Tour from Cusco
Quelccaya Glacier
Full-day tour to the largest tropical ice cap in the world, in the Vilcanota mountain range. Early-morning pickup from your hotel, with transportation, guide, breakfast and lunch, and a stop at Sibinacocha Lake.
- We assist you in English on WhatsApp
- English-speaking guides
- Local agency in Cusco since 2003, registered with MINCETUR
Pickup from your hotel (reference departure time: around 3 a.m.)
Explanations in English or Spanish throughout the tour
Quelccaya Glacier, the Vilcanota mountain range and Sibinacocha Lake
We confirm your booking in under 2 hours
The world's largest tropical ice cap, on a full day from Cusco
The Quelccaya Glacier tour takes you to one of the most remote and least visited places in Cusco: the largest tropical ice cap on the planet, in the Vilcanota mountain range, within the communities of Sallani and Phinaya (Pitumarca district, Canchis province). INAIGEM, Peru’s glacier research institute, describes it as a natural laboratory for science, because of the climate records preserved in its ice.
It’s an untouched destination for mountaineers and travelers who already know Cusco’s classics and want adventure away from the crowded circuits. The experience is rounded out by Sibinacocha Lake, one of the most impressive high-altitude lakes in the southern Andes, on the way back.
The tour costs US$ 75 per person, with hotel pickup, transportation, guide, breakfast and lunch included; the village entrance fee is paid separately. It’s a full-day trip that starts before dawn, so you should arrive already acclimatized: if you’re not yet, it makes more sense to do the Ausangate 7 Lakes tour or the Vinicunca hike first, both in the same mountain range.
Quelccaya Glacier
The largest tropical ice cap on the planet, in the Vilcanota mountain range. A little-explored, remote destination, very different from any other trip from Cusco.
Sibinacocha Lake
One of the most impressive high-altitude lakes in the region, with open Andean landscapes and high-plateau wildlife. A stop on the way back.
The communities of Sallani and Phinaya
The route crosses the Pitumarca high plateau, in Canchis province, through high Andean communities that live from raising alpacas and llamas.
Short hike to the glacier
The final approach to the glacier is on foot. Depending on the route, it's usually a short stretch (typical reference: 15 to 45 minutes), on very high mountain terrain.
Itinerary
Your full day, step by step: from Cusco to Quelccaya Glacier (reference times)
- ≈3 a.m. · Pickup from your hotelEarly-morning departure from Cusco toward the south of the region. The time is a reference and is confirmed when you book.
- Cusipata area · BreakfastA stop on the way for the included breakfast before continuing to the high plateau.
- On the way to Phinaya and the Vilcanota mountain rangeThe drive continues through the high Andean communities of Pitumarca, in Canchis province.
- Quelccaya Glacier access pointTransfer to the point where the walk to the ice cap begins.
- Short hike to the glacierA stretch on foot to the glacier (typical reference: 15 to 45 minutes, depending on the route).
- Quelccaya Glacier · Visit and explorationTime to explore the surroundings of the largest tropical ice cap in the world and take photos, with your guide.
- Back to Phinaya · LunchReturn to Phinaya, where the included lunch is served.
- Sibinacocha LakeA stop at the lake to take in the high Andean landscape before heading back.
- Return to CuscoThe drive back to the city. As a reference, arrival is usually between 7 and 10 p.m., depending on the day's operation.
What does your Quelccaya Glacier tour include?
No surprises and no fine print: here’s exactly what the service covers and what you’ll pay separately on the day of the tour.
Full day. Reference: about 17 to 19 hours, depending on the day's operation
High mountains, in the Vilcanota range (reference figure: the glacier and Sibinacocha area is above 4,500 m / 14,760 ft)
Early-morning departure, around 3 a.m. Reference return between 7 and 10 p.m., depending on the operation
English or Spanish
Included
- Pickup from your hotel
- Transportation throughout the tour
- Guide
- Breakfast
- Lunch
Not included
- Village entrance fee
- Meals and drinks not mentioned
- Personal expenses
- Tips
Note: the current tour price is US$ 75 per person. The village entrance fee is not included and is paid separately, so bring cash in soles. Departure and return times are a reference and may vary depending on the day’s operation; confirm with us when you book.
Frequently asked questions
Here are answers to the most common questions, so you can book with confidence.
Do I need to acclimatize before the Quelccaya Glacier tour?
Yes. It’s a very high mountain trip in the Vilcanota range, with a long day that starts before dawn. We recommend spending several days in Cusco before this tour and having already done a shorter high-altitude trip.
How difficult is the tour?
The main physical challenge is the altitude and the length of the day, more than the hike: the approach to the glacier is usually a short stretch (typical reference of 15 to 45 minutes, depending on the route). Even so, walking at this altitude is demanding, so you should be in good shape and go at your own pace.
Which tickets do I need to buy separately?
The village entrance fee, which is not included in the tour price and is paid directly along the way. We recommend bringing cash in soles.
What time does it start and how long does it take?
It’s a full-day tour with an early-morning departure, around 3 a.m., and pickup from your hotel. As a reference, this kind of tour usually lasts 17 to 19 hours, returning to Cusco between 7 and 10 p.m., depending on the day’s operation. We’ll confirm the exact time with you when you book.
What should I bring?
Very warm clothing in layers, a windbreaker and waterproof gear, gloves and a warm hat for the intense cold of the early morning and the glacier area, proper hiking shoes, sunglasses and sunscreen, water, some cash in soles for the village entrance fee and your passport.
How do booking and payment work?
The current price is US$ 75 per person. You can start your booking right on this page by entering the date and number of travelers, or contact us on WhatsApp. Since it’s a remote destination, it’s best to confirm availability and times in advance. We have English-speaking guides.
What happens if the weather affects the tour?
It’s a remote high-mountain route, so weather and road conditions have a big impact on operations. If the weather or the road doesn’t allow the tour to run safely, we’ll agree with you on a new date or the best alternative.
How much does the Quelccaya Glacier tour cost?
The price is US$ 75 per person. It includes pickup from your hotel, transportation throughout the tour, the guide, breakfast and lunch. It does not include the village entrance fee, paid separately along the way, or meals and drinks not mentioned, personal expenses or tips.
What makes Quelccaya Glacier special?
It’s the largest tropical ice cap in the world and one of the best-studied natural climate archives on the planet: ice cores taken there have made it possible to reconstruct centuries of Andean climate. Unlike the snow-capped peaks you see on Cusco’s usual circuits, here you reach the glacier’s ice tongue itself, in a remote area with very few visitors.
Who is this tour for?
For acclimatized travelers used to long days and very high mountains, looking for a little-explored destination. It’s not a trip for your first days in Cusco or for those who prefer short tours: departure is before dawn and the day is long. If that’s you, the Palcoyo tour or the Sacred Valley make more sense.
Ready to book or have a question?
Talk to one of our travel advisors in English. We reply Monday to Saturday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. (Peru time, GMT-5).