Humantay Lake + Salkantay Pass 2-Day Tour
Two signature high-altitude landmarks, Humantay Lake and Salkantay Pass, in a single 2-day trip.
The 2-Day Humantay Lake + Salkantay Pass + Machu Picchu Tour was built to avoid that tradeoff — it’s the only 2-day combo in our catalog that includes both landmarks, with the Salkantay Pass climb done by horse, plus Machu Picchu.
Three reasons discerning dual-landmark travelers choose this specific 2-day trek:
1. DUAL iconic Andes landmarks BOTH by HORSE Day 1 ⭐ UNIQUE in Kondor Path catalog. No other 2-Day tour combines HUMANTAY LAKE 4,200m turquoise waters (sacred lake reflecting Salkantay glacier) AND SALKANTAY PASS 4,630m panoramic Andes views with horseback ascent to BOTH. Perfect for photography enthusiasts wanting DOUBLE iconic Peru landmarks in one adventure.
2. Day 1 ends with Cocalmayo hot springs and a 2-star hotel in Santa Teresa — real comfort built in. Unlike the camping-based Salkantay combos, you get an hour to relax at Cocalmayo’s natural hot springs after the descent, plus a night in a 2-star Santa Teresa hotel, complete with real beds and hot showers. Adventure with essential comfort.
3. Day 2 covers Machu Picchu Circuit 2 Classic with a 2-hour guided tour. It’s the full Circuit 2 experience — the Sun Temple, Main Plaza, Intihuatana, Sacred Rock, and Terrace of the Guardians — with a bilingual guide for two hours. Return train flexibility (Inca Rail Voyager 16:12 OR PeruRail Expedition + private transfer to Cusco).
| ⏱️ Duration | 2 days / 1 night |
| 🎯 Category | DUAL LAKE + PASS + HORSE + LODGE |
| 📅 Day 1 | Cusco → Soraypampa → HORSE to Humantay Lake + Salkantay Pass → Challway → Cocalmayo → Santa Teresa hotel |
| 📅 Day 2 | Santa Teresa → Hidroeléctrica → MP Pueblo → MP Circuit 2 + 2h guided tour → Cusco |
| 🕐 Day 1 pickup | 04:30 AM Cusco hotel |
| 🕐 Day 2 start | 05:30 AM Santa Teresa |
| 📍 Pickup location | Cusco hotels |
| 🏔️ Humantay Lake Day 1 | HORSE ascent from Soraypampa ⭐ UNIQUE |
| 🏔️ Salkantay Pass Day 1 | HORSE ascent from Soraypampa ⭐ |
| ♨️ Cocalmayo hot springs Day 1 | 1h relaxation included |
| 🎫 MP Circuit Day 2 | Circuit 2 Classic + 2h guided tour |
| ⛰️ Max altitude | Salkantay Pass 4,630m Day 1 |
| ⛰️ Humantay Lake altitude | 4,200m Day 1 |
| ⛰️ MP altitude | 2,400m |
| ⛰️ Lowest elevation Day 1 | Challway 2,829m |
| 🥾 Total distance | ~22.7 km (Day 1: 13.7 km + Day 2: 9 km) |
| 🎫 Humantay Lake entrance | Included |
| 🎫 Salkantay entrance | Included |
| 🎫 Cocalmayo entrance | Included |
| 🎫 MP entrance | Included (Circuit 2) |
| 🏨 Hotel included | Santa Teresa 2-star Day 1 |
| 🍽️ Meals included | 3 (Day 1: 1BL + 1D; Day 2: 1B at hotel) |
| 🚂 Return train | Inca Rail Voyager 16:12 OR PeruRail Expedition + private transfer |
| 🎯 Format | PRIVATE TOUR |
| 👥 Group size | 1-10 travelers (+10 contact) |
| 🎓 Minimum age | 14 years with guardian (18+ unaccompanied) |
| 📅 Operating | Daily departures throughout the year |
| 💪 Difficulty | Challenging (Level 3) — dual horse reduces demand |
| 💲 From | $441 USD per person (group of 10) |
Few trips compare to the Humantay Lake + Salkantay Pass 2-Day Tour. – HUMANTAY LAKE 4,200m by HORSE ⭐ UNIQUE catalog. – SALKANTAY PASS 4,630m by HORSE ⭐. – DUAL horse ascent — BOTH iconic landmarks Day 1. – Turquoise Humantay waters + Salkantay Mountain 6,271m reflection. These are the moments that make the Humantay Lake + Salkantay Pass 2-Day Tour worth it.
The 2-Day Humantay Lake + Salkantay Pass Tour with Machu Picchu is the ONLY combo in the Kondor Path catalog combining BOTH iconic Andes landmarks — Humantay Lake 4,200m (turquoise waters + snow-capped Salkantay reflection) + Salkantay Pass 4,630m (panoramic Andes views) — BOTH by HORSE Day 1 + Machu Picchu Day 2.
This IS the tour for:
Humantay Lake — sacred Inca glacier lake:
Why HORSE to Humantay Lake advantage:
Salkantay Mountain (6,271m) — sacred Apu:
Both landmarks by HORSE — UNIQUE dual experience.
This two-day tour combines two of the region’s signature high-altitude landmarks in a single trip: the turquoise Humantay Lake and the Salkantay Pass itself, both reached by horse, before continuing on toward Machu Picchu. It’s built for travelers who want the postcard views of both without stretching the classic Salkantay Trek out over its usual four or five days.
The route deliberately tackles its two highest points back-to-back on Day 1 — Humantay Lake and Salkantay Pass (4,630 m) — while trekkers are freshest, using horses for both ascents to reduce physical strain at altitude. From there, the trail descends through Challway into the warmer, lower Cocalmayo and Santa Teresa area, giving the body a full recovery stretch before the gentler walk toward Machu Picchu on Day 2.
BRIEFING: 6:00 PM at hotel reception the day before departure.
Pre-tour preparation (night before):
Scenic drive via Limatambo → Mollepata → Soraypampa 3,900m.
Breakfast stop en route: Mollepata local restaurant (NOT included).
Preparation at Soraypampa 3,900m:
First peak experience Day 1 — Humantay Lake by horse.
Route:
Humantay Lake highlights:
Photography opportunity: iconic Humantay Lake + Salkantay peak reflection.
30-minute rest at lake for:
Second peak experience Day 1 — Salkantay Pass by horse.
Route:
Salkantay Pass views:
30-minute rest at pass for:
Progressive descent through diverse ecosystems.
Landscape transitions:
Local vehicle transports group to Santa Teresa town.
Natural thermal baths relaxation:
Included: entrance + 1 hour relaxation.
Santa Teresa 2-star hotel included:
Home-cooked Peruvian meal.
Overnight: Santa Teresa 2-star hotel included.
Total Day 1: 13.7 km / 5h hiking (descent only) + DUAL horse ascent + hot springs + hotel.
1 BL, 1D
Challenging
13.7km (8.5 miles)
5 Hrs.
Starting Altitude Salkantay Pass: 4,630m (15,190 ft)
Minimum Altitude Challway: 2,829m (9,281 ft)
Local vehicle transports group to Hidroeléctrica train station.
Scenic walk along the railway through cloud forest to Aguas Calientes.
Landscape:
Distance: 9 km / 3h walking.
Preparation + 25-min bus ride to citadel entrance.
Peak archaeological moment — Machu Picchu entrance 12:00 PM.
Circuit 2 Classic exploration (2 hours guided):
Upper terraces:
Main Plaza area:
Lower sectors:
Free time for optional lunch (NOT included) + shopping.
Two options:
End of DUAL LAKE + PASS 2-Day Adventure.
Total Day 2: 9 km / 3h walking + bus + MP + train.
B
Moderate
9km (5.5 miles)
3 Hrs.
Santa Teresa 1,575m (5,167 ft)
Machu Picchu Ruins: 2,400m (7,874 ft)
Transport
Horse Service ⭐ UNIQUE DUAL
Accommodation
Guides
Entrance Fees — All Included
Meals — 3 Included ⭐ Fernando confirmed structure
Additional Experiences
Safety
Other
Accommodations:
Flights:
Meals NOT included:
Personal:
Weight restrictions:
Train upgrades PeruRail:
Additional horse Day 1:
Discounts:
Essentials:
Weather variability: Day 1 Salkantay Pass 4,630m + Humantay 4,200m cold (5°C possible). Day 2 MP 2,400m variable (10-25°C). Layer accordingly.
Humantay + Salkantay 2-Day is CHALLENGING — moderate difficulty with dual horse ascent:
Physical preparation (1-2 months before):
Altitude preparation:
Not suitable for: severe altitude sensitivity, mobility-limited travelers, families with young children under 14, medical conditions affecting high-altitude travel, participants weighing more than 300 pounds.
Key difference: this tour ADDS Humantay Lake 4,200m Day 1 to the Salkantay 2-Day experience.
| Aspect | Salkantay 2-Day ($407) | This DUAL 2-Day ($441) |
|---|---|---|
| Humantay Lake | ❌ NOT included | ✅ INCLUDED Day 1 ⭐ UNIQUE |
| Salkantay Pass | ✅ Included (horse) | ✅ Included (horse) |
| Horse ascent |
Only Salkantay Pass | BOTH Humantay + Salkantay Pass ⭐ | | Photography | Salkantay Pass only | DUAL landmarks ⭐ | | Price | $441 | $407 (+$34 for Humantay) |
Choose Salkantay 2-Day if: budget-focused + Salkantay Pass is sufficient.
Choose this DUAL 2-Day if: want DOUBLE iconic landmarks + a photography-focused experience.
Humantay Lake — sacred Inca glacier lake:
photography landmark
Its fame comes from the turquoise waters adorned by the white snow of the Salkantay Mountain.
Humantay Lake is located near Salkantay snow-capped mountain in the Andes Mountains of Cusco, Peru at 4,200 meters above sea level (13,779 feet).
Access: 120km road trip from Cusco via Limatambo + Mollepata + Soraypampa community.
Cold to warm variability:
Two seasons:
Clothing strategy: warm layers + light layers + rain poncho.
No — 04:30 AM Day 1 pickup requires Cusco hotel base + altitude acclimatization. Recommended: fly to Cusco 2-3 days before trek.
All entrances INCLUDED in tour price:
Total: ~22.7 km / 2 days:
Horseback sections Day 1:
Standard: 2 horse rides included Day 1 (Humantay + Salkantay Pass). If additional horse needed:
Layered strategy essential:
breathable + warm
Safety at 4,630m altitude:
Alternative for younger travelers:
Two options based on availability:
Option A: Inca Rail Voyager Class 16:12 (default)
Option B: PeruRail Expedition + Private transfer ⭐
Or upgrade:
Travel insurance STRONGLY recommended through World Nomads.
Yes — PRIVATE tour format:
Yes — Daily departures throughout the year.
Best months:
Yes, but complex logistics. Independent option:
Recommendation: tourist package easier + safer + includes vehicle + guide + horse + meals + Salkantay Pass + MP.
PRIVATE TOUR pricing — scalable by group size:
| Persons | Price (p/p) | |
| 1 | $ 1 063.00 USD | |
| 2 | $ 710.00 USD | |
| 3 | $ 612.00 USD | |
| 4 | $ 548.00 USD | |
| 5 | $ 514.00 USD | |
| 6 | $ 488.00 USD | |
| 7 | $ 476.00 USD | |
| 8 | $ 461.00 USD | |
| 9 | $ 450.00 USD | |
| 10 | $ 441.00 USD |
