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COLCA CANYON
TOUR INFORMATION:
COLCA CANYON - 2 days / 1 night
Located in southern Peru is the
Colca Canyon, 160kms
northwest of Arequipa. Colca Canyon is more than
twice as deep as the Grand Canyon at 4160m. The
Colca Valley is a very popular tourist destination
due to the colourful Andean valley which has towns
founded in Spanish Colonial times and formerly
inhabited by the Collaguas and the Cabanas. The
local people still maintain ancestral traditions and
continue to cultivate the pre-Inca stepped terraces.
The canyon is home to the Andean Condor, a popular
tourist stop to view the condors passing a few feet
over your head. The condors are best seen in the
early morning and late afternoon when they are
hunting. If you choose to relax after visiting the
canyon, the La Calera natural hot springs are
located at Chivay, the biggest town in the Colca
Canyon.
Day 1: Arequipa / Chivay
At 7.30am we leave Arequipa for Chivay, the
biggest town in the
Colca Canyon where we will enjoy
the majestic views of Misti, Chachan and the
Pichupichu volcanoes, then soon we arrive at the
National Reserve of Aguada Blanca and Salinas. Here
we have time to observe the vicuanas in their
natural habitat. At this point we will be at an
altitude of 3400m. We will later arrive at Pata Wasi,
an Andean community located the opposite side of the
reserve.
We continue on our way through the zone of Tocra
over 4500m, where we will observe lakes with migrant
birds and take pictures of the “Antiplano”
(highland) with its llamas and Guanacos. Our highest
point will be “Pata Pampa”, located at 4820m.
When we get to Chivay, we start to wander towards
the spectacular multicoloured view of the terraces
of Colca valley. In Chivay we go to our hotel, get
our rooms, then have lunch. After lunch we will
drive or walk around its traditional main square and
hike the hill of San Antonio ruins.
Day 2: Chivay/ Arequipa
At approximately 6am we have breakfast and leave
for the famous “Cruz del Condor” point where you
will see the “flight of the condors”. The drive here
takes 2 hours. After, your guide will take you for a
short hike near the Canyon. We will return to our
transportation and drive back to Chivay. On the way
we visit the traditional town of Pinchollo and the
Antahuilque viewpoint, where we will observe a
wonderful 1500 year old terrace constructed by the
Collaguas culture. We also make a stop at the look
out point called Choquetick with its hanging tombs.
We finish visiting the town of Maca and Yanque.
We return to Chivay and after our lunch we take the
route back to Arequipa City, arriving at around
17.30.
Included:
•
Tourist
transport
•
Tour
guide
•
Colca
canyon entrance
•
Hotel
Chivay
•
Transfers
•
Breakfast on Day 2
Not included:
•
Hot
springs pools entrance (10 soles)
•
2
lunches and 1 dinner (from 10 to 15 soles each meal)
•
Hotel
in Arequipa
•
Transport to Arequipa
•
Airport
taxes
•
Extra
drinks (Alcohol, soft drinks etc)
Optional:
•
Choice
of own accommodation
•
Choice
of extra tours
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