Huaypo lagoon has always been a very special place for us. Since the first time we saw it, we knew we had to share it with the world. Many of our outdoor activities take place in Huaypo, and in this article, we will show you why you need this wellness vacations.
It’s crystal clear waters make a magnificent contrast with the farm fields, mountains, blue sky, and the white clouds that fill that place with immense energy. Once you arrive at the lagoon, you feel the disconnection of the busy life, and the day by day that keeps our mind somewhere else, you will feel an immediate connection with nature.
Huaypo (3.507 m.a.s.l.), is located 44 kilometers and one hour by car from the city of Cusco, in the jurisdictions of Urubamba and Anta provinces.
The lagoon is surrounded by the Salkantay, Veronica, and Chicón Apus (Mountain gods). It has a length of 1.5 km by 800 meters, and it holds a wide variety of fishes and migratory birds, especially between September and December.
Getting there is very easy, you can take a bus and then walk a section through beautiful landscapes, you can go by private car; or with Terra Explorer, to participate in a wide variety of outdoor activities.
The best time to visit this lagoon is just after the rainy season, from the ends of April and during the following months, when the landscape is green, and the waters have a deep blue color.
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There are several stories about the lagoon that most of the local people like to tell travelers with a lot of enthusiasm. One of them is that there is a lost city underneath it, that only comes out to the light on the full moon nights.
Another well-known legend is that the Sun God asked Manco Capac (founder of the Inca culture in Cusco) to have his twin kids accompany him at sunset. When they went to look for them, they discovered that the son who walked the furthest had become the beautiful Huaypo lagoon and the daughter in the Piuray lagoon (another beautiful lagoon located half an hour from the city of Cusco).
These are just two of many myths and legends that locals narrate of this magical place.
The Chacan community belongs to one of the largest towns from the Anta province. It is a mainly agricultural area with extensive farms and open fields. Another activity that they often carry out is artisanal fishing for silverside and trout, which they have been doing in the same way that our ancestors did.
From this comes one of the favorite and typical dishes of the area: breaded trout with potato and salad, all produced by them.
The calm waters of this lagoon allow you to have quiet rides with friends or family while enjoying the fantastic view that it gives us. Many times we see the lakes from the mountains, but rarely do we have the opportunity to see the mountains from the waters of these lakes.
Huaypo is home to a great variety of birds, especially between September and December, since it is the season of their migrations. You can observe more than 80 types of birds from the shores of the lagoon, or also while doing activities such as kayaking, stand-up paddle, and sailing.
Related: Kayaking in Peru 101. A guide for beginners
We offer you a wide variety of activities for all kinds of tastes, ages, and experiences, from a mountain bike ride with an outdoor picnic lunch to a luxury camp surrounded by nature and a starry sky.
Among the activities that we offer you at Terra Explorer are the lake kayak, stand-up paddle, sailing, bike ride, traditional Peruvian pachamanca lunch, Andean ceremonies, bird watching, and campings (glamping or luxury camping).
Now that you know more about Huaypo lagoon, are you ready to live an incredible adventure? In Terra Explorer, we have several itineraries for you. If you want to know Peru in an authentic and spectacular way, get in touch with us, and we will help you design the trip of your dreams!
To ensure the well-being and safety of our travelers and staff throughout our operational chain, Terra Explorer will comply with the health and safety measures and protocols established by the Peruvian Association of Adventure Tourism and Ecotourism (APTAE), and implement the Covid-19 health and safety guidelines for adventure tourism developed by the Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA).
Our experiences are designed considering the least possible exposure, where the final destinations are usually remote places. By their very nature, our adventure activities are considered to be low risk, mainly because they are performed outdoors where ventilation is constant and making it easy to achieve social distancing.
During these times we are working together with a small staff of honorable people who have been part of the Terra Explorer family for many years. They and their families are aligned with the established health and safety measures. Employing these staff members also seeks to reactivate the local economy.
We guarantee a safe, soul-fulfilling trip to all our travelers for whom we make these adventures possible.
Terra Explorer will strictly comply with the safety, cleaning, and hygiene protocols during our internal processes, third parties, and throughout your trip. This involves:
Follow the instructions related to health and safety given by the Terra Explorer team and your guide, before and during your trip.
Stay home if:
With the intention of delivering the most flexibility at the time of confirming your trip, we will determine the amount of the initial deposit individually and according to your itinerary characteristics.
Secure your trip with a deposit and pay the rest in one or more payments, at a time that suits you best. Please make sure you adhere to our policy and pay in full at least 31 days prior to your trip date.
If you need to cancel your trip, we will apply the following flexible policies.
For more detailed information on our terms and conditions and Covid-19 policies, please contact us at [email protected]
