Quelccaya is a wonderful glacier in the region of Cusco, Peru. Considered the largest glacier in the world’s tropical zone, this Quelcaya ice sheet covers a length of more than 17 km, has a surface area of 44 km2, and is 200 m thick.

How do I get to the Quelccaya Glacier from Cusco?

We provide all tourist information here so that your visit to this tourist destination is enjoyable and without incident.

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Location

The Quelccaya glacier is located in the Sallani and Phinaya communities, Pitumarca district, Canchis province, and Cusco region. It belongs to the Vilcanota mountain range, showing geographical peculiarities that position it as a preferred destination for professional mountaineers.

Altitude.

Quelccaya is more than 5100 meters southeast of Cusco, at the foot of the Vilcanota mountain range.

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How do I get there from Cusco?

An important action before reaching the glacier is acclimatization in the city of Cusco, which must be done at least two days before the journey. After that, all the implements required for the trip must be ready, and you must leave at 5:30 a.m. for the bus station located on Av. Huayruropata that will take you to the Sicuani district.

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Upon arrival in this district, you can have breakfast in its different food outlets and stock up on provisions for the route. After that, you must request the service of a private taxi or a collective vehicle to the town of Phinaya. During this journey, you can see beautiful landscapes.

After this journey, you must take a two-day walk to reach the Quelcaya Glacier, or you can do the tour on horses, renting them from the local population. All along the way, you can find camping centers where you can spend the night and continue with the trip at dawn.

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Extensión

The Quelccaya glacier is the largest tropical glacier in the world. The length of the glacier is greater than 17 km; it reaches 5,600 meters in height; its surface area is 44 km2; and it has an ice layer greater than 200 meters thick.

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Importance

This glacier is an important aquifer reservoir, which provides life to different beings of nature and also feeds the Vilcanota River and the Sibinacocha Lagoon.

Likewise, it provides water to the adjoining towns of the Cusco region, since water from deglaciation flows in large proportions—a situation that originates in an increasingly precipitous way due to the effects of climate change. As a result, there are numerous visits to the glacier for scientific research and the study of the glacier’s climate change.

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Some myths or tales

The population that lives in the community adjacent to the glacier reports that their ancestors observed a person wandering along the slopes of the Quelccaya Glacier. This man wore a white poncho that gave him an unusual appearance, so the community members did not dare to approach. him. This subject is considered the defender of the zone.

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Can I go mountain biking to the Quelcaya glacier?

You can cycle near the glacier but not on the glacier itself because it is difficult to pedal.

Some traveling cyclists start this route from the city of Cusco to the Quelcaya Glacier by bicycle, which has a distance of more than 210 km and a positive unevenness of more than 3,000 m on all kinds of paths.

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There is also the option of driving in a private vehicle near the Quelcaya glacier and going down by bicycle, surrounding the Sibinacocha lagoon, and ending in the community of Checacupec.

or connect the bike route to the mountain of seven colors and go down to the town of Cusipata, an incredible adventure.

This route also connects to the town of San Pedro, where the archaeological site of Raqchi is located, an ancient construction of the Inca culture.

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What to wear?

clothes that have ultraviolet defense, repel fluids, and are made of light and durable material.
It is recommended to wear a breathable garment first, a waterproof layer of clothing (polar material), a down jacket, and finally a waterproof garment, in addition to wearing hats, gloves, and synthetic stockings. All this is due to the low temperatures in the area.
Trekking shoes with a sole to move in precipitous areas and to avoid contact with water.
Camping tools such as a thermal tent, sleeping bag, blankets, mats, headlamps, stove, and three-season tent
trekking poles for the entire journey to the glacier.
sunscreen with a UV filter with a factor equal to or greater than 30, and specific sunglasses for glacial climates, as the glare could impair vision.
Solar charger.
a nylon or polyamide backpack, which are lighter, more durable, and waterproof.
a photographic and video camera to capture the natural beauty and landscape of the glacier, as well as the moments of this journey.
Finally, you just have to entertain yourself with this adventure and bond with the Apu Quelccaya of Peru.

If you have plans to get to know this incredible natural attraction, contact the operating company of Buho tours directly.