Q’iswa Chaka rope bridge over the Apurímac River, Peru

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Q’iswa Chaka rope bridge over the Apurímac River, Peru

Okay, this rope bridge isn’t nearly as terrifying as it looks. Brave travelers and locals alike say that this ancient suspension construction can hold a surprising amount of weight. We say ‘ancient’ because a rope bridge has been at this location for centuries. The structure itself is replaced annually during a three-day community work project that goes from harvesting a particularly tough local grass, to rope braiding, to actually weaving the bridge itself. And if you fall, the waters of the Apurímac River flow below. Hey, that’s better than pointy rocks and sticks, isn’t it?