Day 1: Cusco to Phinaya – Gateway to the Ice Cap

You’ll leave Cusco early, climbing steadily into the vast Andean highlands where alpacas and vicuñas roam across wide, golden plains. The drive passes remote villages and high-altitude lagoons before reaching Phinaya (4,800 m / 15,748 ft), one of the most isolated communities in southern Peru. After meeting your trekking team and enjoying a hot meal, you’ll begin hiking toward Comercocha Lake, a striking glacial lagoon set beneath the icy flanks of the Quelccaya Ice Cap. Tonight, you’ll camp in true high-Andean solitude, with the glacier looming above and silence all around.

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Highlights:
Scenic drive through remote Andean plateaus
Cultural encounter in the highlands of Phinaya
Camp beside Comercocha Lake with glacier views

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Distance: ~10 km (6.2 miles)
Starting Elevation: Cusco (3,399 m / 11,152 ft)
Ending Elevation: Comercocha Lake (5,000 m / 16,404 ft)
Elevation Gain: ~200 m (656 ft)
Difficulty: Moderate – gradual ascent in high-altitude terrain

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Day 2: High-Andean Landscapes and Glacier Viewpoints

You’ll wake to crisp mountain air and reflections of snow peaks dancing across Comercocha Lake. Today is about immersion in the wild, glacial world of Quelccaya. The hike leads across rolling moraines, open high plains, and hidden meltwater lagoons, gradually revealing the immense scale of the ice cap. From panoramic viewpoints, you’ll take in sweeping views of snowfields and rugged Andean peaks while your guide explains the geology and fragile ecosystem of this remote region. You’ll return to camp in the afternoon for another quiet night beneath a sky filled with stars.

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Highlights:
Hike through pristine high-Andean wilderness
Panoramic viewpoints of the Quelccaya Ice Cap
Remote glacial lagoons and dramatic moraine landscapes

Distance: ~12 km (7.5 miles)
Starting / Ending Elevation: Comercocha Lake (5,000 m / 16,404 ft)
High Point: ~5,200 m (17,060 ft)
Elevation Gain/Loss: ~300 m (984 ft)
Difficulty: Moderate to Challenging – sustained hiking at high altitude

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Day 3: Quelccaya Ice Cap – Return to Cusco

After an early breakfast, you’ll set out for the highlight of the expedition: a trek to the edge of the Quelccaya Ice Cap (5,500 m / 18,045 ft), the largest tropical glacier on Earth. The trail crosses moraine fields and frozen streams before opening onto a dramatic world of towering ice walls and endless snowfields. Here, you’ll have time to explore, take photos, and learn about the glacier’s rapid retreat and its importance to Andean water systems. After descending back to Comercocha Lake for lunch, you’ll continue to Phinaya, where your vehicle will be waiting for the return journey to Cusco, arriving in the evening.

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Highlights:
Stand at the edge of the world’s largest tropical glacier
Spectacular ice formations and high-Andean panoramas
Scenic return through remote mountain valleys

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Distance: ~18 km (11 miles)
Starting Elevation: Comercocha Lake (5,000 m / 16,404 ft)
High Point: Quelccaya Glacier Edge (5,500 m / 18,045 ft)
Ending Elevation: Phinaya (4,800 m / 15,748 ft)
Elevation Gain: ~500 m (1,640 ft)
Elevation Loss: ~700 m (2,297 ft)
Difficulty: Challenging – high-altitude trekking with glacier approach