Quelccaya Ice Cap

Quelccaya is a large ice cap in the Cordillera Vilcanota mountain range of the Peruvian Andes, sitting between 5,200 and 5,700 meters (17,000 and 18,700 feet) in elevation. The ice field shows distinctive U-shaped valleys and glacial markings carved into the volcanic rock beneath it.

Scientists have studied ice cores from the cap since 1974 to understand past climate and atmospheric conditions. The ice records provide information about weather patterns and environmental changes dating back to around 470 AD.

Local communities view the ice cap as a sacred spirit, known as an apu, and rely on its meltwater for farming and drinking water. This connection shapes how people in the region understand their relationship with the mountain.

Reaching the ice cap requires a four-hour drive from Cusco to Phinaya village, followed by an eight-hour trek across high-altitude terrain. Visitors should allow time for acclimatization and be prepared for changing weather conditions at such elevations.

Some bird species nest directly on the ice surface, an unusual adaptation to survive at such extreme altitude and cold. This makes the ice cap one of the few places where wildlife has learned to breed in such harsh conditions.