Qeswachaka: Venture to the last Inca Bridge
Have you heard of the Qeswachaka Bridge? It's the last Inca bridge, preserved to this day thanks to the inhabitants of the nearby communities. Every year, it needs more than 800 people, a lot of Peruvian feather grass (Ichu), and 4 days to be renovated. If you'd like to visit this more than 600-year-old Inca legend, join this full-day trip to see one of the best places in Cusco.
To see it, you'll travel to the town of Quehue. Take a chance to cross the 30-meter-long bridge, and balance over the Apurimac River. If you're traveling in June, meet the townspeople of the communities that work hard to demolish the old bridge and set up the new one. This spectacle, declared a Cultural Heritage by UNESCO, comes along with ancestral rituals and a grand celebration. On top of that, you'll visit the famous 4 Lagoons, an immersive journey you can't miss!
Day Trip to the Queswachaka Bridge Map
- Itinerary
- Inclusions
- Before You Go
- Packing List
- Pricing
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Highlights
- Enjoy a unique 1-day tour to the only remaining Inca Rope Bridge of Qeswachaka, declared a Cultural Heritage by UNESCO.
- Learn the fascinating, artistic method local inhabitants use to annually renovate the more than 600-year-old bridge, made of woven straw.
- Surround yourself with the incredible Andean landscape and the growing Apurimac Canyon as you immerse yourself in the ancient rituals of the townspeople of Quehue.
- Stop off to admire the famous 4 Lagoons: Pomacanchi, Asnacocha, Acopia and Pampamarca.
Detailed Itinerary
Cusco - Cusipata - Combapata - Quehue - Qeswachaka Bridge - Four Lagoons
Highlight of the day: Visit the Inca Bridge, and feel its hand-woven cords. Will you dare to cross it?
Travel Through Time, and Cross the Last Inca Bridge
On this adventure, you’ll travel to the remote province of Canas. You’ll stop for breakfast in Cusipata and then travel down the road to Quehue, where the Qeswachaka Bridge is located. Once you’re there, you’ll learn surprising insights about its construction and the famous, annual celebration of renovation by the neighboring communities. Then, you’ll be able to cross the bridge, which is about 30 meters from one end to the other, and have an impressive view of the Apurimac River Canyon.
After this boxed lunch closeby, you’ll explore the 4 Lagoons from their viewpoints: Pomacanchi, Ancascocha, Pampamarca and Acopia. Finally, after a brief rest, you’ll return to Cusco in our private transportation.
You’ll start this journey leaving Cusco at around 5 am to travel about 3 hours to the remote province of Canas. Halfway there, you’ll stop in Cusipata for breakfast and continue passing Yanaoca town until you arrive at the town of Quehue (3,700 m / 12,139 ft). From this picturesque place, we’ll take a short drive to Qeswachaka.
Once you’re at this impressive bridge, you’ll be able to balance there as you connect with this incredible piece of history that your guide will tell you about. Qeswa is a Quechua word that translated means “braid,” and Chaka refers to “bridge.” It spans 30 meters long and is made of hand-woven ropes of Peruvian feather grass, a type of straw. Each year, the 4 neighboring communities get together to braid the straw, take down the old bridge, and set up the new using basic tools and a lot of strength! It’s not an easy task, but this tradition has been kept alive for hundreds of years.
You’ll find yourself more than 15 meters high above the Apurimac River as you cross the bridge from one end to the other. You’ll also have great canyon views, so capture this moment with your camera. If you’re there in June, you can see this engineering wonder being built and witness the annual ceremony dedicated to Mother Earth and a festival of typical dances of the region.
After that, you’ll enjoy a boxed lunch near the bridge and get a last look at this fascinating place. The return trip is along the 4 Lagoons, making several stops to see the lakes of Pomacanchi, Ancascocha, Pampamarca, and Acopia, also known as the “sacred lagoons,” which provide fish for the local inhabitants. Lastly, it will be time to rest and return to Cusco by car, taking the best moments of your trip through the Peruvian Andes.
Why Travel with us
At Salkantay Trekking, we specify the included and non-included services under all the tour itineraries listed on our website. We take care of all the logistics, but please pay attention to the details to avoid missing anything. Some items may be different for specific programs, so please read carefully before booking with us.
What Is Included?
High Quality Service & Safety
Experienced Tour Guide
An official English- and Spanish-speaking tour guide will accompany you. Along the entire route, your guide will explain the culture and surroundings and keep you safe, secure and comfortable so you can enjoy your trip worry free!
Medical Kit or First AID Kit
All Salkantay Trekking guides have received specialized training in first aid. We hold mandatory training sessions with our guides every February. Your guide will always carry a first aid kit to handle basic emergencies (altitude sickness, travelers' diarrhea, cuts, scrapes, etc.), as well as oxygen needs. If necessary, we’ll evacuate you from the path as quickly as possible and ensure that you arrive at a clinic or hospital for treatment.
24/7 Customer Service
We have telephone service available 24 hours/day for ease of communication and preparation with the agency leading up to your tour.
Meals
Breakfast and Box Lunch
Snacks and water
For the day, we'll provide you with a water bottle and snacks of local fruits, cookies, crackers, chocolate, caramels, etc.
One cloth snack bag per person
To avoid the use of plastic bags that contaminate our environment, we'll give you a cloth bag for your snacks.
Hygiene products
You’ll be provided with a small towel and soap before each meal to wash your hands.
Transportation
Transport
All transportation and transfers are included in this tour. We'll pick you up from your hotel and take you back to the door of your hotel in Cusco.
Permits & Entrance Tickets
Entry fee to Qeswachaka Bridge
What Is Not Included?
Dinner
Travel Insurance
Tips for our staff
Tipping is the norm on any excursion in Peru. Although we pay good salaries to our entire team, something extra is always welcome.
Additional costs or delays beyond our control
Landslides, bad weather conditions, itinerary modifications due to a safety concern, illness, pandemia, government policy changes, political instability, strikes, act of God, etc.
Here we leave you with a brief list of extras that you can enjoy during this package.
Huayna Picchu Mountain
Huayna Picchu is the mountain behind Machu Picchu and which can be climbed in 45 minutes. Although this excursion is up to you, our guide will take you to the place of entry. This walk requires an entrance ticket which we can assure for you if we have enough time in advance.
Your entry ticket will be purchased to coincide with the dates of your excursion on the Inca Trail. The entry can be done in two shifts: from 7:00 am to 8:00 am or from 10:00 am to 11:00 am. We buy the tickets in the second shift so that our clients can fully enjoy their guided tour of Machu Picchu. Remember, the shifts only indicate the time of entry. You can go up and down Huayna Picchu without haste.
The ticket for Huayna Picchu costs US$ 75.00 per person.
Machu Picchu Mountain
Machu Picchu Mountain is another of the mountains that surround the archaeological site of Machu Picchu. It offers even more incredible views than Huayna Picchu, but it takes 1.5 hours to reach the top. This walk requires an entrance ticket which we can assure for you if we have time in advance.
The excursion entrance to Machu Picchu Mountain is open in two shifts as well, the first from 7:00 am to 8:00 am, and the second from 9:00 am to 10:00 am.
The ticket for Machu Picchu Mountain costs US$ 75.00 per person.
Vistadome Train
All our tours include the PeruRail Expedition train. This train leaves Aguas Calientes at 4:22 pm. The Vistadome train is a higher category service that offers more comfortable seats, a panoramic design that will allow you to see through the roof, as well as an entertainment show on board. The Vistadome train leaves Aguas Calientes at 4:43 pm and goes to Ollantaytambo train station. From there, we’ll take you on our transport to your hotel in Cusco.
You can access this service for an additional payment of US$ 60.00 per person.
We want to make your trip to Peru as memorable and as carefree as possible. In this section, you’ll find the answers to all the questions you have about traveling with Salkantay Trekking in one place. Please read the following information carefully – it will help you with any questions about our services.
Have another question that we haven’t answered here? Drop us a line and we will get back to you asap!
Briefing or Informative Meeting
All information meetings and briefings are held in our main office in Cusco (or your hotel) at 5:00 pm, one night before the tour begins. These meetings last approximately 30 to 45 minutes. If you’re unable to attend, you must coordinate another time by email, by phone or at the Salkantay Trekking office.
Can I store my luggage at your office?
Of course! During the trip, your main luggage can be stored at our office (you can organize it with us on the briefing day or by email) or at your hotel, both free of charge.
Any equipment that you won’t need on the trek can be stored safely in your hotel. Nearly every hotel will provide this service. Don’t leave items of value with your bags; put them in the hotel safe and obtain an itemized receipt (in the unlikely case of theft, many insurance companies require that you have a copy of the receipt itemizing everything). It’s best to put items such as credit cards inside a sealed, signed envelope for extra peace of mind.
Pick up of guests
Salkantay Trekking can pick you up from your hotel, as long as it’s in the Historical Center of Cusco. Your guide will coordinate the pickup time in the briefing session, but please keep in mind that the time may vary between 30 and 45 minutes due to traffic.
Cusco is an old city, meaning it has many narrow cobbled streets. Some hotels and Airbnbs may be located on streets without access to cars or on long, steep slopes, making it difficult to transport luggage. We strongly recommend that you book accommodation with good access.
Group Tours
Group tours are made up of different types of people, then physical conditions and ages can vary. By agreeing to be part of a group tour, you also accept that some people may be faster or slower than you. Therefore, each person can go at their own pace on the route.
It may be the case that a group wishes to modify the tour; however, the guide will be the one who decides, after consulting with all the participants, if such modifications are possible.
Strikes and demonstrations
Strikes and demonstrations are common in Peru, and this may interrupt some of our tours. Roads can be blocked, and train tracks can be taken over. However, we will try to keep your trip as originally planned, even if it means leaving the night before the scheduled date.
Under these circumstances, tours may also be canceled. In case of changes or cancellations, everything will be coordinated with you by our operations department. Your safety is our highest priority, and our decisions will be made to protect it.
Lost objects
Please pay attention to where you leave your things and remember to take everything once you leave our transport or restaurant. You’re the only one responsible for your objects during the tour.
WHAT SHOULD YOU BRING?
ESSENTIAL
CLOTHING
EQUIPMENT
RECOMMENDED
"Qeswachaka Inca Bridge" can leave any day of the week, from March through January. We don’t operate this itinerary in February because of the rainy season & maintenance of the route.
2023 Land Cost
Group Price: US$ 100.00 per person
This small-group journey is guaranteed to operate with just two guests.
Notice that PayPal charges a fee of 5%, which we ask the client to cover since it's due to the use of its service. This tax is just for online deposits.
Price Guarantee
Once your booking has been confirmed, we guarantee the price won’t increase, whatever the circumstances. So please, before booking, ensure you’ve read all our important tour information.
Thank you for your interest in having an adventure travel experience in Peru curated by Salkantay Trekking. Please take a moment to complete our short form, so one our friendly Adventure Consultants could provide you all the information for your trip of a lifetime in Peru.
Our Pledge | Your privacy is respected and protected. The Salkantay Trekking Company will never share, sell, or make public any of your personal contact information to third parties.
Remember | One of our Travel Experts will contact you soon to confirm the availability of the trip you chose, give you more information, and/or provide you alternative options. Once availability is established, we will ask for a deposit and a completed online registration to confirm your spot on the trek. Please call us at (+51) 958 191 179 with any questions or to confirm availability over the phone.
Note | Due to the rainy season and trail maintenance, we don't offer this trek during the whole month of february. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you, we are working to provide you a better service!
Feel free to reach us via email at sales@salkantaytrekking.com or by calling us directly at (+51) 958 191 179
Every Day: 9:00 am to 7:00 pm
Triunfo Street 346 - Main Square of Cusco, Peru
