As you hike the stone path of the Inca Trail, you will frequently notice your guide and porters pausing at the crest of a high pass, quietly whispering in Quechua, and placing three neat coca leaves beneath a stone cairn. To modern travelers, mountains are geological formations created by tectonic plates. To the indigenous peoples of the Andes, peaks are living, conscious deity spirits known as Apus.
What Is an Apu in Andean Cosmovision?
In traditional Quechua spirituality, an Apu is a sacred mountain protector that watches over people, agriculture, weather, and wildlife in its surrounding territory. The concept is rooted in the principle of Ayni—sacred reciprocity. If communities show reverence, respect, and make offerings, the Apu blesses them with clean glacial water, fertile crops, and safe passage through high passes.
Major Apus That Guard the Inca Trail
Sacred Guardians of the Qhapaq Ñan
- Apu Salkantay (6,271 m / 20,574 ft): The “Savage Mountain.” Salkantay is the most revered male Apu in the Cusco region, representing raw wilderness power, weather mastery, and spiritual strength.
- Apu Veronica / Wakay Willke (5,893 m / 19,334 ft): The graceful snow-capped sentinel guarding the entrance to the Sacred Valley and Km 82 trailhead, revered as a compassionate protector.
- Apu Huayna Picchu (2,720 m / 8,924 ft): The iconic green horn rising directly behind Machu Picchu, representing youth and vigilance over the lost sanctuary.
- Apu Machu Picchu (3,082 m / 10,111 ft): The ancient guardian mountain upon whose shoulder the sacred citadel is perched.
Guide to Sacred Mountain Spirits of the Cusco Region
| Apu Name | Elevation | Spiritual Personality | Visibility Along the Inca Trail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apu Salkantay | 6,271 m (20,574 ft) | Fierce, powerful, weather guardian | Visible from Runkurakay and Phuyupatamarca |
| Apu Veronica | 5,893 m (19,334 ft) | Protective mother, water giver | Dominates Day 1 along the Urubamba river |
| Apu Ausangate | 6,384 m (20,945 ft) | Supreme Apu of Cusco, camelid guardian | Visible from high open passes on clear mornings |
| Apu Pumasillo | 5,991 m (19,655 ft) | The Puma’s Claw, warrior protector | Visible looking west from Phuyupatamarca ridge |
Before crossing Dead Woman Pass, your guide may offer you three intact coca leaves fanned between your fingers. This is a Kintu. You gently blow your breath over the leaves toward the highest peak three times (an act called Phukuy), thanking the Apu for safe passage, before placing them under a rock cairn (Apacheta).
How Travelers Should Respect the Sacred Peaks
- Never shout loudly or use profanity at the crest of high mountain passes.
- Avoid knocking down or dismantling existing stone apacheta cairns along the trail.
- Pack out every scrap of trash, honoring Pachamama (Mother Earth) through clean actions.
