About this experience
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.
At a glance
- Duration: 17 hr
Plan your experience
Set aside 17 hr for the experience itself, with additional time to reach your meeting or pickup point.
Before you go
- Travelers should have a high level of physical fitness
What is included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Professional guide
- First aid kit
- Lunch
- Private transportation
- Breakfast
Not included
- To be paid directly to the community
- Bottled water
Itinerary and highlights
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.
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.
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.
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 information
- If your hotel is not within the centre of Cusco, we can meet you at the main square - Plaza de Armas, by the fountain.
Languages and tickets
- English — Guide
- Spanish — Guide
- Mobile Only
Tour operator
- Planet Odysseys
Meeting points and locations
Accessibility and practical details
- 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.
Questions about this experience
How long is this experience?
What are the pickup arrangements?
Which guide languages are listed?
What ticket format is listed?
What ticket age bands are listed?
What is the cancellation policy?
Traveller reviews and photos
Traveller experiences load when you reach this section.
