The length of this post is a tribute to my passion for and awe of Humantay Lake.
I found this excursion after booking my trip to Peru, with my 81 year old Dad, to visit one of our bucket list items - see Machu Picchu. I'd never heard of Humantay Lake, but when I saw the pictures and read the review, I knew I HAD to see it. And, the long journey was well worth the reward of laying my eyes on this incredibly beautiful site!
Unfortunately, after booking the trip, my Dad had some health issues which resulted in multiple procedures/surgeries. We weren't sure, until ~2 weeks before the trip, that he'd be able to go. He made it, but was still weak, so I made arrangements with Rolando for horses and a personal guide. There was a misunderstanding about the "extras" I paid for. Before I could even ask about it, Rolando had already communicated with our guide to resolve the issue.
Our guide, Cesar (Cobarrubias?) was amazing! He was informative/helpful from the moment we sat down in the bus/coach. He was very attentive to my Dad (and me), which was what we really needed to make it to the top. After taking pics, he sat us down and told us about his people (the Incas) and the details/history of Humantay Lake, He even played Andean music to set the mood! We got to know him personally throughout the day. He ended up being more than a guide and we couldn't have asked for a better one than Cesar!
Important things to know:
-Even if you take horses to the top, you still have to walk a distance that's pretty steep on the final leg. We didn't know this and if my Dad had known in advance, he may not have done the trip. We had to stop to rest several times, but he was determined and Cesar helped him with an extra walking stick.
-Getting horses is usually only for the trip up. The rocks and the steep decline make it very difficult for the horses on the way down - even without a human on their backs. My Dad made it down much of the way, but it wasn't easy and became clear he couldn't walk all the way down. Once we got to the less steep part, Cesar quickly got another horse and a wonderful woman - who's name I don't know...:( - for the remainder of the trip down.
-Although it's a long journey, don't let that dissuade you from booking this excursion!! The purpose of our trip was to see Machu Picchu - I've wanted to since I saw pictures in elementary school (~5 decades ago). However, having done both now, I'd say it's a tie - Machu Picchu for human creation; Humantay Lake for natural creation. It's a natural miracle and I feel honored to have seen it!!