Queswachaca Bridge

Q'eswachaka Bridge

During the time of the Incas, there was a large network of roads, the main one being called Qhapaq Ñan. These roads connected the territories of the Inca Empire, crossing the rugged geography of the Andes. Suspension bridges made of plant fibers were built, and this complex technology has been passed down from generation to generation. There is a single bridge that has been renovated annually for more than 500 years, connecting the past with the future.

Located over the Apurímac River at 3,700 masl, Q'eswachaka is the last Inca suspension bridge, where every year more than 1,000 people from four communities gather to renew its structures. This ancestral ritual was recognized in 2013 by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

This bridge, approximately 33 meters long, is famous for being one of the last traditional suspension bridges still in use in the country and is an outstanding example of Inca engineering.

The construction of Qeswachaka is a community process that takes place every year in June, where local communities gather to renovate the structure using ancestral techniques. Ichu straw, an Andean grass, is the main material used to weave the bridge, reflecting the wisdom and skills of the region's ancient inhabitants.

Crossing the Q'eswachaka Bridge is like stepping back in time.

Summary

Tour type: Nature / Adventure / Photography / Panoramic
Highlights: Qeswachaca, Vinincunca
Total duration: Full day (approx. 13 hours)
Includes breakfast and lunch
Difficulty: Easy (due to low altitude)
Maximum altitude: 3,700 masl
Ideal for: Nature lovers, easy access, and unique landscapes

Itinerary for the tour to the Qeswachaca Bridge

4:10 – 5:00 hrs: Pick-up from your accommodation (downtown Cusco)
We will travel to Cusipata for breakfast
Then we will continue through the district of Yanaoca, where we will visit the volcano pavilion, and then continue for 1 hour until we reach the district of Quehue, where the Inca bridge of Q'eswachaka is located.
Here we will have time to explore the surrounding area while the guide explains the history of this Inca engineering feat.
After visiting the bridge, we will continue our journey to the viewpoint where we will see the lagoons of Pampamarca and Asnaqocha. Then we will head to another viewpoint, where we will see the lagoons of Acopia and Pomacanchi.
After these stops, we will return to Cusipata for a buffet lunch.
16:30 – 17:00 hrs: After lunch, we will return to Cusco (downtown area, near the Plaza de Armas).