Humantay Lake weather and the regional annual pattern
Humantay Lake weather is a mountain planning question, while the monthly figures available here describe the wider region. SENAMHI's Granja Kcayra station in the Cusco valley, at 3,219 m, provides the regional reference. Its 1991 to 2020 climate normals were published in the 2022 edition. Use them to compare the historical annual pattern, rather than to choose clothes or predict temperatures at the lake from a single table cell.
The regional rainfall figures show wetter conditions around the beginning and end of the calendar year and much lower monthly totals around the middle of the year. This helps when weighing possible dates. A lower monthly average still leaves the actual day's weather to consider, particularly when your main aim is a view of the glacier. Choose a travel window with room to respond to local conditions rather than attaching the whole visit to a promised photograph.
Day trip or trek according to season
Start with the kind of visit you want. A day trip from Cusco puts the lake into one excursion, while a Salkantay trek with a lake visit requires you to consider the dates and conditions of a longer itinerary. Set aside time for altitude preparation whichever format you choose; a favourable weather outlook does not remove the need to adapt before a strenuous ascent.
One documented Mountain Domes trek programme offers departures from March to January and pauses during February for rain and maintenance, according to the programme page read on 11 November 2026. That calendar belongs to that particular programme. Use the actual departure calendar of the trek you select, and assess its whole route rather than applying a programme's February pause to every possible lake visit.
A day trip to the lake
This guided day trip includes hotel pickup and meals; check the selected option for lake entry.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of November 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
A guided day visit to fit your travel dates
The excursion includes hotel pickup, a guide, buffet breakfast and lunch, and return to Plaza de Regocijo in Cusco. Lake admission depends on the selected option; check local access alongside your chosen date.
Regional monthly rainfall and temperature
The table refers exclusively to Granja Kcayra in the Cusco valley at 3,219 m: SENAMHI normals for 1991 to 2020, published in 2022. These are regional station values, not a temperature series for Humantay Lake or Soraypampa. The temperature column reproduces the station's maximum-temperature normal, with rainfall in millimetres.
| Month | Maximum temperature °C | Rainfall mm |
|---|---|---|
| January | 20.2 | 145.8 |
| February | 20.2 | 126.4 |
| March | 20.4 | 97.3 |
| April | 20.9 | 33.1 |
| May | 21.3 | 6.3 |
| June | 20.9 | 3.7 |
| July | 20.8 | 4.2 |
| August | 21.5 | 5.2 |
| September | 21.9 | 14.5 |
| October | 21.9 | 43.6 |
| November | 22.2 | 71.1 |
| December | 20.9 | 114.9 |
Compare months within this regional baseline without turning the figures into an hourly forecast. A monthly precipitation total gives a different kind of information from the timing of rain during an excursion. Likewise, the station's maximum-temperature average should stay attached to its valley location when you consider the conditions of a mountain walk.
Weather interruptions and access
Andina reported on 6 March 2026 that access had been interrupted from 6 February to 6 March 2026 and that visits were resuming using an alternative path. This is a report of a specific past interruption and recovery. For your own journey, obtain current local instructions for the approach and walking route rather than using that historical reopening as permission to follow a particular path.
Mountain risk also deserves attention beyond rainfall. Reports dated 24 and 30 September 2026 described avalanche activity and exposure around the lake. The latter highlighted the lake outlet and risks lower down where vehicles and camps were located; it gave no end date for the assessment. Seek current guidance on visitor movement and be prepared to change the outing. Neither a dry-looking forecast nor a bookable excursion provides an official release of the lake and every approach section.
The limits of historical climate values
Climate normals help you choose a broad window, but clear glacier views, the condition of the road and the suitability of the walking route require attention closer to departure. Read the road and arrival guide before committing to a transport plan. Keep a change of date or a different activity in mind if local instructions make the intended outing unsuitable.
Weather preparation also sits alongside personal preparation. The altitude guide explains general CDC advice on gradual ascent and adaptation. During the walk, symptoms are a reason to stop ascending; worsening symptoms at rest require descent. Change your plans when conditions deteriorate or you feel unwell, even if you chose the date for its regional rainfall pattern.
Questions about choosing a date
Are these temperatures measured at the lake?
They belong to Granja Kcayra in the Cusco valley at 3,219 m. Use the table as regional climate background and consult the forecast for your actual excursion.
Does every trek stop in February?
The February pause described here belongs to one Mountain Domes programme. Choose dates using the calendar and route conditions of your specific trek.
Does the day trip include admission?
Admission depends on the option selected. The excursion includes hotel pickup, guide, buffet breakfast and lunch, with return to Plaza de Regocijo. Review the admission option when comparing the full visit cost.