Quelccaya Ice Cap

The Quelccaya Ice Cap stretches across 42.8 square kilometers at elevations between 5,200 and 5,700 meters in the Peruvian Andes mountain range.

Scientists have extracted ice cores from Quelccaya since 1974, revealing climate data and atmospheric conditions dating back to 470 AD.

Local communities near Quelccaya consider the ice cap a sacred spirit, known as an apu, and depend on its meltwater for agriculture and daily use.

Visitors need to drive four hours from Cusco to Phinaya village, then trek eight hours through high-altitude terrain to reach the ice cap base.

The ice cap features U-shaped valleys, glacial striations in volcanic rocks, and houses bird populations that nest directly on the ice surface.

Location: Cusco Department

Location: Puno Department

GPS coordinates: -13.92500,-70.81750

Latest update: May 14, 2025 20:27