LAKE HUMANTAY & INCA SITES

Cusco to Lake Humantay and Andean Spirit Lodge: We meet you at your hotel in Cusco early in the morning and set out by private transport toward Mollepata, where we pause in the picturesque town square with its colonial church. From here we continue to Soraypampa (3,858 m), the trailhead at the foot of the snowcapped Salkantay and Humantay mountains, where a coca tea helps us adapt to the altitude. Horses can be rented here  (optional, extra cost) for those who prefer. Our two-hour ascent is filled with sweeping views of glaciers and rugged Andean landscape. At the summit, the reward is before us: Humantay Lagoon, its turquoise waters shimmering beneath the icy peaks, We rest here, enjoy a picnic lunch, and soak in the dramatic panoramas before descending. In the late afternoon we reach the Andean Spirit Lodge, where cozy bungalows and a hearty dinner await. Overnight at the Andean Spirit Lodge, Full board.

Andean Spirit Lodge to Cusco via Inca Sites: After a wholesome breakfast, you may stroll through the Lodge’s gardens before beginning our return to Cusco. En route we visit two remarkable Inca sites. First, we stop at Tarawasi, featuring a finely built ceremonial platform with trapezoidal niches and walls in the rosetta style. We continue our journey to Killarumiyoq, once a significant ceremonial center, where terraces, shrines, and a segment of an ancient Inca road can still be admired. We pause for a home-cooked picnic lunch with fabulous views over the highlands of Anta, before continuing back to Cusco, arriving by late afternoon. B, L