The Qelcaya Glacier Full Day Tour is going to begin at the hotel in Cusco at 3:00 A.M. The tour is going to start with a group tourist van with our professional guide. In case we have a hotel that is not in the historic center, then we must meet in Plaza de Armas. The tour ride will follow the path to the south through the highland valleys and villages, which will give it a picturesque ride.
We will be in the town of Phinaya after approximately five hours. Here we will have a healtylocal breakfast made of fresh Andean ingredients. The break provides an opportunity to stretch our legs and enjoy the silence and isolated environment of the Andes.
We shall proceed about an hour more and pass a valley between the Andes thick with grazing alpacas and llamas. The scenery will be more dramatic as the mountains will rise on us. At last, we will reach the starting point of exploring the hike to Qelcaya Glacier. The perspectives are already excellent and pristine along the path.
It would be approximately 20 minutes of approximately flat trails to the hike to Suyoparina Glacier, which is a tongue of the Qelcaya Glacier. We shall observe tall towering ice standards, deep crevasses, greenish ice caves and unique tropical glacier penitentes. Our guide will inform the visitors about the environmental significance of the glacier and the noticeable variation that exists in the high-altitude ecosystem.
After exploring the glacier, we will enjoy a panoramic Andean picnic. It will consist of local snacks and hot drinks perfect for high-altitude. We will take time to relax, enjoy the silence, and capture photos of the breathtaking glacier scenery.
Next, we will return to Phinaya to make a brief cultural trip. We shall take a stroll in the village and stop by the local church where we shall see the traditional religious paintings on the walls of the church. The visit gives us a preview of the lifestyle and culture of highlanders. We would then proceed to have our panoramic visit at Sibinacocha Lagoon, which is one of the biggest lakes in the Cusco area and a major source of fresh water.
The return trip to Cusco will take approximately five hours and we’ll have time to rest and reflect on the day. We will arrive at our hotel at about 8:00 P. M. concluding a full day of adventure, glacier discovery and peaceful scenery of the highlands. The tour will be easy-going, scenic, and full of experiences.
Tour Statistics:
Distance traveled (hike): approximately 1.5 km to the glacier
Highest altitude: 5,000 m at Qelcaya Glacier
Lowest altitude: 3,400 m in Phinaya
Route: Cusco – Phinaya – Qelcaya Glacier – Sibinacocha Lagoon – Cusco
Difficulty level: easy to moderate, suitable for most travelers