Visit the Quelccaya Ice Cap with the safety and comfort of travelling with a travel agency that takes care of all the details, so that you have a remarkable experience in the Andes of Peru.
Where is the Quelccaya Ice Cap, and what are its characteristics?
Quelccaya is the second-largest tropical glacier globally and is located in Cusco, in the eastern mountain range of the Peruvian Andes. This incredible place has a snowy area of 42 km² (137,795 ft) and has a depth of 200 m (660 ft).
Today, Quelccaya ice cap is larger than 9,000 soccer fields, so seeing it from its viewpoint, or reaching the summit is quite an experience.
The Quelccaya ice cap currently shows signs of the impact of climate change and a decrease in snow level. Now is an ideal time to start planning a visit! It is still a fantastic place to fascinate all the senses, live a lifetime adventure and have beautiful memories in the tropical glacier.
An Andean community lives near the glacier, in Phinaya small town. This community, located over 5000 m.a.s.l., seeks the sustainable conservation of this sacred place through their ancestral knowledge and traditions. Here you can spend the night with local families who will be happy and glad to welcome you in their home.
How to get to the Quelccaya glacier?
You have two ways to get to the Quelccaya glacier, independently or with a travel agency. Let’s see the details below.
Travel to Quelccaya independently:
Suppose you would like to get to the Quelccaya glacier on your own. In that case, we suggest you hire private transportation to do the full tour leaving from Cusco city, passing through Pitumarca, advancing to the Sibinacocha lagoon to finally reach the glacier viewpoint. This is an option for backpackers since it is a little cheaper, but you will have to plan everything independently. And this is not always an easy thing, there are many details to consider!
Travel to Quelccaya with a Travel Agency:
This is the most comfortable way to simply enjoy the trip to the second-largest tropical ice cap on planet earth. Travel agencies take care of all details so you can relax and integrate with nature without worries. Kallpa Travel specializes in responsible and adventure travel in the Andes of Peru. We work hand in hand with local native communities who are our allies. You will be the first-hand protagonist of an experiential and sustainable trip to Peru; since travelling with us, you will be contributing directly to the local economy of these Andean communities.
What activities are there to do on the Quelccaya ice cap?
Besides visiting the glacier viewpoint and having fun with activities in the snow, this snowy mountain belonging to the Vilcanota mountain range circuit offers other equally spectacular places nearby, and you can visit them when you come to Quelccaya.
Laguna Sibinacocha:
This lagoon, located at the foot of the Vilcanota mountain range, is of glacial origin and has an extension of approximately 25 km (82 021 ft) and a depth of 150 m (490 ft). In addition to being surrounded by impressive glaciers, the Sibinacocha lagoon is unique because its water has three colours that you can contemplate on boat navigation. At first, you will see a bluish-green colour, then it will turn intense turquoise, and after a while, the colour of the water will be pink. These changes occur because of the earth colour in the background. Also, during February and March, you can see flamingos around.
The temperature here is around 15°C, so it is a good idea to keep warm. When travelling with Kallpa Travel, you will sail in a motorboat with Mama Julia and Mama Mariela, the beautiful ladies who will welcome us into their home with their family.
Phinaya:
Phinaya is the closest community to the Sibinacocha lagoon and the Quelccaya glacier. This is a traditional high Andean community where its inhabitants are dedicated to agriculture and llamas and alpacas breeding. Here in Phinaya, we spend the night in a cottage with warm rooms.
Pitumarca:
The town of Pitumarca is two hours from the city of Cusco. If you come to Quelccaya with us, we will make our first stop here to visit the colonial bridge, the church, and make the last purchases before continuing to the glacier. This is the last town before entering the high mountains of Peru.
Quelccaya viewpoint:
This is one of the most stunning places that our eyes have seen, the vastness of its landscapes, the pure nature, and the mountains’ majesty make the Quelccaya glacier one of the most magnificent places in the world. Here we can enjoy activities in the snow. We can take photos and integrate with nature, having the pleasant feeling that we are doing a sustainable experiential journey with the environment and the people who live there.
The Quelccaya ice cap faces climate change.
This impressive glacier located in Cusco is not free from the impact of climate change happening on our planet. Recent studies suggest that it may go away soon. About 99% of the tropical glaciers are in the Andes, and 70% are in Peru. A future disappearance of the Quelccaya ice cap could mean essential changes in the ecosystem, impact on tourism, and consequences on local populations’ culture and traditions. When analyzing the projections of scientists and reviewing previous years’ statistics (the glacier has decreased 31% in the last 30 years), some theories indicate that the glacier will reach an irreversible state of disappearance by 2050. It is becoming increasingly important to carry out responsible tourism to protect it and extend its life on the earth.
How to travel sustainably to Quelccaya ice cap?
If you want to have a sustainable trip to the Quelccaya glacier, we suggest you stay in the Phinaya community’s homestays. These families only welcome people they trust, and Domingo -our CEO and founder- is one of them. Therefore, the only way to travel responsibly and to enjoy a warm room in the middle of the mountains is with Kallpa Travel. You will be treated like at home!
Also, when travelling with Kallpa Travel, you will automatically be supporting the economy of that family.
This is definitely the only kind of tourism we know; where everyone sees benefits from travelling!
Recommendations when travelling to Quelccaya ice cap:
How to avoid altitude sickness?
Acclimatize: this world wonder is at an altitude of 5000 masl (16.000 feet), so it is advisable to acclimatize in the city of Cusco at least one or two days before the exploration.
Eat light: avoid heavy food before and during the trip. So you can be as light as possible to walk in altitude.
How to dress in Quelccaya?
We suggest using a layering system. The first layer could be made of alpaca fibre or wool to preserve body temperature, the second layer could be a polar fleece to warm the body, the third layer could be a windbreaker jacket.
We also suggest bringing a hat for sun protection, a scarf to protect your neck from the wind and high temperatures, you can also carry an additional jacket and gloves for the cold. At night we recommend using wool socks, warm base layers and hat.
It is advisable to wear mountain shoes, resistant to water and with a sole for slippery terrain.
What other things to bring to Quelccaya?
Sun protection: 50+ sunscreen and sunglasses to protect from UV rays. Radiation is intense in the high mountains of Peru.
Suggested accessories: a first aid kit (we have ours for you, however, you know which medications suits you better), also carry a flashlight, pocket knife, photographic camera. We will take the rest!
Skin protection: moisturizer, sunscreen and chapstick.
