Arequipa & Colca Canyon

Arrive in Arequipa and transfer to your hotel.

Arequipa lies on the edge of the Altiplano, 2380m above sea level and framed by the volcanoes Misti, Pikchu Pikchu and Chachani. It is known as “La Ciudad Blanca” (White City), as many of its buildings are made of sillar, a white volcanic stone. The historic centre of Arequipa is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and its historic heritage, natural scenery and cultural sites, make the city a popular destination.

Overnight in Arequipa

Today we explore the beautiful city of Arequipa, known locally as ‘The White City’ due to its glistening white buildings built from volcanic rock. During this tour, we will visit a number of sites throughout the city including the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Santa Catalina Monastery, the Main Square, the Complex of San Franscico and the Arequipa Cathedral, one of the biggest in South America.

The tour starts with a visit to the Carmen Alto viewpoint, located on the right side of the Chili River which once divided Arequipa into two parts. On both sides of the river it is possible to see the agricultural terraces from the Pre-Inca period which are still in good condition, as well as a beautiful landscape dominated by the majesty of the Misti, Chachani and Pichupichu volcanoes. We will continue on to the Spanish Colonial district of Yanahuara, a traditional neighbourhood characterised by beautiful narrow, cobblestone streets of Andalusian influence. The main square, located in the highest part of the district, houses the famous Saint John the Baptist Church (1750) distinguished by a baroque style façade. On the right stands the viewpoint, built in the XIX century, comprising bas-relief arches engraved with phrases and thoughts of renowned Arequipeños. From this viewpoint we will also have an uninterrupted view of downtown Arequipa and the Misti volcano.

From here we will return downtown and walk to the Plaza De Armas (Main Square), one of the most beautiful and stunning squares in Peru. After, we will continue to the Compañia De Jesus religious complex, complete with church and cloister. The church’s façade is one of the most archetypical representations of the baroque style in Southern Peru and inside we will spend time admiring the colonial paintings and golden altars of this impressive church. Next, we will visit the Saint Ignatius Chapel which is well-known for its sacristy and very famous polychrome cupola. And finally, we will view the cloister, built in 1738, the cloister is characterized by archways of heavy pillars fully decorated on four sides and it’s three patios.

Lastly, we will head to the Andean Sanctuaries Museum, home to the Juanita mummy. Discovered atop Ampato Mountain in 1995, in the Andes of Southern Peru, Juanita is in fact not a mummy but a frozen 12-year-old Inca girl who was sacrificed to the gods in the 1450’s. We will finish the tour with a visit to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Saint Catalina Monastery – a small citadel comprising of narrow streets, squares and gardens, a rustic laundry, and cells; as well as stunning and airtight cloisters in the middle of huge walls made from ashlars.

Note: The Andean Sanctuary Museum where the Juanita mummy exhibit is located, is open for visits from Tuesday to Saturday from 09:00 to 18:00. On Sundays it is open from 09:00 to 14:00 and it is closed on Mondays. Santa Catalina Monastery is open for visits from Monday to Sunday, from 09:00 to 18:00 (last visitors enter at 17:00).

Overnight in Arequipa

Early this morning you will be picked up from your hotel to commence your road journey to the Colca Canyon.

Colca Canyon is a river canyon situated amongst the mountains of the Western Andes in Southern Peru. It is famed as one of the world's deepest canyon and is a renowned habitat for the giant Andean Condor, best viewed from locations such as Cruz del Condor. The canyon landscape comprises a green valley and remote traditional villages with terraced agriculture that predates the Incas.

Enroute there will be several stops to appreciate flora, fauna and high Andean Landscapes, one of them is Pampa Canahuas, located at 3,800 metres above sea level, inside the National Reserve Salinas y Aguada Blanca, a place where we can see vicunas in their natural habitat and the Misti and Chachani Volcanoes. During the next part of the journey, you will visit the community of Patahuasi (4,000 metres above sea level), the Toccra Zone (4,300 metres above sea level) homes to llamas, alpacas, migratory birds and offering incredible views of the landscape and Patapampa (4,900 metres above seal) offering majestic views of the cordillera and volcanoes in the Arequipa region. Begin to descend to Chivay Town located in the Colca Valley.
Free time for lunch (not included) before transferring to your hotel for your overnight stay.

There is an optional visit to the 40ºC thermal-medicinal baths in La Calera. (Entrance fee to the pools is not included and is US$ 7.00 per person approximately – subject to change.)

Note: The optional visit to La Calera Hot Springs is for clients staying in Chivay town only. For those guests staying at Colca Lodge, the hotel has its own hot spring pools (four) which are located on the banks of the river for you to enjoy.

Overnight in Colca

Following breakfast, we travel to the ‘Cruz del Condor’, a spot considered to be the best viewpoint to watch the majestic Andean condors ascending from the valley.

The Colca Canyon is a canyon of the Colca River and one of the deepest canyons in the world. It is home to the Andean condors that can be seen at close range as they fly past the canyon walls, rising on the thermals. At the 'Cruz del Condor' viewpoint, the canyon floor is 3,960 feet (1,200 m) below the rim of the canyon.

After this amazing spectacle, we continue our journey back to the town of Chivay, taking in the beautiful Andean scenery and fascinating pre-Inca, Inca and Colonial history of the area. The road passes through several small villages founded in Spanish colonial times and still inhabited by people of the Collagua and the Cabana cultures. The local people maintain their traditional way of life and continue to cultivate the pre-Inca stepped terraces. Many of the women wear traditional dress with colourful embroidered blouses and flower-patterned hats.

In the afternoon, travel by bus to Puno, situated on the shores of the famous Lake Titicaca. You will board a touristic bus that includes a hostess who speaks limited English, snacks and beverages. The duration of this bus journey is approximately six hours.

Join up with our Lake Titicaca programme