Humantay Lake vs Ausangate Seven Lakes: which day hike to choose

If you want a turquoise lake beneath a glacier and only have one free day in Cusco, you will soon face this question: Humantay Lake or the Ausangate Seven Lakes? Both are day trips from the city, both sit above 4,000 metres and both deliver stunning photos. Yet they feel very different: one is a short, steep climb to a single, very famous lake; the other is a longer, quieter loop past several lakes, finishing with a soak in hot springs. Here is a point-by-point comparison so you can pick the one that suits you.

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Quick answer: which one?

• Choose Humantay if: you are short on time, want fewer hours on the road and are happy with one spectacular lake under a snow peak.
• Choose the Seven Lakes if: you are already well acclimatised, prefer longer walking on gentler slopes, want fewer people and like the idea of ending in hot springs.
• If this is your first high-altitude outing and you have only been in Cusco a few days, Humantay is usually the shorter test; the Seven Lakes keep you above 4,300 m for much longer.

• Humantay Lake: how to get there, the hike and tips
• Ausangate Seven Lakes: a one-day hike from Cusco

Side-by-side comparison

Humantay Lake

• Trailhead: Soraypampa, about 3,900 m, near Mollepata.
• Highest point: the lake, about 4,200 m.
• Hike: 1–2 hours up a steep path and about 1 hour down.
• Drive: roughly 2.5–3.5 hours each way from Cusco.
• Feel: very busy, especially mid-morning in the dry season.

Ausangate Seven Lakes

• Trailhead: Pacchanta community, near Tinqui, about 4,300 m.
• Highest point: around 4,600–4,700 m.
• Hike: a loop of about 8–10 km and 3–4 hours on gentler gradients.
• Drive: roughly 3–4 hours each way from Cusco.
• Feel: quieter, with llamas, alpacas and herding families along the way.

Altitude and difficulty

At Humantay the effort comes in one block: a zigzag climb that does not let up for one or two hours. Many people take it slowly, pausing every few minutes, and make it fine. The Seven Lakes have no climb that steep, but you start at about 4,300 m and spend the whole morning between 4,300 and 4,700 m. For bodies that are not yet acclimatised, that sustained altitude can feel harder than Humantay's slope.

Whichever you choose, spend two or three days in Cusco or the Sacred Valley first, drink water and eat light the night before.

• Altitude sickness in Cusco: how to prevent it and what to do

Scenery: one lake or seven

Humantay is a single turquoise lake set beneath Humantay peak, in the Salkantay area. The photo is iconic and the view from the shore makes the climb worthwhile. The Seven Lakes offer variety: the trail links lakes such as Pucacocha, Patacocha, Q'omercocha and Azulcocha, each a different colour, with Ausangate's glacier tongues close by. If you love landscape photography with shifting light and colour, the Seven Lakes give you more; if you want the famous shot, Humantay is the safe bet.

• The best photography spots in Cusco and around

Crowds and atmosphere

Humantay is one of Cusco's best-selling day trips, so in the dry season you will share the trail and shoreline with many groups. The Seven Lakes see fewer visitors because they are further away, and the setting is more rural: alpaca and llama herding communities, stone houses and the silence of the high puna. If you want peace and quiet, the difference is obvious.

The hot springs bonus

At the end of the Seven Lakes loop, Pacchanta has community-run hot spring pools with views of the peak. After the cold, it is the perfect reward. Humantay has no hot springs on the route. If you go to the Seven Lakes, pack swimwear, a towel and sandals.

• Hot springs near Cusco: Cocalmayo, Lares, Aguas Calientes and Pacchanta

Timings and logistics

Both are mostly done as full-day tours:

• Pick-up in Cusco before dawn, usually between 3:30 and 5:00 am.
• A breakfast stop on the way.
• Back in Cusco in the late afternoon or early evening; Seven Lakes tours usually return later.
• Both charge a modest community access fee, separate from the tour if not included, not part of the Boleto Turístico and paid in cash. Fees change.

Going independently is possible but fiddly: for Humantay you need transport to Mollepata and then on to Soraypampa; for the Seven Lakes it makes sense to sleep in Tinqui or Pacchanta.

Horses on the trail

On both routes local families rent horses, paid in cash. At Humantay they can carry you up much of the climb, though the last stretch is usually on foot. Horses are also offered in Pacchanta for the Seven Lakes. Hiring one is a good idea if the altitude hits you, and the money stays in the community.

Best season for each

From May to September, the dry season, you get clear skies and the most vivid lake colours, but sub-zero dawns at both. From November to March expect more cloud, mud and possible snow; at the Seven Lakes cold and snow are felt more because they are higher. In the rainy season, Humantay is usually the easier one to complete.

• Cusco weather by month: temperatures, rain and what to expect
• Best time to visit Cusco and what to pack

What if I want to do both?

You can, but not on the same day: they lie in opposite directions from Cusco. A sensible order is Humantay first, as it is lower, then at least one rest day before the Seven Lakes. If you still want more, Rainbow Mountain or Palccoyo complete the classic trio of high-altitude landscapes.

• Rainbow Mountain or Humantay Lake? A comparison to choose your day trip
• Palccoyo: the alternative rainbow mountain, easier and quieter than Vinicunca

What to pack for either

• Warm jacket, hat, gloves and thermal layers.
• Hiking shoes with good grip and poles if you use them.
• High-factor sunscreen, sunglasses and SPF lip balm.
• About 2 litres of water and snacks.
• Cash in soles for fees, horses and toilets.
• Swimwear and a towel if you choose the Seven Lakes.

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