Qelccaya Glacier (Full Day Tour)

Qelccaya is an impressive ice mass that seems to belong to another planet. Still unknown among some travelers, this glacier is the largest tropical glacier in the world and one of the most astonishing natural wonders in southern Peru. Located in the Vilcanota Mountain Range at over 5,100 meters (16,626 ft) above sea level, Qelccaya Glacier is far more than a tourist attraction—it is a powerful symbol of Andean majesty and nature in its purest form. The Qelccaya Glacier covers an area of more than 44 km², stretches over 17 km in length, and features an ice layer up to 200 meters thick. Its name, “Qelccaya,” means “snowy place” or “ice plain” in Quechua. During this expedition, you will enjoy stunning turquoise lagoons and the chance to observe vicuñas, llamas, and alpacas in their natural habitat.

We start the day with an early pickup from your hotel in Cusco at 3:00 a.m., traveling for approximately four and a half hours through remote Andean landscapes to reach the highland community of Phinaya (4,730 m / 15,420 ft). From there, we continue for about one more hour to the trailhead at 4,900 m / 15,974 ft, where our hike to the Qelccaya Glacier, the largest tropical glacier in the world, begins. The hike lasts around 40 minutes, leading to a viewpoint at over 5,100 m / 16,626 ft, with impressive views of snow-capped mountains, turquoise glacial lagoons, and native wildlife such as vicuñas, llamas, and alpacas. After enjoying the glacier scenery, we hike back to Phinaya for lunch. In the afternoon, we return to Cusco, stopping at the beautiful Sevinaccocha Lake (4,880 m / 15,908 ft), the largest lake in the Vilcanota Mountain Range. We arrive in Cusco at approximately 8:00 p.m.