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Arequipa – Colca Canyon – Arequipa
Our Colca Canyon trekking tour begins early. Departure from the hotel at 3:00 a.m. (unless a private service is requested), traveling by bus to reach Colca Canyon (the second deepest canyon in the world). The first stop is Chivay (a 3-hour drive) for breakfast. At 3,650 meters above sea level, Chivay is the departure point toward the Cruz del Condor (Condor Cross), where for about an hour, with a bit of luck, we can watch the majestic flight of the condors.
After this near-mystical experience, a roughly 20-minute transfer takes us to Pampa San Miguel (at 3,280 meters), the starting point of our hike into the canyon. The trekking experience begins here.
Starting at 3,280 meters, the first leg of the hike ends after about 3 hours (please note this is an approximate time and the hike can sometimes take up to 4 or even 5 hours – be sure to bring enough water) when we reach the first settlement, San Juan de Chuccho. Here you'll be at 2,300 meters, having descended about 1,000 meters. At San Juan de Chuccho, you'll cross the Colca River on a suspension bridge and explore the surrounding area. Our guide will introduce you to medicinal plants and fruits that grow in the area. Lunch will be cooked by our guide. Here we spend the night with a local family, after enjoying simple, traditional Andean food!
After breakfast, you'll continue the hike through Colca Canyon. We walk for about an hour to reach the village of Cosñirhua (at 2,660 meters). We then visit another Andean village inside Colca Canyon: Malata!
After another 2 hours of hiking, you'll reach the Sangalle Oasis. Here you'll be at 2,160 meters above sea level. In Sangalle you can rest and relax in the pools at 20°C. After lunch you'll have a free afternoon to play volleyball or doze in a hammock, or you can join the guide for an hour-long walk around the oasis. After dinner, overnight in cabins.
This is the toughest part of the trek! We wake at 5 a.m. and, from an elevation of just 2,160 meters, climb up to the town of Cabanaconde, at 3,280 meters. This climb takes about 3 hours, depending on your pace. Before starting the trek you'll receive snacks to help you along the ascent.
Once in Cabanaconde, you'll have breakfast and shortly after head back up (by bus) toward Chivay. Along the way, you'll stop at the Wayrapunku viewpoint to admire the Inca and pre-Inca terraces of the town of Maca. After some well-deserved relaxation, you'll visit the hot springs of La Calera, an enticing mineral pool (don't forget your swimsuit!).
Then back to Chivay to sample an Andean buffet. After lunch, the journey back to Arequipa, stopping at Mirador de los Andes (a panoramic Andes viewpoint at 4,900 meters) to observe various volcanoes and the surrounding mountains. You'll admire the following volcanoes: Ampato (where the Juanita mummy was discovered), Coropuna, Solimana, and Huallahualca. The four volcanoes range between 5,000 and 6,000 meters above sea level.
The last stop is the National Reserve of Salinas and Aguada Blanca. Here you'll get to know the endangered vicuña (a camelid that produces the world's finest fiber and is now under government protection), along with alpaca and llama.
Return to Arequipa around 5 p.m.
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