Chimur Hot Springs + Chullpas of Ninamarca

We’ll pick you up from your hotel in Cusco (3400 m a.s.l.) at 4:00 AM. Get everything ready the night before and make sure to dress warmly — early mornings in the “Historical Capital of Peru” are chilly.

After meeting your guide, you’ll head to the Chullpas of Ninamarca (3600 m a.s.l.) in our tourist vehicle. The journey takes approximately 2 hours.

For more information about this tour, check the Details and Notes tab.

An archaeological visit to kickstart your travelling day. Around 06:00 in the morning, just as the sun begins to light up the Andean mountains, you’ll arrive at the Chullpas of Ninamarca (Colquepata district, Paucartambo province).

For about 30 minutes, you’ll get up close to these “funerary monuments” — that’s what chullpa means in Spanish — built from stone and mud by the Lupacas, an Aymara kingdom that thrived south of Lake Titicaca between the 15th and 16th centuries.

At Ninamarca, you’ll see around 30 chullpas, both rectangular and cylindrical in shape. Their heights range from 1.25 to 8 metres. These impressive structures were the burial sites of rulers and influential figures from the Lupaca kingdom.

The chullpas are located just a short walk from the main road. In the distance, the outline of Mount Ausangate (6384 m), one of Cusco’s sacred apus (spiritual mountains), stands tall on the horizon. Don’t forget to capture it in a photo!

Note: The visit is subject to availability. Entry is usually not a problem, but on rare occasions, access may be restricted.

A warm and hearty breakfast awaits you in the colourful capital of the province that shares its name. You’re expected to arrive at 07:30 hours, and you’ll have one hour to enjoy your meal and visit the main square and the colonial Carlos III Bridge.

Paucartambo has preserved its colonial charm — its whitewashed houses with blue balconies are both beautiful and full of character. From 15th to 17th July, this peaceful town bursts with faith and celebration during the Festival of the Virgen del Carmen.

Thanks to its strategic location between the Andes and the Amazon, Paucartambo is a popular stop for travellers on their way to Manu National Park. This unique setting means temperatures can range from 4°C to 22°C throughout the day.

At 08:30 hours, you’ll depart for the Chimur hot springs (2820 m a.s.l.). Please plan your time wisely and return to the vehicle promptly. The estimated journey time is 2 hours.

After two hours of travel from Paucartambo, you’ll arrive at Chimur (in the district of Challabamba), a geothermal wonder where you’ll spend the next two hours relaxing in thermal waters that range between 46°C and 53°C.

At around 10:30 in the morning, you’ll reach your destination in the lush cloud forest of the Qosñipata Valley. Facilities here are basic, but the stunning landscape and the warmth of the circular pools promise a rewarding and soothing experience.

Thanks to their therapeutic properties, Chimur is perfect for wellness tourism. The water — rich in iron, calcium, magnesium, sulphur, potassium, as well as zinc and barium — is known to help relieve various ailments and health conditions.

If you suffer from rheumatic or circulatory issues, chronic gynaecological infections, skin conditions or even just everyday stress, you’ll find comfort and relief in Chimur’s five thermal modules.

At 12:30 hours, you’ll depart back to Paucartambo, where a hearty lunch will be waiting for you.

The table is set! Fresh, relaxed and happy after your time in the hot springs, you’ll enjoy lunch at a local restaurant in Paucartambo around 14:30 hours.

After lunch, you’ll begin the return journey to Cusco. You’ll feel so relaxed that it’s very likely you’ll drift off to sleep in the tourist vehicle. Sweet dreams and safe travels!

At around 18:00 hours, you’ll be back at your hotel in Cusco, after a full day of archaeological exploration and therapeutic relaxation in the beautiful province of Paucartambo.