Colca canyon is the second deepest canyon in our planet, double deep Grand Canyon of United States. Is located in the middle of two highest volcanoes Coropuna (6450m) and Ampato (6380m), this canyon is most famous place to visit by the tourist from every where in world, wonderful area to see the rich cultural remains, comes from 1400 years ago, immense varieties of flora and fauna, snow ranges, green valleys, old and colony town, mighty rivers crossing the Andes, thousand of pre-Inca terraces, friendly and charm settlers live in this part of Peru. Here is our field work arranging everything what we mentioned before, we are happy showing to the visitors every place and old costumes lazy by our old cultures. We have traditional tours and new alternatives to explorer an extra mile in this great canyon.
Tour Itinerary:
Day 1: Arequipa - Chivay - Condor Cross - San Juan De Chuccho. At 6am pick-up at hotel in Arequipa, orientation about our trek and journey of 6 hours to Colca Canyon - Cabanaconde village by public bus service or private four wheel drive (according to your request).
At 11am Brief stop at the Condor Cross - Tapay viewpoint (3600m). Lunch at Cabanaconde (3280m), located in the left rim of the Canyon. Start trekking in the Colca Canyon descending 4 hours to the Colca River (216m), a difference of 12pm. We will cross to the other side of the Canyon and ascend to our family cabins or camping place.
At 4pm Arrival to the lodge and short walk to the San Juan de Chuccho village (2300m). Get together with the children and locals from this valley, participation in agricultural and other activities. Campfire, dinner and rest.
Day 2: San Juna De Chuccho – Cosñishua And Malata Village – Pacllia – Llahuar Hot Spring. At 7am country breakfast and then star the trek through pre-Inca terraces and fruit trees along the way. After 1 of hiking up arrival to Cosñirhua village where we visit a local family, they will show how make their own economy according nature resource of this area. Continue hiking we stop to visit an local museum of flora and fauna of this region. Cosñirhua and Malata (2600m) are located on right bank of the canyon and protected by mountainous range.
Hiking through cactus forest and seeing the majestic Colca River and huge volcanic cliffs on the both side of the river, along the way is possible to pick up plenty of cactus fruits (January to May) and if you are lucky is possible to see Condor flying over the mountains look for their food. After 4 hour of trekking across Pacclia valley, this village is complete cover by Tuna cactus and makes very interesting to see many type of birds, medicinal plants and local people working on their daily activities just next to our trail.
After 6 hours we cross the Lltica river by raft bride and from there continue to Llahuar lodge. Llahur is a nice and peaceful place running by local family. Lunch is located between the encounter of Colca and Llatica Rivers and that makes very nice place to spend the night. After lunch you are free all afternoon to enjoy the hot spring (40ºC) next of the river. At 7pm nice dinner accompanied by wonderful starry sky over the mountains, tonight we stay in bamboo cabins.
Day 3: Llahuar Hot Spring – Arequipa. Today we have two options to return to Arequipa, see below:
Option A: If you book your trip with Backpacker Service (join a group) you will walk up at 2am and then have simple breakfast and start the trekking following a serpentine trail up to Cabanaconde (5 hours). You will approximately 3 hours in the dark until the first sun rising. This is the hardest part of this trek. Arrival to Cabanaconde we try another delicious breakfast and then transfer to the Condor cross to see again the flight of the birds or if you like we can have directly transfer (public bus) to Chivay and there you have plenty of time to enjoy the hot spring of la Calera. Return to Chivay to have lunch and after that we take our public bus to travel back to Arequipa, normally the bus arrive Arequipa between 4-6pm.
Option B: If you book Private VIP Service is the best way for this day. You can walk up at 5 or 6am we breakfast as we watch the sunrise light up the canyon. A short (two hour) relatively level trek along the left bank of the Colca river, takes us across abandoned terraces completely covered by cactus through a small valley called Soro (2050m). All too quickly we pass abandoned farms and several working farms, pick our last tuna (January to April), offered by the farmers and then we cross a suspension bridge over the Colca river to meet our 4WD. It’s a breathtaking drive back up the canyon along a serpentine road smoothly executed by our experienced drivers. The views beckon us to make several photographic stops because it’s hard to imagine that what’s to come can quite match the current scene.
The magnificent views continue for the next as we make our way to Huambo (2900m), a village surrounded by green terraces, a lovely town square, and a different group of people (do you know their ethnic identity?) wearing different local dress. At the highest point of our journey in the Andean range, at the "Mirador del “Ampato" we have a good view of the Ampato, a snow covered mountain. In 1995 the mummy of 14 year old "Juanita" was found by climbers. We continue on to see two small volcanoes in the vast Pampa de Qerqe (whose summit is only 300m). We travel to the coast.
El Pedregal (1400m) long green valley in the middle of the driest area located on the both site of the Panamericana highway. From Pedregal direct return to Arequipa (2 hours).
Price Includes:
- Official English speaking guide
- Round trip public bus tickets or private van, according your request
- All meals according the program
- Tea time (hot drink, biscuit, pop corn)
- Overnight in a family lodge (private or shared room) or camping gear (4 season tents and sleeping pads)
- Canyon entrance
- Colca canyon map
- Trekking gear such as poles, backpacks and head lamp (without batteries)
- First aid kit for all participants and our camp staff
- Food and accommodation for our camp staff
- Hiking price include government taxes
- Professional cook
- Head lamp and walking stick or poles
- Present of our agency.
Price Excludes:
- Binoculars
- Breakfast on the first day
- Tips for guide and camp staff
- US$4 entrance for hot spring La Calera in Chivay (last day)
- Soda and alcoholic drinks
- Sleeping bag can be hired in our office US$5 per day (-15ºC) only if your like to make camping
- Personal horse for ride, can be hired for US$20 per day including a horseman and his food and accommodation.
What You Need to Bring/Carry:
- Small backpack (45lt)
- Rain jacket or poncho, plastic ponchos can be purchased in Arequipa (just in the rain season Dec - April)
- Strong comfortable and waterproof footwear
- Sweater and jacket (something warm)
- Bottle of water
- Flashlight and batteries
- Sleeping bag can be hired in our office US$5 per day (-15ºC) only if your like to make camping
- Hat or cap to protect you from the sun
- Sun block (sun protection cream)
- Insect repellent
- Toiletries, towel and toilet paper
- Selection of small snacks, chocolate, dried fruit, biscuits etc
- Camera, plenty of film and spare batteries
- Swimsuit (you can swim in the hot springs - Chivay)
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Backpacker service (public bus):
1 to more participants US$155 each
Private VIP service (private van):
2 participants US$285 each
3-4 participants US$250 each
5 to more participants US$235 each
Discount 5%: South American Explorers Club Members
Discount 10%: Tour Operators or Travel Agencies Only
Students: US$5 discount only with valid green ISIC card
Also see tour packages in:
South America
Peru
Hiking & Trekking
Mountain/Rock Climbing
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