Humantay Lake & Salkantay Mountain trek

Day 1: Cusco – Soraypampa – Humantay Lake – Soyroccocha

Early morning pick up at 5:00 am, making our first journey to Soraypampa by car, a 3.5 hours ride to the starting point of the trek. Along the way, you will get to see some indigenous villages such as the Iscuchaca and Limtatambo where you get to experience some excellent view of the valley and the snow capped mountain of Salkantay.

Upon arriving Soraypampa, we will have some snacks mesmerizing over the view of Humantay (5.900m/19,356ft) and Salkantay (6,217m/20,396ft) mountain glaciers. We embark an hour hike up to Humantay Lake while enjoying the amazing views around us.

We arrive at Humantay Lake and its picture time. We will take the time to explore the lake and its beautiful surroundings. After exploring we will head back to the trailhead of Soraypampa and making our way to our campsite Soyroccocha. Upon arrival its time for tea and snacks. Dinner will be served before calling it a day.

• Meals: Lunch – Afternoon Tea Time – Dinner
• Accommodation: Camping facilities – Large 4-person tents for every 2 trekkers to have space and comfort
• Distance: 10kms / 6 miles
• Time: Approximately 6 Hours
• Difficulty: Moderate

Day 2: Soyroccocha – Salkantay Pass – Glacial lake Colpapampa – Cusco

Hot breakfast will served before starting our trek which is a moderate climb of approximately 1 hour to the highest point of the trek (4,650m / 15,367ft) We will then take a break and enjoy the view of Salkantay (6,217m/ 20, 717ft), Humantay and Huayanay snow capped mountains.

 Off the main trek route, we take a side trek for half an hour to enjoy the panoramic views and the shockingly turquoise Salkantay Lake. Returning to our primary trek route, we hike down to the trailhead again, where we have lunch, and then we take our private van back to Cusco, arriving around 6pm in the evening. Time to celebrate!

• Meals: Breakfast – Lunch
• Distance: 12kms / 9 miles
• Time: Approximately 7 Hours
• Difficulty: Challenging

WHAT IS INCLUDED:

• Pick-up at your hotel in the morning of your trek
• Private transport from Cusco to Soraypampa (trailhead) and back to Cusco
• English-speaking guide
• Comfortable four-person tents for every 2 people for space and comfort
• Meals as indicated in the itinerary (optional vegetarian food upon request)
• All camping equipment such as: dining tent, table, chairs, kitchen and toilet tent
• First Aid kit including emergency oxygen bottle
• Horses (for equipment and personal items) including horsemen
• Foam sleeping mattresses
• 7 kgs/15.4lbs. of your personal items such as extra clothes and sleeping bag will be carried by our mules and porters
• Boiled water for drinking and washing purposes

WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED:

• Sleeping bag adequate for temperature of minus 15°c
• Air Mattresses
• Trekking Poles
• Additional horses for extra personal luggage
• Tips for the crew, guide, cook and porters of Orange Nation

The Humantay Lake & Salkantay Mountain trek for 2 Days is available on any date as long  as we have a minimum of 2 people.

Personal porter included!

***This price includes an extra porter who will carry your belongings up to 7 kg / 15.4 lbs,  we will provide a duffel bag to put your things in.

***We provide large Eureka 4-person tents for every 2 people.

EXTRAS

• Sleeping Bag:$10 USD per person per trek (It will be clean and warm)
• Air Mattress:$5 USD per person per trek (Therm-a-rest mattresses)
• Walking Poles:$5 USD per pair per trek (Professional Poles that can be extended)

ADDED VALUES  FOR FREE

• TRANSFER – from the Airport to Hotel in Cusco only
• DUFFEL BAG AND PLASTIC BAGS – included in the price
• BOILED WATER
• OXYGEN TANK will be available along the trek
• SMALL PILLOW

IMPORTANT INFORMATION 

Please read the following information to help answer any questions you may have about our Humantay Lake & Salkantay Mountain trek

ARRIVAL TO CUSCO

We will pick you up from the Cusco airport and take you to your hotel in Cusco. Please let us know your flight details at least 14 days before arrival. Our representative will be holding an orange sign reading ORANGE Nation outside the arrivals. You must exit the terminal to find our representative as they cannot enter. (Please let us know if your hotel is in the Sacred Valley so we can make the necessary arrangments). 

THE BRIEFING:

The Briefing will be the night before the trek at 6pm in our office which is located at Calle Santa Teresa  Nº383; office 107 (first floor), next to SUBWAY restaurant, across the street from Sunat and the only 3 story building with 2 balconies.

CAN I STORE MY LUGGAGE AT YOUR OFFICE:

ABSOLUTELY! During your Humantay Lake & Salkantay Mountain trek, main luggage can be stored at our office or at your hotel, both are free.

HOW TO BOOK

FIRST, to book your Humantay Lake & Salkantay Mountain trek, we need you to fill out our booking form by clicking on BOOK NOW on our homepage or click here – BOOK NOW.

We will need the following information (FROM EACH PARTICIPANT in your group). This information is necessary to purchase the entrance tickets to Machu Picchu the train tickets:

• Personal information (your full name, exactly as on your passport):
• Gender
• Passport number
• D.OB. (dd / mm / yyyy)
• Nationality
• SECOND, we require a deposit of $53.00 USD per person in order to purchase your entrance to Machu Picchu and train ticket. You can make you deposit by clicking on the PAYPAL symbols on the top of our home page, or you can click on the PAYPAL symbols on our booking page.

WHAT ABOUT THE BALANCE?

You can pay in cash at our office (US dollars or Peruvian soles) here in Cusco to avoid the additional 5.5% charged by the Credit Card companies and PayPal. We have many ATMs  within the historical center to withdraw money. You can also pay by PAYPAL online but you will have to pay a 5.5% service charge by PAYPAL.  To pay your balance through PAYPAL, you need to log into your PAYPAL account using our email address of orangenationperu@gmail.com. 

MAY I CHANGE THE DEPARTURE DATE AFTER THE TICKETS HAVE BEEN BOUGHT?

Unfortunately No. Once the tickets have been bought, the government does not allow any changes, so we cannot change any departure date after the tickets has been purchased. Tickets are also non transferable nor refundable. If you cancel your Humantay Lake & Salkantay Mountain trek, the deposit is lost!

WHAT IS THE WEATHER LIKE?

The weather is very unpredictable and always changing in the Andes Mountains, so it is difficult to say with any certainty. We recommend that you be prepared for warm weather, possible rain showers (Orange Nation provides rain ponchos) and a warm jacket in case of cold. We also recommend that you dress in layers so you may take off or put on clothes as needed.

The climate in Cusco has temperatures between 10º – 20º C, with warm days and cold nights. During the months of June, July and August nights are very cold which is why Orange Nation rents good quality 4 season sleeping bags.

The rainy season is during the months of November through March, if you want to hike during this season, bring warm clothes and be prepared for rain but there will be a beautiful landscape and colorful flowers.

The month of February, the Inca Trail is closed for safety, repairs and restoration.

The Average weather conditions on the trail:

• Dry Season: April – October
• Day temperature: 20ºC – 25ºC – Night temperature -1ºC – 7ºC
• Wet Season: November – March
• Day temperature: 17ºC – 22ºC – Night temperature 4ºC – 7ºC

WHAT ABOUT ALTITUDE SICKNESS?

For some visitors, the first hours in Cusco can be summarized as: shortness of breath, a discomfort in the body, dizziness, headaches, stomachaches, even vomiting. As great connoisseurs of natural medicine, the Incas used coca leaves to counteract soroche, quechua for high-altitude sickness.

Don’t do anything other than rest

If you travel from Lima to Cusco, the effect can be immediate. This lack of oxygen, scientifically known as hypoxia, begins to manifest itself at 7,874 ft (2,399 m) above sea level. That’s why right after landing in Cusco, visitors can feel fatigued and have difficulty walking. Walking one block could feel like walking ten blocks carrying a backpack full of rocks. It is advisable to take it really easy on the first day and, if possible, rest the first few hours to help the body acclimatize to the altitude.

Stay hydrated

How do people feel after a night of drinking? Thirsty. That’s how you’ll feel when you arrive in Cusco. As already stated, the body dehydrates quickly in high altitudes. It is recommended you drink lots of water before and during your trip to Cusco. Also, avoid heavy meals since your stomach takes longer to digest food at high altitudes. A diet of low proteins and high carbs is advisable.

Discovering coca

No one knew better the effects of high altitude than indigenous peoples. Coca is the best natural medicine to combat altitude sickness. It was even considered sacred because of its curative powers and is still used in the same way now as it was in the time of the Incas. It contains iron, vitamins A, B1, B2 and calcium, among other nutrients. Coca makes it easier for your bloodstream to absorb oxygen, suppresses hunger, combats fatigue, headaches and can ease your stomach. If you do not feel like chewing leaves (which can be bitter, apart from numbing your mouth), you can try drinking coca tea, which is most commonly found in the lobby of hotels in Cusco.

HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE THERE PER GROUP?

The maximum group size is 8 persons. Our groups are between 2-6 persons. Orange Nation specializes in SMALL and PRIVATE groups and provides personalized service.

HOW MANY COOKS/PORTERS FOR THE GROUP?

You will have 1 cook per group. The number of porters depends of the size of the group. For a group of 2 trekkers, there will have 4 porters, 4 trekkers will have 6 porters, 6 trekkers will have 9 porters, 8 trekkers will have 12 porters.

DUFFEL BAG AND SMALL BACK PACK 

The evening before your trek, you will be given a SMALL DUFFEL BAG to pack your clothes for the next four days. Your weight allowance is up to 7kg / 15lbs. including sleeping bag, so 5kg / 11lbs. Your team of porters will carry your duffel bag for you, together with the food and camping gear. It’s important to be aware that you will not have access to your items in the duffel bag until the end of each day, as the porters will always be ahead of the group. During the trek, you need a day backpack big enough to carry your personal belongings such as a warm jacket, a rain jacket, camera, sunscreen, snacks, water, etc.  A 30 to 50L backpack is sufficient.

IS THE TREK DIFFICULT, DO I NEED TO BE FIT?

The Humantay Lake & Salkantay Mountain trek is fairly difficult and you should be prepared and healthy prior to starting. You have to be relatively fit and exercise regularly.
In preparation: try walking 15kms in a day or go to the fitness club in the months leading up to the trek. It is also important to be well acclimatised to the altitude. Try to spend at least 2 days in Cusco (3,350m / 11,047ft) prior to starting the trek.

TIPPING

If you’re happy with the services provided, a tip is appreciated. It means a lot to the staff, and their families, who will take care of you during the tour. It inspires better service and is a major part of the tourism industry across many ORANGE Nation destinations. Of course you are free to tip more or less what you want, depending how you feel about the quality of service and the length of your tour.

ARE YOU SUSTAINABLE?

We are a local sustainable & responsible tour operator which functions according to the ethical principles of tourism: protect the environment and benefit the indigenous communities respecting their culture and religion. We have trained all of our staff to know, understand and respect the local communities and the people living there.

WHAT YOU HAVE TO TAKE WITH YOU

• Original Passport (it has to be the same you have used for booking your trek)
• Valid University card (if you booked as a student)
• Good backpack
• Water storage: 2-3L (Camelbaks are encouraged)
• Comfortable hiking shoes
• Sleeping bag (can be rented from SAM Travel)
• Headlamp
• Toilet paper

WHAT TO PUT IN YOUR DUFFEL BAG

As a Direct Local Tour operator, we provide you with a duffel bag at your briefing (night before your Trek) and INCLUDE an extra porter who will carry up to 7 kgs or 15.4lbs including your 3kg sleeping bag, mattress and extra clothing.

• Necessary clothes
• Warm clothes
• Gloves (preferably waterproof)
• Comfortable shoes for camp
• Quickdry towel. We provide small ones, you might prefer something larger
• Small bottle of soap: we provide warm water each day to wash
• Battery Charger: No electricity along the trek
• Large plastic bags will be provided at the office — Please ask for them
• Sleeping bag: It has to be at least -15ºC – This can be rented from us

TOILETRIES

• Face moisturizer
• Hand Sanitizer
• Wet wipes
• Toothbrush and toothpaste
• Personal medications

WHAT TO PUT IN YOUR BACKPACK

We highly recommend a small backpack 30 to 40L for hiking in the day. The remainder of your belongings will be in your duffel bag at camp.

• Water: Please supply your own water until the first lunch spot, then we will provide you with cold boiled water  at every meal time. Please bring your canteens and/or water bottles
• Sun Hat
• Sunscreen
• Headlamp
• Wool Hat
• Rain gear
• Fleece
• Snacks like chocolate bars, cereal bars, ice cream or any dry fruits
• Coca leaves
• Plastic Rain Poncho (provided by Orange Nation)
• Gloves (preferably waterproof)
• Camera
• Hand sanitizer
• Toilet paper and small plastic bag for waste
• Extra Money for Souvenirs, Drinks & Tips