Q’eswachaka is the last Inca rope bridge still in use. It spans the Apurímac River and is made of braided plant fiber (q’oya ichu grass). Every year, the farming communities of Quehue rebuild it in a collective work effort lasting several days, accompanied by rituals to Pachamama (Mother Earth).
World Heritage
In 2013, UNESCO inscribed the knowledge, skills and rituals tied to its annual renewal on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
When to go
You can visit the bridge year-round. The renewal usually takes place in June; the communities set the exact dates each year. It’s the best time to see it, but also the busiest.
How to get there
It’s in the district of Quehue, Canas province, about 3 to 4 hours from Cusco by road. It’s often combined in a single day with the Four Lakes (Pomacanchi, Acopía, Asnaqocha and Pampamarca).