Day 1:
Today your tour guide will pick you up at 7:30am, you will drive alongside 160 km of beautiful landscape, full of flora and fauna until the town of Chivay, capital of the Colca Valley. This route features majestic views of the three volcanoes known as Misti, Chachani and PichuPichu, you will stop at the National Reserve of“Pampa Cañahuas” located at 3400m above sea level, where you can observe the wild Vicuñas in its natural habitat, this a great chance for a one in a life time holiday photo. Continuing your trip you will arrive to“Pata Wasi”(Pata=high Wasi=home), here you will have the opportunity to taste the famous coca tea, and many other infusions; this will help to prevent any altitude sickness you may experience.
Your trip continues with a visit to a place called Tocra. Tocra has rich lakes and grass that provides food to a unique collection of migratory birds and hundreds of Llamas and Alpacas. The culture of Tocra shines through with its typical Andean colours on display. Following your visit to Tocra you travel to Pata Pampa”(Pata=high, Pampa=land), located at 4910m above sea level, a great viewpoint of Peru’s astonishing mountain rage as well as giant volcanos such as Ampato, Sabancaya, Mismi(the source of the Amazon River).
Your next stop will be the village of Chivay, the capital of the Colca Valley, where you have the opportunity to enjoy many different types of Peruvian cuisine(Lunch is not included). Following lunch we will drop you off at your hotel. You then have the chance to explore the town and surroundings at your leisure. We thoroughly recommend: Exploring the village, hiking along the Colca river or join the tour guide to visit the 37 degrees Hotspring pools located next to the Colca river(Changing rooms, a locker area as well as a small cultural museum is available here). Folkloric dancing shows take place at restaurants while you are enjoying your evening meal.
Day 2:
You will leave the hotel in Chivay at 6:30am in our comfortable transportation towards the highest part of the Canyon, known as the Cross of Condor. This is where the Andean Condor, one of the world’s largest flying bird offers a truly breath taking show for all visitors, it is important to be as early as possible in order not to miss the spectacular nature show.
You will continue for a further 20 minutes drive and stop at San Miguel viewpoint. This is where your hiking adventure begins, the descending trail will offer you spectacular dropping views of the canyon walls, you will pass through a hanging bridge to cross the Colca river, until the village of San Juan de Chucchu, where you will experience the best hospitality provided by the friendly locals (lunch is provided here).
Your next destination will be the Oasis of the Colca Canyon. The hike features excellent scenic narrow trails of the canyon and jaw dropping views, as well as giving you the opportunity to travel through the cultural small villages of Cosnirhua and Malata. Youwill then arrive at the Oasis “Sangalle”. This is considered a place to relax; here you will enjoy a delicious dinner prepared by your tour guide and have the opportunity to enjoy its entire green relaxing environment and natural spring pools right at the bottom of the canyon. Here you will have the rest of teh day to enjoy at your leisure and spend your night in traditional huts.
Day 3:
In order to avoid hiking under the hard morning sun your day will start at 5am. You will take a steep trail for approx. 3 hours to the village of Cabanaconde, breakfast will be provided here. You will then meet our private transportation and make our trip back to Chivay. You will make some stops along the way, one to the Cross of condor (second chance to see condors) and also unique stops to take memorable photos of the Colca Canyon with its outstanding pre-Inca terraces along the valley. You will arrive to traditional village of Yanque, here you will have the chance to enjoy the hotspring pools known as "Chacapi" which are located next to the Colca river offering an astonishing view of the Canyon. You will then have time for lunch before travelling to back Arequipa city.
On your drive back to Arequipa city you will stop at Pata Pampa”(Pata=high, Pampa=land), located at 4910m above sea level, a great viewpoint of Peru’s astonishing mountain rage as well as giant volcanos such as Ampato, Sabancaya, Mismi(the source of the Amazon River). You will also make picture stops at the National Reserve of“Pampa Cañahuas” located at 3400m above sea level, where you can observe the wild Vicuñas in their natural habitat, this a great chance for a once in a lifetime holiday photo. Our estimated time of arrival in Arequipa will be 5pm.
