Arequipa Colca Canyon Exploration

Arrive at Arequipa Airport, where our representative will welcome you and escort you to your hotel. During the transfer, your guide will introduce you to the citys key attractions and services, then assist with your check-in. Begin your exploration at Plaza de Armas, the main square, where you can admire the elegant neo-Renaissance cathedral. Visit the remarkable Santa Catalina convent, a 16th-century complex that once operated as a self-contained community, closed off from the outside world. Wander through its colourful streets, cloisters, plazas and courtyards to gain insight into colonial Peru. Finish the day in the residential districts of Yanahuara and Carmen Alto, enjoying stunning views of the El Misti volcano towering above the city. Overnight at your chosen hotel in Arequipa on a bed-and-breakfast basis.

After breakfast, we depart Arequipa and drive through the Yura district, known for its striking gullies, mountain ranges and canyons. We continue across the Pampa Canahuas Reserve, a vast plain home to vicuas, one of Perus native Andean camelids. The journey takes us over the pampas of Viscachani and Toccra, passing the crater of Chucura Volcano before reaching the Los Andes viewpoint at Patapampa, situated at 4,800 metres above sea level. From here, you can admire the surrounding volcanoes that frame Arequipa. We stop for lunch in the charming town of Chivay, followed by a transfer to your chosen hotel in the Colca Valley. The remainder of the afternoon is at your leisure. Overnight accommodation is on a bed-and-breakfast basis, with lunch included.

After breakfast, we set out for the Condor Cross lookout, offering spectacular views over the Colca Valleyone of the worlds deepest canyons at over 4,160 metres, twice the depth of the Grand Canyon. Here, you can witness the impressive sight of condors soaring gracefully above the canyon, patrolling their vast territory. We then descend to the valley floor to visit several traditional towns along the River Colca, including Chivay, Pinchollo, Maca, Achoma and Yanque. These villages feature charming colonial churches nestled against the backdrop of the Andes. Along the way, we stop at the Antahuilque and Choquetico viewpoints to take in further stunning vistas of the valley. After lunch, we return to Arequipa for an overnight stay at your chosen hotel, with breakfast and lunch included.

After a hearty breakfast at the hotel, we will transfer you to the airport for your onward journey. Breakfast is included.