The Tour of the Q’eswachaka Inca Bridge

We will pick you up early from your hotel in Cusco and travel south on the road that leads to the province of Canas. During the journey, we will observe the Pomacanchi lagoon, the enigmatic Urcos lagoon, where stories tell that the last Inca ordered all the gold of the Empire to be taken there to prevent it from being looted by the Spanish, and the Yanaoca lagoon, where we will visit a small volcano and the pass of the same name. Upon arriving at “Q’eswachaca” located at an altitude of 3,600 meters, we will have the opportunity to visit its ancestral bridge, which is an architectural and cultural legacy of the Incas. The Inca bridge of “Q’eswachaca” is built over the majestic Apurimac River, located in the province of Canas. The last Inca bridge suffers from the deterioration of its material (straw) due to the harsh climate of the highlands, so it requires an annual reconstruction. The reconstruction is carried out by the peasant communities of Perccaro, Huinchi, and Qqewe. The dimensions of the bridge are 33 meters long and 1.20 meters wide, and the material used is exclusively the braided straw (Ichu) from the highlands of the region. In the afternoon, we will return to Cusco, but the road has a surprise for us. At the height of the Hampatura community, we will find the impressive Ccarañahui or Q’arañahui caves, located at an altitude of 3,900 meters. This is a fantastic cave made of sedimentary marine material, and its chemical composition is calcium hypochlorite, which, due to constant dripping, has resulted in the formation of impressive stalagmites and stalactites that curiously resemble the shapes of a puma and a condor. The cave is thousands of years old, and at the bottom, we can appreciate a mysterious lagoon. Legend has it that the Incas used to come to the cave to spiritually communicate with their gods. Finally, we will return to Cusco in our private car, concluding our tour to the Inca bridge of “Q’eswachaka.” ANNUAL RECONSTRUCTION: The “Q’eswachaka” bridge requires annual maintenance because the straw (Ichu) used in its construction starts to decompose. Since Inca times, the reconstruction has been carried out in 3 days (before the second Sunday of June), and on the fourth day, the ceremony concludes with a folk festival, where you can experience the unique traditions and customs of this world.