La laguna Humantay - Hiking tour on the last day

To conclude my Andes tour, I engaged in some physical activity and climbed a mountain.

The goal: The Humantay lake at an altitude of 4200 meters. A 3-kilometer hike from the parking lot, with an elevation gain of 300 meters. It may not sound like much, but it's actually quite challenging.

During the ascent to the lake, there wasn't a single meter without an incline. We had to climb slippery paths and cross rivers.

                                            

And even though there were moments when I thought that a silly lake wasn't worth it, it was truly worth it once we reached the top.

                       

                                                 

The Laguna Humantay is named after the mountain at whose base it lies. Humantay means "head of the mountain" and has been and still is considered a sacred mountain. Therefore, people who climb up here build a small tower of stones on the shore as a way to show their reverence to the mountain.

                                             

The water is clear and blue, a color that comes from the algae that grow in the lake. Since the lake is fed directly from the peaks of the Andes, the water is so clean that it's safe to drink.

                                     

Conclusion after our last day in the Andes: Tiring days, steep and winding roads, unpredictable weather, impressive Inca ruins, green hills, breathtaking landscapes and views. It was truly worth it!