Quelccaya Day Tour

Cusco, Peru
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Duration17h
Free cancellationFull refund up to 24 hours before
Instant confirmationYour booking is confirmed right away
TicketMobile or paper ticket accepted
LanguagesEnglish, Spanish
Group sizeUp to 9 travelers
Pickup offeredSee the meeting and pickup details below

Overview

Two things make this trip different from other ways of reaching the ice.

The first is Laguna Sibinacocha. This lake covers around 30 square kilometres and sits at 4,869 metres, held between the plateau and the Vilcanota range. Very few day tours from Cusco reach it, because it adds an hour to the route. It is included here.

The second is how little walking is involved. The Quelccaya viewpoint is ten to twenty minutes from the vehicle on nearly flat ground. Most high mountain sights in this region ask for an hour or more of climbing. That puts the largest tropical ice cap in the world within reach of travellers who would not attempt a trek.

You are also unlikely to share it. Better known sites in the Cusco region receive hundreds of visitors a day. Quelccaya receives a handful of vehicles.

Guides are local to the region. They carry emergency oxygen and a pulse oximeter, and check the group before anyone walks at altitude.

What's included

  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Professional guide
  • First aid kit
  • Lunch
  • Private transportation
  • Breakfast
  • To be paid directly to the community
  • Bottled water

What to expect

  1. 45m
    The first stop is a small farming village in the Vilcanota
    valley, about two hours south of Cusco. Breakfast is served
    here while it is still dark.

    Eat well at this stop. It is the last full meal before the
    high plateau, and food taken at a comfortable altitude helps
    more than anything you can do higher up.

    Toilets are available here. There are no facilities again
    until the afternoon.
  2. 1h 30m
    Quelccaya is the largest tropical ice cap in the world. It
    does not hang in a valley like most glaciers. It lies flat
    across the top of a high plateau and runs out of sight in
    both directions.

    From the vehicle it is a walk of ten to twenty minutes over
    uneven ground to reach the viewpoint, which stands above
    5,000 metres. The walk is short but the altitude makes it
    feel like work, so it is taken slowly.

    Below the ice sit two meltwater lagoons. One is turquoise
    and the other grey brown. Both are fed by the same glacier.

    Walking on the ice is not permitted. A community entrance
    fee is collected at a control point here and must be paid
    in cash in local currency.
  3. 45m
    A high altitude lake of around 30 square kilometres, held
    between the plateau and the Vilcanota range at 4,869 metres.

    The water is turquoise and changes colour through the
    morning with the wind and the light. Flamingos are often
    seen feeding at the shallow southern end. Snow peaks stand
    along the far shore.

    Very few day tours from Cusco include this lake, because it
    adds an hour to the route.
  4. Cusipata
    1h
    he return route passes back through the same village in the
    Vilcanota valley. Lunch is served here.

    Eating is far more comfortable at this altitude than on the
    plateau, and most travellers find their appetite returns on
    the descent.

    From this stop it is around two and a half hours by road
    back to Cusco.

Meeting and pickup

Meeting point

If your hotel is not within the centre of Cusco, we can meet you at the main square - Plaza de Armas, by the fountain.

End point

If your hotel is not within the centre of Cusco, we can meet you at the main square - Plaza de Armas, by the fountain.

Pickup details

If your hotel is not within the centre of Cusco, we can meet you at the main square - Plaza de Armas, by the fountain.

Additional information

  • Not recommended for pregnant travelers
  • Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
  • Travelers should have a high level of physical fitness

Cancellation policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
From
$64.11 per person
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  • Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts
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  • You'll choose your date and travelers and pay on viator.com. Prices vary by date, group size and option.
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