SEE HOW IT IS

THE MOST OUTSTANDING:

• Travel through incredible landscapes on the way to the Colca Valley from Arequipa.
• See vicuñas (similar to llamas) grazing in the Vicuña Pampa Cañahuas Reserve
• Explore the city of Chivay and visit the towns of Maca and Yanque
• Enjoy incredible views of the Colca Canyon and condors at the Cruz del Cóndor viewpoint
• Learn about the history and landscape of the southern highlands of Peru from your guide

After breakfast at your hotel, we will pick you up at your hotel to leave the White City of Arequipa behind and start the route to the Colca Valley. It’s a beautiful drive, passing snow-capped volcanoes, rugged pampas, traditional terraced farms and quaint villages where the old traditional ways of life are still very much alive.

We will make a few stops along the way, the first in the Aguada Blanca National Reserve, where we will be able to observe innumerable guanacos, alpacas and vicuñas as they graze on the plain. The reserve, which covers almost 366,936 hectares, was created to preserve the local flora and fauna and their natural environment, which was previously deteriorating at an alarming rate. The reserve also protects the local vicuña population through its repopulation program.

In addition to the large herds of camelids, the reserve is also home to the southern vizcacha (a large and adorable rodent), foxes, condors, and Andean flamingos (also known as parihuanas). In total, 169 animal species have been identified in the reserve, including 23 mammals and 138 bird species, such as blue-billed ducks, eagles and kestrels. During their migration period, the flamingos also arrive to spend time wading through Lake Salinas.

Leaving the reserve, we will drive around the edge of the Chucura Volcano until we reach the Patapampa Andes viewpoint. We will now be at 4,900 meters above sea level, and from here we will be able to contemplate the beautiful landscape up to the snow-capped mountain peaks and volcanoes in the Arequipa Region, including Hualca Calca, Sabancaya and Ampato.

Our next stop will be the town of Chivay, where one end of the Colca Valley begins. The traditional terrace systems found here, built by indigenous inhabitants of the area, are notable for their scale and precise construction. Chivay itself was founded by the Spanish, a fact that is reflected in its church and other colonial buildings. You can have a traditional lunch in the city (not included) before we check in at our hotel.

You will then have the afternoon to explore the city on your own and, if you wish, visit the hot springs of La Calera, about 5 minutes from Chivay. The Colca Canyon and the Colca Valley are dotted with natural hot springs and thermal baths, thanks to seismic activity in the region. La Calera has public thermal baths that are said to have healing properties, with temperatures around 38 C (98 F).

• MEALS: Lunch
• DIFFICULTY: Easy
• ACCOMMODATION: hotel

It’s another early start to Day 2, because there’s so much great stuff to see! First we will go to the viewpoint known as Cruz del Cóndor, near the Maca and Cabanaconde hamlets. Here, strong winds rise from the canyon, providing a favorite haunt for Andean condors. They fly in thermals, often in pairs, usually early morning and late afternoon. It is very likely that you will see these enormous condors, with their three meter wingspan, flying very close to the viewpoint, providing a truly majestic sight. From the viewpoint you will also have incredible views of the depths of the Colca Canyon. Then we will return to Chivay, first stopping at the traditional town of Pinchollo and the Antahuilque viewpoint. This viewpoint (or viewpoint, as they are known in Spanish) offers wonderful views of 1,500-year-old agricultural terraces that curve along the slopes like an amphitheatre. You can also observe some of the enchanting lagoons of the Colca Valley. Next, there is the Choquetico viewpoint, where we can see two very interesting features. First are the tombs colgantes, or hanging tombs, built by the Aymara-speaking Collagua around 1200 AD. These burial niches were cut into the cliffs of Cerro Cabanaconde and then sealed with rock walls. where we can see two very interesting features. First are the tombs colgantes, or hanging tombs, built by the Aymara-speaking Collagua around 1200 AD. These burial niches were cut into the cliffs of Cerro Cabanaconde and then sealed with rock walls. where we can see two very interesting features. First are the tombs colgantes, or hanging tombs, built by the Aymara-speaking Collagua around 1200 AD. These burial niches were cut into the cliffs of Cerro Cabanaconde and then sealed with rock walls.
To reach these otherwise inaccessible cliffs, the builders probably worked their way down using ropes suspended from trees at the top. The second interesting feature that we can see here is the litomaquette, a model of the canyon terraces carved into a rock. Continuing, we will visit the small Andean town of Maca, which is located on the slopes of the Sabancaya volcano and the Nevado Hualca Hualca.

Then we will visit the town of Yanque, which houses a pretty white church, a small museum of archeology and thermal baths by the river. If you are feeling adventurous, there are horse riding facilities and mountain bike rentals available in Yanque. Around 1:00 p.m. we will begin our return trip to your hotel in Arequipa.

• MEALS: Breakfast
• DIFFICULTY: Easy