Private Experience Q'eswachaka Community & Last Inca Bridge Day Trip from Cusco 1
Private Experience Q'eswachaka Community & Last Inca Bridge Day Trip from Cusco 2
Private Experience Q'eswachaka Community & Last Inca Bridge Day Trip from Cusco 3
Private Experience Q'eswachaka Community & Last Inca Bridge Day Trip from Cusco 4
Private Experience Q'eswachaka Community & Last Inca Bridge Day Trip from Cusco 5
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Private Experience Q'eswachaka Community & Last Inca Bridge Day Trip from Cusco 7
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Private Experience Q'eswachaka Community & Last Inca Bridge Day Trip from Cusco

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Cusco, Peru
Cultural ToursBus & Minivan ToursWalking Tours
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About this activity

Travel into Cusco's remote South Valley to experience Q'eswachaka, a 500+ year-old Incan rope suspension bridge and UNESCO-recognized Intangible Cultural Heritage site. This 12-hour immersive journey combines archaeological stops, multi-era bridge history, and direct engagement with the Andean communities who maintain this living tradition annually through ritual renewal ceremonies.

We will leave very early towards the South Valley of Cusco, an unexplored area that keeps many charms. The objective is to reach the rope suspension bridge 'Q'eswachaka', declared by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, which is three hours away and learn about the context in which it takes place. On the way we will have views, surprises and stops, the Huacarpay lagoon and Pikillacta archaeological center are some until we reach our first stop: the town of Checacupe. In this first stop we will introduce you to the bridges in the Andes; as for samples a button, in Checacupe have been built three types of bridges lost in time and that pass over the Pitumarca River; one from the Inca era, another from the Colonial era and another from the Republican era.

We will continue about two hours and we will arrive at Qehue district where the suspension bridge 'Q'eswachaka', more than 500 years old and the communities that renew it yearly are located. The Q'eswachaka (Q'eswa means "to braid" and "Chaka" means "bridge in Quechua), is the last bridge that has survived modernity and continues to pass its ritual from generation to generation. We will have the opportunity to meet and share with the communities that care for this living legacy of the Incas. The bridge is considered a sacred expression of the link of the communities with nature, tradition and history, and the annual renewal is accompanied by ritual ceremonies.

We will go to a local house and where the locals will demonstrate the braiding technique of the ‘ichu’, a pasture from the high areas of the Andes which is the material used for centuries for this rope suspension bridge. It is an impressively laborious job, it requires a lot of effort, technique and teamwork. After understanding the context surrounding this attraction, we will go to see it, cross it and admire the natural landscape through which it was built. After visiting the bridge, we will go to have lunch in a local house. After lunch, we will return to Cusco for a relaxing and colourful scenic route.

Highlights

  • ✓Walk across Q'eswachaka, the last functioning Incan rope bridge still used and rebuilt yearly by local communities
  • ✓Visit Pikillacta pre-Incan archaeological ruins and Huacarpay lagoon en route
  • ✓Explore three distinct bridge types (Incan, Colonial, Republican era) spanning the Pitumarca River in Checacupe
  • ✓Meet and interact with Qehue district communities who preserve this 500-year tradition
  • ✓Learn Quechua heritage: Q'eswa (braid) + Chaka (bridge) reflects the bridge's sacred weaving symbolism
  • ✓Witness how ritual ceremonies accompany the annual bridge renewal cycle

Insider tips

  • ★The bridge is actively used by locals—arrive early to observe authentic daily crossing patterns before crowds gather
  • ★Bring layers: South Valley altitude and river gorge microclimates create temperature swings; mornings are cool, afternoons warm
  • ★Learn a few Quechua phrases beforehand to deepen conversations with community members who maintain the bridge

Good to know

  • •Departs very early from Cusco (exact pickup time confirmed on booking); 12-hour round trip includes 3-hour drive each way
  • •Moderate walking/hiking fitness required to access the bridge and navigate uneven terrain in Qehue district
  • •Bring sun protection (high altitude UV exposure), water, snacks, and sturdy walking shoes with grip; the bridge itself involves cables and requires sure footing
  • •The experience is weather-dependent; annual renewal ceremonies occur in June, but bridge crossing is available year-round

Who it's for

Cultural and heritage enthusiasts seeking authentic Indigenous Andean traditionsAdventure travellers interested in archaeological sites and remote mountain communitiesPhotographers documenting UNESCO heritage and traditional lifewaysTravellers with moderate fitness seeking meaningful local interaction over typical tour-group experiences

Best time to visit

Visit during the dry season (May–September) for stable weather and safer bridge conditions. June is ideal if you wish to witness or participate in the annual community ritual renewal ceremony, though the bridge remains accessible and functional outside this window.

Frequently asked questions

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From€257
per person