Classic tour to Colca canyon in Arequipa (1D)
DESCRIPTION:
In this tour to Colca Canyon; at 2:30 a.m. our local guide will be picking you up from your hotel. And head to Chivay (3 hours of travel by bus) we arrive at 6:00 a.m. to Chivay (3600m) an Andean town located on the left side of the Colca Canyon ; surrounded by agriculture fields, then breakfast in Chivay.
About 6:30 a.m., we will leave to the Cruz del Condor viewpoint; along the way, we will visit the beautiful Yanque town with the witite dancer’s, the terraces and the different natural viewpoints. Antahuilque and the Choquetico Tombs, Arriving to The Cruz del Condor for watching the Andean Condor (Vulture Gryphus) and we will amazing the Colca Canyon in all its magnitude.
Return to Chivay, visiting Maca and Yanque town (where is possible to observe a nice colonial church from XVI century, next to this town is possible to see people dedicated to work the terraces. Arrival to Chivay and visit to the hot springs La Calera (1 hour of visit approx.), where you can enjoy the thermo medicinal pools.
After relaxing return to Chivay for having lunch, after lunch, we will visit the local market and the Main Square, At 2:00 p.m. back to Arequipa, along the way we will visit the highest point between the Colca Canyon and Arequipa: Patapampa (4800m), from this place we can see the volcanic mountain range: The Ampato volcano where was founded “Juanita” Then we drive to Toqrapampa, where we can see small lagoons with Andean birds.
Then we will continue to the Pampa Cañahuas National Park, where we will be able to see Lamas, Alpacas and vicunas, Arrival to Arequipa at 5:00 p.m. and transfer to the hotel.
NOTA: After your tour in the Colca Canyon, and If you have a plan to visit Puno, you can take the Bus from Chivay to Puno with Stop, and avoiding the long travel to Arequipa and Arequipa – Puno.
ITINERARY:
| TIMETABLE | ACTIVITIES |
| 02:30 a.m. | Pick up from your hotel in Arequipa. |
| 03:00 a.m. | Depart to Chivay by Bus. |
| 06:00 a.m. | Arrival to Chivay and Breakfast at the small town. |
| 06:30 a.m. | Journey trip to Cruz del Condor or Viewpoint. |
| 08:30 a.m. | Arrival to Cruz del Condor, where you can see the flight of the Condors. |
| 10:00 a.m. | Return to Chivay, with stop on the way ( Pinchollo, Maca and Yanque, samlls colonial towns). |
| 12:00 p.m. | Visit to the Hot Sprint La Calera for relaxing (45 min to 1 hours). |
| 01:00 p.m. | Lunch in Chivay, after visit the craft markets and the Main Square. |
| 02:30 p.m. | Return to the City of Arequipa, along the way we will stop to visit to some interesting places on the road. |
| 06:30 p.m. | Arrival to the City of Arequipa and transfer to the hotel. |
THIS TOUR INCLUDES:
- Advice one day before the tour.
- Buffet Lunch in Chivay.
- Breakfast in Chivay.
- Professional English/Spanish speaking guide.
- Pick up from your hotel in Arequipa.
- Tourist transportation.
THIS TOUR DON’T INCLUDES:
- Others not mentioned in the program.
- Hot Sprint entrence fee in Chivay.
- BTC (Colca Ticket Tourist).
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Consider that you can take:
- Camera, Toilet paper and extra batteries.
- A bottle of water (a liter).
- Comfortable shoes for walking.
- Personal backpack with everything necessary for your tour.
- Snacks, chocolate or energy candies.
- Glasses, hat and sunscreen.
- Lightweight and warm clothing.
- Your own medical kit with any special medications you may need as directed by your doctor.
* Autumn and winter: cold and wind (wear light coat). Spring and Summer: rain (raincoat and umbrella)
Keep in mind:
- BTC (Colca tourist ticket, permite ingresar al cañón del colca) :
- NATIONAL: S/. 20.00 PEN
- FOREIGN: S/. 70.00 PEN
- Hot Sprint entrance fee S/. 15.00 PEN.
RESERVATIONS:
USD 35.00 / per person
Ask for our offer prices for 5 or more people.
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT:
COLCA CANYON:
The Colca Canyon is located on the southern Peru in the Andes mountain range exist, the second deepest canyon in the world and one of the most visited places in Arequipa is the Colca Valley.
The name Colca refers to small holes in the cliffs in the valley and canyon. These holes were used in Inca and pre-Inca times to store food, such as potatoes and other Andean crops. They were also used as tombs for important people.
The Colca River birth in the Andes between Condoroma and Crucero Alto (above 4500-5000m), drops the water down to Pacific Ocean. The Colca Canyon register hard rain during December to April and the rest of the year is dry, sunny and cold weather.
The deepest part of the Colca Canyon is register between Ampato Mountain (6310m) and Coropuna snow-capped (6377m), on the left bank of the canyon exist a small town named Huambo and straight down of this town is located Cancco Valley (1720m) which is the greatest deep point that reaches a depth of 4590 meters.
The geography of the Colca Canyon are habitable, and Inca and pre-Inca terraces are still cultivated along the less precipitous canyon walls; they build stepped terraces to cultivate the ancestral potatoes, maize and other products of this region. The Colca Valley is a wonderful and colorful Andean valley with many small and remotes towns on the both side of the Canyon founded by Spanish conquers. The Spanish introduce and change many ancestral traditions as the religion. Through the Colca Valley keeps their customs, tradition and many colonial richest churches in all Arequipa regions.
The canyon is home of the Andean Condor, they are can be seen at fairly close range as they fly through the precipices. The Condor is the main tourist attraction, you can see the flying of them from the “Cruz Del Condor”, is a popular tourist stop.
The Colca Canyon is the main tourist attraction in Arequipa; where you can be visit directly from Arequipa, from Cusco by private van or from Puno by bus with stop along the way (Lake Titicaca). The Colca Canyon geography offer great terrain to practice outdoor activities such as Trekking Tours, Climbing Tours, Horse Tours, Mountain Bike, River Rafting, Camping, Bird Watching combining with relaxing visit to the numerous thermal baths and staying in charm and comfortable hotels along the Colca Canyon.
