Main Info
Overview and Highlights
Get ready for an adventure on this full-day tour to Qaranahui Cave and the Qeswachaka Hanging Bridge from Cusco. Walk across the last great Inca bridge at Qeswachaka, which is hand-woven from natural fibers, before preparing to search for stalactites and stalagmites inside the massive Qaranahui cave.
This tour is the perfect way to get your fix of nature after a stay in the city, and it includes all entrances fees, transportation, and lunch. “Q’eswachaka” is a native name formed by two Quechua words: “Q’eswa” meaning “braid” and “Chaka” meaning “Bridge”. This bridge is built in the original Inca form made of a special woven grass (q’oya). The material and construction techniques of the Q’eswachaka Cusco bridge have been passed down from generation to generation since the time of the Incas since the first bridge was built in the 15th century. Besides, you can observe in the surroundings a typical vegetation of the area as ichu or straw, cantuta, queñoales, and in this area you can also find Andean foxes, viscachas, among others.
INCLUDED:
- Professional Bilingual English-speaking tour guide
- Pre-Departure Briefing at your hotel 1 or 2 days before your trek
- Pick up from your hotel and transportation to the beginning of the trek
- Return transportation to your hotel in Cusco
- Breakfast and Lunch (Local Restaurant)
- Entrance tickets to Queswachaca bridge and Carañahui cave.
- All safety equipment: helmet, head lamp, safety vest, gloves, rubber boots.
NOT INCLUDED:
- Water and Snacks
- Travel Insurance
- Gratuities (recommended)
WHAT TO BRING AND ADVICES:
- It is really advisable and important that you arrive to Cusco at least 2 days prior the trek,
- in order to acclimatize to the altitude.
- Just in case, you can take personal medication for altitude sickness, you will find locally
- some drugstores at the main street Av El Sol or near to the main square of Cusco.
- Please make sure to inform us about your health/food/physical restrictions in advance
- so we can prepare them for you.
- It is advisable to take some cash. You can get some money from the ATM machines
- that are located in the center of the City of Cusco.
- Be always ready for rain and cold, take some rain poncho water proof clothes and warm
- clothes. Proper hiking boots.
- Insect repellent, some mosquitos are really annoyed specially at lower altitude, you will
- probably visit Machupicchu so this advice is for You.
- Original Passport
- Extra money is advisable just in case to buy souvenirs or in case of emergency.
- Camera and Memory cards (recommended)
- Rechargeable batteries and adapters (recommended)
- Hiking boots, walking shoes (with ankle protectors, recommended)
- Sun block
- Sunglasses
- Flashlight (head light recommended).
Itinerary
We will pick you up from your hotel at 5am approximately in our private transportation, in which we will drive to Cusipata for 2 hours south from Cusco when we will have the breakfast at a local restaurant and continue crossing Pomacanchis Lake (3,600m/11,811ft.). Then we will reach the Qeswachaka Bridge. This is the last used Inca bridge over the Apurimac River and the grass fibers of the bridge are renewed each year in an “annual construction of the bridge fiesta". Then we will advance near the entrance to the Qarañahui cave. After some view stops, the tour guide will provide you the equipment to explore the cave for several hours finding stalagmites and some stalactites. We will return to have lunch at the same local restaurant and return to Cusco in the afternoon
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
Night: Not included
ACTIVITY LEVEL: Moderate to Difficult
WALKING DISTANCE: moderate Hike and transportation.
WALKING TIME: 2 hours
MINIMUM ELEVATION: 3399 m / 11151 ft
MAXIMUM ELEVATION: 5200m / 17060 ft
