Inca architecture reached levels of development that still surprise the whole world today.
A sample of this ingenuity still remains in the Cusco region. Almost 4 hours from the city, in the province of Canas, in the district of Quehue, is located the Q’eswachaca bridge, declared by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
This Inca creation is used to cross the Apurimac River. The material used for this suspension bridge is ichu, a grass from the highest areas of the Andes. Every year, the inhabitants of the rural communities of Perccaro, Huinchiri, Ccollana and Qqewe get together to renovate its structure, given its age. The renovation of the bridge involves the performance of a ritual and festivity that lasts about four days, starting with the payment to the Apu Quinsallallawi in an ancestral ceremony.
The tour is ideal for those who wish to immerse themselves in Andean culture, visit the Q’eswachaka bridge and learn about local traditions.
This tour begins with a 1 hour and 30 minute drive to a local restaurant, where you will enjoy a buffet breakfast. Then, you will visit the lakes of Pomacanchi, Acopia, Asnaqocha and Pampamarca, surrounded by beautiful landscapes, Andean birds and ancestral legends.
The tour continues to the Q’eswachaka Inca bridge, a unique structure made of vegetable fiber, which crosses the Apurimac River canyon. Finally, we return to the restaurant for a buffet lunch, and conclude the tour in Cusco’s Plaza Regocijo.
Pick up from your hotel at 04:30 am (if the hotel is near the main square of Cusco, otherwise we will coordinate a meeting point).
We will start our trip with a journey of approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes to reach the previously selected restaurant, where you will enjoy a buffet breakfast made with local products, ideal to start the day with energy.
Then, we will continue to the Pomacanchi Lagoon, a natural jewel of the district. The tour includes visits to other beautiful lagoons in the area: Acopia, Asnaqocha and Pampamarca, each surrounded by unique landscapes and wrapped in ancient Andean legends that we will learn about along the way. During this part of the tour, you will also be able to observe a great variety of Andean and migratory birds, in a perfect environment for nature and photography lovers.
The journey continues to one of the most impressive points of the trip: the Q’eswachaka Inca bridge, an ancestral construction made of vegetable fibers, approximately 28 meters long and 1.2 meters wide, which crosses the majestic canyon of the Apurimac River. This structure, unique in its kind, is renewed every year by the local communities, keeping alive an ancient tradition.
At the end of the visit, we will return to the restaurant to enjoy a buffet lunch, prepared with typical regional ingredients and authentic Andean flavors.
Finally, we will return to the city of Cusco, concluding our service in the Plaza Regocijo, full of unforgettable experiences and a deep connection with the Andean culture.
