Peru
Cusco – Soraypampa
Distance of day 1: 11,9 km. Accommodation of day 1: Sky Camp.
Morning hike to the campsite
There’s nothing like a 3:45 AM wake-up call to start the journey off right! After grabbing our group from various hotels around Cusco, we set off, buzzing with equal parts excitement and sleepiness. A couple of hours later, with the sun rising over the mountains, we found ourselves tucking into a surprisingly tasty breakfast. Eggs, fruit, and hot coffee were exactly what we needed to get moving. Once fueled up and ready, we took to the trail, where a moderate path greeted us with open arms. Less than 10 minutes in, two giant condors flew over our heads. Talk about a great start ;-)
Sky Camp
Seven kilometers later, we arrived at Sky Camp, a collection of glass-domed pods with nothing but a cozy bed and a view to die for. Our home for the night was a transparent igloo, which felt like our own little snow globe in the Andes. Here, surrounded by mountains and under an open sky, we settled in, met our chef, and had lunch.
Afternoon hike to Humantay Lake
After a delicious lunch and a quick power nap, we tackled a steep climb up to Humantay Lake. It’s only a short distance, but the uphill path is no joke! Huffing and puffing our way up, we reached the top just as the sun peeked through. Yes, we were the last two of our group to reach the top, but we made it nonetheless! For a few moments, we just stood there, catching our breath and taking it all in. The views of the lake are pretty amazing, and there’s a trail you can go on for a different perspective. Back at camp that night, we wrapped up with tea, popcorn, and some serious stargazing before diving into our (very chilly!) sleeping bags.
