The Apus, one of the main reasons why we love and identify with the nature of the Andes.
Many travelers come to Peru to go on a Machu Picchu day trip, one of the most visited tourist attractions in the world, but what most do not know is that we have many more sacred mountains in our country.
If you are passionate about traveling with extraordinary landscapes and the worldview of ancient cultures, you will love discovering the meaning that the Apus had and continue to have in our world.
The Apus are mountains of great importance. According to the Incas, they were divine and protective entities that ruled over the destiny of human beings. Today, for Andean men, they continue to retain the same importance of yesteryear and the tradition that each Apu has its own spirit and name.
Their meanings in Quechua are: “Sir”, “majesty”, and “God”.
Our country is surrounded by Apus, and we can appreciate them or even explore them while we hike or trek, take canoeing or rafting expeditions, bicycle tours, among other outdoor activities.
With a height of 6,384 m.a.s.l. Auzangate is the fifth-highest mountain in Peru, located in the Vilcanota mountain range, 100 km from Cusco.
It is surrounded by incredible natural formations such as turquoise lagoons, stone forests and glaciers that make it a magical destination. It is also one of the most important pilgrimage centers in the Andes, where the Qoyllority festival is celebrated every year in June.
It is only 50 km from the city of Cusco. It has a height of 5,682 m.a.s.l. being the highest point of the Urubamba mountain range. Her name was originally Waynawillca, which means “Young Sacred”.
It can be seen in the distance from different points of the city of Cusco or the Sacred Valley, as well as from some hikes such as the Inca Trail or Ancascocha.
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Its name comes from Quechua and is a contraction of Salqa, which means “wild” and Antay, which means “to produce avalanches”. Located in the Vilcabamba mountain range, near the citadel of Machu Picchu, it has a height of 6,264 m.a.s.l. and is considered the “protector of the territory”.
One of the most significant ways to honor the Apus is through payment to the land, an offering originated by the Incas, and that, even though this empire disappeared five centuries ago, it is a tradition that is still preserved to this day in most Andean communities.
For us as Terra Explorer, it is important to bring travelers closer to the Andean world, and that is why we give them the opportunity to participate in a respectful way in this ceremony, where the land is worshiped and thanked as a source of life and prosperity.
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Hikes to the most important Apus in the Andes.
One of them is the Inca Trail, where you will hike a 43-kilometer route in a total of 5 days, sleeping in luxury campings. The destination of this trek is the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu.
Another is the hike to the Salkantay Apu, a 6-day trek through little-explored areas with spectacular landscapes such as snow-capped mountains, colorful lakes, impressive mountains, glaciers, and native tree forests.
If you come with your family and want an activity designed for everyone, the trek to the Auzangate Apu is perfect for you. During four days, you will pass through incredible lagoons and glaciers, and you will be able to enjoy the views with tranquility since the walking distances per day are short, and do not demand high physical demands.
Now that you know a little more about the Apus, which one of the hikes we offer do you prefer? At Terra Explorer, we have various itineraries for you. If you want to get to know Peru in an authentic and spectacular way, get in touch with us, and we will help you design the trip of your dreams!
To ensure the well-being and safety of our travelers and staff throughout our operational chain, Terra Explorer will comply with the health and safety measures and protocols established by the Peruvian Association of Adventure Tourism and Ecotourism (APTAE), and implement the Covid-19 health and safety guidelines for adventure tourism developed by the Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA).
Our experiences are designed considering the least possible exposure, where the final destinations are usually remote places. By their very nature, our adventure activities are considered to be low risk, mainly because they are performed outdoors where ventilation is constant and making it easy to achieve social distancing.
During these times we are working together with a small staff of honorable people who have been part of the Terra Explorer family for many years. They and their families are aligned with the established health and safety measures. Employing these staff members also seeks to reactivate the local economy.
We guarantee a safe, soul-fulfilling trip to all our travelers for whom we make these adventures possible.
Terra Explorer will strictly comply with the safety, cleaning, and hygiene protocols during our internal processes, third parties, and throughout your trip. This involves:
Follow the instructions related to health and safety given by the Terra Explorer team and your guide, before and during your trip.
Stay home if:
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Secure your trip with a deposit and pay the rest in one or more payments, at a time that suits you best. Please make sure you adhere to our policy and pay in full at least 31 days prior to your trip date.
If you need to cancel your trip, we will apply the following flexible policies.
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