PAT 0113 - AREQUIPA AND THE COLCA CANYON

After the arrival, reception and transfer to your hotel.

The White City opens up its doors in a tour that begins in the Carmen Alto viewpoint from where we will be able to admire the beautiful landscape of farming terraces and the three guardian volcanoes that surround the city: Misti, Chachani and Pichu Picchu. We will then continue to the colonial district of Yanahuara, famous for its church built in Andalusia style, and its viewpoint with is gorgeous architecture surrounded by sillar stone arches. We will then visit the Monastery of Saint Catherine, an impressive religious monument that had been closed to the public for nearly 400 years; its narrow streets, plazas and gardens reminds us of the ancient districts of Seville or Granada. Finally, we will head for the Main Square, where we will be able to see the Cathedral and the arches that surround the plaza, and then visit the Church of the Company of Jesus founded in the 17th century by the Jesuits, and which stands out for its cloisters and the famous Saint Ignacio Dome.

Breakfast at the hotel. Early departure to the Colca Valley behind the snowy peak of Chachani, pampa Cañahuas, a vicuñas national reserve in the wild state of Aguada Blanca, in the area you can observe altiplanic landscapes, small lagoons and great diversity of birds and Vizcachas (wild, tailed rabbits). Continuing along the route you will appreciate Volcanoes viewpoint, maximum altitude of 4,800 meters. On the route you can see the snowy mountain of Ampato, Sabancaya, Hualca Hualca, etc.). Viewpoint of the Colca Valley. At 12:30 approx. We enter the majesty of the Colca Canyon, to reach Chivay.

Transfer to hotel in the immediate vicinity of the Canyon. Afternoon free to visit the hot springs or rest.

Breakfast at the hotel. Early, we will go to the Cruz del Condor Viewpoint, here you can observe part of the depth of the Canyon, which is approximately 1,200 meters deep. With some luck, we might appreciate the majestic Flight of the Condor. During this tour we will observe the typical villages of Yanque, Maca, and their settlers with their beautiful costumes typical of each locality. We can appreciate an impressive amount of pre-Inca agricultural platforms that are still cultivated with Andean products such as Potatoes, Corn, Quinoa, Kiwicha, Olluco, etc. Before the return to Arequipa, there will be some time for lunch. Arrival time at 18:00 hours approx.

Breakfast at the hotel. At the arranged time we will transfer you to the airport or bus station to continue with your itinerary.