A trip to the Andes wouldn’t feel complete without visiting at least one of its stunning lakes, so I opted for the more accessible Humantay Lake. Here’s what you need to know:
🔹 **Price:** 80–60 sol
🔹 **Time:** 04:30 AM – 05:30 PM
🔹 **Route:** The path from the parking lot to the base of the mountain is completely flat and easygoing—perfect for beginners! If walking isn’t your thing, you can rent a horse right at the trailhead to take you up the mountain. Just before the ascent, there’s a restroom near the horse rental area, so it’s a good idea to use it here before embarking on your adventure.
🔹 **Curiosity Corner:** Have you ever wondered why people all over the world stack Mani stones? (Check out picture 7—it’s fascinating!) My guide even taught me how to pray to the sacred mountain using coca leaves. It was an eye-opening experience!
🔹 **Delicious Delights:** On the way down, you’ll stumble upon several barbecue stalls offering sizzling skewers of beef, chicken, and corn. Trust me, after that hike, everything tastes like heaven. Hunger really does make the best seasoning! Each skewer costs only 5 sol, and they’re absolutely worth it—don’t miss them!
🔹 **Fun Encounter:** I was the lone Chinese traveler on the bus—and as a solo female traveler, I stood out even more. Maybe because of this, our guide kept striking up conversations with me to break the ice. One topic in particular made me chuckle… He asked about altitudes in China, assuming it might be close to sea level since China is such a vast country.
When he guessed “zero,” I laughed and explained we have some of the highest plateaus in the world. His next guess? “Two thousand meters?” That’s when I dropped the name “Himalayas.” Cue laughter all around!
While the Andes are undeniably breathtaking and renowned worldwide, let’s not forget—the Himalayas hold their own against any mountain range out there. [Thumbs up]
