Titicaca, Rainbow Mountains, and Qeswachaka – A Folklore Trio
3 days
Between Cusco and Arequipa you have the Puno region, a section of Peru worth visiting. We have a special package for you which allows you to experience these areas like a local, instead of like a tourist. This is the Folklore trio: Titicaca Lake and its treasures, the Rainbow Mountains Palcoyo, and the Inca bridge Qeswachaka. There are not options that are more colorful and diverse! Join us to discover Peru and Titicaca Lake in an original way.
...Main places on the routeWho is this trip for?
Titicaca Lake, Ticonata Island, Amantani Island, Capachica Penisula, Rainbow Mountains Palcoyo, Inca bridge Qeswachaka, and also:
Light trekking through the colorful Andes, on Amantani Island, and on the way to Qeswachaka bridge
Accommodation at a local family’s house on Amantani Island
Visitin Mummies of women in the Museum from Tiahuanaco times
Getting to experience less touristy areas of the Uros floating islands
This trip is for people who:
Want to discover Cusco and Puno regions from many perspectives
Want to visit a maximum number of attractions
Love diversity
Look for alternative ways of travelling
Are not afraid to get up early
Like to spend time in an active way
The trip starts in Cusco and ends in Juliaca city. Where you have great transfer options to Lima, Arequip, or Bolivia.
This day we will start very early in the morning. At 5:30 am private transport will collect you from your hostel/hotel. We have a 3.5 hr drive to our destination. On the way we will stop for a local breakfast, which will give us a true Peruvian experience. Afterwards we will visit the Rainbow Mountains. On the way there we will see llamas and alpacas. At the end of our trip we will reach 5,000 m. above sea level from where we will see colorful peaks. It is worth the trek for 1 or 2 hours to see the mountains from a different perspective. The views are worth the effort, which can be a little taxing due to the elevation.
Maximum elevation: 5000 m. above sea level
Incan bridge Queswachaca
On the way back from the Rainbow Mountains we will go towards another attraction, the Incan bridge Queswachaca. 1.5 hours later by car we will walk a section of the Inca trail (part of famous Qhapaqnan roads system) which will take us to the bridge. Not only will we marvel at it, but we will also get to cross it.
It is big effort nowadays to keep traditions alive. But this is not a problem for the local communities from the Cusco region, and from the Quehue district. Four of these local communities meet each year for a few days to rebuild this Inca bridge. The secret of the construction has been passed down from generation to generation. It is important that the bridge has the same style and materials, which were used by Inca to construct bridges 500 years ago.
Thanks to this beautiful tradition and thousands of people’s strong will, who take part in the reconstruction, we can marvel at these Incan technologies. You can cross it over Apurimac river for next 12 months. You can read more about this bridge on our blog here.
After the day full of attractions, at 4 pm we will drive towards our accommodation located in beautiful mountain scenery. Driving time 1.5 hours. We will spend the night in a hostel along the way.
Trekking time: 2.5 – 3.5 hours Maximum elevation: 5000 m. above sea level Accommodation : on the route Cusco – Puno
For this day of attractions we will be in the Puno region. After the breakfast, around 5:30, we will drive in a private car to Titicaca Lake.
We will have 2 – 2.5 hours of trekking to the highest point on Amantani Island. Then we will transfer on the boat through Titicaca Lake, to another section of the lake to meet with the local community, and in the evening share a hot beverage drink in the only bar on the island.
The accommodations will be very basic, in local houses (shared bathroom with the hosting family).
Trekking time: 2 – 2.5 hours Maximum elevation: 4150 m. above sea level Accommodation: on Amantani Island
For this portion of attractions, we will experience nature and its beauty. After breakfast with a local family on Amantani Island (around 7 am) we will go by boat to Uros Islands and Ticonata Island. If we have enough time, we will do a short trek on Capachica Penisula.
We will finish in Juliaca at 4:00 pm from where you can continue your trip to different parts of Peru.
We can arrange plane or bus ticket for you to other places in the country (additional surcharge).
Trekking time: 1 hour (depending on preferences) Maximum elevation: 3890 m. above sea level
