready to call it quits, but our tour guide persuaded us to wait; I'm very glad he did.
Eventually, we made it through and went on our way. We ended up getting our breakfast to go in order to save time. Then, we continued for nearly two hours up a hilly, bumpy road that I do not recommend to those who are easily car sick. Finally, we arrived.
Part 2: A Long Climb
Hiking Humantay is difficult because it is around 14,oo0 feet. You have the option of renting a horse, which is what I did given my family had only been in Cusco a few days. A guide walks the horse up the mountains, so you don't need any experience. The mountain is rocky, steep, and covered in horse poop. The scenery is incredible as you climb out of the valley and see the river beneath you. There are also many horses and cows roaming in the mountains alongside you.
Part 3: Breathtaking Views
The horse drops you off a 5 minute walk away from the lake. You climb up and are immediately awe-struck. The earlier you get there the less people there will be. Take in the surreal blue water and snow capped mountains. You can also climb around the lake and take beautiful pictures.
Part 4: A Long Descent
While you can ride the horses up, you cannot ride the back down; you must walk. The walk is very steep and can be rough on the knees. In rainy season especially, it can also be slippery in the mud. Take caution. It took considerably longer to go down than to go up. Overall, the entire day is extremely rewarding and I highly recommend it.
Stay tuned for an upcoming blog post on my day in the Sacred Valley!
XX, Didi
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