Salkantay trek are highly recommended for the scenic view on the way to Machu Picchu, however, it might be physically demanding for some. Alternatively you can hike Laguna Humantay, which are part of the Salkantay trek and i highly recommend you to go, and thank me later.
3hrs drive from Cusco, we rented a car road tripping through villages. Pitstop at one of the local market and watched the locals live auctioning their cows/sheeps/goats/pigs/chickens/cuy. How often you see that?
It wasn’t expensive to rent a car but do make sure it includes insurance. We shared the cost among the 5 of us. The road conditions were fairly good but almost crashed a few times cos of some reckless drivers. Well, is Peru afterall. 🙂
Last 1hour towards the base of the Humantay lake are pretty scary to drive, the road as narrow as the death road in Bolivia, we got slowed down by the road conditions.
It was a scenic 2hours hike up to this beauty, but due to the altitude, it was “breath-taking”.
Many campsites available at the base for those doing Salkantay trek.
At 4,200m, wasn’t a tough hike but leave many of us were breathless..but it worth every single breath.
Got the entire place to ourselves, before the tour group arrived.
This famous lagoon are part of the Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu, formed by the thaw of the Humantay mountain presents a unique landscape with the gracier, looked so perfect like it was photoshopped. 😅
You can hike further up to have a clearer view of the gracier.
View from the top
Or just stay close to the lake, or go for a dip, water was freezing though.
Probably my favourite hike in Peru. If you decided to skip Salkantay trek, you have to go to Humantay Laguna.
I highly recommend self-drive cos you got the freedom of time, or alternatively you can join a tour group that costs between 70 – 150sols depending on your negotiating skills.
Laguna Humantay, 08710, Peru
yvonnesher 
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