Experiential Tourism in Cusco: Connect with Living History at the Q’eswachaka Inca Bridge
If you are seeking an authentic travel adventure that goes far beyond the typical postcard photos, experiential tourism in Cusco offers an unparalleled hidden gem: the Q’eswachaka Inca Bridge (also spelled Queshuachaca).
During the golden age of the Inca Empire, an extensive and monumental network of roads known as the Qhapaq Ñan (the Great Inca Highway) stretched across thousands of miles, connecting remote communities over steep canyons and roaring rivers. To conquer the rugged Andean geography, Inca engineers developed a highly sophisticated textile engineering technique to build traditional hanging rope bridges. Today, Q’eswachaka stands as the only original Inca bridge left in the world that is still rebuilt today using the exact same pre-Hispanic methods from over 500 years ago.
We leave early heading towards the town of Pomacanchi (107 km south of Cusco), continuing our route, we will arrive at the area known as "Cuatro Lagunas" (Pomacanchi, Acopia, Asnaccocha and Pampamarca). These lagoons harbor a great variety of wildlife such as Parihuanas and Andean ducks. In the middle of this natural and beautiful place we will share a breakfast with a breath-taking view. Arriving in Quehue, we go to the houses where the families welcome us.
As soon as we have settled, we take a short 10 minute walk on foot to a place where we will see how the families of different communities contribute with the ropes. Part of the ropes are produce with vegetable fibers, an ancestral obligation that has been passed down from generation to generation. It is the men of the community who begin to twist the main ropes in two divided points, a process that takes until the afternoon of the same day.
After a nice breakfast offered by the homestay family, we go with the families to the place where we can be involved together with the families to make small ropes that will be used to weave the bridge handrails, At midday we will have a picnic lunch. Afterwards, we can appreciate how the community folks begin to stretch-out the main ropes and also initiate the cutting of the old bridge to throw it into the river, but before launching the first rope there will be Andean Shaman from the area who performs a Ceremony as a request and thanks to Mother Earth so that the work concludes without mishaps.
Also worth nothing is that it is considered a strength of the Andean man who, without payment, does volunteer work to demonstrate his culture left by the ancestors until the afternoon arrives.
A day of admiration and at the same time to be part of it.
After breakfast we go to be part of the main construction of this masterpiece, where we will participate helping the community to tie the ropes so that later the Andean Architects can execute towards the final construction of the bridge, to conclude with the help of the community folks that year after year this masterpiece is made. Then once concluded, the authorities of different institutions make the corresponding inaugurations. From this moment thousands of spectators begin to pass the new bridge. After having enjoyed this masterpiece, it is time to return to the City of Cusco
To make sure your experience at the last Inca bridge is absolutely perfect, keep these recommendations in mind:
Prices and Discounts
A mínimum group size would be 2 persons. The bigger the group, the lower our cost per person: please, find our prices and discounts below!
Engaging in cultural and immersive tourism at the Q’eswachaka archaeological site allows you to escape the crowded commercial tourist tracks and dive deep into the genuine soul of the Peruvian Andes. By visiting this masterpiece, which has been declared a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, you will have the unique opportunity to:
The weather in the Cusco highlands is divided into two distinct seasons: the rainy season (November to March) and the dry season (April to October).
Sustainability Note: By choosing experiential tourism at the Q’eswachaka hanging bridge, your visit directly supports the local economies of the four host communities. Your sustainable travel choices ensure that this remarkable ancestral tradition survives for generations to come.
Prices and Discounts
A mínimum group size would be 2 persons. The bigger the group, the lower our cost per person: please, find our prices and discounts below!
Reserve here