The Humantay Lagoon is the most beautiful lake in Cusco, and it certainly surprises us every day, it is a turquoise lake and is in the middle of the Andes mountains.
The Humantay lagoon is formed as a result of the snow thaw of Humantay, part of the Salkantay mountain.
What differentiates the Humantay Lagoon from other lagoons, is the natural color that it has because not having much marine flora in its waters it has an indescribable color in words, but understandable to the eye.
It forms a unique landscape, where travelers seek to capture the ideal moment with their cameras capturing a wonderful and magical landscape at the same time.
All this and more makes Humantay a place visited by all the tourists who visit Cusco.
Location
Lake Humantay is 2 hours walk from the community of Soraypampa, in the district of Mollepata, province of Anta, department of Cusco, about 2 hours by car from the city of Cusco.
How to get to Humantay Lagoon?
To get to this natural wonder you will have to take a car from Cusco to Mollepata, at the Arcopata bus terminal for about 2 hours.
After breakfast you have to hire the services of a taxi driver to take you to Soraypampa, the taxi will charge you an approximate rate of S / 20.00 and if by chance there are more people who want to go it will be less.
Then you must pay the entrance to Lake Humantay (S / 10.00).
After arriving in Soraypampa you will have to walk at least 2 hours to reach the Laguna (if you do not want to walk you can rent a horse), the first 30 minutes of walking are half flat and the rest is already uphill.
You have to keep in mind that you will probably not find mobility to return, so I recommend that you agree with the taxi driver to wait for you or come to pick you up, there you will enter into your abilities to negotiate prices.
If you cannot find mobility, there are accommodations that range from 20 to 40 soles, there are also camping areas (take your tent) where you can stay. If you plan to camp, make sure you are well wrapped, since it is very cold at night.
Waqrapukara is a new tourist attraction that remains almost unknown until today. The tour is suitable for those seeking a spirituality that drowns in the sea of commercial tours. Waqrapukara is a pre-Inca archaeological complex located in the province of Acomayo within the region of Cusco, near the Apurimac River. The main building is located on platforms, squares and a so-called "Stone Forest". From its height of 4,140 m.a.s.l., it offers spectacular views of the Apurimac River and the Andes.
Its name comes from Quechua, "waqra" means horn, while "pukara" means strength. Therefore, the meaning of the name is translated as a "fortress with horns" given by its typical form. However, the locals also called it "Llamapukara", since they claim that the shape does not represent horns, but ears of a lama.
It was built by the pre-Inca Qanchis culture in the period called "Auqaruna" (1,500 BC - 1,000 BC). During this period, the complex was a city called “Llaqta Pukara” and headquarters of a leader of the qanquis. It also served as an astronomical observatory and sanctuary of the god "Teqci Pachakamaq Wiraqocha" (a creator of all created things). Later, it was conquered by the Incas, who have molded the constructions to geography during the reign of Wayna Qhapaq. Then it became a first-class Inca sanctuary that symbolizes an immense political and religious power that has not yet been baffled. In 2017, the complex was declared Cultural Heritage of the Nation by the Ministry of Culture of Peru.
Waqrapukara Archaeological Complex. Cultural Heritage of the Nation of 2017.
It was built by the Qinchas and then conquered by the Incas. The building is located on platforms, squares and a stone forest, it would be an Inca sanctuary. Waqrapukara has a privileged view of the Apurimac River.
Queswachaca is a rope bridge made with Inca techniques and knowledge which has been transmitted from generation to generation until today for approximately 600 years. The Queswachaca bridge is over the waters of the Apurimac River and belongs to the Qapaqñan road network.
The Queswachaca suspension bridge is known as the last Inca bridge and is located in the region of Cusco, Canas province and Qhuehue district.
If you want to know more, keep reading that on our website you will find the most complete information about Queswachaca
Why the Queswachaca Inca Bridge is important
The Inca bridge of Queswachaca is important as it maintains the ancestral customs of our Inca ancestors and is the last Inca bridge today, every second Sunday of June the Queswachaca Inca bridge is renewed by carrying out 3 days of celebrations which we will detail more in depth paragraphs below.
The bridge is 28 meters long and 1.20 meters wide, the inhabitants of the communities of Chaupibanda, Huinchiri, Choccayhua and Qollana Qehue and its annexes Ccomayo, Perccaro, Chirupampa among others. They build the bridge following the tradition of the Inca Pachacutec, about 800 community members from the aforementioned communities are responsible for the construction of the bridge.
Process for the construction of the Queswachaca bridge
1st day: The first day begins with the celebration of “apu Quinsallallawi”, this ceremony takes place during the dawn, during the celebration of the gathering or gathering of ichu which is braided by the women of the communities and the Work that is being done is supervised by the “chakaruwak” or tissue specialist.
2nd day: The Inca bridge is dismantled via Queswachaca, thus removing the nails of stones that support the bridge, then put the four ropes that is the main support of the bridge.
3rd day: On the third day the laying and braiding is done with the culmination of the traffic zone (Bridge floors) and the handrails of both left and right sides.
4th: day: After the hard work, the culmination of the Queswachaca bridge is celebrated with food and typical dances.
This mountain range is the cousin of the already famous Vinicunca but with better accessibility. Its more than nine thousand natural hectares have a rainbow-like color, which gives it a cheerful and mystical atmosphere. In addition, on your tour you will appreciate a forest of stones, ideal for nature lovers.
This attraction is relatively new and many people in the region did not know it, since it was previously covered by snow, which did not allow to see its coloration; However, due to global warming, the snow has disappeared and it is now possible to appreciate the range of colors in Palcoyo.
An hour and a half south east of Cusco, this natural beauty offers the possibility to see the evolutionary process of the road system in time through three bridges located at the same point, such as the Inca, Colonial and Republican. It also offers a colonial Temple with fine works of wood carving, gold leaf and houses paintings of the Cusco school.
Rainbow Mountain hike Full Day is new route which includes a part of the Ausangate route, it is an adventure that will take your breath away constantly. With a combination of wild mountain landscapes, glaciated peaks, rushing rivers and challenging mountain passes, everything seeming untouched and undiscovered. - Shared Service: S / 70 per person - Private Service: $ 80 p / p (DOLLARS) - With IGV: S / 82.00
Schedule I pick up in Lodgings:
• Private Transportation: 03:00 A.M.
• Shared Transportation: 04:30 A.M - 05:00 A.M
Our adventure begins around 04:30 AM - 05:00 AM (Depending on the service you hired there), picking it up at your respective lodging, to go from Cusco to the town of "Hanchillpacha" (2 hrs. And 30 min. Approx.), Where our restaurant is located, in which you can enjoy our nutritious and energizing breakfast before starting the tour, after this we will get on the car to enter about 25 min. Approximately, and start preparing for the adventure.
We will arrive at the control point and begin our walk, it will be approximately 6 kilometers approximately (2 hrs and 30 min.) To visit the wonderful "Mountain of colors", we will be there approximately 30 minutes, for a brief explanation and to take photographs, to Then return by the same route and get on our transport, which will take us back to our restaurant to enjoy a delicious buffet lunch, which consists of typical Peruvian food.We will be returning to cusco (Private and Shared Service), between 17:30 hrs. at 7:00 p.m., leaving them in the case of private service at your hotel and if it is a shared service in the Plaza Regocijos.
