Qeswachaka Bridge Tour 1 Day from Cusco

Duration
Full Day
Service
Group
Pickup
Hotel
Cancel
Non-refund
Guide
Difficulty
Moderate

About this experience

Step into the living legacy of the Incas at the Qeswachaka Bridge, an ancestral work built from Ichu grass. We will witness its annual renewal, a tradition maintained for centuries by local communities. This suspension bridge stretches over the Apurímac River at more than 3,700 meters above sea level. We will explore this marvel of Inca engineering and cultural identity in the Peruvian Andes.

During the full day Qeswachaka, we will admire the dramatic Apurímac Canyon and the volcanic landscape of Los Pabellones. We will visit the beautiful highland lakes of Pampamarca, Asnacocha, Acopia, and Pomacanchi. This natural circuit will delight lovers of culture, history, and adventure alike. We will capture photos, enjoy the scenery, and learn about traditional construction techniques still in use today.

Why will you love the Qeswachaka Inca Bridge? We will experience an authentic Inca cultural practice in a single day. We will explore ancient engineering, natural beauty, and local traditions. We are 100% local operators, ensuring a genuine and immersive experience.

Detailed itinerary

Day 1: Qeswachaka Bridge​ - qeswachaka Tour

We will begin the day with pickup from your hotel in Cusco at 05:00 AM. We will travel southwest through the Andes on paved and rural roads. The first part of the route will take approximately two hours. We will enjoy breathtaking views of the Andean landscape along the way.

Our first stop will be the four highland lakes: Pomacanchi, Acopia, Asnacocha, and Pampamarca. We will admire the reflections of the surrounding mountains in the calm turquoise waters. We will have time for photos and short walks around the lakes. The serene atmosphere provides an ideal setting to observe native birds and Andean wildlife.

Next, we will reach the small volcanic formation of Pabellones near the town of Yanaoca. Here, we will appreciate the volcanic rock structures and learn about the local geology. Afterward, we will continue toward the ApurImac River, where the Qeswachaka Inca Bridge awaits. This suspension bridge is built from ichu grass and has been maintained by local communities for centuries.

We will cross the Qeswachaka Bridge carefully, feeling the thrill of walking on this living Inca heritage. Our guide will explain the annual reconstruction process and its cultural significance. We will take photos of the Apurímac Canyon and the surrounding Andes while experiencing the excitement of this traditional passage.

On the return route, we will visit the archaeological site of Rumiqolqa. We will explore its stone constructions, originally from the Tiwanaku-Wari period and later refined by the Incas. After this enriching visit, we will return to Cusco, arriving at approximately 18:30 hours. We will conclude the tour at Plaza San Francisco, central Cusco.

Tour Statistics:

  • Distance traveled: 130 km  round trip
  • Highest altitude: 3,700 meters above sea level at Qeswachaka Bridge
  • Lowest altitude: 3,150 meters above sea level near Cusco city
  • Route: Cusco - 4 Lakes - Pabellones Volcano - Qeswachaka Bridge - Rumiqolqa - Cusco
  • Difficulty level: Moderate; requires walking and crossing a suspension bridge
Note: itineraries are subject to change.

Inclusions & exclusions

What's included

  • Private or shared tourist transportation.
  • 01 breakfast and 01 box lunch.
  • Accredited professional guide.
  • First aid equipment, including oxygen and altitude sickness medication.

What's not included

  • Meals except those mentioned.
  • Airfare.
  • Personal expenses.
  • Entrance fee to Qeswachaka Bridge.

Frequently asked questions

We answer your questions about this tour

1 What is the current significance of Qeswachaka?

Qeswachaka celebrates the unity of Inca communities and their culture through an annual 4-day bridge festival.

2 Which communities participate in the Qeswachaka Bridge construction?

Communities Huinchiri, Chaupibanda, and Chocayhua build the bridge, each assigned specific tasks.

3 What are the dimensions of Qeswachaka Bridge?

The bridge measures 28 meters long and 1.2 meters wide, made of braided ichu grass.

4 What is the cancellation policy?

Cancellations 30 days or less before travel lose 100% of the payment. For 31+ days, fees vary. Contact your travel agent for details.

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$55 $59
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Traveler Experiences

What our travelers say about our Machu Picchu tours

Our reputation is built on the experiences of real travelers. With more than 1,200 verified reviews across TripAdvisor and Google, we are consistently rated 4.9 out of 5 — one of the top-rated Machu Picchu tour operators in Cusco.

4.9
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See all on TripAdvisor
Tripadvisor

"Punctuality, very attentive guide and perfect organization. From the hotel exit, transit by train, lunch schedule and guided tours."

AS

Andrey S.

October 14, 2025

Google

"Machu Picchu Peru Tours full day Sacred Valley was an amazing highlight of our trip to Peru. Do not miss it! Our driver Julio Cesar took us on time and safely to all amazing places and experiences beating the crowds. The guide, Erik, was the most passionated guide I've met. An incredible story teller, knowledgeable and giving us a superb experience. It was a real perfect day and an amazing almost private tour feeling like a super engaging history class. Don't think twice."

PN

Patricia N.

A year ago

Tripadvisor

"A very enriching experience, a lot of history, although it rained that day, was a good for nothing our tour. Our guide was very attentive and professional."

MR

Maria R.

October 12, 2025

Google

"We had a amazing tour with Machu pichu Peru tours to the vinicunca mountain, or the rainbow mountain. Tour was well organised and your tour guide took really good care of us. Also the breakfast and lunch was quite good. We can totally recommend this tour organisation."

DK

Daniel K.

2 years ago

Tripadvisor

"The tour starts very early type 3-4 am, how good you can sleep on the way, we breakfast in a very good buffet and then depart for the mountain. Here the height is the problem, you can walk up but it requires a lot of condition, the good thing is that there are horses that you can pay and for 90 suns they leave you 15-20 minutes from the top. Wear layered clothes as you can warm up when climbing. We already walk down and the road is much easier. On horseback you go up in 40 minutes, you are on the mountain an hour to take pictures and the return is about 1 hour or so. In the end we still had lunch in the same very rich buffet!"

AC

Alejandra C.

October 12, 2025

Google

"I highly recommend Machu Picchu Peru Tour. Their service is incredible. I highly recommend their guides, especially Rocio and Jhordi. They are very professional and super friendly. My recommendation is because they have everything arranged and structured so we can fully enjoy the experience: transportation, lodging, food, and tourist attractions. I hope you can take advantage of traveling with them and enjoy it as much as we did."

CG

Cesar G.

8 months ago

Tripadvisor

"I liked the Service and attention I received, plus the quality of the guide who touched us to know the sacred valley on the way to Machu Picchu was first class, with extensive knowledge of the Inca culture and with very good explanation, I highly recommend them."

SM

Salvador M.

September 19, 2025

Google

"It was a wonderful experience. Getting to know one of the wonders of the world and learning its history in detail was very rewarding. We had an excellent guide who answered every one of our questions and her support was unconditional. The guide, Veronica Quispe, and the drivers who supported us were incredible. Thank you so much. They made the trip wonderful."

PN

Patty N.

10 months ago

Tripadvisor

"They were exceptional! Everything very organized, took care of all the details, we hired all the tours, lodging and transfer, we do not regret!"

SE

Sarah E.

October 12, 2025

Google

"The quality and friendliness of the staff were impressive. Wendy served us and was always very attentive to everything, responding quickly. They offer good options without breaking your budget. A short but substantial excursion. The guide Jaime knew everything in detail and provided excellent explanations. I recommend him, especially if you're traveling with children or older adults, as he really has everything under control."

AS

Ara S.

3 years ago

Tripadvisor

"Recommended! What a beautiful place!!! Most of us went up there on mules. Important to clarify if the person weighs more than 110 kg he will not be able to carry it and will have to walk up. It is still very expensive, to have proper footwear."

VL

Veronica L.

October 12, 2025

Google

"I had the wonderful experience of coordinating a group trip with Carolina from this agency, and it was very positive. They were always willing to help and facilitate the trip. On the tours, we had the opportunity to meet Alex on the Sacred Valley tour. He is an excellent guide, very friendly and knowledgeable about all the sites, making the tour very entertaining. In Machu Picchu, we were guided by Edmar, an excellent, knowledgeable, and friendly guide."

KD

Kevin D.

2 years ago

Google

"I loved that the travel agency made everything easy for me in Cusco. All I had to worry about was being on time for pickup and choosing what to eat at the buffet. The agency itself took care of everything. If I could highlight anything, it's the fact that I had a different guide on each tour, and they were all very kind and polite. They did their jobs well and knew how to explain the history of each place."

EG

Enrique G.

10 months ago

Google

"The excursion to the Sacred Valley of the Incas was a great one. Our guide, Veronica, accompanied us the entire time and did her best to make the experience as informative as possible."

AG

Agustin G.

A year ago